Effortless Lunch Entrees

1. Give your standard boxed macaroni and cheese a new life. Make it according to the directions on the box and then add a can of Italian-style stewed tomatoes and leftover cooked sausage or ground beef. For an extra special dish, top the whole thing with about a cup of grated cheddar cheese.

2. Need another idea for mac and cheese? Add a dollop of sour cream when you are finished putting it together. This makes it even creamier and gives it a little zip. Or stir in a small can of chunky ham or add leftover diced ham you need to use up.

3. To dried chicken noodle soup mix, add about 1 1/2 cups of frozen peas and carrots and cook as directed on the package. When soup is done, add a can of vegetable soup and heat again. This is a hearty soup that goes really well with sandwiches.

4. Stir in 1/4 teaspoon of garlic powder to canned cream of mushroom soup and add any leftover veggie you may have on hand. Leftover rice also gives this dish extra character.

5. For extra pizzazz in a quick and easy meal, add an envelope of onion soup mix to canned split pea soup. The flavor is terrific.

6. For a new twist to plain tomato soup, sprinkle shredded peppery jack cheese on hot tomato soup and serve with crunchy bread.

7. Stuffed tomatoes are an almost effortless summer meal. A mixture of drained tuna mixed with a little mayonnaise and some chopped nuts or celery is delicious, but any combination of salad mixings works well. Just hollow out a tomato and fill it with your favorite tuna, egg, or chicken salad.

8. Hummus with roasted peppers and red onion served in a whole wheat pita is a popular new idea that shows up lately in various magazines and websites—it's that good! Layer your favorite homemade or store-bought hummus, roasted red peppers and thinly sliced red onion in a pita. You may also like to add sliced cucumbers for extra crunch.

9. White or black bean salad is a filling but delightfully easy and tasty lunch. Combine rinsed canned beans with diced celery and diced red onion. Add a drizzle of olive oil and a squeeze of lemon juice. Serve over any kind of chopped lettuce which has been tossed with olive oil and lemon juice. (Baby arugula is especially good with bean salad.)

10. Spaghetti is always a favorite, but if you have leftover cooked spaghetti noodles and no sauce, just blend a can of Italian diced tomatoes, heat, and serve over spaghetti noodles. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese for a nice finishing touch.

By Arlene Bascom