What is your ultimate lazy food shortcut?

[HopelesslyHopeful87]

I have just discovered frozen mashed potato and it's revolutionary!

I was dubious and thought surely it's full of added crap but it's not. It comes out so creamy and fluffy and tastes lush. No more peeling potatoes for me! I bought a bag from Iceland for about 90p. There may be some fancier versions and mash made from actual potatoes may be more cost effective but I don't care!

What's your ultimate lazy food shortcut?

The Picard range of frozen food from Ocado, up market French range, all of it ready in minutes and fabulous quality.

Also, Ocado's Soffrito (especially the fresh one) and ready peeled red onions. I used to use ready sliced ones but I don't think they taste as good, ditto re the fresh chopped garlic - very good but the flavour is more intense if freshly chopped, but then I am a garlic fiend (there are no vampires near this house!).

Ready-made white sauce in a long-life carton. From Polish deli or sometimes in Lidl, though now supermarkets do it for 3x the price.

Makes assembling a lasagne or fish pie a doddle!

Heinz Smooth Tomato Sauce for pasta (and other dishes which normally take hours from scratch or £££s for similar.) This comes in a carton, so can live in the cupboard, and costs 50p if one's lucky. It also lasts 5 days when opened, so is suitable for small meals, as well as vegetarians and small children. I've made my own for years, even grown the tomatoes, but not any longer - this is good, and no preservatives.

Pre-cooked rice sachets.

I used to be so scathing about them, but now am a complete convert. Perfect for last minute fried rice. Great when I'm up to my eyeballs in multiple Indian components, and haven't the time or energy (or spare gas burner) to bother about boiling up the basmati.

Easiest impressive looking family meal. Ready cooked chicken, cooked brocolli, bit of cooked ham. Mix with tinned condensed chicken soup. Put in a roasting tray. Top with ready made puff pastry sheet. Bung in oven for 20 mins