To stretch my dollar a bit farther when making boxed rice dishes, I also cook up a cup or two of plain white (or brown) rice and mix them. You still get a lot of the yummy flavor from the boxed rice, but twice the amount.
I also stretch the box rice, noodle or potato side dishes. I add extra plain rice or noodles when cooking along with a cup or so of extra water or water & a boullion cube. No one notices, it tastes great & has less sodium if I don't add the boullion & just use water. For the boxed augratin or scalloped potatoes I add a can of sliced white potatoes when the box mix is almost cooked. Again, tastes great & no one notices. Most often we just cook our own rice, noodles or potatoes. That's best for our health & the most economical.
