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Hummus -

Dressing up store-bought hummus will make it look a lot better. Drizzle it with some olive oil, add a few chickpeas, sprinkle some herbs such cilantro, and even add some paprika to give it color. 

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Soup -

Adding croutons to your ready-made soup will instantly make it look homemade. 

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Soup -

A drizzle of olive oil and some fresh herbs won't hurt either. Dashes of cream or yogurt also work really well. 

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Lasagna -

This Italian food staple is a popular option when it comes to ready-made meals. Cut it into squares and add grated Parmesan cheese on top for a more homemade look and taste. 

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Add fresh fruit -

Just by adding fresh fruit, your store-bought pies or cheesecakes will look homemade. And they'll taste great too!

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Add gravy -

You can buy ready-made gravy or make it at home. Adding a nice thick gravy to a dish turns it instantly into homemade comfort food. Or at least it does a good job pretending to be it.  

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Pizza -

Want to make a frozen pizza look like it's being served at an Italian grandma's home? Just add Parmesan shavings to it and some fresh rocket. Cold cuts, such as prosciutto, can really take frozen pizzas to a different level, too.

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Pile it up -

Instead of spreading your store-bought meal, present it as a pile with the meat/fish on top. It's a simple, yet effective, presentation.

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Nuts and seeds -

Adding toasted nuts and seeds to a dish will make it look a lot better, so consider adding them to your store-bought foods. 

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Contrasting seeds -

Using contrasting black and white seeds can make a nice visual impact and they taste delicious, too! Try it with Asian ready-made dishes. 

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Drizzle it -

Want to make a store-bought cake look fresh and appetizing? Sprinkle it with your favorite topping.  

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Drizzle it -

The same goes for savory dishes. A drizzle of olive oil, balsamic vinegar, or other sauce, can really make your dish stand out. 

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Mix salad bags -

Want to serve a cool homemade-like salad? Buy a couple of salad bags and mix them together. 

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Serve it on a wooden platter -

This is a simple serving suggestion that can change the perception of food. Wood is a natural element, so it gives the perception of being a homemade dish.  

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Twirl and bullseye sauce -

Bought some ready-made spaghetti Bolognese? Twirl the pasta into a nice spiral and add the sauce in the middle. Top it with fresh basil and you've got yourself a nice-looking pasta dish. 

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Add some icing sugar -

From donuts to cakes and everything in between, icing sugar is a simple hack to make your sweet treats look homemade. 

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Make it fancy -

Want to make fish fingers or fishcakes more appealing? Add a bit of lemon, a dip, and some herbs to the plate. 

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Potato salad -

Potato salad can look a little bland, but nothing chopped up fresh chives won't fix. A dash of hot sauce or even mustard can also enhance the flavor. 

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Shiny touch -

Give your foods a glossy finish with beaten egg before putting them in the oven. This works for a variety of foods, from pies to empanadas.

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Flowers -

Edible flowers are great and they can be added to virtually any dish. These will make any sweet or savory dish look a lot fancier, regardless if you bought it from the frozen food aisle.

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Couscous -

Couscous is just one of those foods that is really easy to transform into a fancy dish just from adding other stuff to it. Try corn, chickpeas, pomegranate seeds, or anything else you might want. 

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Give plain rice a twist -

Even plain microwave rice can look homemade with the right ingredients. You can keep it simple with cilantro and lime or add more veggies and spices. 

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Fan it out -

This is another presentation tip that will make you look like a home chef. Slicing and overlapping the dish, spread on the plate, will look superb. This can be done with a variety of dishes, from meat to fish and desserts. 

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Cover it with icing -

Icing is pretty easy to make and it will make any ready to eat cake look better. This works particularly well in plain sponge cakes, but feel free to experiment!

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Slice it up -

Slicing up a piece of meat will look great. This works particularly well for larger pieces of meat. 

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Serve a trio -

Serve a trio of protein, carbs, and vegetables. This is tried and tested homemade style of serving food, even if they're not cooked from scratch. 

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Give your starters a rustic twist -

Serve your deli meats and cheeses on a wooden board, not in the original packaging. Doesn't it look much better?

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Cocktails -

You can buy pre-mixed cocktails, but they look best served in proper glasses with a nice lemon slice (or other fruit). 

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Add fruit -

Adding fresh ingredients is the way to go when it comes to giving yogurt a homemade look. 

Sources: (Love Money)

See also: Homegrown happiness: Recipes using ingredients from your garden

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