Knorr Pastaria packs - Boil and simmer - need a pan and stove. Quick, calorific and reasonably tasty. Cheap. Needs some bread, you can make garlic toast slices from baguette that keep well and suit these well. Serve with a nice red wine
Laydees Lunches - example a Tuna Salad by John West. Keep forever, c/w pasta and veggies. Serve cold with some vac-packed flatbread.
Instant "in a pot" pastas or noodles - just add boiling water and hold. Meh!
Dolmio Pasta sachets. Various recipes, generally OK. Serve with quick cook mini pasta. Needs two pans and a stove. Serve with some parmesan and choice of breads above.
Cassoulet in a jar. As good as you make it (or buy it). Keeps for months and eats well warmed up or cold (if you're in the sh1t). An entire meal.
Instant Pancake mix (in a bottle). Good brekkie tack if you have a reliable heat source and frying pan. Use catering packs of jam etc.
Instant porridge pots - i.e. Apple and Raisins. Breakfast of Champions. Add honey/whiskey to taste. Also in dry packs but you'll need dried milk to make them up.
Dried milk powder - getting hard to find in full fat form. Great for making coffees, adding to other recipes (soups, porridges, pancakes).
MREs (self heating meal packs) - a whole subject of their own - more later.
Coffee - I've given up on instant. I carry a stainless vacuum coffee press now when travelling (not hiking) and the world is a better place. Add whiskey, sugar and aerosol cream to taste
There's more I've forgotten - but feel free to bail in with your ideas. I'll return to the MREs later in the thread.