Michelina’s Stuffed Cheese Rigatoni

February 28, 2007 | Reviewer: Josh

Michelina's Stuffed Cheese Rigatoni

Serving: 1 box, 2.25 oz
Calories: 260
Fat: 11%, 7g
Sodium: 29%, 700mg
Protein: 10g

Michelina says: This authentic dish will delight the cheese lover in you with every bite. Tender rigatoni stuffed with cheese is tossed in a zippy Pomodoro sauce seasoned with crushed red pepper. Then Michelina melts a little extra cheese on top, just to make you smile. Say Pomodoro!

Josh says: This is review is short and to the point. The meal comes in a cardboard box/tray combo which can easily burn your fingers. As for the food inside, there were just seven noodles (box makes it look like there’ll be like 20 or so, but apparently that is a serving suggestion), one little slice of zuchinni, and some watery sauce. Michelina’s Stuffed Cheese Rigatoni tastes cheap, but then again, it is cheap (just $1 at Safeway). I give it 2 stars, because it’s only a dollar and doesn’t actually taste awful…but you’re also risking a hand injury.

Filed Under Michelina Reviews, Pasta, Two Stars, Vegetarian | 7 Comments

Ready to Eat Shahi Paneer

February 26, 2007 | Reviewer: Amy

This review comes from our foreign correspondent, Amy. She’s currently in South Korea ~~working for an unscrupulous test preparation company~~ taking a vacation before she starts her new job as a teacher. We miss her a lot.

Ready to Eat - Shahi Paneer

Price: 4300 won=$4.50
(probably cheaper in the states)
Servings per container: 3
Information below is per serving
Calories: 170
Total Fat: 18%, 12g
Sodium: 25%, 600mg
Carbs: 3%, 10g
Protein: 5g

Ready to Eat says: Chunks of cottage cheese in a mouth-watering gravy, cooked in true Mughal tradition

Amy says: I picked this little number up at my local Foreign Food Mart, although said Foreign Food Mart is in Seoul, I have reason to believe that this product may be available elsewhere (i.e.the U.S) due to the fact that everything on the package is in English with a dash of sanskrit. The picture on the box was rather enticing and it is made with 100% natural ingredients . . . bless those Indians and their naturalness. Additionally, everything on the list of ingredients was easily identifiable. This is important because living in a foreign country means eating a lot of indescribable items. Although the box says there is not cooking required I instinctively knew that the contents would be tastier if heated, so heat I did.

Upon emptying the pouch I noticed a disparity between the picture on the box and what lay inside. The paneer was rather gray and meager. The cubes of this delicious cheese were approximately the size of the cubes that comprise the Rubik’s cube and there were maybe 10 of them, maybe. That said, the paneer did taste decent, but it was inferior to the paneer that you can get in the Trader Joe’s indian boxes. Fortunately, the sauce packed a nice zing. I am always pleased with the zest inherent to pre-packaged Indian food.

The serving size was enough for myself and my ravenous boyfriend, though we did have lots of naan to soak it up (sorry guys, I made the naan myself, but I do recommend the Trader Joe’s naan. It is tasty and a lot less work). I think this dish could be improved by adding some lentils to give it a bit more substance The sauce was a bit runny, but other than that and the scanty paneer portion it was a delightful meal.

P.S. Sorry if I plugged Trader Joe’s too much in this review, I have been without my beloved trader for almost a year and I miss him dearly.

Filed Under Assorted, Vegetarian | 5 Comments

Trader Joe’s Lentil Rice Biryani

February 23, 2007 | Reviewer: Abi

Trader Joe's Lentil Rice Biryani

Trader Joe says: Made in India exclusively for Trader Joe’s. Our Lentil Rice Biryani is a classic Indian dish. We’ve taken this complex and timely recipe and made it as simple as possible to make. Take one for lunch, dinner, camping or anywhere you want a handy and easy meal in minutes.

Abi says: You know why there’s no nutritional information on this review? I threw away the package without even trying the rice. It smelled that bad. I didn’t even want to have it out in the open air of my kichen for long enough to write down the detailed product
description. I had to go back to Trader Joe’s and copy the description off of a package on the shelf. Fortunately, Trader Joe’s is pretty empty at 9am and I don’t have that much pride.

I would write a more detailed description of the frightening smell that arose from the package, but that would require thinking back to that horrific moment. And that makes my stomach hurt.

Save a couple bucks and your appetite; if you need shelf-stable rice, trust Annie Chun. And for you Trader Joe? Zero stars.

Filed Under Trader Joe's Reviews, Vegetarian, Zero Stars | 27 Comments

Lean Cuisine Salisbury Steak with Macaroni and Cheese

February 22, 2007 | Reviewer: Adina

Lean Cuisine Salisbury Steak with Macaroni and Cheese
Price: $2.50
Serving: 1 meal, 9.5 oz.
Calories: 280
Fat: 13%, 9g
Cholesterol: 17%, 50mg
Sodium: 25%, 610mg
Protein: 24g
Carbs: 8%, 25g
Fiber: 12%, 3g
WW Points: 6 Points

Lean Cuisine says: Seasoned roasted beef accented with onion in a homestyle beef gravy with sliced mushrooms. Accompanied by our traditional macaroni and cheese, made with specially aged cheddar cheese.

Adina says: They say to cook this meal for over 6 minutes with no stirring, but I would suggest flipping the meat over at 3 minutes. This will prevent you from spending your precious lunch hour chewing on gravy-covered rubber.

I remember reading Nicole’s review of the Dinnertime Selects Salisbury Steak and thinking, “But I like hamburger meat.” I don’t know how Salisburians eat their steak, but I, as a lazy American, like my Salisbury steak tasting like burger and covered in gravy. And so isn’t it convenient that I found this meal! And while the gravy would not elicit high praise from the grave of my Jewish grandmother, I honestly think the taste is not half bad.

But what I love best about this meal is the macaroni and cheese. It is creamy and the pasta melts in your mouth. Maybe it melts in your mouth because it is overcooked, but who cares because it is covered in cheese. The cheddar taste (yes you can really taste the cheddar!) complements the milder gravy taste, and I think that is why this meal is so good. At least, it does not force me to the nearest vending machine, searching desperately for something to fill the microwave meal void.

Overall, I would rate this meal four stars - a great lunch that satisfies your appetite and does not require my grandma to wake from her eternal slumber to add a pinch of salt and spoonful of chicken fat.

Filed Under 6 WW Points, Beef, Four Stars, Lean Cuisine Reviews | 6 Comments