Michael Angelo’s Vegetable Lasagna

April 10, 2007 | Reviewer: Jess

Michael Angelo's Vegetable Lasagna

SRP: $3.89
Serving: 1 cup, 8 oz.
Servings per Container: 1.5
Calories: 230
Fat: 11%, 7g
Cholesterol: 5%, 15mg
Sodium: 30%, 720mg
Protein: 20g
Carbs: 8%, 23g
Fiber: 12%, 3g

Michael Angelo says: Sara created this delicious recipe for her brother - the only vegetarian in the family! Our blend of 7 crisp vegetables is enhanced by our flavorful marinara sauce made from vine-ripened tomatoes, fresh garlic, honey and imported Italian olive oil. We then add low-fat ricotta, mozzarella and Pecorino Romano between layers of our firm lasagna pasta.

Jess says: Today I am going to take the opportunity to tell the people in my life, who I'm usually just snarky to, that I really care about them, but only if it's true. Do you know how lasagna ties in to love and caring? In so ways, my dear internet, in so many ways.

First of all, this veggie lasagna was sent to Abi for free! You know, like a gift. And free gifts and/or material possessions, just like an Aston Kutcher movie, are a lot like love.

Second of all, Abi then regifted this lasagna to me. She knows I have been dreaming of veggie lasagna since I realized that Amy's Kitchen was never going to combine the forces of their nearly-Vegan tofu vegetable lasagna and cheese lasagna (for shame Amy's Kitchen). But Michael Angelo has beat you to this race for delicious! The fact that Abi would allow me to partake in her bounty is a gesture of friendship and kindness. I'm really glad that Abi is my friend. Otherwise I wouldn't get to pass my lunch hours using my mental thesaurus for all the many ways of saying "delicious" and "nasty" as related to microwave food. Also, she's just awesome.

Lastly, this veggie lasagna taught me a very important lesson. Beauty is only pasta layer deep. Before eating the meal I had Abi take a "before" picture to show how the veggies were used as more of a last minute garnish to the lasagna than a real ingredient. They were seemingly thrown on top at as an afterthought.

You see, I had judged this meal before tasting it. But upon digging in I realized that this meal was more delicious than Valentine’s Day chocolates from a secret admirer (not really). Good sauce, nice and cheesy, an ample smattering of vegetables, and an overall hearty portion. I'd eat this again in two shakes. Oh, AND Michael Angelo doesn't bother with all that half power nonsense, which is an all-around crowd pleaser (just watch it close, no one like the tomato crusting, you know?)

Tonight I'm going to go out, get drunk and take this lesson to heart. I'm only going to flirt with guys that have their hearts on their lapel, not locked away behind layers of "sauce" and "cheese". Thanks Michael Angelo

This meal was provided to HeatEatReview.com by Michael Angelo’s. You can see all of our reviews of their products by checking out the Michael Angelo’s Review Archive. If you’re interested in seeing your company’s meals on HeatEatReview.com, check out our review policy.

comments

18 Responses to “Michael Angelo’s Vegetable Lasagna”

Heather on April 10th, 2007

This is one of my favorite posts of all time.

“I’m only going to flirt with guys that have their hearts on their lapel, not locked away behind layers of ’sauce’ and ‘cheese.’”

Brilliant. Who else could take a post about frozen food and make it about love? I’m in awe. Bravo!
Jessica on April 10th, 2007

I LOVE this meal. Choosing the veggie lasagna vs. the meat make me feel virtuous and all the cheese makes me feel sinful. Hmmm…maybe I need a shrink.
MaryAnne on April 10th, 2007

It looks delicious. I don’t really like meat in lasagna anyhow. However, what is with the serving size being 1.5? So I’m supposed to leave a third behind otherwise I might die of an overdose of salt? Is that what they’re trying to say?
Guest on April 10th, 2007

obviously you’re getting paid to review and give good remarks on this meal because i thought it was very dry, flavorless, and overall sucked. i hate that these reviews are so faux!
Abi Jones on April 10th, 2007

Dear Guest,
Please refrain from making completely untrue allegations about the reviewers here on HeatEatReview. Jess has disliked other free meals (Amy’s Cheese Lasagna and the disastrous Gardenburger Margherita Wrap), so if you’re just trolling for someone to criticize rather than adding to the conversation about this meal, keep it to yourself and accept that you and Jess have differing tastes when it comes to frozen meals.
Thanks,
Abi Jones
Amanda on April 10th, 2007

Dear Guest,

Obviously, you haven’t done your fact checking before insulting us all with your comment. While this week’s meals were provided by the Michael Angelo company for free, the reviewers are not compensated for their words and are not obligated to reflect any particular emotion whatsoever regarding their opinion of the meal. If they love it, they can write that they did so however they choose. If they hate it, they can hate it with fiery passion and say so.

Nor have you considered the fact that people all over this great big world have wide and varied tastes. No one at HER asks that readers agree with the reviews, only that they use them as a descriptive guide as to how the reviewers themselves feel about what they’re heating and eating.

As a guest reviewer myself, I can assure you, my reviews are far from “faux”. Rather, they’re 100 percent my own dang opinion.
kelly on April 10th, 2007

Amen Sister!
citysquirrel on April 13th, 2007

I totally adore this meal. BUT. That “1-1/2 servings?” That’s ridiculous. What’s worse is that I didn’t realize it the first time I had it, so that 230 calories is actually 345 calories if you eat the entire meal — and who in the world is going to eat 2/3 of a frozen dinner? What would you do with the other third, feed it to the cat?

Really, this is flat-out dishonest.

(But I completely agree with your review — this is one of the best frozen meals I know of.)
on April 17th, 2007

why is the serving per box 1.5??? That makes me fightin mad! Don’t make me do the math, just tell me how many calories are in the box…

Abi Jones on April 17th, 2007
Items should come in three types of packaging:
1. Family size: prepare the entire item at once, it is for more than one person
2. Multi-serving size: you could eat the entire package at once, but you don’t. Why? It is resealable. Think of a box of cereal.
3. Single-serving size: pretty obvious.
Notice there is no 1.5 serving size included in that taxonomy? Yeah, there’s a reason for that.
Baby octopus on July 20th, 2007

Geez, people, who cares if the serving size is 1½? Eat and be happy. =)
KnewIt on August 16th, 2007

I agree that this is one of my very few go-to frozen meals. Although I didn’t realize the serving size and always thought it was really filling for a frozen meal - now, I know why.
Julie on September 17th, 2007

If anyone wants to read the nutrition information of the entire 12 oz. here it is (and I agree this meal absolutely kicks butt):

http://www.michaelangelos.com/products/signature/vegetablelasagna.php?PHPSESSID=4096837d05e2941bd271b74692361dfc
Lisa on November 26th, 2007

The calories and fat on that link are way more than an additonal half portion for what is listed above…that math doesn’t work.
Abi Jones on November 27th, 2007

Lisa - When we review items on HeatEatReview, the nutrition information is taken directly from the box. Michael Angelo’s may have changed their recipe, ingredients, or portion size since then. The nutritional information reflects the product reviewed in April 2007, not any changes made since then.
danakscully64 on March 22nd, 2008

This is one of my favorite meals! I do take issue on the fact that the web site says the lasagna is vegetarian, then lists rennet as an ingredient. I e-mailed the company to see if this is, by chance, a non-animal rennet. I’m just waiting to hear back.
Laurie on April 6th, 2008

This is the single best frozen meal I’ve ever had! I always bake it in the oven (it loses something in the microwave), and it’s worth the hour wait.

The vegetables are flavorful, the cheese is plentiful without overpowering, and the noodles are firm and tasty. I love the flavor of the sauce.

The family-size package is harder to find. I love that one because this makes a great leftover lunch for the next day. The smaller size package is plenty for my husband; I can get through about half of it–with the rest for lunch the next day–they reheat in the microwave quite well (after being baked in the oven first).
Jen on July 31st, 2008

It’s GOOD! no weird “mystery meat” that you have to dig through and dispose of, like most other frozen entrees. Plus it’s a good value when it’s on sale. Unfortunately where I live (SoCal) it’s usually close to $5. Even at that price, tho, it’s cheaper than eating fast food, and probably better for me. It’s the perfect take to work lunch when I know I won’t have time to (or don’t want to) go out.

Ok now can they send me some free samples or coupons for my good review?

(it really is good)