Amy’s Shepherds Pie

September 7, 2007 | Reviewer: Jess

Amys Shepherds Pie Price: $2.50
Serving: 1 Pot Pie, 8oz.
Calories: 160
Fat: 6%, 4g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 20%, 490mg
Protein: 17g
Carbs: 9%, 27g
Fiber: 20%, 5g
Weight Watchers Points: 3 Points

Amy’s Kitchen says: We’ve created a meatless, dairy free and lower fat version of this traditional meal. Organically grown vegetables are simmered in a nourishing broth and blanketed with fluffy mashed potatoes.

Jess says: The name Shepherd’s Pie invokes, for me, cannibalism. This is very likely due to my too early exposure to Sweeney Todd as a youth. Really, what was my elementary school teacher thinking?! Now I’m always left to wonder if the spirit of some innocent tradesman is lying restless in my meat pies. But thankfully, the Amy’s brand caters to the more easily scarred, or morally/psychologically meataphobic among us. Amy’s shepherd’s pie box assures me that there is nothing that once had a heartbeat lying under that lovely thick layer of mashed potatoes (vegetable carnage/violence is a-ok with me and Amy). And lovely you are potatoes as you provide gentle starchy exfoliation to my tongue while still going down so smoothly! And how easily the potatoes absorb the gravy resting below for an extra oomph of salty savoriness (Amy calls the gravy “broth” but that is misleading and does not describe its heartiness).

Like an experienced ice-fisherman, I poke a whole through my potato layer to find a school of vegetables in that gravy sea. Carrots, and yes more potatoes, abound. Garbanzo beans too, chock-full. Who knows what a chock may be? But chock-full of veggies you are, Shepherd Pie. Delicious. Different. Nothing of the Hannibal about you! And maybe even good for me?

Despite the meager appearance of the Shepherd’s Pie it does an adequate job of holding off hunger. I think the potatoes might expand somewhere along the road to digestion. But holding off hunger should not be confused with filling. You’ll be hungry again soon enough:. I’d say 2 to 3 hours after consumption. I wish that there were someway to slightly brown the top of the potatoes which I think would add much to the eating experience so everything you’re eating is not just mushy and babyfood-esque in texture. There is this thing, an oven they call it, which might do the trick. I’m hoping to give this a try next time when heating up this item at home. I think that would boost this pie up to a 5. After all, fullness is always going to be temporary. Taste is paramount.

Filed Under 3 WW Points, Amy's Kitchen Reviews, Dairy Free, Four Stars, Lactose Free, Vegan, Vegetarian | 8 Comments

Jim Gaffigan and Hot Pockets

September 5, 2007 | Reviewer: Abi Jones

At the behest of Jess I’m posting this video. I will warn you now that you should not view it at work. In my own workplace it has led to the following conditions: crying at desk (in a good way), giggling, whispering Hot Pockets jingle to self, forwarding to colleagues, and spending the rest of the work day on YouTube. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

Filed Under Videos | 9 Comments

Stouffer's White Meat Chicken Pot Pie

September 4, 2007 | Reviewer: Nicole

Stouffer’s White Meat Chicken Pot Pie Price: $2.50
Serving: 1/2 Pie, 8oz.
Calories: 600
Fat: 54%, 35g
Cholesterol: 18%, 55mg
Sodium: 41%, 980mg
Protein: 16g
Carbs: 18%, 55g
Fiber: 12%, 3g
Weight Watchers Points: 14 in 1/2 pie

Stouffer’s says: A golden crust surrounding pieces of all white meat chicken, peas, carrots, celery & onions, in a gravy made with real cream

Nicole says: In my youth chicken pot pie was a dinner staple. I'm pretty sure we were eating Banquet brand, but I consider just about any chicken pot pie a childhood friend who never wronged me. They are crunchy, flaky, creamy, meaty… what else could you want? In addition to being child-friendly, they were also certainly mother-friendly due to the ease of preparation. I do, however, imagine that my mother set them aside for at least ten minutes before allowing us to eat them, as I don't recall burning my tongue on chicken pot pie until I was at least 15 and preparing one on my own.

Stouffer's chicken pot pie is microwaved in the opened box with the weird metallic-cardboard crisper thingy attached to the inside of the box. The crust certainly appears almost oven-baked. I ignored the direction to spin the box multiple 1/4 turns during heating since our office microwave has a carousel tray, and as payment I had to scour off bits of Stouffer-box that stuck to that glass tray during the cooking - maybe the turn would have helped.

So, crust: crispy, flaky, evidence of butter-taste. 100% yummy. I'm not a big fan of sweets, but savory dishes with pie crusts such as this entree and quiche are among my great comforts in life, just like the breading on country-~~friend~~ fried steak.

The creamy, chicken stock-rich base in this pie is thick enough not to run away as you slice into each bite of the pie. The chicken chunks it contains are indeed all white meat and has a lovely natural texture and density not always found in the frozen food world. I'm not a fan of peas or cooked carrots, but they just seem so right in a chicken pot pie. This pie is slightly larger than Banquet's pie in depth and weight.

Stouffer's chicken pot pie is very filling, and I mean it - you might be like, "Wow, I'm just about stuffed," and still have four bites left. In fact, this package contains "2" servings. Who splits a pot pie? I didn't when I was eight and I'm not about to start now. However, maybe you want to split, especially if you want to stay near a 2,000 calorie diet and plan on eating another meal in the same day. Or save it for dinner, usually the largest meal of the day.

But seriously, show me something else that's this tasty and 1200 calories for $2.50! Personally, I feel like I've really accomplished something when I've managed to swallow 1200 calories of delectable meat pie for lunch. If you like (or think you may like) chicken pot pie, Stouffer's offers a product to fulfill your wildest fantasies.

Filed Under Chicken, Five Stars, Stouffer's Frozen Meal Reviews | 14 Comments