Chavi

Chavi (short for Chaviva) grew up in a Midwestern meat and potatoes family where the finest delicacy was mashed potatoes with meaty gravy on top. Over-cooked and under-flavored meat loaf and Hamburger Helper influenced her palate early on, not to mention steaks that were cooked to the point of tasting more like rubber than meat. After years of being forced to sit at the family table (clocking in once at two hours) until she had finished everything on her plate (steak was the biggest battle), Chavi became a vegetarian for some time, then moving on to white-meat only. After moving to Chicago a year ago, she discovered that beef isn't the enemy; a well cooked filet is delicious!

Thanks to her childhood of uninspired and bland food, Chavi isn't much of a cook and has spent much of her adult life relying on Lean Cuisines, Healthy Choices and every other frozen meal in between, not to mention shelf-stable delicacies. Chavi joined Weight Watchers in January 2008, which has made food consumption all the more interesting and a little bit stressful, so she's always on the look-out for frozen and easy-to-make goods that fit into the Flex Plan -- unfortunately, pizza isn't one of those things usually and she's on a mission to find a pizza that she can eat at least two slices of without feeling WW-guilt. To follow her exciting journey into weight loss, she's busy blogging about it (like everything else in her life) at You Could Be the First Fat Miss America.

The upside to all of this is that she's finally learning to cook (and mostly enjoying it), but unfortunately it's just in time for her move in Fall 2008 to Connecticut to start a graduate career (in Judaic studies), which means cafeteria-prepared food, living in a dorm room, and LOTS of those Cups o' Noodles and their knock-offs bought on Amazon and shipped right to her door. This will, of course, make eating a whole new and interesting ballgame that Chavi looks forward to with a devilish, excited grin.

Chavi also keeps a personal blog at http://mamaloshen.blogspot.com and participates in the group blog at http://jewsbychoice.org.

Latest Reviews by Chavi:

Tabatchnick Chicken Broth with Noodles & Dumplings

August 21, 2008 | Reviewer: Chavi

Tabatchnick Chicken Broth with Noodles & Dumplings Price: $1.33 (on sale)
Serving: 7.25 oz.
Calories: 150 per serving
Fat: 9%, 6g
Cholesterol: 22%, 65mg
Sodium: 31%, 740mg
Protein: 5g
Carbohydrates: 6%, 19g
Fiber: 3%, Less than 1g
Sugar: 1g
Weight Watchers Points: 3 per serving

Tabatchnick says: Nothing beyond the title, actually.

Chavi says: Struck with an uncomfortable stomach ache, I headed to the store for some bread (for toasting) and some soup. After grabbing the bread I headed to the soup aisle to find that not a darn thing was on sale (it being nearly summertime and all), and nothing seemed to strike my fancy. I’m not one for watery soups, preferring thicker, stew-style ones, but on that day a soupy soup was necessary for what ailed me.

After scanning all the brands — Campbell’s, Healthy Choice, the house brand — nothing looked good, and I didn’t want to spend three bucks on a can of soup because I’m cheap. So I walked away, defeated and headed to the frozen food section for other options. I checked out the frozen pizzas and Lean Cuisines, but still, nothing was hitting the spot. And then I happened to wander by that rare gem: the frozen organic and Kosher foods section.

You know you’ve walked past it, checked out the frozen latkes and blintzes, perhaps you’ve even spotted the Tabatchnick soups and thought — ‘I wonder if?’ Well, I have an answer for you. I saw the comforting looking chicken noodle/matzo ball soup style box, and my stomach declared “yes!” Before stuffing it in my basket, and it being a frozen soup, I checked out the instructions. I wanted absolute ease. There are directions for the microwave and the stove, and not having a microwave at home, I went for the stove option — stick the packet of soup in a pan of boiling water and let it sit for 15 minutes.

Now, I’m a sucker for some good matzo ball soup. I’ve had the best of the best from some of the greatest delis and Jewish grandmas out there, so I was skeptical. But this soup? It needs nothing. I thought, maybe I’ll need the pepper, but on a single taste, it was perfect. I have to imagine they locked a hundred Jewish grandmothers in a room to get a recipe this precise, especially considering it’s of the frozen variety. The matzo balls aren’t exactly balls, but they get the point across. The noodles were tender and although it could have used some more of the vegetables, it was on par with what one would expect from a fresh bowl of chicken noodle soup with a matzo flair.

There being just two matzo balls, I ended up eating the entire thing, which, truth be told, really was only one bowl’s worth that you see in the picture (they say the packet should serve two). Either way, it’s still a decently low-points meal. If you’re worried about your sodium intake, you might want to take a step back from the bowl; it’s definitely high on the salt.

As is expected, I walked away with about 20 other things I didn’t need from the grocery store. But the important thing is that I got a grandmother-style serving of ailment-curing chicken soup.

Filed Under 3 WW Points, Certified Kosher, Chicken, Five Stars, Tabatchnick Soup Reviews | 12 Comments

Archer Farms Moroccan-inspired Apricot Currant Whole Wheat Cousccous and Chicken Entree

May 20, 2008 | Reviewer: Chavi

Archer Farms Moroccan-inspired Apricot Currant Whole Wheat Cousccous and Chicken Entree Price: $4.99
Serving: 4-6, 18.7 oz.
Calories: 230 per serving, prepared
Fat: 9%, 6g
Cholesterol: 9%, 25mg
Sodium: 25%, 510mg
Protein: 13g
Carbohydrates: 11%, 32g
Fiber: 17%, 4g
Sugar: 3g
Weight Watchers Points: 4

Archer Farms says: The vibrant flavors of Morocco come to life in this delicious dish. Enjoy chicken and whole wheat couscous topped with an aromatic, spice-rich sauce, tangy dried apricots, and sweet Zante currants. Bring home a world of taste and convenience with meals by Archer Farms.

Chaviva says: I try not to go to the store hungry — it’s the ultimate no-no when it comes to eating sensibly. But, you see, I wasn’t at the store, I was at Target on a mission for toothpaste and razors and other girly necessities, but having this problem where I have to wander the aisles of the Target food section, I ended up staring at loads of Target’s Archer Farms products, stomach grumbling violently.

So, as is typical with the hungry person in any food aisle, I started grabbing various things — granola bars, chips, and then, I saw the prepackaged meals. Now, I have to mention that I grew up on Hamburger Helper and Tuna Helper and I’ve vowed to myself since those days that prepackaged meals where you “just add meat” are not the way to go; they tend to be loaded with crap and just aren’t good for you, not to mention they taste like overcooked, over-salted Goodyear tires. But this meal, it HAD the meat! The Apricot Currant Whole Wheat Couscous and Chicken entree struck me as something exotic and — being in a state of hunger I couldn’t repress — absolutely delicious sounding. So I grabbed the box, checked out the easy-to-prepare instructions, made sure everything was in the package, and went on my way. At home, I ripped open the box to find four things — a bag of couscous, a bag of dried fruit, a packet of sauce contents, and a can of chicken. All this lazy, unmotivated cook had to do was throw some water in a few pans and measure out some olive oil. AMEN, says the lazy, hungry girl.

It took about 5-10 minutes to prepare this whole dish, and I have to say that it took less time to make this seemingly homemade dish than it does sometimes to prepare a microwavable meal, so color me stoked. I decided that for the sake of feeling like I actually made this whole meal from scratch, I put it on an actual plate instead of the typical paper plate (killing nature one plate at a time, I’m sorry, but lazy when it comes to dishes). The chicken+sauce is served atop the couscous, and one bite in and I could taste the “vibrant flavors” and “spice-rich sauce” that Archer Farms described on the box. Oftentimes these things can end up tasting like a rubber chicken stew, but this dish really came out tasting like something you’d get at a five-star restaurant. The dried fruit with the sauce and the chicken have given a beautiful aroma to my apartment, and since this has plenty of servings, I’ve got leftovers, which makes any (non)cook happy.

My only gripe to Archer Farms is that their nutritional content is really confusing. Being a Weight Watchers person, it’s helpful for the listings to be pretty precise, but there are starred, double-starred, and triple-starred reference notes. They list the nutrition “as packaged” — why? is anyone going to eat everything raw? — as “1 cup prepared,” and “1.5 cups prepared.” I did my best and hopefully I managed to get everything right up there, and in truth, at 4 points a serving (that’s for the 1 cup prepared), this dish has all the goods and none of the crap. On the other hand, I recognize and can identify every item in the ingredients list, which is rare for a lot of items.

In my experience with Archer Farms products, I have yet to be disappointed. I’ve had the cereals, the granola bars, some of the desserts, soups, etc. I don’t know what it is about their stuff, but it usually ends up being some of the healthiest stuff, but without the Whole Foods prices. And my gripe for fresh produce at Targets with the full-gamut of grocery items was somewhat satisfied today — they had onions, apples, peppers, lettuce, and other items in coolers. Target is well on its way to serving up some of the best foodstuffs out there with meals like this that are quick, painless, and absolutely delicious.

With clothes, housewares, home goods, shoes, jewelry, and food, I’ll be the first to admit that I’m a slut for Target. Should I get the “Hello. Good Buy” tattoo on my arm or my forehead?

Filed Under 4 WW Points, Archer Farms, Chicken, Four Stars | 7 Comments

Smart Ones Fruit Inspirations Honey Mango Barbeque Chicken

April 22, 2008 | Reviewer: Chavi

Smart Ones Fruit Inspirations Honey Mango Barbeque Chicken Price: Free/$2.56 (on sale)
Serving: 9 oz.
Calories: 240 per serving
Fat: 5%, 3.5g
Cholesterol: 11%, 30mg
Sodium: 21%, 490mg
Protein: 9g
Carbohydrates: 11%, 34g
Fiber: 0%, 0g
Sugar: 14g
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Points

Smart Ones says: White meat chicken with diced mangoes in a honey barbeque sauce and orzo pasta

Chaviva says: Oh Smart Ones, you’ve finally done it! A Smart One I will look forward to purchasing in the future. My only two beefs on this chicken meal are that

It lacks any fiber. At all. Note zeros above.
The barbeque flavor is completely missing.

Luckily, I chose this dish because I was stoked about the idea of a mango sauce. I cooked the package in the microwave according to the instructions and after it’s few minutes of sitting idle, I dove in. I was trying to decide whether the bbq flavor was meant to be in the sauce, which essentially just looked like a mango chutney, or if it was some type of flavor cooked into the chicken. Either way, the flavor was not apparent, though there definitely was a zing and bite to the chicken and mango sauce. The orzo pasta was delicious, though I have no gauge as I’ve never had orzo pasta before. It has a slightly cheesy flavor to it, which I didn’t mind. I’m pretty sure the mix-ins were spinach and red pepper, and I dumped the orzo pasta over into the
leftover mango sauce.

I think the pro to this dish was that it wasn’t all watery like a bulk of the Smart Ones I’ve purchased. That extra watery goo just rains on my eating healthy parade, and it often turns me off from an entire brand. But this one was spot on. The mango sauce was not watery and didn’t require any mixing in with spare moisture left by the chicken. The orzo also lacked any overly liquidy content, making it just darn near perfect.

I’ll admit that I ate this dish super fast – it was that good. I could probably go for a whole additional one, but at 5 points it pretty much rings in as a good dining choice for Weight Watchers folks. I imagine that the point value would drop dramatically if there were some fiber enjoined in this fruity concoction. So I implore you, pick up this fruit creation and enjoy. And avoid those other Smart Ones (especially the Chicken Santa Fe, oy, that gets a 1 star on my radar, if even that).

Now to go find some more fruits to fill the void left by the consumed mango sauce … oh, and sorry for the poor photo quality – my small, convenient digicam is broken, so the blackberry is serving as my on-the-go camera for work photos. I can guarantee that the colors of the mango sauce and the chicken and orzo are much more appetizing and bright than this photo portrays!

[The folks at Smart Ones’ PR company sent coupons for free meals to reviewers as part of their ‘Fruit Inspirations’ promotion. Yes, we got this meal for free. Actually, Chaviva got one for free. I paid for one and until I saw this review, I was trying to figure out how I could trick George into eating it. -Ed.]

Filed Under 5 WW Points, Chicken, Five Stars, Smart Ones Reviews | 13 Comments

Trader Joe’s Chicken Vindaloo

February 7, 2008 | Reviewer: Chavi

Trader Joe’s Chicken Vindaloo Price: $2.69
Serving: 11 oz.
Calories: 290 per serving
Fat: 5%, 3.5g
Cholesterol: 10%, 30mg
Sodium: 25%, 590mg
Protein: 16g
Carbohydrates: 16%, 47g
Fiber: 11%, 3g
Sugar: 3g
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Points

Trader Joe says: Vegetables and white chicken with a vindaloo curry sauce served over steamed rice.

Chaviva says: The U.S. Department of Agriculture inspected this little bowl of Indian nosh or wholesomeness, but they didn’t inspect it for deliciousness.

When I first saw this dish, I was immediately stoked. You see, I’ll do anything to try a new Indian dish if I don’t have to go to a public restaurant and eat alone. I whipped out my BlackBerry, clicked on the bookmarked Weight Watchers calculator and punched in the figures. I was very pleased to find out that Trader Joe’s Chicken Vindaloo was only 5 points (about the average point value for a Lean Cuisine — my lunch entree of choice), and thus purchased the frozen bowl o’meal.

After heating the bowl for 4 minutes, then stirring the contents (most of which were still frozen) and popping it back in for another 4 minutes, I scurried to my office to sit, huddled over the bowl, for the brief lunch break I take. Upon first bite, I was shocked with the taste of nothing. This is a curry dish and I pride myself on being a “hot head” — that is, I am able to withstand all foods at any heat level — but this meal was completely benign. I decided to not judge it upon first bite, and took another. The spices started finding their way into the nooks and recesses of my mouth, and it started to taste more like Indian fare, but it reminded me of leftovers. I swore I was eating day-old peas and carrots from a failed stew and leftover chicken from a failed soup and leftover rice, just mushed together in a little black bowl and stuffed into the freezer section at Trader Joe’s. I could throw this together at home if the only requirement for wholesomeness is to “taste like a leftover mash.”

The look of the meal also resembled that of leftovers, like when you go to a restaurant and they stuff the rice in with the entree. That drives me crazy because it means that I don’t get that fresh rice-meets-entree experience. I eat a lot of frozen meals at my boring office job, and this definitely doesn’t rank up with my favorites. The chicken was plenty tender, but it failed to wow me the way that a lot of other pre-packaged Indian meals I’ve had have done — especially on the flavor indicator. I did finish the entire bowl, but only becuase I didn’t want to have to figure out the points value for only eating some bizarre fraction of the meal. Afterward, my mouth felt as though it had consumed a full Indian buffet, but a piece of gum took care of that sad untruth.

Alas, Indian nosh, you are banished to the Dept. of Agriculture for further testing. Wholesomeness just isn’t enough these days.

Filed Under 5 WW Points, Chicken, Trader Joe's Reviews, Two Stars | 5 Comments