Jenn

A connoisseur of high end restaurants, Jenn Barr only began dabbling in frozen food when she became a teacher and spent more late-night hours than she cares to remember in her classroom with only a trusty microwave. After moving from the classroom into the world of education policy, Jenn assumed that her days of frozen food were behind her. Fortunately for you, frozen food dominates office conversations in her new place of work. Instead of teaching children, Jenn now helps provide recommendations on suitable food choices in her effort to make the world a better place. Jenn's parents, certified California foodies, aren't sure what they did wrong to make their daughter a lover of frozen food.

Latest Reviews by Jenn:

Kangaroo Santa Fe Omelet Pita

August 29, 2007 | Reviewer: Jenn

Kangaroo Santa Fe Omelet Pita Price: Free from producer
Serving: 1 pocket, 3.74oz.
Calories: 200 per serving
Fat: 11%, 7g
Cholesterol: 58%, 175mg
Sodium: 18%, 445mg
Protein: 11gg
Carbs: 8%, 24g
Fiber: 20%, 5g
Weight Watchers Points: 5 Points

Kangaroo says: You’ll be pleased with the homemade taste of this all natural breakfast sandwich. The Omelet is made with fresh, whole eggs, natural cheese and bell peppers, then nestled inside a fresh-baked wheat pita pocket.

Jenn says: I’m headed to New Mexico next week for a conference so it was nice of Abi to give me a little preview of some southwestern food with the Santa Fe Omelet Pita. Generally super spicy foods and I don’t get along, but I figured the Santa Fe Omelet Pita would be a good way to get started on the spicier foods I will surely find all over New Mexico.

I started to like this breakfast item before I even got it out of the box. This is because it gave me three choices of how to cook it. For someone who rarely follows directions, this is key. I had the choice of microwaving a refrigerated pita for 40 seconds, microwaving a frozen pita for 80 seconds, and baking a frozen pita for 12-15 minutes in the oven. I was hungry and the pita was frozen so, microwaving for 80 seconds seemed like the best bet.

I have to say that upon emerging from the microwave, the cooked pita omelet didn’t really appear that different from the frozen version. It wasn’t until I bit into it that I was sure my teeth weren’t going to hit a layer of frozen egg. Fortunately, the pita omelet was fully cooked and the eggs were fluffy. The eggs reminded me of Egg Beater’s Southwestern mix, which I like. The pita omelet had a little kick of heat, enough to satisfy my need for spice, but probably not enough for a real Southwesterner.

At 200 calories, I would definitely eat the Santa Fe Omelet Pita again, especially because it is so portable. I eat eggs at least once a day (and if there is no food in my fridge, sometimes more often.) The omelet pita had the same great taste of the eggs I cook myself but was ready in a flash and didn’t get any of my pans dirty. Next time though, I think I would try popping the pita in the oven for a crisper pita pocket.

Filed Under Four Stars, Kangaroo Reviews, Vegetarian | 11 Comments

Simply Enjoy Pad Thai with Chicken 2

August 8, 2007 | Reviewer: Jenn

Simply Enjoy Pad Thai with Chicken

Price: $2.50 (on sale)
Serving: 1 package, 10.58 oz.
Calories: 300
Fat: 11%, 7g
Sodium: 41%, 980mg
Protein: 13g
Carbs: 16%, 49g
Fiber: 8%, 2g
Sugar: 12g

Simply Enjoy says: Our Chicken Pad Thai is made with deliciously seasoned white chicken tenderloins that are simmered in authentic Thai-style peanut sauce. Served on a bed of traditional rice noodles this tangy-sweet Thai-style dish is destined to become a favorite with your friends and family

Jenn says: The name makes it sound so simple – SIMPLY enjoy. Ok, I thought at the grocery store this morning. I can do that, especially if the meals are on sale.

Indeed, I did enjoy my lunch today. The meal I removed looked like the meal on the box. Connoisseurs of frozen food know that this is a big deal. Having a frozen food meal that actually looks like the picture on the box is akin to having a politician follow through on a campaign promise. The noodles in the pad Thai were very similar to those I find in my neighborhood Thai restaurant. The chicken was tender and moist and ineEvery few bites I experienced the salty crunch of peanuts.

I was about to follow the directions and SIMPLY enjoy my meal, but something was off – the sauce. While I admittedly liked the sauce, it was more citrus-based than peanut based. If I could identify the exact difference between regular pad Thai sauce and this pad Thai sauce, I would probably be reviewing real restaurants, not frozen food. Thus, you are going to have to take my word that the sauce might not be what you are expecting but it isn’t necessarily bad.

[Nicole also reviewed this meal, giving the Simply Enjoy Pad Thai only 1 star. I recommend that you check out past reviews by both Nicole and Jenn to figure out who you should trust on this one. - Ed.]

Filed Under Chicken, Four Stars, Simply Enjoy Reviews | 3 Comments

South Beach Diet Chicken Alfredo a la Roma

July 9, 2007 | Reviewer: Jenn

South Beach Diet Chicken Alfredo a la Roma Price: $2.50
Serving: 1 packagea, 10.3 oz.
Calories: 260
Fat: 12%, 8g
Cholesterol: 22%, 65mg
Sodium: 35%, 840mg
Protein: 29g
Carbs: 8%, 23g
Fiber: 32%, 8g

South Beach Diet says: Breast strips with rib meat and fettuccine pasta in alfredo sauce and tomatoes, with broccoli, red bell peppers, and yellow carrots

Jenn says: All good things must come to an end. Today, my love affair with South Beach Diet food is coming to an end. To say this was a love affair would be putting it mildly as South Beach has reigned atop my world of frozen entrees since its inception. Seeing South Beach Diet food on sale made for a great trip to the grocery store. The meat was real, the sauces snappy and the vegetables plentiful. However, the Chicken Alfredo a la Roma is none of these.

As you can see from the picture, the chicken in the actual meal is no where near the size of the chicken on package. Lean Cuisine alfredo sauce outshines South Beach Diet alfredo sauce any day. And the vegetables were mushy. While I’ve never actually been on the real South Beach Diet, (my friend Dana did it and got so hungry in a meeting that she started shaking) I supported meals that were full of real meat and ample amounts of vegetables. Chicken Alfredo a la Roma needs to be kicked out of the South Beach Diet family. It’s giving its brothers and sister on the frozen food and snack food aisles a bad name.

Filed Under Chicken, Kraft Reviews, South Beach Meal Reviews, Two Stars | 7 Comments

Simply Enjoy Chicken Tikka Masala

June 8, 2007 | Reviewer: Jenn

Simply Enjoy Chicken Tikka Masala Price: $2.50
Serving: 1 tray, 10.58 oz.
Calories: 390
Fat: 9%, 6g
Sodium: 25%, 590mg
Protein: 14g
Carbs: 21%, 62g
Fiber: 12%, 3g

Simply Enjoy says: Exotic spices flavor white chicken tenderloins to bring you a Chicken Tikka Masala. Served with a mildly spiced sauce on a bed of fragrant Basmati rice, this is a meal you can delight your friends and family with any day of the week.

Jenn says: The cost of a trip to India - $2,500. The cost of Simply Enjoy's Chicken Tikka Massala - $2.50 (on sale at Giant.) While I know that the two don't actually compare, if you don't have an extra couple of thousand dollars but still want good Indian food, I wholeheartedly recommend this meal.

The sauce is bright and aromatic without being overly spicy. The chicken is moist and tender, though the rice is a bit dry. Personally, I like my rice a little more moist, but I don't think moist rice is commonly found at Indian restaurants.

You could go to an Indian restaurant and get food just as good but it would probably cost you more and you would receive and inevitably eat a much larger portion size than is actually necessary.

I just had a colleague walk by and ask why I hadn't asked them if they wanted to go get take out at the Indian buffet today. Simply Enjoy's Chicken Tikka Massala can really fool you into believing that you went out to eat. Yum.

Filed Under Chicken, Five Stars, Simply Enjoy Reviews | 4 Comments