Kate

Kate has shared a cubicle and/or office with Abi for the last two years. They mostly talk over IM. Really, that's how they communicate. When Abi got a new computer and didn't have Pidgin installed for a couple of days they just didn't speak to eachother at all.

Latest Reviews by Kate:

Linda McCartney Butternut Squash Ravioli

July 26, 2006 | Reviewer: Kate

I imagine it is pretty hard to fill Linda McCartney’s shoes even if you are a one-legged, activist model. Perhaps that is why I was drawn to Linda McCartney’s meals last night in the grocery store.

Linda McCartney Butternut Squash Ravioli

Price: 2 for $6 on sale
Serving: 1 package, 283 g
Calories: 470
Fat: 22%, 14g
Sodium: 18%, 420mg
Carbs: 24%, 69g
Fiber: 15%, 4mg
Protein: 17g

Linda McCartney said: Wholesome. All Natural. Delicious.

Kate says: The McCartneys have been in the news lately since Paul is spliting up with his second wife. I imagine it is pretty hard to fill Linda McCartney’s shoes even if you are a one-legged, activist model. Perhaps that is why I was drawn to Linda McCartney’s meals last night in the grocery store.

The ravioli’s appearance didn’t meat (haha…I typed meat and didn’t notice until I went back to edit) my expectations from the photo on the box. The photo is colorful and the squash and roasted pecans look bright and appealing. The actual food was monochromatic and a bit off-putting. After my first bite, I said aloud, “It’s al dente!” with glee. After a few bites I realized it was rather chewy in several places, but chewy is still better than soggy pasta.

The meal was tasty in the way that anything drenched in butter and smothered with cheese is tasty. Unfortunately I could only taste the squash in a few bites, but the buttery, cheesy pasta was still good.

At 470 calories, the meal is too highly caloric to make it into my regular rotation of lunch time frozen food, but I would eat this again.

Filed Under Four Stars, Linda McCartney Reviews, Vegetarian | 7 Comments

Tasty Bite Punjab Eggplant

May 18, 2006 | Reviewer: Kate

Tasty Bite Punjab Eggplant

Price: $3.29
Serving: 1/2 pack, 5 oz.
Calories: 144
Fat: 14%, 9g
Sodium: 21%, 515mg
Carbs: 4%, 13g
Fiber: 8%, 2g
Protein: 4g

Vegan, Kosher, Gluten-Free

Tasty Bite says: Braised eggplant cooked in a distinctively flavored sauce.

Kate says: I love eggplant in almost all forms, so I thought that the Tasty Bite Punjab Eggplant would be an easy win for a quick lunch. Unfortunately the so-called “distinctively flavored sauce” is oily, and although pleasantly spicy, lacking flavor. If I wrote the descriptive sentence for this dish it would be: Spicy eggplant mush with bland, oily sauce. As I write this, I think that spicy and bland seem to be mutually exclusive, but this dish proves otherwise: it heats up my mouth without pleasing my taste buds. The package is two servings, and after eating both servings in about six minutes, I discovered that they are probably right and I should have stopped eating after one serving. Two servings cause slight discomfort.

I will eat Punjab Eggplant again if it is available and I am hungry, but I will not go out of my way for it.

Filed Under No Freezer Needed, Tasty Bite Reviews, Two Stars, Vegan, Vegetarian | 5 Comments

Green Guru Dal Rajastani

May 12, 2006 | Reviewer: Kate

Green Guru Dal Rajastani

Price: $3.29 ($2.79 on sale)
Serving: 1/2 tray, 5 oz.
Calories: 130
Fat: 9%, 6g
Sodium: 19%, 450mg
Protein: 5g

Green Guru says: Exotic lentils and split peas. A flavorful and complex recipe makes this blend of dals a tantalizing compliment to any meal.

Kate says: This is not the best dal that I’ve ever had, but it isn’t bad either. Unfortunately for this dish, lemon dal happens to be the best recipe I know, so I have pretty high standards. I’m going to call this OK. If it came with rice, it would probably be upgraded to good. It could use a little more spice and a little more thickness. That said, in the sea of atrocious frozen food, this is still pretty darn good.

Filed Under Green Guru Reviews, Tandoor Chef Reviews, Three Stars, Vegan | 1 Comment

Green Guru Channa Masala

April 14, 2006 | Reviewer: Kate

Green Guru Channa Masala

Price: $3.29 ($2.79 on sale)
Serving: 1/2 Tray, 5 oz.
Calories: 160
Fat: 11%, 7g
Sodium: 10%, 250mg

Green Guru says: Chickpeas sauteed with onions, tomatoes, peppers & exotic spices.

Kate says: Delicious. It is just spicy enough to cause the lightest perspiration under my eyes. The chickpeas are firm and the sauce is flavorful. Green Guruâ€™s Channa Masala would be good on rice, but it also holds up alone.

Filed Under Four Stars, Green Guru Reviews, Tandoor Chef Reviews, Vegetarian | 4 Comments