Nicole

Quite frankly, nobody understands how Nicole manages to stay skinny while consuming plenty of Hungry-Man and Stouffer's meals.

In addition to defying caloric consumption models, Nicole likes to wear too-high heels and play video games, though not necessarily at the same time. She enjoys Guitar Hero and she once called in sick because she'd played too much Grand Theft Auto.

Really, do you know anyone else who's taken the day off for 'eye fatigue'? Yeah, I didn't think so.

Latest Reviews by Nicole:

Stouffer’s Country Fried Beef Steak

June 27, 2007 | Reviewer: Nicole

Stouffer's Country Fried Beef Steak Price: $2.00 (on sale)
Serving: 1 package, 16 oz.
Calories: 610
Fat: 51%, 33g
Cholesterol: 13%, 40mg
Sodium: 55%, 1330mg
Protein: 22g
Carbohydrates: 18%, 55g
Fiber: 24%, 6g

Stouffer’s says: A large, breaded chopped beef patty surrounded by homestyle country gravy. Served with a green bean and carrot medley and a satisfying portion of Stouffer’s creamy mashed potatoes.

Nicole says: This box of Stouffer’s Country Fried Beef Steak had been sitting in my freezer for the past few weeks. Well, since the Stouffer’s sale at Giant. I was waiting to be “in the mood” to eat it. A comfort-food type mood. But what actually put me there is the fact that I’m dating a man enamored of the Food Network, especially of the hokey “Good Eats” with Alton Brown.

The other night, a Good Eats re-run (Cubing a Round) told me all I ever needed to know about some of my favorite meals. It was about cube steak. Apparently, “Salisbury Steak,” “Chicken Friend Steak,” and “Country Fried Steak” all fall under this category, as does something called “Swedish Steak.” They are “perforated” steaks. I learned so much more than I can impart here - you will have to keep an eye out for the program. After watching, I really wanted a Country or Chicken Fried Steak. I mean, I love a decent filet, but a steak that is tenderized, floured/breaded, fried, and served with gravy? Ahhhh….

Stouffer’s offering is paired with mashed potatoes, carrots, and green beans. The cooking is overly complicated, but I guess the variety in the meal is the culprit. Add water to veggies. Cook 4 minutes. Stir potatoes. Cook 4 minutes. No, not the most complicated thing ever, but more than is generally expected of convenience food.

The gravy portion looks a bit miserly, but the steak is of a decent size (about 3″ x 4″ and 3/4″ thick) and the potato portion is generous. There are also a ton of steamed carrots and green beans. The carrot slices are soft but not mushy, the green beans maintain just an iota of crispness. There really are a lot of vegetables in this meal, perhaps more than I eat in an average day. Too bad they’re of middling microwave quality.

The point of this whole meal, cube steak, should be so tender that a knife is not required. The “perforation” and slow cooking destroys all connective tissue. This doesn’t work the best ever, however, when you are using a plastic fork. I’m surprised I didn’t break any tines off in my microwaved steak. The breading was soggy, but it was going to get that way anyhow once I slathered on the creamy, peppery gravy. The steak is not as tender as I would like, but has a nice flavor. The flavor would be meaty. Too bad that I could tell that some connective tissue remained. Stouffer’s, listen to Mr. Brown and get this 48 blade meat tenderizer.

This is a nice, big, tasty lunch, but I’ve had better Country and Chicken Fried Steak from the microwave. Get Marie Callender’s offering if you’re unconcerned about price. Or get a 48-blade meat tenderizer and go to work at home. Invite me over for dinner. Stouffer’s is a poor man’s cube steak that I would recommend on sale only. Not that I wasn’t licking the gravy from the carton. But that’s just how I roll.

[We haven’t yet reviewed Marie’s Country Fried Steak, but if you’re interested in other breaded and fried and then microwaved items, check out Nicole’s review of Marie Callender’s Country Fried Chicken and Gravy. -Ed.]

Filed Under Beef, Stouffer's Frozen Meal Reviews, Three Stars | 3 Comments

Stouffer’s Chicken Tenderloins

June 13, 2007 | Reviewer: Nicole

Stouffer's Chicken Tenderloins

Price: $2.00 (sale)
Serving: 1 entreé, 10 oz.
Calories: 430
Fat: 31%, 20g
Cholesterol: 23%, 70mg
Sodium: 51%, 1230mg
Protein: 26g
Carbohydrates: 12%, 37g
Fiber: 12%, 3g

Stouffer’s says: Juicy chicken breast tenderloins in barbeque sauce and cheddar potato bake with bacon

Nicole says: This looks so yummy, but how could it possibly be filling? You give me one medium (v. thick half dollar) and two medium-large (McD chicken nugget-sized) tenderloins in your fantastic barbeque sauce. And the cheesy potato bake looks AWESOME, but this tray could hold TWICE as much as you've offered.

The chicken is tender (as their moniker would suggest) and the barbeque sauce is a bit lumpy. It is on the cusp of gelatinous, but yummy with just the tiniest hint of zing. This stuff is definitely tasty enough that I lapped up a couple forkfuls after the chicken was gone because I was worried I'd will still be hungry after this meal. Eight bites of chicken is what you get when you order an appetizer and don't share. Eight bites of chicken is not an entreé.

The potato bake topping is actually crispy, and the potatoes are in a dense, creamy cheese sauce, with bacon backing up the taste. Heavenly, really. Crispy, cheesy, starchy, bacony heaven.

If you're a light eater who loves cheese and bacon, drop what you're doing and go get this meal right now. It's really delicious, both the chicken and potatoes.

But if you have a real appetite, you can wait until the next Stouffer sale. If I don't buy them all first, that is. Because this meal is delicious you will want to consume 1.5 boxes per sitting. Or have a nice dessert afterwards. So be prepared, ya hear?

Lucky me, I have some SmartFood cheddar popcorn hidden away for just this situation.

Filed Under Chicken, Four Stars, Stouffer's Frozen Meal Reviews | 4 Comments

Boston Market Beef Sirloin and Noodles

June 1, 2007 | Reviewer: Nicole

Boston Market Beef Sirloin and Noodles Price: $2.50 (on sale)
Serving: 1 entree, 14 oz.
Calories: 470
Fat: 19%, 12g
Cholesterol: 26%, 80mg
Sodium: 54%, 1310mg
Protein: 31g
Carbohydrates: 20%, 59g
Fiber: 11%, 3g

Boston Markety says: We start with tender, juicy cuts of Beef Sirloin mixed with a savory mushroom gravy. Pour it over freshly made buttered egg noodles, and you have a delicious steak entree with the Boston Market touch.

Nicole says: Boston Market is all about accurate representation. The lighting in the room where the box picture was taken is a bit softer and has more yellow in it, but this picture does fairly represent the amount and size of the meat, noodles, mushrooms and the little green herb flecks in the gravy and on the noodles.

Actually, there is a tad bit more meat in the meal than what the picture on the box expresses. And it’s not reconstituted meat product. In fact, a couple pieces of beef sirloin are actually marbled. Like steak. And it tastes really good. Crazy.

The gravy is on the watery side, quite salty in taste (my one warning), and features a hint of spiciness. The mushroom slices are each the size of a postage stamp, a tiny bit rubbery but quite moist, and taste mushroom-y. The noodles are soft and thick.

This is a pretty straightforward meal. Meat, noodles, some sauce with a couple veggies pretending to round out your food pyramid desires. It’s also 14 ounces, so a “hearty portion,” according to Boston Market and my standards.

I can’t wait for the next Boston Market sale. Of course, when I say that I will buy a meal again, it means in the far distant future, because I’m always searching out NEW meals to try and am too committed to the mission of warning your taste buds to settle into a comfortable routine of dependably yummy fare.

Filed Under Beef, Boston Market Reviews, Four Stars | 8 Comments

Bob Evans Original Sausage Gravy and Biscuits

May 3, 2007 | Reviewer: Nicole

Bob Evans Original Sausage Gravy and Biscuits Price: $3.59
Serving: 1/2 package, 6.75 oz.
Calories: 340
Fat:27%, 18g
Cholesterol: 6%, 15mg
Sodium: 45%, 1090mg
Protein: 9g
Carbs: 12%, 37g
Fiber: 5%, 1g
WW Points: 8 Points for one serving

Bob Evans says: White Gravy with Pork Sausage & 2 Biscuits

Nicole says: Bob gives separate cooking directions for the gravy and biscuits, which come in separate packages out of the box. Really, they can still cook together - cook the gravy for 4 minutes, then throw the biscuits in for the last 1 minute (add ten seconds - they
are warmer and softer that way).

The biscuits are pretty amazing and didn’t become hard from the microwave heating process. They could have had a bit more crumb, but absolutely avoided being rubbery. Soft, warm biscuits. Ahhhh. These are tasty enough, but really they are just a delivery vehicle for the gravy.

The tray for the gravy reminds of a shelf stable meat and potatoes meal I once ate, which wasn’t terrible, but I’d take Banquet over that crazy thing any day. Luckily, the gravy is not shelf stable. It is frozen, which means you should consider giving it a quick stir to get the ice crystals out of the center before the final minute of cooking. The gravy turns out creamy and chunky, with a generous share of spicy sausage bits and black pepper. It’s just below diner quality, but still savory and hearty. I’m more accustomed to gravies a bit heavier in fat and salt, but this is still quite good, and those who don’t prefer a sodium-heavy diet would probably like this.

Bob is fooling himself when he says that this is two servings. It is, however, a reasonably satisfying breakfast, especially for a workday morning when you’re accustomed to tea and a pecan twirl. I would recommend this to hungry people and hungover people. People who didn’t eat dinner last night, or ate dinner too early. If you’ve never experienced biscuits and gravy before, this would be by no means the worst introduction ever.

Bonus Instant Message conversation about star ratings, sodium, and Alton Brown:

GAIM conversation between Abi and Nicole