Price: $2.50
Serving: 1/3 package, 7oz.
All nutritional information below is for the entire package
Calories: 780
Fat: 39%, 18g
Cholesterol: 27%, 90mg
Sodium: 87%, 2070mg
Protein: 51g
Carbs: 27%, 84g
Fiber: 39%, 9g
Weight Watchers Points: 16 Points

Stouffer’s says: Traditional lasagna noodles layered with an herb seasoned tomato and meat sauce and three kinds of natural cheese

Nicole says: I dislike having to type out the names of what I’m eating as it often creates unexpected hostility. I was happy enough to be eating Meat Lasagna, but now I know that they felt the need to specify that it has SAUCE. You know, since lasagna doesn’t traditionally have sauce. Next time, I’m going to look for the “Lasagna with layered meat, sauce, lasagna noodles, and cheese

la-sag-na. [luh-zahn-yuh, lah-] noun.
1. large, flat, rectangular strips of pasta.
2. a baked dish consisting of layers of this pasta, cheese, tomato sauce, and usually meat.

(Source: Random House, unabridged, via dictionary.com)

OOOH, I see - Stouffer’s meant the first definition. Gotcha. The second wouldn’t be helpful here at all, really.

So the actual versus contrived disappointment with this meal is cooking time. The microwave in my office zaps things right quick - I usually use a time towards the lower end of a range or knock 10-20 seconds from the cook time. But I didn’t here, as lasagna is dense and notorious for not cooking through. I cooked for seven minutes. Which meant it was too hot to eat for another seven minutes. At this point I am starving, so I start eating this mighty tasty lasagna (although I’m sure inedible for those of you who recently took a “sabbatical” to Italy) - thick, hearty with a mild tomato sauce, lots of reasonably well-spiced beef and more cheese than exists in an entire freezer’s worth of Lean Cuisine meals.

Halfway through, there it is - the cold center bite.

Not frozen, not lukewarm. Cold. We’re talking cheese and BEEF. The cheese is still in shredded form, although it’s slightly softened.The beef is cold. I realize this isn’t exactly raw beef, but it’s not Goood Eats (see that extra “o” there? I’m not stealing any trademarks). So it has to go BACK IN the microwave for 45 seconds. That does the trick - but again, too hot to dig right in.

Wait two minutes.

Ahhh. This really is quite yummy and better than average, though it’s not Boston Market lasagna. The sauce could use some spice - but you can tell it’s made from tomatoes! Ground beef is featured on a range of sizes from tiny to a good (thumbnail) sized chunk. The entire tray is slightly overcooked on the top edges - but I like the crunch that creates - and the thick pasta sheets cooked thoroughly without falling apart. Finally, there’s plenty of cheese, cheese, cheese - thank you Stouffer’s!

I’m extremely pleased with size of this meal - it is “large” and filling, but not to the point of feeling particularly uncomfortable or ill. However, they do call this “three servings” which is a funny joke.

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.

Price: $2.50 (on sale)
Serving: 1 sandwich, 6 oz.
Calories: 350
Fat: 26%, 17g
Cholesterol: 12%, 35mg
Sodium: 25%, 610mg
Protein: 20g
Carbohydrates: 10%, 31g
Fiber: 13%, 3g

Stouffer’s says: Strips of grilled white meat chicken topped with provolone cheese, grilled onions and peppers on Italian white bread

Nicole says: Stouffer’s new Corner Bistro offerings are rocking my world. I had the Turkey Club Panini recently and was mucho impressed (I will review sometime soon). The serving size is too small, no doubt, but just bring a small bag of chips, goldfish or carrot sticks and you’ve got a lunch.

The amazing “REVOLUTIONARY GRILLING(tm) TECHNOLOGY” really works in crisping up the sandwich bread. The contents are mostly tasty herbed chicken and melted provolone with a few peppers and onions for a spark of spice, and are generously proportioned enough to the sandwich size so as to make each bite a happy, well-mixed mouthful. And more than a mouthful is a waste, right? I would just about swear that this has more chicken than a standard-sized Lean Cuisine entreé - and it’s a freaking sandwich!

Immediately after eating the sandwich, you will feel satiated. I think it’s due to the bread. However, if you don’t take my advice and add a small bag of chips, apples, or apple chips, you’ll be hungry again in just a couple hours. If this meal were 1.5 times it’s actual size, then the moon would be in the seventh house and Jupiter would align with Mars. You know, harmony and understanding, blah, blah, blah.

Thanks, Stouffer’s!

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.]