Price: $3 (on sale)
Serving: One package, 9.5 oz.
Calories: 260
Fat: 12%, 8g
Cholesterol: None
Sodium: 28%, 680mg
Carbs: 12%, 37g
Fiber: 20%, 5g
Protein: 12g

Amy’s Kitchen says: A non-dairy variation of the traditional Mattar Paneer, using tofu along with organic peas in a light, delicately seasoned sauce. On the side are fragrant basmati rice and what we call “Swarn’s Golden Lentil Dal,” which is simmered with organic tomatoes, onions and hand-roasted spices.

Andrew says: When I was a student at a preparatory academy during my junior and senior years of high school, I was "adopted" by some true-school Indian guys. One of them, a residence assistant on my floor, was like the brother I never had, and fed me like I was a member of the family. From samosas filled with curried peas and potatoes to chunks of delicious paneer (Indian cheese) slathered in exotic spices, I was awash in a new world of culinary delights for the better part of two years. And these were homemade meals, so they were accurate, fresh and lovingly made.

The experience kind of spoiled me. Now I live in northern Indiana, in a place where Indian restaurants are, for all intents and purposes, a fantasy. My Indian brothers have moved on to other areas, and so my exposure to the delights of Indian cuisine are far and few between.

I've known Amy's Kitchen makes frozen Indian meals for a while, but I've always been afraid to try them, lest they suck immensely. After all, I've only been exposed to the finest stuff; how could I expect a frozen meal to live up to that standard, or even come near it?

Well, I love frozen food. The advances made in frozen food since I've been born are absolutely astounding. Vegetables stay crisp and flavorful, meat no longer HAS to turn into a gelatinous mess, and even frozen mashed potatoes turn out pretty good more often than not. So, with that in mind, I took the plunge and invested my faith in some Amy's Indian meals.

They were all pretty fantastic. I guess I shouldn't have been so surprised, but the quality of these meals, when prepared properly actually approaches what I had before. In this version of mattar paneer (with tofu chunks standing in for the soft Indian cheese), there's a good, sweet curry flavor that actually reminds me of stuff my friend's mom used to make. It's not quite as spicy as I remember, but it's tasty.

And the tofu works well as a vegan replacement for the paneer. Texture-wise, they're almost identical, and to be frank, paneer's main utility in dishes like this seems to be texture, so there you go. Alongside the curried peas and tofu is golden lentil dal, which is good and spicy as well, but makes me wish I had some naan (flatbread) to sop it up with. Instead of bread, though, we're given the organic rice blend, which I'm sure turns out better in a microwave than flatbread would. And it's easy enough to spork up some rice and then spork up some dal and/or mattar tofu and then spork it into your mouth and say, "that Amy's sure can cook up some mean frozen Indian food!"

I'm giving this five stars mainly because I didn't think it was possible to create something frozen (and totally natural and totally organic) that could even approximate homemade Indian food. It's not quite restaurant or homemade quality, but for frozen food, it's basically the most fantastic thing ever.

[The tofu and cheese versions are loved by all who have consumed and written about them, including Jess of HeatEatReview.com (paneer review) and Tanya at Iateapie.net (tofu review) - Ed.]

Price: $2.50 (on sale)
Serving: 1 pie, 8 oz.
Calories: 160
Fat: 6%, 4g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 20%, 490mg
Protein: 5g
Carbs: 9%, 27g
Fiber: 20%, 5g
WW Points: 3 Points

Non-dairy/gluten free/no cholesterol

Amy’s Kitchen says: Meatless version of a long time favorite. Organic vegetables in a nourishing broth blanketed with smooth mashed potatoes.

Abi says: This afternoon, Kate asked the following question, which has nothing to do with organic pie, but very well indicates how much Kate follows sport:

“What game are we going to tomorrow, the Pistons?”

FYI, we’re going to a Nationals game tomorrow. The Nationals are a) a baseball team in Washington, DC, and b) not a basketball team in the playoffs.

Ok, so none of that has to do with the Sheperd’s Pie I bought yesterday. Safeway was having a sale of Amy’s pies and Amy (my coworker, not the company’s namesake) and I decided to pick up a few of these tasty treats. I say that having never eaten an Amy’s Pie, though Jess seems to like the Vegetable Pot Pie and Kate enjoys the Tamale Pie.

Now, about the blurb on the box: “A long time favorite of English country folk”

Do people from the English countryside like being called that? It makes them sound like characters from Monty Python’s Search for the Holy Grail. I grew up in the country (in Oregon) and I would probably have to punch someone if they called me “American country folk”. Except I’m not a violent person, so I would probably scowl at them instead.

Amazingly, this pie does taste like something that people wearing baize and living in thatched huts would eat. It is hearty and potatoey and not really made for eating in the summer (May in DC is as hotter than July in Oregon).

Ooh, and the vegetables stay crisp but it is strange to eat garbanzo beans in a pie. So reader, please eat this pie in the winter while wearing a wooly sweater and gazing out the window at the freshly fallen snow, but don’t call people “country folk”.

P.S. The term “country folk” also reminds me of Deliverance and I’m sure that no company wants people to think about the imagery involved in that while shopping for a frozen meal.

Price: 2 for $4 at Whole Foods (sale)
Size: 8 oz
Calories: 150
Fat: 5%, 3g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 25%, 590mg
Protein: 5g
Carbs: 9%, 27g
Fiber: 17%, 4g
WW Points: 2 Points

Amy’s Kitchen says: Amy’s Mexican Tamale Pie is made from organic pinto beans, organic corn, organic zucchini and organic crushed tomatoes, mildly seasoned and covered with a light organic corn meal polenta topping.

Kate says: Amy’s Mexican Tamale Pie doesn’t even need cheese to be delicious! This is vegan frozen food at it’s finest. It is the perfect blend of beans, veggies and light spices with a delicious corn meal crust. The veggies still have a little crunch to them, making it seem fresh rather than frozen. My only complaint is that the portion is not larger. I need to have supplemental food to make a complete lunch.