Price: $2.49
Serving: 1 pocket, 5oz.
Calories: 300 per serving
Fat: 12%, 7g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 5%, 130mg
Protein: 4g
Carbohydrates: 18%, 54g
Fiber: 12%, 3g
Sugar: 21g
Weight Watchers: 6 POINTS

Aunt Trudy says: Certified Organic. Microwaveable.

Chavi says: I’m positive this dessert was made for the organic Whole Foods crowd and not the kosher crowd, but somehow it ended up in my local kosher grocery store’s frozen foods section. It’s Vegan, Free of Trans Fats, and you won’t find a drip of Cholesterol in this thing, either. Add to that the very kindly looking woman on the front (she’s like a 1950s hipster Martha Stewart holding what could very well be a sneaky poisoned apple a la Snow White), and this treat had me tantalized. The packaging was perfect — healthy, clean, delicious.

The heating instructions were easy enough. Cut at the dotted line, microwave for two to three minutes (I opted for the low end), and consume. Now, I will add a caveat here: My refrigerator was plugged into a wall outlet that ended up switching off over the weekend, and my frozen goods basically defrosted. I was willing to give this a go anyway because A) I paid for it and B) It looked really good. That’s dedication, right? So if the outcome looks a little, well, unappetizing my apologies, because it’s the farthest thing from the truth. Thanks to some magical, special packaging, the phyllo came out crisp and flaky, and the gooey insides were hot and, well, gooey and sweet. It’s a spicy, apple pie all wrapped up in a steamy phyllo shell of goodness, without the weight of a normal pie crust. You wouldn’t know that you’re missing cholesterol or any other unnatural ingredients from this pastry, no sir.

According to Weight Watchers, an average slice of Apple Pie will run you 7 to 10 points. This pastry is probably larger than your average slice of pie and only comes in at 6 points. Now, there are more points in this treat than I’d normally like to consume (and with Skinny Cow ice creams I don’t have to), but sometimes you need that fresh, All-American flavor swimming in your insides. I have another Aunt Trudy’s pastry in my freezer, and I can’t wait to give it a go as well. These aren’t the kinds of things I’d consume regularly, but as a once-and-a-while treat? It’s definitely worth it. Thanks Aunt Trudy, whoever you are.

Price: $5.29 (at Whole Foods)
Serving: 2oz. (that’s ¼ cup of batter, or 3 4-inch pancakes)
Calories: 112 per serving
Fat: 1%, 0.5g
Cholesterol: 3%, 10mg
Sodium: 0%, 0mg
Protein: 3g
Carbohydrates: 8%, 23g
Fiber: 8%, 2g
Sugar: 7g
Weight Watchers Points: 2 per serving

Batter Blaster says: Just Blast Batter into a Skillet or Waffle Iron and Serve. No Mess – No Cleanup!

Chaviva says: I dare you to say the name of this nifty product five times fast, really. You see, this is the wave of the future. Yes, everything will come out of a pressurized can for your ease and convenience. It will be more than heat, eat, review. It will be shake, squirt, heat, eat, review. A few extra steps, but it seriously beats battling with packaging and slitting some film for satisfaction.

This space-age technology came to my attention purely in happenstance as I was waiting for the kindly gentleman at Whole Foods to talk to Miguel in the back about whether they had any more of those cute little mini jugs of nonfat milk (turns out they didn’t). And there, near the creamer and other dairy products, placed almost awkwardly, was this can of pancakes. “No Mess – No Cleanup!” the shiny can proclaimed. After considering the price – $5.29 for pancakes in a can? – I bought them. I mean, it was a prime opportunity to experience the food of the future.

My first go-round with these can-created pancakes was a flop. The pancakes seemed to disintegrate in the skillet before my eyes, but I chocked this up to my inability to cook anything successfully, even when the directions were as simple as shaking and blasting the batter in the pan. After chucking them into the trash, I considered whether the Batter Blaster was really made for the Heat Eat Review crowd. But we’re frozen meal people, and that once was the wave of the food future. So I forged forth and my second attempt was much more successful. These pancakes? As if nana had crawled out of her grave and slaved over a hot skillet all morning.

I’ve attempted the Bisquick “just add water” pancake containers and mix, but those always come out tasting thick and chalky, leaving me feeling about 10 pounds heavier after a mere few. These flapjacks, though, managed to come out tasting incredibly light and had the perfect amount of fluff. Tasting one before having slathered it with syrup, I even tasted a bit of sweetness in the batter. The product also works with a waffle iron, and although I don’t have one, I imagine you can be just as successful going that route. And be creative – spell out your name in batter!

The only bad thing about this can o’ fun is that it costs an arm and a leg. Yes, I was shopping at Whole Foods where organic automatically means “costs two dollars more than at your regular grocer,” but that’s no excuse. The can supposedly puts out about 28 pancakes, and in two tries, I’ve made about 10 small pancakes and the can is still mighty full. After checking out a few other reviews, I see that it can be had at Cost-Co in a three-pack for a mere $9.99. Just think, each of your munchkins can have their own can!

Let’s be honest, anything from a can that can be merely shaken, squirted and cooked is worth flipping over. If you go to the product website, you can even find out the nearest location carrying this blast to the future (okay, enough with the pancake puns). But really, you’ll thank me for introducing you to this food of the future when you’re squirting your already-seasoned Angus beef out of a pressurized can to make your sweet aunt Sally’s prize-winning meatballs.

Price: $3.19 – ouch
Serving: 1/2 can; 8oz.
Calories: 160 per serving
Fat: 5%, 3.5g
  Saturated Fat: 4%, 1g
  Trans Fat: 0%, 0g
Cholesterol: 0%, 0mg
Sodium: 41%, 980mg
Protein: 5g
Carbohydrates: 9%, 27g
Fiber: 24%, 6g
Sugar: 7g
Weight Watchers Points: 3 Points

Wolfgang Puck says: Organic vegetable stock, organic tomatoes, corn, and peppers along with tortilla flour produce this thick, hearty and delicious soup.

Abi says: This morning I made migas for breakfast. I then decided to go without showering for the rest of the day and everywhere I walked I carried the scent of corn tortillas and cumin with me. Whether sitting in the car or waiting in line at the grocery store, or just laying on the couch reading a book, the scent of maize radiated from my body.

If you’ve never experienced a truly fabulous corn tortilla, or you aren’t sure if you have access to fresh ones, I suggest you check out Trader Joe’s. Since finding their amazing (and cheap) fresh corn tortillas, I only the ones made with fresh corn, not cornmeal.

Sure, cornmeal has it’s place, but just about every recipe that calls for cornmeal as a major ingredient could be improved by subbing out the cornmeal for your own freshly creamed (or from the can) corn.

While I grew up eating migas and revelling in the scent of corn and cumin, I didn’t get to enjoy much tortilla soup as a kid. It wasn’t until I moved to Washington, DC and yearned for Texas that I really became a tortilla soup afficionado, trying it at every opportunity.

Wolfgang Puck’s Tortilla Soup is neither the best nor the worst I’ve tried. As a plus it does not have a slick of oil and as a minus it is murky. The taste is just fine, but if I’m paying a premium for Organic Name Brand soup, I want more than fine. And I want more than 15 beans and 12 pieces of corn in an orange sludge.

The sludge effect is entirely due to one ingredient: corn meal. Instead of putting actual tortillas in the tortilla soup, Wolfgang Puck’s gang of soupmakers went and put a bunch of corn meal in the soup. This is akin to making chicken soup with matzo balls and just throwing in a bunch of powder instead of going to the trouble of dealing with dumplings. As a Southwestern vegetable soup, this item would be perfectly fine minus the sludge, but until the tortilla part is reconciled, this soup should be renamed.

Price: $5.19
Serving: 1 bowl, 9.5oz.
Calories: 390
Fat: 28%, 18g
Cholesterol: 8%, 25mg
Sodium: 33%, 780mg
Protein: 18g
Carbs: 14%, 41g
Fiber: 28%, 7g
Weight Watchers Points: 8 Points

Amy’s Kitchen says: This casserole is based on a popular Mexican dish called “Chilaquiles.” When Amy’s parents first tasted it in Oaxaca they came back and asked Amy’s chefs to find the recipe. One of the chefs (whose family had owned a Mexican restaurant in San Francisco) was already familiar with the dish and adapted it to suit Amy’s Standards . . . organic ingredients, fewer “hot” spices, and less fat. The result is delicious and might remind you of a bowl of “nachos” made with organic baked corn chips and melted cheddar and jack cheeses. Plus . . . an assortment of organic vegetables and our own homemade fresh tofu. On the side are delicately seasoned slow-cooked black beans, making this gluten free meal in a bowl thoroughly satisfying.

Abi says: My apologies for the longest frozen food origin explanation in the world. It seems that the people at Amy’s Kitchen (and hey, if y’all are reading this, can I come visit you and tour the factory? Please?) ate a version of my most favorite hangover food EVER, came back to the United States, de-Mexicanized it, added tofu, and are now selling it as tortilla casserole.

When I saw this at the grocery store I was unnaturally excited about a frozen product. I was so eager to try this that I broke my cardinal rule of frozen food and paid a full $5.19 for this bowl.

As a person of Latin American heritage and a general enjoyer of food, I understand now that I made a mistake. Now I know how Italians feel when they think of Chef Boyardee. Where are the layers of flavor usually evident in Amy’s Kitchen meals? Where is the cheese? Why does the tofu have to be so obviously tofu-looking?

This bowl is full of mushy corn tortillas, bland tomato sauce (it would seem a shame to call it salsa or mole), and a healthy side of black beans. I know that it is possible to make a completely awesome meal out of those ingredients. However, this meal is not awesome. The bowl is filling, but it is also boring. It is so boring that at one point while eating it (during an I-want-to-be-President debate) I said out loud “Wow, this is boring.” and George asked “Hillary?” and I said “Well, her too, but I was talking about this meal.” And then he looked at it in a way that said ‘Yeah, it is not as good as my microwaved mini pizza.’

When something from Amy’s Kitchen is beat by a 79¢ pizza, you know there’s a problem. This meal makes me sad because I worry that an entire generation of healthful frozen food eating Americans are going to think of tortilla casserole or chilaquiles and they’ll think of this bowl.

This isn’t how it is folks and this isn’t how it has to be. If you’re looking for something Mexicanish and in the Amy’s Kitchen line, stick with the Santa Fe Enchilada Bowl, the Cheese Enchilada Meal or the Mexican Tamale Pie (just 2 points). Any of those is a terrific alternative to this dud.