17 September 2009
14 September 2009
Banquet Select Recipes
Herb Grilled Chicken Breast - Veggies - carrots were a little leathery, green beans were OK, fairly typical microwaved-from-frozen beans. Gravy - chicken and bitterness. Chicken patty - chicken, TVP, spices, surprisingly not bad, a bit spongy but not offensive. Rice was also surprisingly good, not overdone, banquet knows rice.
Boneless Pork Rib Shaped Patty Meal - corn: tough. Bland. Cow corn. Mashed potatoes: decent. can't fuck that up. Pork - fairly flavorless but for the bbq sauce, which is vinegary, sweet, tomatoey, not too bad. meat loaded with filler. This meal is inoffensively mediocre. Tons of sauce, the meat patty swims in it.
Boneless Pork Rib Shaped Patty Meal - corn: tough. Bland. Cow corn. Mashed potatoes: decent. can't fuck that up. Pork - fairly flavorless but for the bbq sauce, which is vinegary, sweet, tomatoey, not too bad. meat loaded with filler. This meal is inoffensively mediocre. Tons of sauce, the meat patty swims in it.
24 August 2009
Banquet BARF
meat patty - WTF, sticky, wet, lots of TVP, tiny bits of gristle and cartilege.
cheese sauce - disgusting, clotty, sour tasting, little puddles of oil here and there. Really amazing in it's "not-goodness."
spuds are standard issue.
cheese sauce - disgusting, clotty, sour tasting, little puddles of oil here and there. Really amazing in it's "not-goodness."
spuds are standard issue.
22 August 2009
Cape Cod Potato Chip Product notes
Cape Cod Popcorn - Sweet Cream Butter - Big fluffy kernels, salty, buttery, tangy. (buttermilk powder used as a flavor) Also a touch of sweet (there's sugar there too.) Really good. "Take these away from me, I could eat the whole bag," says Maryanne.
18 August 2009
Frozen Lasagna Notes
From worst to best:
SHITTY:
Michelina's Lean Gourmet Five Cheese Lasagna - Sauce - ok, tangy, not very spicy, strong tomato flavor. Layers: very sparse mozz & a thin film of sauce, then 4 layers of pasta each one separated by the barest thin film of cheese. This is another one of those "all noodles, no cheese" so-called lasagnas. Fail. Amazing that they can call this "five cheese lasagna" when there's barely any cheese at all. Bellisio Foods. The label shows "less than 1% of" parmesan, asiago, and romano (3 of the 5 cheeses) with mozz just before that. Sucks. 8 oz, 280 cal.
Weight Watchers Smart Ones - Traditional Lasagna with Meat Sauce - Sauce was cheap tasting, sweetish like tomato soup, but very "carroty." Sure enough, there was carrot juice concentrate in it. Made it very "Franco-American" like. Meat bits are soft. Layers top to bottom: mozz, sauce, bits of meat, pasta, thin smear of ricotta, pasta, thin smear of ricotta, pasta. Not too wet. Not too spicy. Not too cheesy, either. Heinz 10.5 oz, 300 cal (29 cal/oz)
NOT SHITTY BUT STILL FAIL:
Lean Cuisine Lasagna with Meat Sauce - Good sauce, very authentic, no surprise that it's good because its Stouffers. Flavorful meat with good texture. Layers top to bottom: thin sprinkle of mozz & meat, sauce, pasta, sauce with a sparse sprinkle of cottage cheese curds, pasta. Thinnest and chintziest on the cheese, this is basically just noodles with good sauce which means it fails at being lasagna. Really not worth the price, especially considering that 320 calories makes it more calories than some of the others. Nestle 10.5 oz, 320 cal (30 cal/oz)
MEH:
Amy's Cheese Lasagna - Tomatoey marinara, nothing special, not spicy, just meh. Layers: Sauce and mozz, pasta, ricotta, pasta, ricotta, pasta. Very good pasta, not tough or chewy. Generous ricotta but kind of flat, no herbs. A little wet on the bottom. Very plain and almost bland. Expensive ($6) 10.32 oz, 380 cal. Amy's Kitchen.
Boston Market Lasagna with Meat Sauce - Plainish sauce (not too many outstanding herbal notes, some basil, salty). Layers top to bottom: mozz, sauce, meat, pasta, ricotta, pasta, ricotta, pasta. Meat is tough, sausagey, but not as good as Stouffer (turns out it's "seasoned beef.") Pasta is tougher, ricotta layer "wetter." More meat than Stouffer. OK but not great. Heinz. 12.5 oz
GOOD:
Stouffer's Homestyle Classics - Lasagna Italiano - tangy sauce, oregano, marjoram, basil. Layers top to bottom: mozz, sauce, pasta, ricotta, pasta, pasta. Meat in the meat sauce tastes like spicy italian sausage. Fennel in the sausage, unexpected and nice. Very good overall, would buy again. Nestle. 19 oz, 791 cal. (38 cal/oz)
Marie Callender's Meat Lasagna - Cooks up really ugly-looking. there was mozz on top when I put in the nuker, nothing but sauce with a "cheese film" up there now. Sauce is very good, very authentic Italian. Heavily sauced on top. Goopy. Layers top to bottom: sauce with a sprinkle of meat and mozz (heating turned this into a cheesy sort of sauce slurry), pasta, ricotta, pasta, meat with some kind of not-readily-identifyable cheese, pasta. Meat is good (seasoned beef/pork). Overall rather "wet." Could use a little less salt. Would buy again, if on sale. ConAgra 8 oz, 240 cal. (30 cal./oz)
VERY GOOD:
Eating Right Lasagna with Meat Sauce - Really good sauce, authentic, oregano stands out, garlic, there's even a bit of heat to the spice. Layers: very sparse mozz on top with sauce and meat, thin ricotta but better than most "lean" versions, pasta, thin sauce and bits of meat, pasta. Meat has good flavor but is beef + TVP. Pasta a bit tough. Overall pretty decent, the spiciness makes it v. enjoyable. 10.7 oz, 370 cal. (35 cal/oz) Lucerne Foods Inc.
BITCHIN:
Michael Angelo's Lasagna with Meat Sauce - Good sauce, well-seasoned, oregano. Generous with cheese. Layers top to bottom: mozz & meat, sauce, pasta, ricotta, pasta. Surprisingly watery, as in actual water at bottom of pan. Overall good flavor & texture. Meat is ground beef, plain & simple, no bullshit fillers. Win. Michael Angelo's Gourmet Foods Inc. 12 oz, 429 cal (36 cal/oz)
Mama Rosie's Cheese Lasagna - Excellent sauce. Layers top to bottom: mozz, sauce, pasta, ricotta, pasta, ricotta, pasta. Delicious, fluffy ricotta with a little bit of sauce, not a wet lasagna at all. Mighty fine, this one is a keeper. Mama Rosie's Co., Boston MA - might be regional. Mention the soy connection in review. 10 oz, 290 cal (29 cal/oz)
Celentano Lasagna with Sauce - Excellent sauce, tomatoey and spicy. Layers: sauce, pasta, ricotta, pasta, ricotta, pasta. No mozz. Delicious fluffy ricotta. Plenty of sauce but not too much. Excellent. Rosina Food Products, Buffalo NY 14 oz, 620 cal (44 cal/oz)
SHITTY:
Michelina's Lean Gourmet Five Cheese Lasagna - Sauce - ok, tangy, not very spicy, strong tomato flavor. Layers: very sparse mozz & a thin film of sauce, then 4 layers of pasta each one separated by the barest thin film of cheese. This is another one of those "all noodles, no cheese" so-called lasagnas. Fail. Amazing that they can call this "five cheese lasagna" when there's barely any cheese at all. Bellisio Foods. The label shows "less than 1% of" parmesan, asiago, and romano (3 of the 5 cheeses) with mozz just before that. Sucks. 8 oz, 280 cal.
Weight Watchers Smart Ones - Traditional Lasagna with Meat Sauce - Sauce was cheap tasting, sweetish like tomato soup, but very "carroty." Sure enough, there was carrot juice concentrate in it. Made it very "Franco-American" like. Meat bits are soft. Layers top to bottom: mozz, sauce, bits of meat, pasta, thin smear of ricotta, pasta, thin smear of ricotta, pasta. Not too wet. Not too spicy. Not too cheesy, either. Heinz 10.5 oz, 300 cal (29 cal/oz)
NOT SHITTY BUT STILL FAIL:
Lean Cuisine Lasagna with Meat Sauce - Good sauce, very authentic, no surprise that it's good because its Stouffers. Flavorful meat with good texture. Layers top to bottom: thin sprinkle of mozz & meat, sauce, pasta, sauce with a sparse sprinkle of cottage cheese curds, pasta. Thinnest and chintziest on the cheese, this is basically just noodles with good sauce which means it fails at being lasagna. Really not worth the price, especially considering that 320 calories makes it more calories than some of the others. Nestle 10.5 oz, 320 cal (30 cal/oz)
MEH:
Amy's Cheese Lasagna - Tomatoey marinara, nothing special, not spicy, just meh. Layers: Sauce and mozz, pasta, ricotta, pasta, ricotta, pasta. Very good pasta, not tough or chewy. Generous ricotta but kind of flat, no herbs. A little wet on the bottom. Very plain and almost bland. Expensive ($6) 10.32 oz, 380 cal. Amy's Kitchen.
Boston Market Lasagna with Meat Sauce - Plainish sauce (not too many outstanding herbal notes, some basil, salty). Layers top to bottom: mozz, sauce, meat, pasta, ricotta, pasta, ricotta, pasta. Meat is tough, sausagey, but not as good as Stouffer (turns out it's "seasoned beef.") Pasta is tougher, ricotta layer "wetter." More meat than Stouffer. OK but not great. Heinz. 12.5 oz
GOOD:
Stouffer's Homestyle Classics - Lasagna Italiano - tangy sauce, oregano, marjoram, basil. Layers top to bottom: mozz, sauce, pasta, ricotta, pasta, pasta. Meat in the meat sauce tastes like spicy italian sausage. Fennel in the sausage, unexpected and nice. Very good overall, would buy again. Nestle. 19 oz, 791 cal. (38 cal/oz)
Marie Callender's Meat Lasagna - Cooks up really ugly-looking. there was mozz on top when I put in the nuker, nothing but sauce with a "cheese film" up there now. Sauce is very good, very authentic Italian. Heavily sauced on top. Goopy. Layers top to bottom: sauce with a sprinkle of meat and mozz (heating turned this into a cheesy sort of sauce slurry), pasta, ricotta, pasta, meat with some kind of not-readily-identifyable cheese, pasta. Meat is good (seasoned beef/pork). Overall rather "wet." Could use a little less salt. Would buy again, if on sale. ConAgra 8 oz, 240 cal. (30 cal./oz)
VERY GOOD:
Eating Right Lasagna with Meat Sauce - Really good sauce, authentic, oregano stands out, garlic, there's even a bit of heat to the spice. Layers: very sparse mozz on top with sauce and meat, thin ricotta but better than most "lean" versions, pasta, thin sauce and bits of meat, pasta. Meat has good flavor but is beef + TVP. Pasta a bit tough. Overall pretty decent, the spiciness makes it v. enjoyable. 10.7 oz, 370 cal. (35 cal/oz) Lucerne Foods Inc.
BITCHIN:
Michael Angelo's Lasagna with Meat Sauce - Good sauce, well-seasoned, oregano. Generous with cheese. Layers top to bottom: mozz & meat, sauce, pasta, ricotta, pasta. Surprisingly watery, as in actual water at bottom of pan. Overall good flavor & texture. Meat is ground beef, plain & simple, no bullshit fillers. Win. Michael Angelo's Gourmet Foods Inc. 12 oz, 429 cal (36 cal/oz)
Mama Rosie's Cheese Lasagna - Excellent sauce. Layers top to bottom: mozz, sauce, pasta, ricotta, pasta, ricotta, pasta. Delicious, fluffy ricotta with a little bit of sauce, not a wet lasagna at all. Mighty fine, this one is a keeper. Mama Rosie's Co., Boston MA - might be regional. Mention the soy connection in review. 10 oz, 290 cal (29 cal/oz)
Celentano Lasagna with Sauce - Excellent sauce, tomatoey and spicy. Layers: sauce, pasta, ricotta, pasta, ricotta, pasta. No mozz. Delicious fluffy ricotta. Plenty of sauce but not too much. Excellent. Rosina Food Products, Buffalo NY 14 oz, 620 cal (44 cal/oz)
17 August 2009
healthy choice honey ginger chicken
...tastes like dog food.
This is the first healthy choice meal I've had that's been inedible.
Lots and lots of rice drenched in a "honey ginger" sauce that overall tastes like the pedigree dog food that I give zim.
the sauce has some kind of kick, though, as well as some sort of sweet.
there aren't a lot of veggies in this one, oddly enough. a few strips of rubbery, almost fleshy, carrots, a handful of soybeans, and some mushy bell pepper are in the mix, as well as a heap of shaved mushrooms. Bleh. even though I'm not a fan of mushrooms, I taste one anyway. it tastes like nothing.
The chicken is the most 'real' chicken I've had yet. doesn't taste like it's had anything added to it and there's a surprising amount of it. shame, then, that it's so dry and has the added dogfood taste to it.
cal:310
fat cal: 45
sodium: 310 mg; 13%
This is the first healthy choice meal I've had that's been inedible.
Lots and lots of rice drenched in a "honey ginger" sauce that overall tastes like the pedigree dog food that I give zim.
the sauce has some kind of kick, though, as well as some sort of sweet.
there aren't a lot of veggies in this one, oddly enough. a few strips of rubbery, almost fleshy, carrots, a handful of soybeans, and some mushy bell pepper are in the mix, as well as a heap of shaved mushrooms. Bleh. even though I'm not a fan of mushrooms, I taste one anyway. it tastes like nothing.
The chicken is the most 'real' chicken I've had yet. doesn't taste like it's had anything added to it and there's a surprising amount of it. shame, then, that it's so dry and has the added dogfood taste to it.
cal:310
fat cal: 45
sodium: 310 mg; 13%
banquet mexican style chicken enchilada
Rice: Firm grains, lots of tomatoey sauce, soupy, not spicy, bits of green & red pepper, exactly like all of the other banquet meals that have it.
chicken enchilada: Thick, wet corn tortilla. Mushy chicken filling is kind of recognizable as chicken, but not really. Low-t-mid spiciness, probably from the chili sauce which is very ketchupy. This enchilada was better than the last one I had.
Tamale - strange, lots of heavily-adulterated "beef" filling with very little cornmeal around it, tasted great, that was the best part of the meal.
chicken enchilada: Thick, wet corn tortilla. Mushy chicken filling is kind of recognizable as chicken, but not really. Low-t-mid spiciness, probably from the chili sauce which is very ketchupy. This enchilada was better than the last one I had.
Tamale - strange, lots of heavily-adulterated "beef" filling with very little cornmeal around it, tasted great, that was the best part of the meal.
15 August 2009
Stouffer's Homestyle Classics Swedish Meatballs
Most disgusting-looking of all of them. As Gordon Ramsey would say: "That looks like a dog's breakfast." Clotty-looking right out of the microwave, needed lots of stirring which didn't really help because of the thick, gross gravy.
Noodles: Tender, decent egg noodles. A bit gummy mouthfeel, or is that the gravy? No, it's the noodles.
Gravy: Brown and strange. Some kind of clear fluid separated from the gravy when it was heated. It's oil. Yuk. Hint of sour cream, parsley (visible) mushrooms. Very thick and almost pasty.
Meatballs: 8 small ones, very irregularly shaped, like they were randomly pinched off a chunk of Meatball Mix and cooked. Soft but not spongy. Sticky texture. Gah. More oatmeal.
Noodles: Tender, decent egg noodles. A bit gummy mouthfeel, or is that the gravy? No, it's the noodles.
Gravy: Brown and strange. Some kind of clear fluid separated from the gravy when it was heated. It's oil. Yuk. Hint of sour cream, parsley (visible) mushrooms. Very thick and almost pasty.
Meatballs: 8 small ones, very irregularly shaped, like they were randomly pinched off a chunk of Meatball Mix and cooked. Soft but not spongy. Sticky texture. Gah. More oatmeal.
14 August 2009
Weight Watchers Smart Ones Swedish Meatballs notes
Noodles: Not too bad, not as tender and egg-noodly as the superior noodles of Lean Cuisine, but not as tough and leathery as Boston Market or that other one, whatever the hell it was.
Gravy: Vaguely nasty. Mushrooms, sour cream, distinct artificial "gum" mouthfeel. Xanthan gum, guar gum, methylcellulose gum.
Meatballs: Six very tiny grey meatballs. Very spongy and high in filler. Not very much flavor, but they do have a touch of bouillion-like "beef"-ness.
Not very good. Would not buy again.
Gravy: Vaguely nasty. Mushrooms, sour cream, distinct artificial "gum" mouthfeel. Xanthan gum, guar gum, methylcellulose gum.
Meatballs: Six very tiny grey meatballs. Very spongy and high in filler. Not very much flavor, but they do have a touch of bouillion-like "beef"-ness.
Not very good. Would not buy again.
WW smart ones sweedish meatballs
smells very good, actually.
looks...eh...well, looks aren't everything, right?
The overlaying taste here is sour cream, and lots of it, followed by salt, onion, and garlic. The noodles are a little tough, but not bad.
The meatballs are bland yet kind of dog-foody, but they don't taste too bad with the gravy on them. They're also so heavily pumped up with stuff, you can taste it. Nasty. They have a kind of mushy, fall-apart feel on your mouth. Bleh.
when I cut one of the meatballs in half, I noticed that they didn't have an even color throughout. Parts of them were darker than others, parts were paler. I'm not too sure if I want to know everything that goes into these things.
the ingredients list more chemicals and stabilizers than I've ever seen on a "healthy" dinner. Credit goes to Lean Cuisine and HC for at least not using as much crap as Smart Ones does.
not buying these again. not unless I'm starving.
total cal: 270
from fat: 45
sodium: 730 mg; 30%
looks...eh...well, looks aren't everything, right?
The overlaying taste here is sour cream, and lots of it, followed by salt, onion, and garlic. The noodles are a little tough, but not bad.
The meatballs are bland yet kind of dog-foody, but they don't taste too bad with the gravy on them. They're also so heavily pumped up with stuff, you can taste it. Nasty. They have a kind of mushy, fall-apart feel on your mouth. Bleh.
when I cut one of the meatballs in half, I noticed that they didn't have an even color throughout. Parts of them were darker than others, parts were paler. I'm not too sure if I want to know everything that goes into these things.
the ingredients list more chemicals and stabilizers than I've ever seen on a "healthy" dinner. Credit goes to Lean Cuisine and HC for at least not using as much crap as Smart Ones does.
not buying these again. not unless I'm starving.
total cal: 270
from fat: 45
sodium: 730 mg; 30%
13 August 2009
General Tso
General Tso stood on a hill looking over the city of Shaoxing. Smoke rose from numerous fires behind the city walls, and his triumphant troops were bringing loads of looted treasure and supplies back to their lines. Soon, one of his lieutenants approached with a line of prisoners. The General eyed them coldly. It had been a long campaign, and these soldiers had cost the lives of many of his best men. He turned to the first of the prisoners and said, "I will spare your lives...if you cook me a chicken."
It's been a hundred and fifty years since that day. I wonder what General Tso would have thought of the Healthy Choice chicken bearing his name.
It's been a hundred and fifty years since that day. I wonder what General Tso would have thought of the Healthy Choice chicken bearing his name.
12 August 2009
hc steamers sweet & spicy orange zest chicken
Calories: 300
From fat: 40
sodium: 16%
Prep time: 5 minutes
MINT. mint, mint, mint. That's all I can smell in this damn thing.
...that's all I can taste too, damn it.
Peas are overcooked to the point of mushy, falling apart nastiness, but the strings are tough and inedible. Rice is still steamed to perfection and pretty good. Lots of scallions which are kind of tough, and some finely cubed red pepper and carrots. Both are mushy.
Chicken is the standard issue, soy-protein-beefed-up chicken that was in the LAST cafe steamer I ate. Still tender, if not a little chewy. This is the only thing that doesn't taste like mint. Thank God.
The sauce is supposed to be sweet and spicy, but I'm not getting too much spicy or sweet. All I can taste is mint, which isn't even on the ingredient list.
From fat: 40
sodium: 16%
Prep time: 5 minutes
MINT. mint, mint, mint. That's all I can smell in this damn thing.
...that's all I can taste too, damn it.
Peas are overcooked to the point of mushy, falling apart nastiness, but the strings are tough and inedible. Rice is still steamed to perfection and pretty good. Lots of scallions which are kind of tough, and some finely cubed red pepper and carrots. Both are mushy.
Chicken is the standard issue, soy-protein-beefed-up chicken that was in the LAST cafe steamer I ate. Still tender, if not a little chewy. This is the only thing that doesn't taste like mint. Thank God.
The sauce is supposed to be sweet and spicy, but I'm not getting too much spicy or sweet. All I can taste is mint, which isn't even on the ingredient list.
11 August 2009
Swedish meatball notes
Stouffer's & Stouffer's Lean Cuisine - Nestle
Boston Market - Heinz
Banquet - ConAgra
Smart Ones - Heinz
Boston Market - Heinz
Banquet - ConAgra
Smart Ones - Heinz
Lean Cuisine Swedish meatballs
Noodles: tender & delicate. Very much like "normal" egg noodles we always buy in the supermarket, without any of the huge, touch, chewy, thick, leatheriness of the other brands.
Meatballs: 6. Weird-looking, like "brown and serve" sausages. Good flavor, though a somewhat spongy and "slippery" texture, like Grandma Billie's meatloaf. Kind of gross. Wait. Billie used to put oatmeal in her meatloaf. Goddamn it, now I have to check the ingredients...AHA!! THERE IS OATMEAL IN THEM!! GLARGHHGLEARRGH *thud*
Gravy: Tasty. No sour cream, nothing "off". Reminds me of "brown gravy" from an envelope.
Basically, I like the noodles & the gravy, hate the oaty meatballs. Glad I saved some noodles & gravy for last to drive the slimyness of the meatballs out of my mouth. hwarf hwarf
Meatballs: 6. Weird-looking, like "brown and serve" sausages. Good flavor, though a somewhat spongy and "slippery" texture, like Grandma Billie's meatloaf. Kind of gross. Wait. Billie used to put oatmeal in her meatloaf. Goddamn it, now I have to check the ingredients...AHA!! THERE IS OATMEAL IN THEM!! GLARGHHGLEARRGH *thud*
Gravy: Tasty. No sour cream, nothing "off". Reminds me of "brown gravy" from an envelope.
Basically, I like the noodles & the gravy, hate the oaty meatballs. Glad I saved some noodles & gravy for last to drive the slimyness of the meatballs out of my mouth. hwarf hwarf
10 August 2009
healthy choice cafe steamers general tso's spicy chicken
three tiny pieces of chicken? hmm...that's about a third of a chicken tenderlion. it's been loaded with flavoring, tenderizers, and soy protein. chicken tastes kind of artificial - a bit chewy, probably from the soy protein.
lots of carrots, little to no scallions, a small handful of peas, chopped red pepper of the bell variety. veggies steamed to being just done, but not too done.
rice is perfectly done. not crunchy, not chewy. lots of it, though
sauce is thick and adds flavorful, tip to mid tongue heat. Not too spicy. Pretty evenly coats everything so nothing is bland. flavors are soy, ginger, pepper, sake if you think about it really hard, hot red pepper, garlic and something that I can't quite place
prep time: 5 minutes
total cal: 320
cal from fat: 40
sodium: 500 mg; 21%
overall: decent, but not enough chickeny goodness for the price you pay (2 for $7) probably won't get again.
lots of carrots, little to no scallions, a small handful of peas, chopped red pepper of the bell variety. veggies steamed to being just done, but not too done.
rice is perfectly done. not crunchy, not chewy. lots of it, though
sauce is thick and adds flavorful, tip to mid tongue heat. Not too spicy. Pretty evenly coats everything so nothing is bland. flavors are soy, ginger, pepper, sake if you think about it really hard, hot red pepper, garlic and something that I can't quite place
prep time: 5 minutes
total cal: 320
cal from fat: 40
sodium: 500 mg; 21%
overall: decent, but not enough chickeny goodness for the price you pay (2 for $7) probably won't get again.
07 August 2009
Healthy choice sweet asian potstickers
total cal - 380
total cal (fat) - 45
sodium: 500mg; 25%
prep time - 6 min total
sauce is a sweet mix of cane juice and soy sauce - not too salty, but not too sweet either. is a clear, orangeish color
dumplings (x3): dumpling wrapper is tough - to be expected from microwave product, but edible. filling is slightly spicy and compliments the sweet sauce nicely (tofu, cellophane noodles, cabbage, "spices" - definitely includes pepper)
carrots. peppers, scallions, water chestnuts - carrots and peppers are perfect; slightly crunchy, not at all mushy. scallions are a little tough and grassy, but add onionesque flavor nonetheless. water chestnuts are nonexistant.
rice - firm medium grain, yet slightly chewy precooked rice. not bad when eaten with the sauce provided.
overall - good, sweet + spicy lunch
total cal (fat) - 45
sodium: 500mg; 25%
prep time - 6 min total
sauce is a sweet mix of cane juice and soy sauce - not too salty, but not too sweet either. is a clear, orangeish color
dumplings (x3): dumpling wrapper is tough - to be expected from microwave product, but edible. filling is slightly spicy and compliments the sweet sauce nicely (tofu, cellophane noodles, cabbage, "spices" - definitely includes pepper)
carrots. peppers, scallions, water chestnuts - carrots and peppers are perfect; slightly crunchy, not at all mushy. scallions are a little tough and grassy, but add onionesque flavor nonetheless. water chestnuts are nonexistant.
rice - firm medium grain, yet slightly chewy precooked rice. not bad when eaten with the sauce provided.
overall - good, sweet + spicy lunch
06 August 2009
Boston Market Swedish Meatballs
Noodles: Thick and tough, just like Banquet (well, not quite, they don't fight off my molars like Banquet does.)
Gravy: Unexpectedly good. Well-balanced flavor with sour cream notes, not too much bouillony aftertaste, spicy!! cayenne pepper bumping around in the background. Very good.
Meatballs: Nine meatballs, each bigger than Banquet's. Decent flavor and texture (still some TVP, but nearly as much as Bq, these meatballs aren't spongy) Taste much closer to homemade.
Gravy: Unexpectedly good. Well-balanced flavor with sour cream notes, not too much bouillony aftertaste, spicy!! cayenne pepper bumping around in the background. Very good.
Meatballs: Nine meatballs, each bigger than Banquet's. Decent flavor and texture (still some TVP, but nearly as much as Bq, these meatballs aren't spongy) Taste much closer to homemade.
04 August 2009
Zevia notes
Natural Twist - Very lemony/limey, almost too strong, reminds me of furniture polish; how will I say this gently in the review? My least favorite so far.
Orange - great! Very natural tasting, citrusy without being overpowering like the twist. I like it.
Black cherry - deep authentic black cherry flavor. Hint of non-sugar sweetener bitterness, but fairly decent nonetheless.
Root beer - good RB flavor, hint of licorice in there somewhere.
Ginger Ale - Excellent, light & "fruity" with much more of a freshly-grated ginger flavor than any GA I've had.
Done.
Banquet Swedish Meatballs
Huge, thick, tough noodles. They don't like to be chewed. They fight back.
Gravy: Odd. Sour (discovered sour cream in ingredients.) Artificial beef flavor. Sticky. Kind of gummy mouthfeel.
Four TINY meatballs. Lots of TVP. Taste exactly like every other frozen mass-package meatball.
Gravy: Odd. Sour (discovered sour cream in ingredients.) Artificial beef flavor. Sticky. Kind of gummy mouthfeel.
Four TINY meatballs. Lots of TVP. Taste exactly like every other frozen mass-package meatball.
24 June 2009
23 June 2009
26 February 2009
12 February 2009
Who owns the supermarket?
SuperValu - http://www.supervalu.com/sv-webapp/retail/retail.jsp - list of grocery stores owned by SuperValu chain.
Big Y (Southern New England) still owned and operated by D'Amour family of Springfield MA.
Big Y (Southern New England) still owned and operated by D'Amour family of Springfield MA.
25 January 2009
Chinese Alcohol
Tiger Beer, Asia Pacific Brewing Co. This version is imported from Singapore. Domestic macrobeer quality at imported microbrew prices. Not worth it.
Both compliments of Steph.
Done
19 January 2009
Mama Jok Cup
DONE
12 January 2009
Capicola Weekend
Cost of making capicola:
4 whole boneless pork loins - $75.00
Kosher salt - $2.00
Black pepper - $8.00
Wood splints - $4.00
Plastic cable ties - $20.00
Casings - $18.00
Hot seasoning - $5.00
Total - $132.00
Expected yield: 24 pounds of capicola (about $5.50 a pound)
4 whole boneless pork loins - $75.00
Kosher salt - $2.00
Black pepper - $8.00
Wood splints - $4.00
Plastic cable ties - $20.00
Casings - $18.00
Hot seasoning - $5.00
Total - $132.00
Expected yield: 24 pounds of capicola (about $5.50 a pound)