Tried 2 new LC over the past few days, and I have to say-- LC is stepping up their game! I feel like lately they have really been improving quality and taste. Maybe they're reading the blog and seeing some of the other companies great reviews!
First up is one you've probably heard about- its been all over their new ads- which is a smart move because its delicious!
Apple Cranberry Chicken
Have to admit- I was a little hesitant to try this. I like all three titled ingredients separately, but together? Also, the description on the box reminded me of a special our uppity cafe at work would serve... All my doubts were for nothing once I tried it! The flavors were delicious, satisfying, and if it weren't for the flimsy plastic dish it was in, I would have thought it was actually made fresh in a cafe. The whole wheat pilaf its served over is also really tastey- I like that LC is using more of this instead of rice- it adds a great texture and a good source of fiber. The apple reduction is also a great addition to this dish. It actually reminded me a little of the apple crisp you would get in TV dinners back in the day- so good!!
Try this one for yourself- you wont' regret it.
The Facts:
Cals:300 Fat:4g Fiber:6g Protein:24g WW points:5
Roasted Honey Chicken
Yet another success from LC-- I'm about to give them a consistancy award, because overall, I see great improvement and continued satisfaction from this brand! A while back I tried a similar dish from Healthy Choice that was NOT good... so I was excited to try this one. It blew HC out of the water! Chicken quality was great (something LC has really improved) and the sauce was also delicious. Again, the whole wheat pilaf was a great addition, along with snap peas and yellow beans.
This would be a good dish to have in your freezer for days you want something you can count on.
You're 2 for 2 LC... keep up the good work!
The Facts:
Cals:280 Fat:4g Fiber:5g Protein:18g WW points:5
***Look for a new YOGURT post this week, as well as hang over food?? Yes, you read that correctly! ;)
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Lean Cuisine Stuffed Cabbage
Maybe its my upcoming trip to the old country, or just curiousity, but finally, after years of wondering I finally manned up and purchased Lean Cuisine's Stuffed Cabbage. This particular dish has boggled my mind for years... since I started eating LC's! I would always see this one and wonder "who buys this?!". It just didn't look appetizing to me. Since I started this blog I've meant to pick it up and "take one for the team" and try it out.
This past weekend I was visiting my family (which includes a bunch of Ukrainians who love cabbage in any form) and when I arrived for dinner learned that my aunt and grandma had made 3 huge pots of stuffed cabbage. This, along with the comforting thought that a 92 year old woman enjoys this LC, was the final push I needed to purchase this meal.
So last night I decided it was time. This was one of those "dont cut a vent in the plastic and just cook for 7 minutes" kind of meal. I took a quick shower while it was cooking and when I was finished I could smell the cabbage coming from my kitchen! Having eastern European genes this is a comforting smell... and it was time to give it a try...
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised! The cabbage was a great texture and tasted really good and authentic. The tomato sauce that accompanied it was also really good! The filling was ok- obviously not as good as what I had experienced over the weekend, but coming from the freezer aisle, not bad at all. And as an added bonus-- a side of whipped potatos! I never thought I would say this, but I enjoyed this dish! It was filling and tasty- and I liked that I could "set it and forget it" in the microwave- no stopping, stirring, recovering (I know, life is hard...).
Overall- I would say to give this one a try if you like cabbage. If you don't like cabbage- 1) your crazy and 2) you'll hate this.
I think I will be adding this into my list of old stand-bys.
NOTE- this might be one to just make at home, unless you're trying to make your whole office mad by stinking up the break room- the cabbage scent is pretty strong!
I also want to throw in that this is only 4 weight watchers points! One of the lowest on any meals I've tried!
The Facts:
Cals:210 Fat:6g Fiber:3g Protein:10g WWpoints: 4
This past weekend I was visiting my family (which includes a bunch of Ukrainians who love cabbage in any form) and when I arrived for dinner learned that my aunt and grandma had made 3 huge pots of stuffed cabbage. This, along with the comforting thought that a 92 year old woman enjoys this LC, was the final push I needed to purchase this meal.
So last night I decided it was time. This was one of those "dont cut a vent in the plastic and just cook for 7 minutes" kind of meal. I took a quick shower while it was cooking and when I was finished I could smell the cabbage coming from my kitchen! Having eastern European genes this is a comforting smell... and it was time to give it a try...
I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised! The cabbage was a great texture and tasted really good and authentic. The tomato sauce that accompanied it was also really good! The filling was ok- obviously not as good as what I had experienced over the weekend, but coming from the freezer aisle, not bad at all. And as an added bonus-- a side of whipped potatos! I never thought I would say this, but I enjoyed this dish! It was filling and tasty- and I liked that I could "set it and forget it" in the microwave- no stopping, stirring, recovering (I know, life is hard...).
Overall- I would say to give this one a try if you like cabbage. If you don't like cabbage- 1) your crazy and 2) you'll hate this.
I think I will be adding this into my list of old stand-bys.
NOTE- this might be one to just make at home, unless you're trying to make your whole office mad by stinking up the break room- the cabbage scent is pretty strong!
I also want to throw in that this is only 4 weight watchers points! One of the lowest on any meals I've tried!
The Facts:
Cals:210 Fat:6g Fiber:3g Protein:10g WWpoints: 4
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
NEW Healthy Choice: Pineapple Chicken
I'm trying to pick up all the "NEW" meals from HC and LC, and when this one said "fried chicken" I knew I had to give it a try!
This was totally like a healthy version of sweet and sour chicken- normally loaded with fat and calories. As usual for HC, the chicken was great quality- it did resemble fried, but obviously not as good as from your favorite chinese restaurant. The pineapple and carrots were plentiful- and the pineapple really did add something to the dish, as did the sauce! Really tasted like what you would get the unhealthy version of this dish. All this is served over a good amount of whole grain rice- which helped keep me full through the afternoon.
I would definitely give this HC a try- it was really tasty and satisfying!
The Facts:
Cals:380 Fat:7g Fiber:5g Protein:9g WWpoints:7
This was totally like a healthy version of sweet and sour chicken- normally loaded with fat and calories. As usual for HC, the chicken was great quality- it did resemble fried, but obviously not as good as from your favorite chinese restaurant. The pineapple and carrots were plentiful- and the pineapple really did add something to the dish, as did the sauce! Really tasted like what you would get the unhealthy version of this dish. All this is served over a good amount of whole grain rice- which helped keep me full through the afternoon.
I would definitely give this HC a try- it was really tasty and satisfying!
The Facts:
Cals:380 Fat:7g Fiber:5g Protein:9g WWpoints:7
Monday, March 22, 2010
Taste Buds: Stephanie
Ethnic fare:
This week I decided to try a new Kashi meal. I am already a huge fan of Kashi frozen meals for a few reasons. For one thing they have the nutrients to really keep me full (lots of fiber and protein). They are also a socially responsible company, and have even recently redesigned their packaging to be more eco-friendly. Lastly, I find that they are a good option when it comes to having "ethnic fare" that is still nutritious and easy to prepare.
This week I was in the mood for Indian food and went for the Veggie Chana Masala. My review for this one is mixed. On the plus side it gave me the flavors of India and proper nutrition, even after a work-out. However, I was a bit disappointed. Even though it had Indian flare, it was lacking the spiciness that I often find in other Kashi meals. Overall it was more bland than their other meals. I was also less than thrilled with the amount of eggplant in the dish. If you ask me, when a meal doesn't have meat the eggplant should be the main attraction, but it wasn't.
Overall I give this one a solid B. It fulfilled my appetite and craving for ethnic food, but was lacking compared to my positive experience with Kashi's other dishes.
The Facts:
Cals:310 Fat:9g Protein:11g Fiber:8g
This week I decided to try a new Kashi meal. I am already a huge fan of Kashi frozen meals for a few reasons. For one thing they have the nutrients to really keep me full (lots of fiber and protein). They are also a socially responsible company, and have even recently redesigned their packaging to be more eco-friendly. Lastly, I find that they are a good option when it comes to having "ethnic fare" that is still nutritious and easy to prepare.
This week I was in the mood for Indian food and went for the Veggie Chana Masala. My review for this one is mixed. On the plus side it gave me the flavors of India and proper nutrition, even after a work-out. However, I was a bit disappointed. Even though it had Indian flare, it was lacking the spiciness that I often find in other Kashi meals. Overall it was more bland than their other meals. I was also less than thrilled with the amount of eggplant in the dish. If you ask me, when a meal doesn't have meat the eggplant should be the main attraction, but it wasn't.
Overall I give this one a solid B. It fulfilled my appetite and craving for ethnic food, but was lacking compared to my positive experience with Kashi's other dishes.
The Facts:
Cals:310 Fat:9g Protein:11g Fiber:8g
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Pizza Party
This week I tried a few different pizza selections from Lean Cuisine and Smart Ones. Overall, I'm a fan of pizza, and most frozen options are pretty tasty, but these options have a lot less calories and fat that other brands you might be eating. Here's a few, including a new recipe from LC.
LC Bacon Alfredo Pizza Wood Fire Style
Loved this pizza! I'm a fan of bacon, so I figured I'd like this one- but the alfredo taste mixed with bacon? Delicious! I added a small salad on the side which created a great, full meal. The crust was really good- good texture and there are even instructions for making the crust crispier or softer.
Overall a nice change of pace from your typical pizza toppings.
The Facts:
Cals:320 Fat:9g Fiber:2g Protein:17g WW points:7
Smart Ones Artisan Creations 4 Cheese Pizza
"A whole cheese pizza, just for me" - Kevin McCallister, Home Alone
If you looking for a traditional cheese pizza- this is your answer! The crust is so good on the Smart One's pizzas as well as the sauce. Of course a little more cheese would have been awesome, but we have to remember that were looking at under 400 calories. I again added a little side salad- if I closed my eyes I might have thought I was in a great pizzeria instead of my work cafe! Smart Ones does a good job of adding some seasoning to this pizza which kicks it up a notch.
I would definitely recommend picking up a Smart One's pizza and giving them a try!
The Facts:
Cals:370 Fat:7g Fiber:4g Protein:18g WW points:7
LC Deluxe Pizza
Another success for Lean Cuisine! This pizza features sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms,roasted peppers and onions and tasty cheese! If you're a regular, you know my love for mushrooms, so obvi I was excited about this one. Again, great taste with the crust and sauce and the topping were hardy- not just a few pieces scattered. This one was a little more filling because of the toppings.
Again, I would recommend trying this one if you're in the mood for pizza!
The Facts:
Cals:340 Fat:8g Fiber:4g Protein:17g WW points:7
LC Bacon Alfredo Pizza Wood Fire Style
Loved this pizza! I'm a fan of bacon, so I figured I'd like this one- but the alfredo taste mixed with bacon? Delicious! I added a small salad on the side which created a great, full meal. The crust was really good- good texture and there are even instructions for making the crust crispier or softer.
Overall a nice change of pace from your typical pizza toppings.
The Facts:
Cals:320 Fat:9g Fiber:2g Protein:17g WW points:7
Smart Ones Artisan Creations 4 Cheese Pizza
"A whole cheese pizza, just for me" - Kevin McCallister, Home Alone
If you looking for a traditional cheese pizza- this is your answer! The crust is so good on the Smart One's pizzas as well as the sauce. Of course a little more cheese would have been awesome, but we have to remember that were looking at under 400 calories. I again added a little side salad- if I closed my eyes I might have thought I was in a great pizzeria instead of my work cafe! Smart Ones does a good job of adding some seasoning to this pizza which kicks it up a notch.
I would definitely recommend picking up a Smart One's pizza and giving them a try!
The Facts:
Cals:370 Fat:7g Fiber:4g Protein:18g WW points:7
LC Deluxe Pizza
Another success for Lean Cuisine! This pizza features sausage, pepperoni, mushrooms,roasted peppers and onions and tasty cheese! If you're a regular, you know my love for mushrooms, so obvi I was excited about this one. Again, great taste with the crust and sauce and the topping were hardy- not just a few pieces scattered. This one was a little more filling because of the toppings.
Again, I would recommend trying this one if you're in the mood for pizza!
The Facts:
Cals:340 Fat:8g Fiber:4g Protein:17g WW points:7
Friday, March 12, 2010
Special Edition: LENT
For my Catholic friends out there, this one's for you...
I've always stayed away from the seafood selections of frozen meals- something about them just didn't seem right. It also seemed like a horrible opportunity stink up a break room or my own kitchen. But for the blog, I put my fears aside and picked up a few seafood dishes- and since its Lent, I thought it would be the perfect time to share my findings!
Healthy Choice Lobster Cheese Ravioli
You've seen Elaine from Seinfeld pushing this flavor on commercials recently- its a new recipe from HC. I really enjoyed this one! The only thing- not much lobster (as expected). You can get the same taste/ effect from the plain old cheese ravioli. Texture of the ravioli was great- and filling! The sauce was also delicious, and it left no funky smell. Its worth a try if you want something a little different, but you'll probably just end up going back to plain old cheese.
The Facts:
Cals:250 Fat:6g Fiber:4g Protein:10g WW points:5
Healthy Choice Steamers: Cajun Style Chicken and Shrimp
You know my love for the steamers... this one was not as good as others I've tried, but still pretty good. Great rice and sauce base (could have used a little kick in the spice department, but thats easy to doctor up!) The ratio of shrimp to chicken was definitely more in favor of the chicken, but the shrimp that was in there was pretty tasty.
I don't really think this dish is worth your time-- try one of the other amazing steamers instead =)
The Facts:
Cals: 260 Fat: 4g Fiber: 3g Protein: 15g WW points: 6
Lean Cuisine Lemon Pepper Fish
Saved the best for last... this came as a recommendation from Katie, a "Taste Bud"- its one of her favorites, so I thought I'd give it a try. SO GOOD! Pick this one up next time you are at the grocery! The fish is great- breading is delicious and does NOT taste like the whole meal could be 330 calories. Texture of the fish is enjoyable and the rice/veggies on the side are also delicious! Filling dish, all around a great meal!
I also didn't get a fishy smell in my kitchen at all- which is always a plus.
The Facts:
Cals: 330 Fat: 8g Fiber:2g Protein: 15g WW points: 7
I've always stayed away from the seafood selections of frozen meals- something about them just didn't seem right. It also seemed like a horrible opportunity stink up a break room or my own kitchen. But for the blog, I put my fears aside and picked up a few seafood dishes- and since its Lent, I thought it would be the perfect time to share my findings!
Healthy Choice Lobster Cheese Ravioli
You've seen Elaine from Seinfeld pushing this flavor on commercials recently- its a new recipe from HC. I really enjoyed this one! The only thing- not much lobster (as expected). You can get the same taste/ effect from the plain old cheese ravioli. Texture of the ravioli was great- and filling! The sauce was also delicious, and it left no funky smell. Its worth a try if you want something a little different, but you'll probably just end up going back to plain old cheese.
The Facts:
Cals:250 Fat:6g Fiber:4g Protein:10g WW points:5
Healthy Choice Steamers: Cajun Style Chicken and Shrimp
You know my love for the steamers... this one was not as good as others I've tried, but still pretty good. Great rice and sauce base (could have used a little kick in the spice department, but thats easy to doctor up!) The ratio of shrimp to chicken was definitely more in favor of the chicken, but the shrimp that was in there was pretty tasty.
I don't really think this dish is worth your time-- try one of the other amazing steamers instead =)
The Facts:
Cals: 260 Fat: 4g Fiber: 3g Protein: 15g WW points: 6
Lean Cuisine Lemon Pepper Fish
Saved the best for last... this came as a recommendation from Katie, a "Taste Bud"- its one of her favorites, so I thought I'd give it a try. SO GOOD! Pick this one up next time you are at the grocery! The fish is great- breading is delicious and does NOT taste like the whole meal could be 330 calories. Texture of the fish is enjoyable and the rice/veggies on the side are also delicious! Filling dish, all around a great meal!
I also didn't get a fishy smell in my kitchen at all- which is always a plus.
The Facts:
Cals: 330 Fat: 8g Fiber:2g Protein: 15g WW points: 7
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Paninis! (and no, not the bar on campus...)
Over the past week or so, I've tried two different paninis from Lean Cuisine.
They are both kind of similar, so I'm just going to review them together:
Steak, Cheddar, and Mushroom & Philly style Steak and cheese
You'll notice that pretty much any dish that features "mushrooms" gets thrown into the basket at the grocery for me- I'm a huge fan! Thats what caught my eye on that panini... steak in frozen meals scares me sometimes, but I went ahead and tried these anyway- I guess I was in a daring mood.
I've tried panini's before from LC, and the problem always seems to be that they aren't filling at all- which is odd considering they have more fat than most of the other meals (9g). I paired my "sandwich" with a small salad, which helped fill me up. Overall, these meals are just ok... it seems like I can never get them to cook just right-- either the cheese in the middle isn't melted enough, or the edges get really hard. The cheese is satisfying, as is the bread, and I usually eat mine as two separate "open faced" sandwiches because its too messy to actually build a sandwich. The steak was actually ok on these- not tough or chewy like I expected.
I might try out a few with chicken to see how those are, and of course I'll report back--- but for now my conclusion is- if you can get your microwave to cook these properly (and look, mine was $20 bought off of some college kid so it might be my microwave with the problem) they are worth a shot.
Grade: B-
The Facts:
Steak, Cheddar and Mushroom
Cals: 340 Fat: 9g Fiber: 4g Protein: 20g WW points: 7
Philly style Steak and Cheese
Cals: 340 Fat: 9g Fiber: 4g Protein: 21g WW points: 6
They are both kind of similar, so I'm just going to review them together:
Steak, Cheddar, and Mushroom & Philly style Steak and cheese
You'll notice that pretty much any dish that features "mushrooms" gets thrown into the basket at the grocery for me- I'm a huge fan! Thats what caught my eye on that panini... steak in frozen meals scares me sometimes, but I went ahead and tried these anyway- I guess I was in a daring mood.
I've tried panini's before from LC, and the problem always seems to be that they aren't filling at all- which is odd considering they have more fat than most of the other meals (9g). I paired my "sandwich" with a small salad, which helped fill me up. Overall, these meals are just ok... it seems like I can never get them to cook just right-- either the cheese in the middle isn't melted enough, or the edges get really hard. The cheese is satisfying, as is the bread, and I usually eat mine as two separate "open faced" sandwiches because its too messy to actually build a sandwich. The steak was actually ok on these- not tough or chewy like I expected.
I might try out a few with chicken to see how those are, and of course I'll report back--- but for now my conclusion is- if you can get your microwave to cook these properly (and look, mine was $20 bought off of some college kid so it might be my microwave with the problem) they are worth a shot.
Grade: B-
The Facts:
Steak, Cheddar and Mushroom
Cals: 340 Fat: 9g Fiber: 4g Protein: 20g WW points: 7
Philly style Steak and Cheese
Cals: 340 Fat: 9g Fiber: 4g Protein: 21g WW points: 6
Monday, March 8, 2010
NEW Lean Cuisine!
I loaded up on new meals at the grocery yesterday, so look for a lot of great posts this week... even one on seafood! Check back later this week for the update on microwavable shrimp and fish!
But up today- a winner from Lean Cuisine! Thai-Style Noodles and Chicken from the Spa Cuisine line. This dish features roasted chicken, whole wheat noodles, green beans and carrots- all in a yummy chili peanut sauce. I'm usually weary of "thai" flavor because its hard to get a good one- especially in a frozen meal, but this surprised me! The sauce was delicious! The pasta was filling and the veggies tasted really fresh. Also, the quality of the chicken seemed better than some of the more traditional dishes I've had from LC. If you are into thai food at all, I'd give this one a shot.
I was also kind of worried that the smell would be strong for eating in an office, but I didn't get any complaints or "whos eating something?" questions.
Grade: A-
The facts:
Cals: 310 Fat: 7g Fiber: 5g Protein: 20g WW points: 6
But up today- a winner from Lean Cuisine! Thai-Style Noodles and Chicken from the Spa Cuisine line. This dish features roasted chicken, whole wheat noodles, green beans and carrots- all in a yummy chili peanut sauce. I'm usually weary of "thai" flavor because its hard to get a good one- especially in a frozen meal, but this surprised me! The sauce was delicious! The pasta was filling and the veggies tasted really fresh. Also, the quality of the chicken seemed better than some of the more traditional dishes I've had from LC. If you are into thai food at all, I'd give this one a shot.
I was also kind of worried that the smell would be strong for eating in an office, but I didn't get any complaints or "whos eating something?" questions.
Grade: A-
The facts:
Cals: 310 Fat: 7g Fiber: 5g Protein: 20g WW points: 6
Monday, March 1, 2010
Healthy Choice Cafe Steamers- Success!
Well, I found a Healthy Choice that I liked!! Today for lunch was Chicken Marsala from the Steamers line. This was an awesome lunch!
Besides from the good quality chicken, there were also delicious pieces of asparagus and mushrooms in this dish. The sauce was really good- and because of how it cooks, everything tasted fresh- not soggy. This dish also features whole grain pasta. Its really hard to believe that all this is under 300 calories!
Definitely recommend! I can't wait to try other meals from this "Steamers" line.
Grade: A
The facts:
Cals: 250 Fat: 6g Fiber: 4g Protein: 20g WW points: 5
Besides from the good quality chicken, there were also delicious pieces of asparagus and mushrooms in this dish. The sauce was really good- and because of how it cooks, everything tasted fresh- not soggy. This dish also features whole grain pasta. Its really hard to believe that all this is under 300 calories!
Definitely recommend! I can't wait to try other meals from this "Steamers" line.
Grade: A
The facts:
Cals: 250 Fat: 6g Fiber: 4g Protein: 20g WW points: 5
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