I first spotted this yummy item a few months ago. My local TJ's branch had recently begun stocking it, and I LOVE Indian food, especially tikka masala (yes, I know it's not "real" Indian food and actually originated in England...deal with it). So, into my shopping basket it went, and is now my favorite frozen meal to buy. I probably get two of these a week to eat for a work lunch. You'll find this with the frozen pizzas, flatbreads, and other items that are stocked at eye-level.
The Good: At first glance, this meal may look skimpy, but it's actually really filling. I hear from teh interwebz that spicy food is more filling than non-spicy, and can increase metabolism as well. (Correct me if I'm wrong, you Debbie Downers out there).
I've had lots of different tikka masala sauces in the few years I've been eating Indian food. It really depends on the level of smokiness, spiciness and creaminess you prefer, but for me, this sauce is the best I've ever had. Isn't that nuts? And yes - this dish, the masala simmer sauce AND the fresh chicken tikka masala from TJ's all taste differently. I wish they'd make this sauce in a jar so I could buy it and make bigger batches at home. It has a perfect blend of spice (enough where you know it's there, but you're not gasping and reaching for water), creaminess (good balance of cream, tomato and herbs) and a hint of smoke at the end. To quote a certain annoying Food Network TV star: YUM-O.
The chicken itself is really good. It's actual chicken breast, not mechanically-seperated chicken "product" that some microwave meals offer. It's moist and, well, nummy. The basmati rice is EXCELLENT. You'd never be able to tell it was once frozen. Each individual piece of rice is seperated from the other; it's not soggy, lumpy or mushy; and the cumin adds a special flavor to amp up the Indian factor. It retains its delicate appearance, which is much-appreciated from this reviewer.
The Bad: Although it is a filling meal, I would like to see one more piece of chicken. On average, I've seen four good-sized pieces in each container - and while that's enough, part of me yearns for one more piece to soak up the sauce. Also, the chicken tends to be too big for one bite, and requires a sturdy fork to cut it (since it's whole chicken breast and all).
Final Verdict: One of my all-time faves! Truly, truly amazing that it's a frozen meal and still tastes like it's been simmering on the stove for hours. I definitely recommend that you buy this one and see for yourself.
Nutrition Facts
Servings per Container: 1
Calories: 300
Total Fat: 12 grams (expected from a cream-based sauce)
Total Carbs: 30 g
Total Fiber: 0g (bummer)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Mushroom Tortelloni with Asparagus
Okay. So. I'm a big meat person. I love meat and protein. Can't get enough meat (HIYO). So when I saw that this meal did not include anything that once was living and grazing in a field/eating feed/nomming, I was skeptical that it would fill me up. This is my virgin run with this one, so wish me luck. I found this in the fresh meal section (next to the salads, fresh pizzas, etc.)
The Good: Upon first bite, I was pleasantly surprised by the sauce. It's nice and seasoned (I like pepper, mmm), creamy, and has bits of mushroom in it. There's some wilted spinach on top, too, and it meshes with the asparagus very nicely. The tortelloni (I keep wanting to write tortellini but that's not what the package says) is firm and stands up to the microwaving very well. You can taste the bit of tangy cheese mixed in with the mushrooms. All in all, pleasant and almost comforting.
The Bad: The asparagus is missing that awesome SNAP in your mouth when it's perfectly cooked. It's a bit mushy and the pieces are cut almost too small. Keep in mind, however, that I buy asparagus Every Week and it's my favorite veggie. I may be biased to my own awesome asparagus skillz. Oh, and the servings per container? 2.5. Yeah, no. Unless you supplement with a large McDonald's fry and chocolate shake, there is no way that you'd be satisfied. I'm eating the whole thing, and you should, too.
Final Verdict: this is pretty good. I'd buy it again. And apparently other people will, too, because I got no less than 5 comments from coworkers about how good it smelled!
I've decided to include some of the nutritional info with each meal/item. Let me know if you want more than the basics, but here they are:
Servings per Container: 2.5
Calories per Serving: 210
Fat per Serving: 7g
Fiber per Serving: 3g (yay fiber!)
Carbs per Serving: 28g
The Good: Upon first bite, I was pleasantly surprised by the sauce. It's nice and seasoned (I like pepper, mmm), creamy, and has bits of mushroom in it. There's some wilted spinach on top, too, and it meshes with the asparagus very nicely. The tortelloni (I keep wanting to write tortellini but that's not what the package says) is firm and stands up to the microwaving very well. You can taste the bit of tangy cheese mixed in with the mushrooms. All in all, pleasant and almost comforting.
The Bad: The asparagus is missing that awesome SNAP in your mouth when it's perfectly cooked. It's a bit mushy and the pieces are cut almost too small. Keep in mind, however, that I buy asparagus Every Week and it's my favorite veggie. I may be biased to my own awesome asparagus skillz. Oh, and the servings per container? 2.5. Yeah, no. Unless you supplement with a large McDonald's fry and chocolate shake, there is no way that you'd be satisfied. I'm eating the whole thing, and you should, too.
Final Verdict: this is pretty good. I'd buy it again. And apparently other people will, too, because I got no less than 5 comments from coworkers about how good it smelled!
I've decided to include some of the nutritional info with each meal/item. Let me know if you want more than the basics, but here they are:
Servings per Container: 2.5
Calories per Serving: 210
Fat per Serving: 7g
Fiber per Serving: 3g (yay fiber!)
Carbs per Serving: 28g
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Spicy Thai-Style Pasta Salad
This was my dinner tonight, and something I buy every week to two weeks. You can find this in the salad section. It's so good, I usually can't wait to eat its spicy goodness and have it for dinner right after I get home. It's meant for two people, but I call BS on the TJ's marketing and usually eat the whole thing. Once you pop, you just can't stop, ifyouknowwhatI'msayin'.
The Good: If you like slightly spicy peanut sauce and cilantro, this item will be right up your alley. It has some julienned red cabbage and carrots scattered in for a much-needed crunch. The chicken pieces are firm and tender, and there are plenty mixed in with the pasta. It's satisfying, hearty and friggin' awesome. I wonder if they sell the peanut sauce seperately in their store. I will investigate... Oh, one other thing. It comes equipped with a handy-dandy plastic fork for which to indulge. Score.
The Bad: Sometimes the red cabbage is cut really long (think 4 inches) and it's a war between your mouth circumference and the length of the cabbage. Head tilt one way - nope. Try the other way - dammit. Red cabbage:1. Gaultry:0. Plus, the one bad thing about having a utensil included is that it's pretty much embedded itself into the pasta once you buy and open it, so it can be a little greasy. Be prepared to pick some cilantro and/or rogue pasta off of the indents in the back before you chow down.
Overall: I really had to think of bad things to say about this. It's truly good.
The Good: If you like slightly spicy peanut sauce and cilantro, this item will be right up your alley. It has some julienned red cabbage and carrots scattered in for a much-needed crunch. The chicken pieces are firm and tender, and there are plenty mixed in with the pasta. It's satisfying, hearty and friggin' awesome. I wonder if they sell the peanut sauce seperately in their store. I will investigate... Oh, one other thing. It comes equipped with a handy-dandy plastic fork for which to indulge. Score.
The Bad: Sometimes the red cabbage is cut really long (think 4 inches) and it's a war between your mouth circumference and the length of the cabbage. Head tilt one way - nope. Try the other way - dammit. Red cabbage:1. Gaultry:0. Plus, the one bad thing about having a utensil included is that it's pretty much embedded itself into the pasta once you buy and open it, so it can be a little greasy. Be prepared to pick some cilantro and/or rogue pasta off of the indents in the back before you chow down.
Overall: I really had to think of bad things to say about this. It's truly good.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Why I'm Here
So, I love Trader Joe's.
I came to the land of California about three years ago. It was different from the snowy tundra of Minnesota. These were some of the thoughts going through my head:
"People wearing flip-flops all year 'round! Win!"
"Tie-dye is in again? WTF?"
"People who actually surf! Cool."
"Herbal paraphernalia sold out in broad daylight. Whoa!"
But Nothing, I mean Nothing, compared to this great find - Trader Joe's.
Now, Minnersnowta does have them. But they're elusive. They only exist in certain places. You have to take road trips to spend money on groceries that will spoil on the drive home. For that reason, I had never been to one.
Imagine my surprise when I found this big pot of gold. Or in TJ-speak, Johnny's Pot O' Corned Beef and Cabbage.
Presently, I only get my groceries at TJ's. I have my favorite items (hello, Fruit Floe's and stuffed pork chops), and there are literally hundreds of items I haven't yet tried (truffle and mushroom pizza). Why not blog about new items, my personal favorites, and rare finds? Or, in VERY infrequent cases, the flops. (Yes, I've had some).
I came to the land of California about three years ago. It was different from the snowy tundra of Minnesota. These were some of the thoughts going through my head:
"People wearing flip-flops all year 'round! Win!"
"Tie-dye is in again? WTF?"
"People who actually surf! Cool."
"Herbal paraphernalia sold out in broad daylight. Whoa!"
But Nothing, I mean Nothing, compared to this great find - Trader Joe's.
Now, Minnersnowta does have them. But they're elusive. They only exist in certain places. You have to take road trips to spend money on groceries that will spoil on the drive home. For that reason, I had never been to one.
Imagine my surprise when I found this big pot of gold. Or in TJ-speak, Johnny's Pot O' Corned Beef and Cabbage.
Presently, I only get my groceries at TJ's. I have my favorite items (hello, Fruit Floe's and stuffed pork chops), and there are literally hundreds of items I haven't yet tried (truffle and mushroom pizza). Why not blog about new items, my personal favorites, and rare finds? Or, in VERY infrequent cases, the flops. (Yes, I've had some).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)