Freezerburned

Lean Cuisine Macaroni & Cheese

(tender macaroni in a creamy cheddar cheese sauce)
(and no red peppers!)

Directions: Microwave on HIGH 3 minutes, stir, microwave for 1:30 - 2:00 extra

I don’t remember how old I was when I first was fed Kraft Macaroni and Cheese, but it rocked my world. As I got older and more sophisticated, my standard was raised to Kraft Velveeta Shells & Cheese (Velveeta being a sign of prosperity in my blue-collar upbringing) and Martha Stewart’s recipe if I had money and time to make it myself.

So I loves me my macaroni and cheese dishes. Even though Lean Cuisine (oh please, God, let there be another brand on sale next week, for I want a different color box in my freezer) calls it a “One Dish Favorite” I call it my comfort classic.

I needed a meat-free dish today (self-flagellation for having lots of chocolate cake last night) and I’m feeling a bit blue, so out came the mac&cheese.

I nuked it, I ate it slowly and I savored. It has the comforting electric yellow color I associate with cheese product, and this even has real cheese! Both cheddar and “cheddar club” cheese are listed in the ingredients. I wonder if cheddar club is like the government cheese I ate as a kid? The noodles are a bit soggy and the cheese was a bit more watery than I’d have liked though. To its credit, the tray filled me up very nicely…so nicely that I don’t need the salad or jello that I have scheduled for sides. I’ll eat the salad anyway because it looks absolutely divine and I’m striving for more fresh veggies in my life.

Quite a good meal. But to be fair, I’ve yet to try the current incarnations of Smart Ones and Healthy Choice so I’ll refrain from saying it’s the best ever!

7g fat, 290 cal, 6 POINTS

Add comment May 19th, 2008

Lean Cuisine Angel Hair Pasta Marinara

(with tomatoes, onions, garlic & basil)

There’s a reason this, a part of the “One Dish Favorites” collection, is the last frozen meal left in my freezer this workweek. Microwaved pasta is just horrible. Mushier than mush. The gravy (that’s what I call spaghetti sauce) is flavorless and watery. And there are no chunks of meat to count.

Also, this is NOT angel hair pasta. It is regular spaghetti.

But there are no red pepper chunks, so I should stop being angry that this 240 cal meal didn’t fill me and left my mouth sad, right?

4g fat, 260 cal, 5 POINTS

Add comment May 16th, 2008

Lean Cuisine Butternut Squash Ravioli

(in a creamy sauce with walnuts, snap peas & carrots)

Directions: Cook 3 minutes, stir, cook 1:30-2:30 more

For one of these babies is a bit more than I’d like. But it has twice the veggies, so I gave it a shot. It is one heavy tray coming out of the microwave!

I can taste the butternut squash filling in the five raviolis, which is good. I can even find the walnuts, and they still taste nutty..still good. The sauce is light and didn’t end up clumpy after microwaving…even better! The snap peas held up very well through the microwave process too - they’re still crunch…awesome!

Don’t let the description lull you into complacency. This puppy also features red pepper chunks. But don’t they all?

Usually after a frozen diet lunch, I’ll quickly make myself a pouch of steamfresh veggies to finish filling me up. But after this meal and my lunchtime glass of Arizona Diet Iced tea, I’m full enough that no more food is necessary. And this is a good thing.

This meal stays on my shopping list.

350 calories, 9g of fat, 7 POINTS

Add comment May 8th, 2008