Harvest Burgers: Italian Style(by Green Giant)
Once again Green Giant has developed a meatless wonder to satisfy the
cravings of the vegan crowd. I must admit that after sampling several
Harvest Burger patties in the form of hamburgers, I was quite satisfied with
the experience. Although the patties lack the richness and heartiness of
beef, they provide enough essentials to mimic a 'beef experience'. Exotic
combinations of garnishes and/or condiments won't mask the curious
'mushroomy' flavor of the bogus beef patties but I strongly suggest adding
them. The packaging boasts "Italian Style" but I could not detect any
element of "Italian" flavoring. Microwave heating times for the burgers
are pleasingly brief(2-2.5 minutes for 1 patty, 2 minutes extra for each
additional patty). Their appearance and odor after cooking is unspectacular
but palatable. Overall it seems as though Green Giant has succeeded in
developing a healthy and agreeable artificial analogue of beef patties.
Chicken Kiev(by Tyson)
This meal is definitely above average. It has flavor, vibrance,
pizzazz..... OK, maybe I'm getting a bit carried away but this is a
really good dinner. The main course is breaded chicken breast
with rib meat, stuffed with seasoned butter. Although this may sound
ambitious for a TV dinner, seven minutes of cooking(microwave) amazingly
yields the advertised product. Both aromatically and visually appealing, the
chicken breast is rich in flavor and uniform in consistency.
Complimenting this entree are rice pilaf and broccoli with carrots.
I found the latter combination to be alarmingly crisp and fresh(the
broccoli was actually green!). Overall I give this meal one yum and a
belly rub.
Beef Stroganoff(by Healthy Choice)
I've observed that a lot Healthy Choice dinners tend to be a little
watery. This meal is no exception. Overall the taste is agreeable and
visually the portions are appealing(especially the garden vegetables). But
after cooking(microwave), the main entree of beef with cream sauce and
egg noodles is left in a "puddle" of water. Draining or transferring(sans
the liquid) to a dry plate cures this fault but adds an unnecessary
hassle. The cherry compote dessert is delicious and will leave you craving
for more. You'll definitely get you money's worth out of this meal.
Breaded Shrimp Over Angel Hair Pasta(by Marie Callender)
Aside from fishsticks, seafood has always been a tricky thing to
incorporate into TV dinners. Marie Callender's breaded shrimp over
angel hair pasta(with Italian style red sauce) is a tasty addition
to the usual fare. This meal is microwavable or boilable. I recommend
boiling(otherwise the shrimp may turn out a little tough). The shrimp
portions could be a little larger and perhaps there should be more red sauce
given the amount of pasta included. Visually the meal is appealing and I
doubt that you'll be suffering from a bellyache 30 minutes after eating
this cuisine.
6 Shredded Chicken Taquitos(by Marquez)
Hmmmm.....Meal or snack? Well, I guess it depends on how hungry
you are. In the box you'll find 6 tightly packed microwaveable
chicken taquitos with a guacamole pouch. They cook well but you should
be very careful about the length of time you cook them. If you decide
to keep them in the microwave for an extra minute or two you may find
yourself looking at six brown drumstick bones(the guacamole is strangely
unaffected). As a snack, these are great. As a meal they're OK if you're
on a diet(or have nothing left in the refrigerator).
NOTE: The criticisms reflected on this page are those of the author.
The sole purpose of this page is the expression of critical reviews of TV dinners.
YaraYara and the server it resides on are owned and operated by Ray Cole.
Last updated: 02/03/03