Amy's Light & Lean Spaghetti Italiano

I've always had an interest in Amy's frozen dinners so one day after finding them on sale at my local Target, I decided to pick up the Amy's Light & Lean Spaghetti Italiano. I'm not a vegetarian by any stretch of the imagination but I do enjoy meatless meals every once in a while. Now, I'd say if you're venturing into meatless possibilities ... definitely give this particular dish a try.

The meal comes packaged encased in a plastic casing, which makes for easy microwave heating (or if you want to be fancy, you can opt for the oven method). With the addition of the bowl once done, you can remove the plastic sleeve and have your lunch/dinner already plated up for you. Now you're probably wondering what exactly the dish consists of. Well, the website lists the dish as "Organic semolina spaghetti, meatless meatballs made of of lentils, quinoa and tofu, topped with a sauce of simmered organic vegetables, roasted garlic and seasonings and a side of broccoli florets."

Admittedly, eating the meatball, I wasn't aware that it was made from tofu (I found this out after the fact). I've never actually had tofu before this dish and I was pleasantly surprised. The meatballs were soft, moist and had a meat like (but not spot-on) texture to them. The pasta was perfectly cooked, the sauce was flavorful. The only thing that took a little getting used to was the addition of the diced zucchini and broccoli running throughout the dish. I've never had broccoli with sauce so it took a bite or two before my taste buds and I were on the same page.

I quite enjoyed it and will undoubtedly repurchase in the future. You certainly get a good bang for your buck food wise vs. calorie wise. It doesn't taste like cardboard and a serving should leave you relatively satisfied.  Another positive note was the fact the sodium wasn't sky-high as it normally is with other prepared frozen meals. Two thumbs up, Amy's!

A serving, 1 bowl, is 240 calories or 6 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Tempura Chicken with Sweet and Sour Sauce

After eyeing the Trader Joe's Tempura Chicken with Sweet and Sour Sauce for months on end, I finally decided to pick up a bag. I popped it in my freezer, deciding to make it for a quick and easy lunch one weekend afternoon. That day rolled around and I pulled the bag out of the freezer, popped the chicken onto a non-stick baking sheet and popped the sweet and sour sauce in a bowl of water.

I baked the chicken per the packaging directions, shaking the chicken around halfway through and topped with the defrosted sauce when done. The tray cooked up nice and evenly. Meanwhile the sauce completely defrosted in some warm water and adhered to the chicken nicely once tossed together. There was extra sauce which pooled into the bottom of the dish, so if whomever is having a dish can add a little extra sauce to his/her liking.

The tempura chicken itself was very good. White meat chicken, nicely battered, moderately crispy. The smaller pieces were crunchier (those are my favorite) while the larger pieces were crispy on the outside, but airy and soft on the inside. It reminded me a lot of the chicken fingers you can get at a local Chinese restaurant. The sauce is your classic sweet and sour which provided absolutely no fuss.

Overall I found it to be quite enjoyable. The only thing that was disappointing was when plating it up - 3 ounces looks like absolutely nothing on a plate (it was roughly 5-6 smaller pieces of chicken). Of course if you bulked it up with vegetables, it might carry you over into your next meal. But if you're in the mood for Chinese and don't want to order take out - this was a pretty delicious option.

A serving, 3 ounces, is 210 calories or 6 points plus values.

Chobani Greek Yogurt Flip - Pumpkin Harvest Crisp

With the change of the seasons upon us this only means one thing ... pumpkin everything! One of those items happens to be one of my favorite snacks: pumpkin yogurts. I'm a hands down pumpkin fanatic, so when I spotted the Chobani Greek Yogurt Flip - Pumpkin Harvest Crisp at my local Target, I made sure to pick one up ... and I am so glad I did.

The yogurt itself is a smooth pumpkin flavored Greek yogurt that isn't tart or overpowering. The Greek yogurt flavor doesn't overpower the pumpkin flavoring either. I'd have to go out on a limb and say this is one of the best pumpkin flavored Greek yogurts I have tried. One of the best parts is the toppings that come alongside the yogurt. It's a nice combination of pie crust, pumpkin seeds and pecans. Once added into the yogurt it really transforms it into a wonderful dessert/snack. The pie crust really seals the deal, while the pumpkin seeds and pecans give nice crunch and a nuttiness to the yogurt.

Overall I think this is one of the best Chobani Flips I have tried to date. I wouldn't be mad if they made this part of their permanent collection ... because lets face it, I'd eat pumpkin yogurt all year long.

A serving, 1 container, is 210 calories or 6 points plus values.

Pillsbury Strawberry Banana Muffins

Being the coffee lover I am, I tend to order more of the "adventurous" flavored coffees at my local coffee spot. One of my absolute favorites is the strawberry banana coffee - which is a mixture of strawberry flavored coffee and banana coffee (flavored beans, not syrups). Chatting with my boyfriend one afternoon, he had mentioned that he'd love to try a strawberry banana muffin ... and that's when the light bulb over my head lit up.

I have made banana breads with roasted strawberries in them, so I imagined it wouldn't be too difficult to make some. It just happened that I was buying ripe bananas to make a banana bread to give to my dad for his birthday. Since I had extra bananas I looked for a muffin recipe online and stumbled upon one from Pillsbury ... and that's when the Strawberry Banana Muffins came to life (and a double batch at that!).

Whipping the batter up was a breeze, baking was a breeze and consuming was a breeze. I made enough to send some home with my boyfriend, to share with family and to bring some in to share with my coworkers. They had the classic chewiness that comes with muffins, but it had that banana bread flare. The fresh strawberries running throughout the batter was a nice twist. Overall these muffins were a total hit and everyone that had one (or two, or three) enjoyed them immensely.

Each muffin is 210 calories or 6 points plus values.

You can find the recipe here on the Pillsbury website.

Trader Joe's Wine Country Chicken Salad

While at the grocery store one afternoon, they happened to be sampling the Trader Joe's Wine Country Chicken Salad. I'm a fan of chicken salad, but after experimenting with the reduced fat chicken salad I decided to give it a whirl with the real thing ... and I'm glad that I did.

I'm pretty finicky when it comes to chicken salads, so I was pretty surprised with how much I enjoyed this one. The salad itself is chalk full of chunks of white meat chicken, pecan pieces, celery, poppy seeds and cranberries. The dressing that is used is sweeter but not so sweet that it's overwhelming. All the flavors blend together nicely and make for a perfect little dish, especially on a hot day where no one really wants to spend time in the kitchen.

Consistency wise, this is a looser chicken salad. The dressing is runnier, but it's not so runny that it's a sloppy mess. I found I enjoyed this the best over a bed of garden salad. The dressing on the chicken alone was enough where I didn't need any added salad dressing.

I will say, out of the serving that I had I only found one small piece of cartilage on the chicken (which unfortunately, is pretty common with chicken salad or even grilled chicken out at a restaurant). The piece was really small and was the only piece in the entire container, so I can't knock anyone down for points on that one. Overall, I quite enjoyed this and found the cranberries and pecan pieces to be a home run regarding flavor.

A serving, 4 ounces (113g), is 230 calories or 6 points plus values.

Stouffer's Mac Cups - Cheeseburger Mac

Mac and cheese is one of those dishes that I just absolutely love. It's versatile, it's different and not many people make it the same way (even the boxed stuff). I admit I haven't been one of the biggest fans of frozen macaroni and cheese because I can find it to be bland. But I decided to live on the edge and give the Stouffers's Mac Cups - Cheeseburger Mac a shot when I spotted them in Wal-Mart.

 

What I liked the most was that the dish is packaged in individual microwaveable serving cups.  Each box comes with two cups and if I recall correctly, it was under $3. The box describes the dish as a "macaroni & ground beef in a tangy, 100% real cheddar cheese sauce."  I figured the burger in the mac and cheese would make it a little different ... even an ode to Hamburger Helper.

 

I popped mine in the microwave and let it cook as directed, when done I stirred it up and found that it was very creamy. Flavorwise it was okay, nothing fabulously amazing about it. The hamburger bits were tiny little granuals that weren't all that great. It was cheesy but lacked flavor (I added a little black pepper to it and it helped a bit). It certainly wasn't my favorite mac and cheese (which if you're wondering is Trader Joe's Low Fat Macaroni and Cheese). Overall - it was alright ... but I think if I'd venture into trying them I'd give the original a shot.
 

A cup is a serving, which is 230 calories or 6 points plus values.

Trader Joe's The Bagel Spinoza Cinnamon Raisin Bagels

Every once in a while that itch for a bagel kicks in. Evidently on a quest to try different things, I picked up a package of the Trader Joe's The Bagel Spinoza Cinnamon Raisin Bagels. Cinnamon raisin isn't my first bagel of choice, but every once in a while you want want something that's got a little sweetness to it.

 

The bagels are your average, hearty bagel, which is in a cinnamon raisin flavor. I find they're not as sweet smelling as your "traditional" cinnamon raisin bagel, but they are tasty and satisfying all around. They have a little more of a whole wheat flavor to them, than your grocery store brand - but it's not overwhelmingly noticeable. The bagels are speckled with raisins running throughout them, which when bitten/cut into they provide a juicy raisin. The cinnamon flavor is there, but it's not overpowering on the senses.  When popped into the toaster, they crisp up perfectly, while leaving the outside to be nice and crunchy while the inside gives off a little chewiness.

 

They're great with a little butter on them, peanut butter or cream cheese, etc. Truthfully, I enjoy these bagels making a savory sandwich with them. Throw on a little ham and it's a perfect combination of sweet and savory. Don't knock it 'til you try it!

 

As I recommend with all of Trader Joe's bagels, do store these in the refrigerator. Since there isn't any preservative in the bagel, they tend to go bad fast and sometimes even before the date on the bag. I find storing in the refrigerator or even freezing and defrosting gives them a little longer of a shelf life.

 

A bagel is 250 calories or 6 points plus values.

Chuao Maple Bacon Chocolate Bar

While making a quick lunch time grocery run I finally spotted the Chuao Maple Bacon Chocolate Bar. I have been looking for this chocolate bar for ages, because it seems like every store that carries Chuao never has the bacon one. I've heard great things about bacon mixed with chocolate (or maple flavoring) so I was quite intrigued.

 

What sold me was the description of the product on the packaging, "crisp bacon, delicate maple sweetness and bonfire smoked sea salt, bathed in milk chocolate". Bacon and chocolate? I mean ... really ... how can one go wrong? The bar itself really did not let me down.

 

I found the chocolate was smooth and creamy while giving that classic milk chocolate flavor. The bacon pieces are very small, almost finely milled crunchy pieces of bacon. It wasn't overly salty or smokey, but it did provide a very subtle flavoring which complimented the milk chocolate. There are not big pieces of bacon that you have to chew through, but the flavor and slight texture from the bacon is there and it's evident.

 

I found that half of a single serving was more than enough to satisfy my sweet tooth. After that I ended up sharing it with 2 other folks for them to experience the maple bacon chocolate treat.

 

A serving is 1.4 oz (half the bar) which is 210 calories or 6 points plus values.

Trader Joe's The Bagel Spinoza The Works

There are occasions where I'm in a bagel mood. Not a bagel thin mood ... a "real bagel" mood. A fellow Weight Watchers on Instagram had told me about the Trader Joe's The Bagel Spinoza The Works bagels and I decided to hunt them down. I mean, I've seen them every time I go to Trader Joe's ... but I never picked them up because I've always been intrigued by the different types of bagels available.

 

These everything bagels are your classic, thick, slightly chewy and fluffy bagel.  They're loaded with flavor and quite satisfying. They're not as chewy as some other bagels I have had, but they're delicious and perfect to pair with a breakfast meal, or even as an addition to a lunch time sandwich.

 

The bagels crisp up perfectly, while providing a subtly soft center. They're airy while having enough weight to them to be filling and satisfying. They're not the most fabulous everything bagel I've had but they are good ... plus if I can shave a points plus value off by having something I genuinely enjoy it's a win-win for me.

 

As with Trader Joe's bread products, I would suggest storing these in the refrigerator if you're not going to eat them all up before the date on the bag.

 

Each bagel is 230 calories or 6 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Roasted Vegetable Multi-Grain Lasagna

There are occasions where I'm in the mood for lasagna ... but I'm a bit of a lasagna snob. Growing up my mother always made homemade lasagna's so I find myself comparing lasagna's to the good ole fashioned lasagna. Most don't even come close ... but I decided to try out the Trader Joe's Roasted Vegetable Multi-Grain Lasagna because it was different. Typically my lasagna's contain some sort of meat in them ... but this seemed interesting so I gave it a shot.

 

I have to say ... I'm glad I did. This is one of the best frozen lasagna's I have had. A quick trip to cook in the microwave (you can also cook it in the oven if you prefer) and it comes out perfectly. The edges crisp (which is my favorite part of any lasagna), it's loaded with delicious cheese and the vegetables are chopped up nice and small which blend with the sauce and noodles. It's unique and different.

It was very satisfying paired alongside a garden salad. I found it's quite enjoyable and it will be an item to repurchase to have on hand when I'm in the lasagna mood and I don't have any frozen slices from a tray that I have made.  I shared some with my mother (who is an even bigger lasagna snob than myself) and she really enjoyed it.

 

A serving, 1/4 of container, is 240 calories or 6 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Harvest Bagels

Considering I'm a self-described carbivore I tend to check out the bagel section at Trader Joe's ... specifically the new seasonal flavors. I was all excited to find the new Trader Joe's Harvest Bagels so I grabbed a bag to give them a try.

The bagels are your classic multigrain bagels which is kicked up a notch by incorporating both cranberries and seeds. The seeds give it a bit of a crunch and the cranberries offer a nice subtle sweetness. They toast up perfectly, are delicious with just a little butter on them or even as a side to a breakfast dish. Since I'm into a savory sandwich with bagels I really enjoy them with a little deli polish ham, sliced tomato and crushed hot peppers. The slight sweetness from the bagel balances perfectly against salty ham and spicy hot peppers.

The bagels crisp up and offer good crunch while also having that classic chewy bagel texture. I quite honestly really enjoy these bagels and have repurchased them already. The downside these are a limited edition seasonal item.

A bagel is 230 calories or 6 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream

Trader Joe's Cookie Butter is one of those magnificent little jars of wonder. So when I saw that they had transformed their cookie butter into ice cream, I was all for it. I was especially all for it after trying a sample at the store one afternoon. That's when the container of Trader Joe's Speculoos Cookie Butter Ice Cream jumped into my grocery cart and made a temporary home in my freezer.

The dessert is your classic vanilla ice cream that has swirls, chunks and bits of cookie butter running throughout it. Cookie butter on its own is rather sweet ... so when mixed with sweet vanilla ice cream it becomes a rich and decadent dessert. It's certainly something you can enjoy in small doses without feeling sick from the sugar overload. The ice cream itself is smooth and creamy and the cookie butter adds a little bit of gritty texture to it.

 

It's the real deal when it comes to ice cream and I find it's something one can enjoy from time to time. I find the serving is more than enough because it can be very rich.

 

A 1/2 cup serving is 220 calories or 6 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Filled with CaramelTrader Joe's Milk Chocolate Filled with Caramel

I'm a firm believe that Trader Joe's and Aldi sell the best chocolate around. It's also because of these two stores chocolate products that I'm now a self proclaimed chocolate snob. Why? Well, I'm starting to find regular name brand candy to not be so tasty any longer. I was in the mood for something sweet last time I was shopping so I picked up a Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Filled with Caramel bar because they're at the checkout and they're only 99 cents.

When I was a kid I loved caramel chocolates (more importantly, Cadbury's Caramello bars) ... so I had a strong inkling that I would enjoy this. Opening the bar up it's 6 little squares which all linked together as a bar. The chocolate "shell" is firm, yet soft and can crush in your fingertips if you're trying to break a piece off.  The chocolate itself is smooth, velvety, delicious milk chocolate while the caramel is soft, gooey, and sweet yet not overly. I don't find this to be so sweet that it leaves your taste buds overwhelmed ... it's milder in sweetness to satisfy but not sicken. It's perfect to share ... or if you're in a chocolate mood to enjoy on your own.

A bar is 220 calories or 6 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips

I've actually been meaning to post this for a while ... but here it is!

 

Many, many moons ago I tried a delicious combination. Milk chocolate on a salty potato chip ... and I was hooked. I'd stop into a local chocolate shop every once in a while to buy a small little bag of chocolate covered potato chips. So, when I saw these Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Covered Potato Chips I picked them up for a guilty pleasure snack.

 

Opening the bag you see mounds of chocolate covered wavy/ruffle chips. Most are completely covered by chocolate, while some do show a hint of potato chip. The first bite you get that natural softness from milk chocolate, while that crunch when you bite through the potato chip. Immediate thought? Heaven.  They're delicious. They're sweet. They're salty. The chocolate is smooth. They're also incredibly rich.

The fact that Trader Joe's combined their fabulous chocolate (I firmly believe they sell the best milk chocolate) and their delicious potato chips into one is like angels sing every time the bag is opened.

 

They satisfy a sweet tooth, while they also satisfy the crunch factor.  They're a delicious and perfect snack ... although they can also be very addicting.

 

A serving, 1.5 oz (roughly 6 chips) is 230 calories or 6 points plus values.

Trader Joe's Trader Ming's Kung Pao Chicken

I enjoy Asian cuisine, although I don't always go out for it because it 1) many of the dishes are too high in calories for my liking, 2) most are loaded with sodium and 3) I find myself wanting to pick at different things instead of sticking with one solid dish.  Although, over the last few years, I have found myself making Asian cuisines at home (whether homemade or store bought) and I find I can get the flavors I'm looking for in portion size.

Scanning the selection of frozen cuisine, I decided to pick up a bag of Trader Mings Trader Joe's Kung Pao Chicken to give a try. The bag lists the dish as "a savory dish of tender dark meat chicken and mixed vegetables in a spicy soy ginger sauce."  The picture on the bag looked promising and the directions were cut and dry. This meant dinner would be done in a breeze before I knew it.

Following the directions on the bag, dinner was done in under 10 minutes. A little olive oil in the pan then I cooked up the chicken, once complete I added in the vegetables and let them cook down a bit.  Then I added in the sauce and then the peanuts.  The dish itself is filling, flavorful and delicious. It tastes like take out so there's no feeling of being gypped out of a meal you've been waiting for.

If you're not a fan of spicy - you may not enjoy this. The dish is indeed hot ... borderline mouth on fire spicy.  There are red chili's in the dish (which I made sure to pick out before serving) and if you were to accidentally eat one, I can't say you'd have a pleasant experience. A serving is truly plentiful and alongside some fried rice (I recommend Trader Joe's Vegetable Fried Rice) and a vegetable of your choice it's a complete and delicious meal.

A serving, 1 cup (150g) is 240 calories or 6 points plus values.

Stuffed Cabbage Casserole

Stuffed cabbage has been a dish I’ve eaten since a child. It’s a family recipe and my mother is really the only one in our family that recreates my grandmother’s dish. My grandma was Polish and made the best golumpki … and my mother makes hands down THE best (so good, I won’t order them from a restaurant because I find I’m usually let down). Depending on what you put on them, they can be in a tomato sauce, plain … or as my mother makes them with crushed/diced tomatoes over the top.

I purchased a head of cabbage from one of my local grocery stores with truthfully, no real meal in mind. After jogging my memory to try to develop a meal plan … I decided to, why not take my mom’s recipe and transform it into a casserole? Same sort of meal, same flavor … but just in an easier (or lazier?) method. The few differences in cooking between my mom’s recipe and the one I make are 1) I had to cook the hamburger before putting into the dish, 2) I seasoned the beef and 3) I sautéed the cabbage down with olive oil instead of just boiling the leaves off.

The dish itself is easier compared to traditional stuffed cabbage, yet I have to admit this is slightly “messier”. The reason I say this is because the rolled version everything is contained within its cabbage wrap and if serving hot, the first few slices may crumble on its way to the plate.  The first 2 slices out of the pan are slightly troublesome unless you allow the dish to cool.

Potential crumbling aside … this is a delicious dish and one I will undoubtedly make again real soon.

Serves 8. 6 Points Plus.

Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ pound uncooked lean 94% ground beef
• 2 ½ pound cabbage, chopped
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 3 cups cooked white rice
• 14.5 oz canned diced tomatoes
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp McCormick Montreal Steak seasoning
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• Non-stick cooking spray

Cook 3 cups of white rice (I use a rice cooker which makes it easier). Or you can also use microwavable frozen white rice. Season rice with salt and a little bit of pepper.

In a medium non-stick pan, add hamburger, onion, and 1 tablespoon of McCormick Steak Seasoning.  Cook over medium high heat until hamburger is crumbled and browned.

Combine hamburger and rice and toss until well combined.

Chop cabbage into chunks. Once all chopped add 2 tsp olive oil to the bottom of a large pot. Add in raw cabbage and cook over medium-high heat until cabbage is wilted down. Season cabbage with salt and pepper.

Spray the bottom of a casserole or a roasting pan. Layer half of the cabbage onto the bottom of the pan., then top with the rice and hamburger mixture, follow-up by topping with the remaining cabbage.

Sprinkle a little black pepper over the top of the cabbage and top with can of diced tomatoes (juice and all).

Cover pan with tinfoil and bake 25 minutes. Remove tinfoil and bake an additional 15 minutes.

Thomas' Limited Edition Maple French Toast Bagels

While picking up a few things at Wal-Mart I stumbled upon an end cap that has Thomas' bagels on it. Like radar my eyes sought out the new item on the shelf. I had to pick them up and after getting a whiff of the bagels in the bag the Thomas' Limited Edition Maple French Toast Bagels made a temporary home in my shopping cart.

 

I do enjoy a decent bagel from time to time and these bagels smell heavenly. They truly do smell exactly like maple french toast. You get that sweet maple flavor along with a mild spice from the cinnamon.  Splitting them open and popping them into the toaster oven, they're good with a little bit of spray butter on them. While they're also delicious with a little peanut butter and a banana to make it a complete, slam dunk breakfast.  The bagels themselves smell more aromatic than they taste, but they do have a mild sweetness to them ... but they don't taste exactly like it would if you were eating french toast covered in maple syrup.  Which, at least in my humble opinion, is expected.

 

Overall these are quite good and I enjoyed them for breakfast, while also for a treat in the afternoon.

 

Each bagel is 250 calories or 6 points plus values.

Taco Pizza

This pizza was inspired by an email I received from a local pizza chain around Cinco de Mayo. They coined it a taco pizza and from the picture provided it was covered in cheeses, hamburger bits and topped off with crushed tortilla chips. It looked delicious but I knew it would probably be one of the unhealthiest versions of pizza you could get from the shop.

So, with my “thinking cap” on I decided to give it a go with what I had available at home.  I made my taco meat as I would my regular ole batch of taco meat and instead of layering it onto taco shells/tortillas I layered it onto a premade pizza crust.  Turns out, it was a scrumptious and delicious dish, which was most definitely a fun and tasty twist on a classic taco dinner.

I will admit, this is a little messy (as tacos can tend to be) so if you’re not afraid to get your fingers dirty, then you’d enjoy this without a doubt!

Serves 6. 6 Points Plus/serving.

Ingredients:

• 1 Boboli 100% Whole Wheat prepared pizza crust
• 12 oz uncooked 93% lean ground beef
• 1 packet reduced sodium taco seasoning
• ~2/3 cups water [or water amount on taco seasoning package direction]
• ½ small onion, chopped
• ¾ cup Chi-Chi’s Medium Salsa
• 1/3 cup Kraft Fat Free Natural Shredded Mozzarella
• ½ oz tortilla chips, crushed
• 1 medium tomato, chopped
• ¾ cup shredded iceberg lettuce

In a non-stick frying pan add in chopped onion and ground beef. Cook over medium-high heat, breaking meat up into smaller pieces, until meat is cooked through.

Sprinkle taco seasoning over meat, add water and stir to combine, Allow meat to simmer and thicken with taco seasoning for a couple of minutes, then remove from heat.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place prepared pizza crust in the middle of a round baking dish. Top crust with salsa – then layer on the taco meat, leaving a slight boarder for the crust.

Sprinkle with mozzarella cheese and place pizza into oven and bake for 7-12 minutes until the cheese is slightly golden.

Allow pizza to cool 5-8 minutes, then top with crushed tortilla chips, diced tomatoes and lettuce.

Cut into 6 servings and enjoy!

Artisan Bistro Thai Style Yellow Curry with Chicken

This past weekend I needed something for lunch … and since I didn’t have anything in the refrigerator to cook, I decided to grab a frozen dinner. After giving my options a once over, I decided to go with the Artisan Bistro Thai Style Yellow Curry with Chicken bowl.  I had never tried any Artisan Bistro meal before but just from the looks of the dish on the box I was intrigued.

I really enjoy curry dishes, but outside of Jamaican curry, Thai curry is one of my favorites. Since I don’t have Thai food often, this seemed right up my alley … and it definitely was.  Outside of it being a Thai curry dish – what intrigued me was the fact that it’s made with organic brown rice, quinoa and vegetables.  The dish is all natural and gluten free. Since I am known to have texture issues with frozen chicken microwave dishes I was glad to see it contained free range chicken.

After a quick trip into the microwave, lunch was done and ready to be served … and it was delicious! The curry had a bit of sweetness to it which calmed down any potential heat that would’ve been there. There was enough sauce to coat all the contents in curry sauce with a few stirs with a spoon. The chicken isn’t chewy, the vegetables are plenty and the rice and quinoa mix is spectacular.  The amount provided is perhaps equal to a cup size portion … but I found it to be quite satisfying.

I’m not sure what retailers carry this brand of meals, but I do know it’s available at super Target locations.

Each bowl is 240 calories or 6 points plus values.

Trader Joe’s Bambino Pizza Formaggio

Pizza is my favorite food. It’s also one of my favorite foods to test out – whether in the fresh or frozen variety.  Since frozen pizza tends to be the most convenient, I’m always scoping out the frozen pizza section of my local grocery stores. Trader Joe’s is no exception to this scoping out … so one day I spotted the Trader Joe’s Bambino Pizza Formaggio. Checking out the nutrition facts I was intrigued and decided to bring them home with me.

The pizzas themselves are what I’d call a personal pizza. They’re smaller than a pan pizza you’d get at say, Pizza Hut, but they’re about the same size as individual frozen pizzas that are sold by brands like Red Baron, etc. They’re a perfect little meal whether it be for lunch or dinner. I find paired alongside a salad it’s satisfying.

The crust is relatively thick – definitely not a pan pizza, but it’s an in-between (for comparative purposes about as thick, or even a little thicker than an Ellio’s frozen pizza slice).  The sauce is tasty and the cheesy is plentiful. I prefer mine with slightly crispy/browned cheese so I elected to leave it in the convection oven a minute or two longer.  What I like about these the most is they resemble a regular pizza pie and there is a bit of crust along the edge, which makes for easy holding if you’re feeling fancy and want to cut this into smaller slices.

I’m a big fan of these little bambino’s … so much that I picked up another box to replace the one I finished a couple Trader Joe’s trips away.  These also contain no artificial flavors or preservatives.

Each pizza is 250 calories or 6 points plus values.