Tag Archives: gluten-free microwavables

Amy’s Teriyaki Bowl

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155 amys teriyakiI’m not sure how I feel about this Teriyaki Bowl made with organic tofu, brown rice, and broccoli. It’s a little spicier than I would like. It was certainly quick and easy enough to prepare – a total of 4.5 minutes in the microwave. And they ask you to remove the plastic for the second half of the cooking – and no, it didn’t splatter all over the inside of my microwave.

At only 290 calories and 4.5 grams of fat, that’s pretty good for a meal. 780 mg of sodium, 12 grams of protein, and 0 cholesterol is also nice. The consistency is good – nothing is hard or chewy or mushy. If it had just a little less kick to it (which is probably not even noticeable to a regular person), this would be a viable dinner option for me at only $3.99 at my neighborhood Safeway.

If you don’t mind your teriyaki just slightly on the spicy side, then this dish is for you. Me? I’ll stick with making my own version of teriyaki – with Worcestershire sauce, honey, ginger, garlic, and butter – used in this Tangy Cashew Chicken recipe.

You can always find out more about Amy’s at www.amys.com.

 

Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl by EATING RIGHT

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chicken teriyaki IMG_2953As teriyaki goes, I thought this Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowl by EATING RIGHT was a little light on flavor. With 930 mg of sodium, I anticipated a little more teriyakiness to it. For $2.99 and gluten-free, it’s hard to knock it. The chunks of real white meat chicken are of good consistency.  There were a couple of soybeans, a few water chestnuts, but no other veggies in this bowl. In their defense, I did try this dish one other time and there were a lot more vegetables in it. So, they don’t seem to be very consistent.

Overall, I probably would not purchase this again. It wasn’t “bad” but it wasn’t all that, either. I wouldn’t have purchased it a second time if I hadn’t been lazy and forgotten to write the review the first time.

Gluten Free Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake

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eating right pasta bake IMG_0279I have to say, this Gluten Free Roasted Vegetable Pasta Bake by Eating Right is one of my new favorites. From the package: Roasted vegetables, rice penne pasta and herbed ricotta cheese in a rich marinara sauce.

It’s good. It’s flavorful. It cooks up well in the microwave. Done in less than 6 minutes. 290 calories, 9 grams of fat, 710mg sodium, 41g carbs, and 11g protein.

Now, for those of us who are meatatarians, here’s what I recommend. Cook as directed on the package – 3 minutes, stir, then 2 minutes. Add one serving of your precooked favorite meat (leftovers work great!) – shredded chicken, sausage, burger, shrimp, whatever, and then cook 30 seconds more. Don’t put too much, though – you don’t want to overpower the flavor of this savory dish. YUM!

I got this for $2.99 regular price from my local Safeway store. Eating Right certainly got it right.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.

Creamy Polenta & Vegetable Medley

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IMG_4360 creamy polentaThis dish by Eating Right is described in small type on the package as creamy polenta and vegetable blend topped with Marsala sauce. Honestly, I’m not sure how I feel about this. The first time I tried it, I assumed by the photo on the package front – which is loaded with diced tomatoes and sprinkled with melty cheese – that it was going to taste like tomato sauce. But instead I got the Marsala sauce, which has a little sweetness to it that just doesn’t seem right with this dish. I thought maybe that since I was expecting one thing but got something else, that might have been my issue with this.

So, I tried it again. This time I added some cooked, cubed chicken for a little more protein. I feel the same way about it. I really think it would be better with tomato sauce (and I’m not a big tomato fan) than with the Marsala. Don’t get me wrong, it doesn’t taste badly at all, there’s just a disconnect in the flavors, in my humble opinion. And I don’t get the “creamy” in the name – do they mean the polenta is creamy? I dunno.

For $2.99 (at Safeway), 330 calories, 18 grams of fat, and 8 grams of protein…. If I want comfort food, I’d rather go with the Homestyle Chicken & Rice Pasta, which is lower in fat and higher in protein.

Recommended? Eh. I dunno. I won’t be buying it again.

Eating Right Gluten Free Margherita Pizza Review

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473 pizza malfunctionStop the presses! This is something to write home about. (Two cliches, one paragraph. You’re welcome.)

Seriously, this EATING RIGHT Gluten Free Margherita Pizza is pretty good, especially for a microwave pizza. For $2.99 (regular prize at my local Safeway), you get a filling, gluten-free personal pizza that takes up to 3 minutes to cook.

The pizza I got seemed to have had a wardrobe malfunction, with the topping slipping down revealing a naked crust. Oh, the humanity! Continue reading →

Eating Right Gluten Free Carnitas Bake

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BAKED CARNITAS IMG_3876I know what you’re thinking: what’s a Yankee with a sensitive palate doing eating a Carnitas Bake? Answer: living dangerously.

I have to say, this Carnitas Bake by Eating Right is a bit spicy, but I’m picking the green peppers out, so maybe that’s toning it down a bit. Okay, and I’m also picking out whatever looks like a red pepper.  I will be honest, I actually like this.

It does have a kick to it, but I don’t mind it. The overall flavor is pleasant and a bit on the sweet side. I guess that is balanced out by the peppers for most people. The consistency is fine – I cooked it for 5-1/2 minutes and just the very outside edges of the tortillas got a little hard and crispy. It probably could have gone for 5 instead. There is plenty of meat which is moist and not chewy.

It holds its heat for a nice, long time, too. My only suggestion would be that you might like to add some grated cheese across the top of it. I think it would be great with some guacamole and sour cream.

So, if you want something a little spicy for only about $2.99 – this is a winner. Available at Safeway.

Recommended.

Chex Gluten Free Oatmeal

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IMG_4618 chex oatmeal nutella styleChex, we love you. Gluten-free instant oatmeal is here. Quaker Oats, why didn’t you guys think of this? Sheesh!

In a variety box of Chex Gluten Free Oatmeal, you get 2 packets each of 3 flavors: apple cinnamon, maple brown sugar, and plain. It’s super easy to make in the microwave in less than 2 minutes, and each packet comes with a convenient fill-line for milk or water (I always use milk for creamier oatmeal) so you don’t have to dirty a measuring cup.

Great flavor, great consistency, awesome job, Chex!

But now, I bet you’re wondering why Nutella is in the picture. Okay, I’ll tell you. How many kids do you know (young OR old) who like plain oatmeal? That’s one drawback of variety packs of any kind – there’s always one flavor no one wants. Why do they do that? In any case, here’s a quick, easy, and delicious solution to the plain oatmeal issue. When you’re done heating the oatmeal, stir in up to 2 tablespoons (1 serving) of Nutella until it’s thoroughly mixed. You will end up with one delicious bowl of oatmeal! Yes, I know, I’m a genius. You’re welcome.

You can learn more about the most awesome Chex Gluten Free Oatmeal at http://www.chex.com/products/gluten-free-oatmeal-multipack-variety-pack I got mine at WalMart for under $3.00. Enjoy!

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

Udi’s Lasagna

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IMG_4211 udis lasagnaYUM! Hot, hearty, quick, easy, reasonably priced, and delicious. How can you go wrong with that combination? Udi’s has hit it out of the ballpark with this lasagna. So satisfying. The flavor, consistency, and appearance – all great.

Even though when you take the tray out of the microwave the sauce looks a bit soupy, it’s really not. There’s just enough of it to keep it moist. And the sauce is light and flavorful. Spicy smell while cooking, but not spicy to taste. There’s just enough sausage to give it a hint of a very pleasant kick.

The cheese consistency was good. At 5:45, the cook time was very convenient. While it’s frozen, it may look like it needs more cheese on top, but it really doesn’t.

I don’t know about other gluten-free lasagnas, yet, but for $4.99 a single serving, I’ll be looking for this on sale and will buy a few when that happens. Thank you, Udi’s.

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

G/F Mac & Cheese Steel Cage Match: SamMills Brand

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gluten free mac and cheese IMG_1892

No one said there would be math.

At the WalMart store in Colville, Washington, there is an impressive selection of gluten-free foods in the freezer section – for a non-health food store, anyway. This is where I discovered SamMills the Corn Master’s Gluten Free Macaroni & Cheese In a creamy Cheddar Cheese Sauce.

At $2.97 for 8 ounces, vs. Amy’s at $3.58 for 9 ounces, it was worth trying. It is wheat free, soy free, egg free, tree nut free, peanut free, fish free, shellfish free, and gluten free. Phew!

While I was in the store, I glanced at the cooking instructions. “Cook on high for 3-1/2 minutes” in the microwave. Super easy. Sold.

Then I got it home and went to cook it. That was when I really read the instructions:

Gluten free mac and cheese IMG_1887

  • Cook on HIGH for 3-1/2 minutes
  • Remove film, stir well and cook thoroughly until internal temperature reaches 165 degrees F.

SAY WHAT? No one told me math would be involved. *Sigh*

Seriously, cooking to a certain temperature is my most hated thing. I take this stuff very seriously, and if I can’t get it up to temperature, am I supposed to throw it away? I mean…

Anyway, I finally got it to 165. That was kind of a pain. It didn’t look too bad. And, it had very good flavor. The pasta consistency was similar to slightly undercooked, but I like it that way. I’d much rather have pasta I can sink my teeth into than have mush. So, the SamMills Mac & Cheese was good, but the cooking part was a bit stressful for me and sort of lessened the enjoyment of the dish. For more on SamMills products, go to www.SamMills.eu.

Tune in next time for Amy’s Rice Mac & Cheese.