tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post6633289490081768639..comments2023-10-11T09:03:55.209-04:00Comments on Lindaraxa: Product Review...Barefoot Contessa's Frozen Mealslindaraxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.comBlogger46125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-57412799112427303042015-01-01T19:35:54.936-05:002015-01-01T19:35:54.936-05:00Maybe the quality has improved over the past year....Maybe the quality has improved over the past year. We just had the Beef Bourg and it was wonderful -- clearly a cut above other frozen meals. Will be keeping it stocked and trying others as well. Thanks to Ina for making it easy!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-62379681241638830092014-06-18T18:35:53.568-04:002014-06-18T18:35:53.568-04:00I just prepared and devoured the Penne pasta with ...I just prepared and devoured the Penne pasta with 5 cheeses. I have made it from scratch and her frozen meal comes as close to tasting like the scratch meal as I have ever had in a frozen entrée. I for one will be buying this again and trying the others as well. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-16364641289133475102014-05-16T16:58:39.467-04:002014-05-16T16:58:39.467-04:00I am addicted to the Pasta Carbonara with Pancetta...I am addicted to the Pasta Carbonara with Pancetta meal. I think it has crushed crack cocaine in the sauce or something, I find it absolutely delicious, and the freezer is stocked with that one meal. Better than local Italian in my opinion.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-6532631297368046092014-02-11T20:14:22.546-05:002014-02-11T20:14:22.546-05:00I don't understand all the bad reviews, I love...I don't understand all the bad reviews, I loved the Beef Bourg, Thai Chix and Im waiting to have the Lime Chix soon, I think they are just great, you tell me who makes it better? I don't see it...I love her show also, woman knows how to cook and Im glad she put together some great frozen meals for me when I don't have time to cook. Thanks Contessa....its a Home Run in My Book and I love great food and Im very hard to please!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-7234597875637774862014-01-22T15:56:59.543-05:002014-01-22T15:56:59.543-05:00I tried this today, it was like rubber and glue. I...I tried this today, it was like rubber and glue. I gave a bite to my dog and she ran off rather than beg for more as she usually does. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-17278157283028378142014-01-08T11:00:43.601-05:002014-01-08T11:00:43.601-05:00Tried it last night - it was awful. It should hav...Tried it last night - it was awful. It should have been labeled pepper stew since pepper was the overriding flavor. Too bad - it could have been decent if it hadn't been so overseasoned with pepper. My husband wouldn't eat it after two bites.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-38662721722155584092013-12-12T07:14:22.788-05:002013-12-12T07:14:22.788-05:00Hi..
i appreciate the ideas and this is very nice ...Hi..<br />i appreciate the ideas and this is very nice article and have great information. Thanks for share,<br /><br />Click here: <a href="http://www.ifbagro.in/marine/" rel="nofollow"> frozen food products</a>Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04731913020929415569noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-5448576952754815572013-09-24T16:33:24.644-04:002013-09-24T16:33:24.644-04:00I agree totally with this reviewer. We just tried...I agree totally with this reviewer. We just tried the Beef Stew Bourguignon last night for the first time and will never buy it again. It was inedible. My entire family pushed it away. When I checked the package (which I should have done in the grocery store) the salt content was 1,350mg . .. what should be 65% of your entire daily intake of salt. Awful. I'm with you. I can't imagine that she ever tested this one herself.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-91102978920803839592013-08-18T20:31:10.082-04:002013-08-18T20:31:10.082-04:00You got that right. We had it tonight and it was ...You got that right. We had it tonight and it was awful. Totally tasteless. We filled up on buttered bread. I won't buy anymore of their products.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-50164117062434351112013-06-13T18:08:15.178-04:002013-06-13T18:08:15.178-04:00I bought what I thought was Barefoot Contessa but ...I bought what I thought was Barefoot Contessa but is was Contessa. I bought the Beef Mongolian and it was quick and delicious. I had never tried the brand. I don't know if I want to try the Barefoot Contessa's or not. This tasted as good as the PF Chang food I've had. Give it a try.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-9754493211802069332013-06-02T23:44:33.752-04:002013-06-02T23:44:33.752-04:00I just tried - as in tried to eat - the Beef Stew ...I just tried - as in tried to eat - the Beef Stew Bourgignon...so disappointed, as I've made the actual Barefoot Contessa recipe numerous times and it was delicious! I should have known better! It tasted of, inexplicably, fish oil supplements?!? I most likely will not be trying any of the others. Fool me once...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-10167300587073063692013-05-19T20:52:16.614-04:002013-05-19T20:52:16.614-04:00I would never Buy Stouffer's again, nor most o...I would never Buy Stouffer's again, nor most of the Changs. Both fit the bill of processed industrial foods from the cafeteria chowline IMO. I am biased, because I zero in on the sodium (=salt) content. They are overloaded, like the worst Chinese fast foods. I stick to Contessa Green Cuisine, Newman's Own, and on occasion, some of the lower salt Voila's if I want to eat garbage. I don't like them (except chicken pot pie) but at 2x1 you can get them under $4 each and I wouldn't categorize these Barefoot Contessas as much better, and definitely the fault is in the recipe because as in the case of the scampi above, individually the ingredients are really the best possible frozen out there.<br /><br />Now, thumbs down on this Barefoot Contessa Product Line. They, to pick up on the above thought, they are over saturated with salt. What a hoot, my Shrimp Scampi instructions tell us to add salt to taste LOL! Already a the two servings have about 2500 mg, more salt than the recommendation (that's in two servings, as the package comes)<br /><br />So really the best thing to do with the scampi and beef is to use part of the sauce. 2 of 3 separate nutrition labeling between sauce and the rest. In the case of the scampi, one third the sauce brings it into the reasonable range, still high, but at least you don't want to down 2 liters of coke when you are done getting high blood pressure. So, 1/3 the sauce (1/6 per serving), and for the rest, substitute two tablespoons of XV olive oil and a couple spoons of Ricotta. The calories and texture come out the same and then add red pepper to taste. The second serving was actually far better this way and since I counted the shrimp it turned out ok (another disadvantage of multiserving frozen meals prepared for one is either you need to divide the ingredients roughly in half for a decent meal, or settle for leftover refrigerated frozen food meals. Gross<br /><br />But it turned out well. Sorry for going on and on, but a week ago Publix had a 2X1 sale so I got 5 deals and like Linda was excited to try something new. Unfortunately I assumed the salt was low since Contessa Frozen Foods (no relation to Barefoot Contessa until she made the deal with them, already premium producers of Contessa Green Cuisine meals, and it was a match of two Contessas who previously had nothing in common).<br /><br />Get General Paul's Chicken from Newman's Own. For me the nutritional profile and natural ingredients plus taste far better, but just a one shot wonder! (others are good and I suspect that Contessa makes them all including G. Pauls Chicken, but didn't check the package to confirm.<br /><br />Regarding Walmart, etc., I think you are all mistaken. Contessa Foods went through Chap 11 Bankruptcy because previously it only catered to the higher end. So a lesson was clearly learned, that if you are selling frozen food, you must get the major chains. After all, this is frozen food, not fine dining, and appropriate expectations must be adjusted.Not_Menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-48056460713384722962013-05-19T20:50:23.085-04:002013-05-19T20:50:23.085-04:00As I type I am eating the Shrimp Scampi BC version...As I type I am eating the Shrimp Scampi BC version. Yesterday was the Penne Five Cheese, and the day before Beef Bourg(sp.).<br /><br />The manufacturer does a fantastic job on all three. Unfortunately that does not make a good dish. Today is that the broccoli florets were fresh-frozen to perfection, packed separately and this allowed for addition of ingredients in three parts since all cooking was not identical for the contents... Broccoli=perfection. <br /><br />But first, we must put the frozen linguini and shrimp. Shrimp: perfection, best I've ever had out of a bag; far better than the fresh ones I buy in Publix that have come in blocks that have been thawed. Tender! <br /><br />Pasta: Perfect, the best short of homemade, and at least as good as cooking up some dry, recently manufactured Barilla, IMO, actually, better that that as a slight freshly made flavor comes through. <br /><br />Sauce: Somewhat flavorful piping hot, but definitely nothing to write home about. If I put olive oil, parmesan cheese and some red pizza peppers, it is better and that really is more convenient that hunting down frozen foods.<br /><br />The problem was the whole scampi meal. It was terrible when it wasn't piping hot. The sauce recipe was bad. Sorry. Perhaps some focus group thought it was good. But after 2 forks, no longer hot, and its true poor meal taste was all that was left.<br /><br />Now the Beef was very similar in shortcomings. The Penne with 5 cheeses actually was well done through the meal, a 7 out of 10 when it comes to comparing to other Contessa Green Meals. Pity, it is not one I wound want since just pasta and cheese really -- I can make pasta and cheese nearly a fast, it is a meat dish that justifies buying frozen since that's the extra work savings.<br />Not_Menoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-68586023734312863482013-05-13T20:22:37.793-04:002013-05-13T20:22:37.793-04:00i just tried Ina's Beef Stew Bourguignon. In ...i just tried Ina's Beef Stew Bourguignon. In the pan warming up it looked like the real deal and we decided to boil up a pot of wide, buttered noodles to serve it on. As far as our review of the meal, may I borrow your review just substituting the chinese dish forthe words Beef Bourguignon? It was bad and I feel this is something Ina would never have signed off on if she were given a plate. She really needs to go to the manufacturer and raise hell. rob, usahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03091116458506306018noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-89397158876727994002013-04-28T16:12:17.292-04:002013-04-28T16:12:17.292-04:00Ah, Toby...that's why I like you so much! A re...Ah, Toby...that's why I like you so much! A real sport.lindaraxahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-36909063863690730742013-04-28T13:32:10.364-04:002013-04-28T13:32:10.364-04:00Excellent point, Julieta. One should never reject ...Excellent point, Julieta. One should never reject something until it's tried--and as you say, Harry's<br />version is a different animal.Toby Worthingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04494294732826925579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-60806620741564630802013-04-27T11:45:16.708-04:002013-04-27T11:45:16.708-04:00Toby,
Do me a favor...try it as is the first time...Toby,<br /><br />Do me a favor...try it as is the first time. It is not our Mac & Cheese but Harry's version. I just left a comment at the bottom of the post. The Mozzarella does not make it stringy and bland at all. You don't even know it's there at the end. While I agree with you on the roux, it works great this way. Try it and let me know.lindaraxahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-23046364226692429412013-04-27T10:44:22.625-04:002013-04-27T10:44:22.625-04:00I found your post on Harry's Bar Mac Cheese an...I found your post on Harry's Bar Mac Cheese and I want to try the recipe one day, with one alteration--the<br />flour wouldn't be added unless it was first cooked briefly as for a light roux. And I'd leave out the mozzarella-<br />too stringy and bland for Mac Cheese!<br /><br />Am inclined to agree with Blue's comment about Ina Garten. She makes it look easy, and has a pleasantly<br />offhand approach to explaining her recipes on her television spots, but most of the time I find myself wondering<br />whether those recipes are really tested--the ingredients raise more questions than not. Still, an experienced home<br />cook can use them as a basic template with a few personal refinements.Toby Worthingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04494294732826925579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-68289048571012461762013-04-26T16:54:07.749-04:002013-04-26T16:54:07.749-04:00Problem is I don't have one nearby but I will ...Problem is I don't have one nearby but I will when Im next in Atlanta.lindaraxahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-44672186072730434812013-04-26T16:52:42.786-04:002013-04-26T16:52:42.786-04:00Hi Blue!
She does have some good AMERICAN recipes...Hi Blue!<br /><br />She does have some good AMERICAN recipes like her cakes etc but she uses a lot of butter!!!!! It's a certain type of cooking which I would not necessarily call gourmet. I will say though that she has always been reliable. That was what really let me down.<br /><br />Where I live now I don't have a Whole Foods or Fresh Market nearby so in a pinch I've got to grab something ready made. The alternative is fast food...yuck! lindaraxahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-37477482709533667782013-04-26T16:44:34.656-04:002013-04-26T16:44:34.656-04:00Yes but even I run out of my frozen meals sometime...Yes but even I run out of my frozen meals sometimes! I remember when we moved to this house the night before the actual move which was Thanksgiving we had Stouffers mac and cheese on the porch. Talk about a gourmet Thanksgiving. That's when you grab something like that and of course I don't expect gourmet, just good. Ive heard about the quality going down. Haven't had one since my flu and then I couldn't taste a thing as you well know. Have you tried my recipe? it's from Harry's Bar in Venice? Now that is gourmet!lindaraxahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-57998430521801382522013-04-26T15:41:15.118-04:002013-04-26T15:41:15.118-04:00I've never found the Contessa anything more th...I've never found the Contessa anything more than an unremarkable cook. I've heard all the usual cooing about her, watched her shows (twice) and even tried a recipe or two when she was with HB but in the end all was average. <br /><br />I bought a similar sort of kit recently from WF (thought I might lighten my load now I'm retired) and after trying it out – and admittedly it was easy – decided home-made was best. It was not offensive but for what it was it was expensive and tipped towards the flavorless. In other words, unremarkable. Bluehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07652670896513329236noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-76168967635018297112013-04-26T13:53:03.683-04:002013-04-26T13:53:03.683-04:00Just saw this re. the Mac n Cheese...well, there i...Just saw this re. the Mac n Cheese...well, there is now one to beat the Stouffers! Try the one from Trader Joe's: it is superb!! Really, it almost, truly tastes like home made. Try it, you'll like it!Libby https://www.blogger.com/profile/11556491482494737313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-15724775662842457792013-04-26T09:48:00.182-04:002013-04-26T09:48:00.182-04:00In a perfect world, it would be possible to reach ...In a perfect world, it would be possible to reach for a frozen dinner as an alternative to the time consuming<br />task of preparing the evening meal, and Ina Garten's own recipes would be as tasty as we've come to expect.<br />Yet it seems to me that the words "gourmet" and "convenience" are contradictory, at least when it comes<br />to packaged meals. Your readers make an excellent point when they say that their own meals, frozen and<br />later thawed, are superior to anything made by Stouffer's etc. There was a time when I relied upon Stouffer's<br />Macaroni Cheese as an alternative to cooking dinner after a long work day, but these days it tastes like<br />cardboard! Toby Worthingtonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04494294732826925579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323849547147404211.post-58790433849188052242013-04-26T08:40:44.163-04:002013-04-26T08:40:44.163-04:00Thanks for the suggestions. When I try to slim dow...Thanks for the suggestions. When I try to slim down (not often)I sometimes reach for those lean cuisines. The Thai rolls sound yummy!lindaraxahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15721286284279902181noreply@blogger.com