Those wretched frozen meals

Yes, there are times when those frozen entrees or TV dinners still come in handy.
Sure they are all loaded with sodium and ingredients that one has never heard of but how about some recommendations.
I've found that Stouffer's does turn out some decent stuff, likewise Barber foods for things like Chicken Kiev or Cordon Bleu.
Marie Callendar's are also decent as frozen products go.
What are your favorite brands or for that matter favori frozen meals.

Many years ago, we used to get some frozen products by a company called Meyer's in Pennsylvania.
Anyone know if they are still in business? Their pot pies were actually good.

I still eat a couple of Swanson pot pies every now and then. Mostly in the Winter.

We don't do a lot of frozen entrees, but I have enjoyed a Mrs. Budd's chicken pie in the past - I selected it since it offered an option of "upgraded" vegetables and white meat (got rid of the dark meat and peas, both of which I don't like). Comes with broccoli, little pearl onions, and carrots, and it's a fairly tasty option to pre-made meals. I also used to enjoy a Pepperidge Farm pot pie once in a great while, but those are off my list since I've read that they are possible the worst (in terms of fat) of all frozen food entrees.

Trader Joe's has some good options.

We used to love Stouffer's Lasagne (and also their Stuffed Green Peppers), but lately their corporate chefs seem to have lost the tops off their salt-shakers.

The last two times we tried these items they were so brackish as to be inedible.

Perhaps the recipes changed to accomodate the fact that most, including us, choose the microwave to prepare them. Or maybe the recipes haven't changed and microwaving accentuates the saltiness.

In any case, we still like (and "zap") Marie Callendar's stuff, though - and no one is going to confuse those products with "Lean Cuisine"!

I have a unique fascination with frozen food, which is similar to when there were catalogs that offered all sorts of junk that you don't want or need. Roll out gardens, X-ray specks, and more...

I am the type who would be the last person you would expect to find in these aisles. I use it as inspiration for meal ideas as I read the ingredients and realize that I want nothing to do with the product. I want to and can make a better pot pie than the companies do, but I see that there are some pies made by a local company that look very good.

I shake my head when I see customers with carts filled with pre-made frozen junk. I make my own frozen junk. Just this week I made a whole bunch of beef burritos and froze them in vacuum seal plastic. These are much better than any frozen burrito... and I am a sucker for 7-11 frozen burritos.

mark

When both of my kids were small, choosing a frozen meal was, for them, a really big treat. It could take them 1/2 hour or more to decide....which had the most meat, which had the better dessert....you see, my husband absolutely refused to eat anything like that, but when he was out of town for his 2 week summer stint with his guard unit, the kids could eat whatever they wanted....soup and sandwiches, cereal, and yes, even a TV dinner or two. I think back on those as great memories- not the food, but the choosing. If I remember correctly, he loved the swiss steak entree and she just ate the fried chicken one....sometimes they picked a Stouffer's veggie, the spinach souffle. Now that they are grown and gone, the only frozen dinners here, are all made and packaged by me. Those, my husband will eat!

spinach jello (souffle). I like to cook but do often enjoy Stouffers creamed beef on lazy bitch days

I actually don't mind most frozen dinners with the exception of the extremely "budget conscious" ones. Growing up, TV dinners were a big deal. Like mland520's kids, we took forever to choose one. They were actually reserved for "special occasions (i.e., when mom wasn't home to cook for us) so they're associated with good memories. As long as I don't have to eat a diet only of TV dinners, I don't think they're that bad. And the lasagna ones are generally pretty tasty!

Like others have mentioned, growing up we had frozen pot pies and those mini pizzas for treats and times when my dad was out of town on business, today, I'll buy Marie Calendar's chicken pot pies which are pretty good.
 
Embarrasing to admit, I used to like those El Patio frozen Mexican dinners, eaten with a little hot sauce on the beans and rice.  I bought one not too long ago, and the portions have shrunken by more than half, and not as I remembered them from 30+ years ago.  

I know exactly what you mean! I was craving lasagna one night, but it was way too late to get it at a real restaurant. So I figured I would try the TV dinner version. How bad could it be, right? Even though the package was a good 6" by 6" or so, the little piece of lasagna inside was about 2" square!

Good God! Can't the person doing all the flagging come out from under his or her slimy rock and just suggest that a post be moved to it's proper place?

Michael Hoffman


Good God! Can't the person doing all the flagging come out from under his or her slimy rock and just suggest that a post be moved to it's proper place?

ditto

jman

Michael Hoffman


Good God! Can't the person doing all the flagging come out from under his or her slimy rock and just suggest that a post be moved to it's proper place?

ditto

I agree with both of you. If we are to have a serious discussion of Roadfood among adults, and if someone has any issue at all that they feel justifies flagging a post, they should make it clear why and not hide. I have never flagged a post without explaining my reasons. And am unclear at all oftem why some are flagged.

"Embarrasing to admit, I used to like those El Patio frozen Mexican dinners, eaten with a little hot sauce on the beans and rice."

I thought I was the only one who remembered those "Patio" brand Mexican TV dinners! I can remember having them a few times when I was a kid, 40 years ago. Mostly I remember them coning with three little "mini" tacos in one of the two smaller divided sections of the tray and how the little taco shells would be soft at the bottom where the meat was and the rest of the little shell hard and brittle.

We only had TV dinners on the very rare occasions when my parents would go out for dinner without us kids, perhaps once or twice a year. Therefore they were always associated with happy times and the fun of making a special trip to the grocery store where we could pick out whatever kind of TV dinner we wanted.

Yes, I would buy one again just for nostalgia sake.

Hey Hoff---------------couldn't agree with you more about these idiot flaggers (floggers) and wankers. Got a good idea who it might be,but----------------seeing as you are a seasoned vet of these "wars" splain me what the hell does flagged as spam mean,anyway.
 
 
Thanx---------------Russ
 

"Flagged as SPAM" should mean that the poster was trying to promote his own company/restaurant/product.  I can't imagine that the original person who posted works (or worked) for Stouffers, Barber Foods, Marie Callendar or Meyers in Pennsylvania.  This thread is obviously in the wrong forum since it has nothing to do with desserts, but "SPAM" does not mean "wrong forum" no matter how you define it (not even the Hormel definition). 

  We like the Kid cuisine entrees except for the fact that they don't offer any other veg than corn. We usually eat the corn ourselves and sub a green veggie for the kids. I like Marie Callender's entrees and Pot pies. Also I like the Stouffer's Lasagne, Stuffed Peppers, and the Mac & Cheese. Hungry Man really satisfies the little woman! LOL

David O.