Prize Drawing: Tina's Burrito Coupons

For those who have suffered through my awful writing over the past nine months, your patience may finally be rewarded. In a Frozen Food Journal first (and partly inspired by The Impulsive Buy) I'm giving away free stuff.

The nice people at Camino Real Foods, which is returning Tina's Burritos to their original recipes, have provided me with ten coupons. Each coupon is redeemable for a pair of 4 oz Tina's Burritos. And while the prospect of hoarding twenty burritos in my freezer is tantalizing, I've instead decided to share them with the world.

In order to participate email me with the subject headline "Tina's Burrito Coupons." Leave your name along with your favorite frozen food product. Contest ends on Sunday, June 7th, 2009 at 12:00 AM ET and is open to residents of the continental United States who are 18 or older.

Two winners will randomly be selected and each receive five coupons in the mail.

I wish I could do this through the comment section, but alas, Blogger is not as cool as Wordpress. So email it is. Also winners will eventually have to provide mailing addresses. Rest assured all personal information will be kept confidential per Frozen Food Journal's privacy policy.

I know it's kind of random to ask people for their favorite frozen food but it'll give me a better idea of what products to consider reviewing for the future. My favorite is probably the Snickers Ice Cream Bar but I'd have to really think about it.

Anyway, as the incomparable Michael Scott says, "You need to play to win. But... you also need to win... to play." Good luck!

-Ken

Review: T.G.I. Friday’s Sweet & Smoky Popcorn Chicken

Do people go to T.G.I. Friday's? I see its commercials on TV a lot, particularly the one about two entrées and an appetizer for $20 deal. Maybe that was Applebee's. Or Chili's. All these casual restaurants clump together in my mind.

But I know it wasn't Sizzler. Nobody goes there.

Moving along, today's review is for T.G.I. Friday’s Sweet & Smoky Popcorn Chicken, which is part of the restaurant's line of frozen appetizers. Previously I tried the so-so Buffalo Wings.

I recommend not using the microwave since it makes the chicken mushy. I don't have a baking sheet so I just used my trusty frying pan. Inside a 350 degree oven the popcorn chicken was baked for seven minutes, flipped then cooked seven more. The chicken turned out not quite cooked enough. I tried again a few days later. Twenty minutes does the trick.

The chicken is spicy. Not sweet. At all. I don't know how T.G.I. Friday’s missed this minor detail. A complete whiff on its part, like a batter flailing away at a sharp curveball in the dirt. Tangy & Smoky Popcorn Chicken would be more appropriate to describe the mild mesquite flavor.

The outside never quite gets crispy but it does offer some bite. The chicken, while delicious and tender, isn't of the highest quality. I mean, it's no Chick-fil-A.

Each piece of popcorn chicken contains 50 calories in addition to moderate amounts of fat, cholesterol and sugar. There's also a high level of sodium in this appetizer. It's an excellent source of protein but otherwise worthless from a nutritional standpoint.

My box came with 13 pieces of chicken. Considering this appetizer costs around $4 at the grocery store, I suggest T.G.I. Friday’s Sweet & Smoky Popcorn Chicken isn't worth it.

May Day

It's almost June?! What happened? This rock called earth is spinning through the solar system way too fast.

Moving onto less cosmic matters, my pantry was basically reduced to ramen this week so it was time to hit up Ralphs. I wanted to spend under $20 for groceries. Unfortunately I consider peanut butter a necessity. A necessity that costs $9 for a two-pack. A two-pack that's Super Chunk-y. Oh well, it's worth it. And while on the subject let me just say that anyone who prefers creamy peanut butter over chunky shouldn't be trusted.

Only a trio of frozen food purchases today:

Type of Frozen Food	Regular Price	Discount	Quantity	Total
pizza	$1.99	$.99	3	$3.00
chicken	$4.99	$1.49	1	$3.50

ice cream

$3.99

$2.64

1

$1.35

Been crazing pizza something terrible for the past few weeks so I picked up some Celeste. Don't let me down, you cheap circles of goo. Also got Morningstar Farms chicken patties and some Deluxe ice cream (which I had a Ralphs coupon for).

Hopefully I'll squeeze in a review sometime tomorrow afternoon. And then when we return from the weekend...... JUNE!!!

-Ken

Review: Klondike Slim-a-Bear No Sugar Added Krunch Bars

What would I do for a Klondike Slim-a-Bear No Sugar Added Krunch Bar? Write a frozen food blog, that's what.

Remember those goofy Klondike commercials back in the day? No? Well here's one with a meeting of the minds between Shakespeare and Gary Coleman.

That's another example why TiVo was invented.

It's been awhile since I've tried a Klondike... although these ice cream bars come in white plastic wrappers instead of the classic aluminum packaging with the polar bear logo. So maybe these aren't Klondikes to purists. Whatever. They're still good.

This is a reduced-fat product so right away I can tell it isn't as lavish (i.e. creamy) as a regular Klondike. Still, the vanilla ice cream tastes nice and smooth -- just not as rich compared to other more decadent frozen desserts. Coating the ice cream is a delicious chocolate shell. It's littered with crispy rice pieces that offer additional Krunch. For some reason there's a toffee flavor in each bite too. It's good albeit unexpected. The exterior is very fragile, so eat slowly or risk a thousand chocolate stalactites crashing down onto your clothes.

Don't be fooled by the packaging. Despite all the healthy slogans (Slim-a-Bear, 35% less fat, 25% less calories, no sugar added) this product is one Bad Mamma Jamma for your health. Don't believe me? Check the grisly nutrition facts for yourself. Each Krunch Bar comes packed with 170 calories and 10 grams of fat (80% of which is saturated, woohoo). And I guess Klondike means no additional sugar added because there's also 7 grams of the sweet stuff. That's in addition to 7 grams of sugar alcohol (phenylketonurics). There's a lot of not so good things in these Krunch Bars, which is Kosher and worth 3 Weight Watcher Points.

Unlike Klondike Slim-a-Bear 100 Calorie Vanilla & Chocolate Sandwiches don't consider No Sugar Added Krunch Bars to be a healthier option for dessert. But unlike the Vanilla & Chocolate Sandwiches these actually taste like dessert.

Happy Memorial Weekend

Hope everyone enjoys a great three-day weekend. I will be watching copious amounts of interleague baseball and playoff basketball.


Today my brother made me an à la mode dessert from Thrifty Mint 'N Chip ice cream and a homemade chocolate chip cookie. I wolfed it down in an appropriate manner.

On Tuesday I'll be reviewing a different kind of frozen goodness. Until then.

-Ken

Tina's Burrito to Bring Back Original Recipes

It appears the Tina's saga will have a happy ending.

I have just received confirmation from Camino Real Foods that Tina's Burrito will return to its classic recipe and packaging. The burritos, however, will remain 4 ounces. Tina's also has a new website that showcases its products in addition to providing access to nutrition facts, ingredients, recipes and a store finder.

Look for old school Tina's Burritos to return to your supermarket in the coming months.

This is fantastic news. A lot of people were not happy with the changes. Consumers voiced their opinions. And give credit to CR Foods for listening and making the necessary adjustments.

Review: Hungry-Man Buffalo Style Chicken Strips

Chicken tenders are my go-to food whenever I eat out at a diner. Chicken without the hassle of bones and guts!

Hopes were high going into Hungry-Man Buffalo Style Chicken Strips. I would have preferred a side of honey mustard instead of a buffalo style coating. Oh well. Can't win 'em all.

To prepare this meal first remove the plastic film from the chicken/fries and brownie. Next poke holes through the plastic covering the corn. This task is a bit of a challenge since all the kernels are fused together. Place the tray inside a 350 degree oven for 40 minutes and voilà.

The box shows four fried chicken strips. My meal only had three. So not a great start. But at least the meat is tasty. Tougher than I would have preferred but still juicy. Part of that can be attributed to the flavorful coating. The chicken is tossed in a flour blend made from buttermilk powder, red pepper, dried jalapeno puree, garlic powder, chicken powder (???) and other flavorings. It delivers a good amount of spice, a little kick to the back of the throat. Luckily I had a glass of lemonade to wash it all down.

The coating wasn't crispy. Even worse, the bottom of the chicken strips were soggy from all the grease it absorbed from the bottom of the tray. Also greasy are the stubby and crinkle cut french fries. They're a suitable side dish, though I would highly encourage ketchup use.

Corn comes very lightly seasoned with margarine and salt. Tasty compliment to the stronger flavors in the dinner. Also the corn wasn't overcooked, a rarity in the world of frozen meals.

Much like in the Boneless Pork I found the brownie to be underwhelming. Once again, I think this happened because the main dish (in this case the spiciness of the chicken strips) overpowered my taste buds and interfered with the smooth chocolate. Regardless the Hungry-Man brownie delivers once more with melt-in-you-goodness dessert goodness.

Memo to Hungry-Man: please cut down on the sodium. Not only because it would be healthier but also your meals taste way too salty. Buffalo Style Chicken Strips offer almost three-fourths of a person's total fat and half of his or her (can't forget the ladies; they eat Hungry-Man too) saturated fat. Also watch for the high sugar and cholesterol. As for positives, this meal is an excellent source of fiber and protein as well as a good source of Vitamin C and iron. Note the packaging did not list Trans Fat.

Hungry-Man Buffalo Style Chicken Strips was satisfying. I have no qualms with eating it again, although I personally prefer Classic Fried Chicken. It offers a better-tasting chicken and the same delicious brownie -- one you can taste.

Review: Banquet Brown 'N Serve Lite Original

Doesn't that look delicious? Okay, maybe not. But breakfast sausages shouldn't be judged as if entered in a beauty pageant. Because no one wants to see pork pieces talking about world peace while wearing thong bikinis.

During my search for delicious breakfast meat I've previously reviewed Banquet Beef and Maple sausages. Both had their pros and cons. I expected Brown 'N Serve Lite Original to be equally ho-hum.

Ideally you want to cook the sausages over a skillet. Like the box indicates placing a few drops of water helps evenly heat the frozen links. Microwaving is another suitable solution. The meat can quickly become tough so keep a close eye.

All Banquet sausages have a slight spongy texture. Lite Originals have good pork flavor. They're not as strong as... oh I don't know, the sausage links served at Denny's. But maybe that's a good thing. At the very least you won't get an upset stomach. And really, that's half the battle for any morning meal.

For a breakfast sausage these Lite Originals are much healthier than its counterparts. They contain half the total and saturated fat of other Banquet brand sausages yet a similar amount of cholesterol and sodium. But relatively speaking this product is better for you than most.

I will probably buy Banquet Brown 'N Serve Lite Original again. It tastes fine and is less of a nutritional nuclear meltdown. Two for two!

SpokespersonWanted.com Take Three

Julia Louis-Dreyfus returns to promote the new (and possibly improved) Healthy Choice over at SpokespersonWanted.com.

Meh. Doesn't make me want to try Pumpkin Squash Ravioli or whatever it's peddling.

Budget Shopping, Sort Of

I've been away from my apartment for two weeks, which explains the lack of updates around here. Also I'm quite lazy.

Dropped by Ralphs yesterday morning on the way back to Los Angeles. I've been trying to cut back on spending so most of the time in the grocery store was relegated to wistfully staring at all the expensive items.

Usually I try to spend $25 or less per shopping trip. Tuesday's tally? $34.68. And this is someone who did well in math during his school days. Regardless, I refuse to give up my soy milk. It ain't happening.

Frozen food purchases included:

Type of Frozen Food	Regular Price	Discount	Quantity	Total
dinner	$3.79	$1.91	3	$5.64
breakfast	$4.99	$1.00	1	$3.99

ice cream bar

$4.29

$1.79

1

$250

Marie Callender's frozen meals were selling for half price so I made sure to pick up a few. I also used my Morningstar Farms coupon to save a buck.

A funny thing about the ice cream bars. They're fudge popsicles and all the boxes were smeared with melted chocolate. I bought one anyway because... well, I felt like it. When the cashier scanned my items she obviously noticed the messed up box. I simply shrugged and asked her to throw it in the bag anyway.

Stay classy Ken.

Review: Thrifty Ice Cream Mint 'N Chip

Last month I went old school and reviewed a childhood favorite, Thrifty Chocolate Chip ice cream. Today I'm reviewing its hipster cousin, Mint 'N Chip. Not to be confused with the equally awesome and retro Chip 'n Dale cartoon show.

But back to our regularly scheduled program. Err, frozen food review.

In typical Thrifty Ice Cream fashion Mint 'N Chips comes loaded with delicious morsels of chocolate. Blanketing the chips is a soft and sweet body of minty goodness. That sure was a weird sentence to write and read aloud.

Anyway I prefer this flavor over Chocolate Chip. Both are excellent but it boils down to the ice cream. And let's be real: there's no contest between mint and vanilla. That's a more lopsided matchup than Pacquiao vs. Hatton.

6 grams of saturated fat in each half cup serving equals awfulness for your arteries. 15 grams of sugar will lead to trips to the dreaded dentist. 10% of your daily calcium can... prevent osteoporosis by half an hour? I don't know, I'm looking for a silver lining in this dietary disaster.

As the weather heats up so will the demand for frozen desserts. Thrifty Ice Cream Mint 'N Chip is a great choice for the spring. Or summer. Heck, any time is a good time for Thrifty Ice Cream.

Ralph Rewards Bonanza Part 2

What a lovely surprise today. My second wave of Ralph Rewards coupons arrived in the mail. Last time was good, this time it's awesome. Just take a look:

• $7 reward certificate
• Double Points on any transaction
  
• Receive 150 Bonus Points when you spend $7 or more on items from our Frozen Department (excludes Ice Cream and Novelties)
  
• 200 Bonus Points when you spend $10 or more from our Health and Beauty Care Department (excludes Cosmetics)
  
• Save $1 on any two CRYSTAL LIGHT Powdered Soft Drink items
  
• Save $2 on any five Weight Watchers Smart Ones Frozen Products
  
• Save $1 on any one Oroweat Bread
  
• Save 65¢ on the purchase of one Deluxe Ice Cream 48-56 oz. any variety
  
• Save $1.50 on any one Gorton's item
  
• Save $2 when you purchase any one Centrum Ultra Men's, Women's or Centrum Silver Ultra Men's, Women's
  
• Save $1 on one package of any Morningstar Farms Veggie Foods Product
  
• Save $1.25 on any two Klondike Ice Cream products
  
• Save $3 off any 1 Michael Angelo's Family Serve Entrée (32 to 40 oz size)
  
• Save $3 off any 2 Michael Angelo's Single Serve Entrée (10 to 12 oz size)
  
• Save 75¢ on any one GLAD product
  
• Save 50¢ when you spend $3 or more on Hair Care Products
  

Ralphs did something really cool. They offered bonus coupons that reflected my shopping habits. So that means lots of discounts on frozen foods. Huzzah. Better yet the coupons don't expire in mid-July. More than two months to get my grub on.

Review: Fubuki Green Tea

Those who were here from the beginning -- before Frozen Food Journal became a Susan Boyle-like international sensation -- may remember the first ever review I wrote last September. It was for Fubuki Ogura (red bean) ice cream.

Months later we revisit Fubuki, this time with Green Tea. I like this flavor even more than red bean, which tells you how delicious it is.

I'd like to say green tea ice cream tastes like pistachio ice cream (it certainly looks the part) but I forgot what pistachio tastes like. So there goes that.

Green tea is a sweet, mellow flavor. A different experience for those used to more traditional ingredients, but delicious nonetheless. What makes the green tea really great is how creamy it is. It's incredibly rich. Fubuki is definitely a high-end brand (and it shows in the price tag).

Each 1/2 cup serving is worth 160 calories, 10 grams of fat (6 saturated) and 40mg of cholesterol and 15 grams of sugar. Ouch. On the plus side there's also 8% of the daily recommended Vitamin A and calcium.

Fubuki Green Tea is a smooth and mild flavor that's ideal for an after dinner dessert. You might have to go to Asian or specialty market to find this delectable treat. Definitely pick it up. Buy the half gallon carton if it's there.