CHEETOS® FLAMIN' HOT® Cheese Flavored Snacks, Tostitos Hint of Lime Chips and Six-Layer Dip

 

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Disaster.

But apparently, this is what my housemates and I resort to upon arriving home after any given night out. These treats appear to be the absolute best idea in that state of mind, and they are by all accounts and without a doubt, delicious. However, I can say from my own experience a few nights ago, that a 3:00 AM binge on all things bad for you, does not feel good in the morning. Just a forewarning... Odds are though, I won't take my own advice.

Kashi Frozen Entrees Black Bean Mango

Forgive me, another microwavable frozen dinner... I'm a college student, what can I say?

The description on the packaging:

"Chicken breast with broccoli florets, carrots and sugar snap peas, Kashi 7 whole grains and sesame with red quinoa pilaf, lemongrass & coconut sauce topped with coconut flakes."

Let me be the first to tell you, I am no stranger to frozen meals. As a busy (and broke) college student, they're just the quickest and simplest alternative to home-cooking (although I do try my best to cook whenever possible). Anyway, this Kashi frozen entree was a nice divergence from the usual noodles and rice found in these types of meals, as it had a nicely-textured grain assortment, which included red quinoa.

If I'm going to resort to a frozen meal, it might as well be as healthy as possible, so I really loved that it had a great assortment of vegetables, including carrots, broccoli, and my favorite, snap peas. Sometimes with frozen meals, the chicken has a really odd texture, but this wasn't the case here, and I definitely enjoyed each bite. 

Although the sauce was not as flavorful as I would have preferred, it was subtly tasty. In other words, it was nothing to complain about, but I just think that the overall dish could have benefitted from a more intensely-flavored sauce. Still, all in all, a great find in your frozen foods aisle!

Trader Joe's Chocolate Croissants

Another winner from Trader Joe's!


The description on the packaging:

"A good, flaky, buttery croissant is enough to make the staunchest dieter consider making an exception. Now, consider said croissant with a rich, dark chocolate center. Though the size of the box may lead you to believe that these are but a small luxury, we must warn you. Once proofed (allowed to rise) and baked, these croissants become a generously portioned indulgence."

These chocolate croissants are, put simply, fabulous! Plus, their price, at about a dollar per croissant, is fabulous as well.

I'm definitely impatient when it comes to food, but I'd say these were worth the prep time. You need to let the croissants sit out overnight (approximately nine hours) so that they can rise, but once that's out of the way, you can place them on the already-included baking sheet and into the oven. Once 22 minutes have gone by, you will be dining on some delicious pastries!

The crust is wonderful... buttery enough, flaky enough. The filling is best described as rich, smooth chocolaty decadence. Basically, these croissants are perfect for pastry and chocolate lovers alike, and they definitely satisfy a sweet tooth. The only issue is being able to stop at one!

Trader Joe's Salmon Roulettes with Spinach Florentine Stuffing

Because I'm not a car-owner & because of it's close proximity to my house, I do most of my grocery shopping at Safeway. However, whenever I get the chance, I venture to Trader Joe's for their quality offerings & surprisingly cheaper prices. On a recent trip there, I was searching for a frozen fish option that would cook in a reasonable amount of time & require very little preparation, seasoning, etc. In my experience, it's been pretty easy to find that at Trader Joe's, much more so than at other grocery store chains.

So, I headed to the frozen foods aisle, & the Salmon Roulettes with Spinach Florentine Stuffing caught my eye. Inside the transparent packaging are two half-inch-thick Atlantic salmon rounds, stuffed with a filling comprised of spinach, bread crumbs, onions, sour cream, basil, crushed garlic, salt, Parmesan cheese & other spices. I grabbed them & after doing a little more shopping, headed home.

You're offered instructions for cooking them on the stove-top, in a microwave, or in a coventional oven. I opted for the latter. Thirty minutes later, & my housemate & I were feasting on what we both agreed was a very satisfying meal.The spinach Florentine filling is appetizing, with a great consistency and just the right amount of garlic flavor.  The salmon rounds are coated around the egdes with black pepper, which provides another flavorful kick. Paired with a side of rice & vegetables, this was a meal that I foresee myself recreating in the near future.

Lindt Petits Desserts Crème Brûlée

On a recent trip home, my mom, who works at a gourmet specialty shop, brought home from work a pleasant surprise. Already a fan of Lindt chocolates & an even bigger fan of crème brûlée, my expectations were high... But, at the same time, I had doubts about the slim chocolate bar's ability to actually imitate my beloved dessert. Either way, I dived in, and I was definitely pleased! The squares of chocolate each contained a creamy filling, but also, tiny flakes of caramelized sugar, just like the ones in the actual dessert. These were a nice addition, as they added just the right amount of flavor & really recreated the crème brûlée experience for me. Then of course, the chocolate itself... delicious. I loved this chocolate. It didn't last very long, to say the least.

My first posting...

Whenever I visit my family, they know to take a few extra precautions. My mom knows to make an extra shopping trip. My dad preps new recipes for me to sample. My brother hides his extra stash of potato chips. Among my friends, I am known as a human vacuum.

Maybe I take it too far sometimes, but I'm not ashamed to admit that I love to eat! Naturally, then, my own personal blog will feature reviews of those particular food items that I feel my fellow foodies will appreciate...