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Frozen Dinners

L

lcsamano

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Does anyone like to use the frozen dinners like stoffers lazagna or the chicken enchiladas? I have looked at them from time to time but I am not sure if it would just be taster to make them myself. I am sure that they are time savers but do they taste good.
 
A friend of mine served Stouffers lasagna to a bunch of us for lunch one day. I don't think I will ever eat it again - maybe it is because I am so spoiled by homemade - I don't know. I prefer to make extra for myself and freeze a separate lasagna for a rainy day. I've tasted their mac and cheese as well - I'll stick to homemade. I am not a fan of the boxed varieties either - too much MSG!

It's all a matter of taste. You may enjoy them very much. I have friends that really like it. I did try frozen enchiladas once (can't remember the name) - sorry - but first bite was spit out and they went into the trash.
 
I think I am spoiled as well. I don't even eat frozen lunches like Lean Cuisine or anything. I think I will stick to the fresh and homemade.
 
to be honest with you - it is so much healthier and you aren't getting all the preservatives, BHT, MSG, etc.
 
I do not like the Stouffer's lasagna. It is nothing like what I make, but so much easier..If it's on sale, and I have a coupon, I will purchase it, but that's about it.
 
If I want lasagna or enchiladas or whatnot, I'd much rather make them at home. For times that I know i'm going to be busy and not have time to make them for dinner, I'll make up big batches and freeze a few. Like Mama said, they're healthier, and they taste better.
 
I do eat Lean Cuisines from time to time. When I take the time to pack my lunch, it's great but I don't always do that and they are a handy solution, although I don't want to eat them every day.

They're also not cheap but I only buy them on sale. I get a few of them and then grab one on the days that I don't have time to make a sandwich or other homemade lunch. I prefer not to eat out at lunch; too expensive and usually too heavy of a meal as well.
 
I like the lasagna but don't eat it because of the sodium. I like to make my own enchiladas as my (Mexican Ex-mother - in law) tought me her mom's recipe for enchiladas. they are nummy. And my entire family loves them so I always make my own. If you would like the recipe let me know I would be happy to share.
 
Making meals from scratch is so much more nutritious and the results have better taste. If you have the time, make it from scratch!
 
Of course I prefer homemade anything... but when I'm lazy, or in a pinch- or when offering multiple entrees to a crowd, I enjoy a few Stouffers products. I like the vegetable lasagne, the chicken lasagne and their "Grandma's Chicken/Veggie/Rice Casserole" a lot.

When working at a few of the Princess resorts up north, the veggie lasagne was always popular in our staff dining room. Also, in the remote sie work camps where we served 4-5 entrees each meal, depending on the size of the camp, one of the meals typically was a convenience product like something from Stouffers.
 
We never eat any of those premade dinners, so have no opinion as to taste. However, consider a couple of things:

1. Ingredients. Read the labels on those things. Putting aside the excessive amounts of sodium and hfcs, about halfway down you start on a list of things you cannot pronounce. Do you really want to eat all those for the sake of convenience?

2. Expense. Even on sale, frozen dinners are always more expensive than homemade. Keep in mind, too, that there are different quality grades of ingredients, and the odds are the ones you use are better than the ones used by the processor.

On the question of convenience, it's really no big deal to make your own frozen dinners. For instance, while there's just the two of us now, I always make full recipes. We eat one meal. The others are set up on microwavable plates, covered with cling film and foil, and frozen. When we need an easy-fix meal, we just grab a pair of those frozen meals (we jokingly call them MREs).

The point is, other than the time taken to wrap them, preparing these meals represents no additional time in the kitchen because all the cooking is done at the same time.
 
As far as the Stuoffer's Lasagna goes, The only questionable ingredient is AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT. I love how tricky these ingredients can be. Why don't they just call it what it is-- MSG.
Also the fact that a family sized Stouffer's Lasagna takes 90 minutes or longer to bake. A home made lasagna doesn't take that long so it's not a time saver. I would call it an energy consumer.
For the non cook I would say that it is probably the closest thing they will come to for the real thing. I'm sure that's the market Stouffers is looking for. A Lasagna for a busy parent to prepare for the kids after a day of work and school.
 
I like Lean Cuisine macaroni & cheese, I mix a small 3 oz. can of tuna (in water) into it & that's a meal. I also like the chicken chow mein and their chicken enchiladas are Good too. Cookie :)
 
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