| Three Cheese Ziti Marinara |
[Apr. 26th, 2008|08:28 pm] |
What SmartOnes had to say: "Now with more cheese! Ziti pasta in a delicious marinara sauce topped with mozzarella, monterey jack and parmesan cheeses."
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 290
Calories from Fat: 60
Sodium: 22%
Dietary Fiber: 16%
Weight Watchers Points: 6
My thoughts: I picked this meal up because I desperately miss my mom's baked ziti and it was on sale. I had pretty low expectations of this meal and I was pleasantly surprised. First, the noodles cooked well, they weren't overcooked or undercooked. Second, the sauce was pretty good, basic, but good; it could have used more basil or something, but it tasted good. Third, there was a lot of cheese which, to me, is a good thing. I was slightly worried about the monterey jack because it isn't canon in Italian cuisine, but I didn't notice anything overwhelmingly monterey jack-y about this dish. The only downside of this meal had to do with the cheese which was...sticky. I know mozzarella is stringy, but all the melted cheese was really stringy and a lot of it ended up on the bottom of the tray because it slid off the saucy noodles. That was pretty much my only problem with this meal. I wouldn't say this meal tasted home-cooked, but it definitely satiated my ziti craving.
One weird thing about this meal is that the ingredients mention beet powder being used. I have no idea where that fits in the meal, but it was a little bit confusing (for the record, the meal does not taste beet-y at all)
5 stars! |
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| Orange Sesame Chicken |
[Apr. 25th, 2008|12:14 pm] |
What SmartOnes had to say: "New Fruit Inspirations™!Breaded chicken tenderloins in a zesty orange sauce with rice"
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 320
Calories from Fat: 70
Sodium: 28%
Dietary Fiber: 8%
Weight Watchers Points: 7 points
My thoughts: I picked this up today because Kroger was having a sale (5 for $10 plus $3 off of your total purchase, so 5 for $7). I remember reading some reviews of SmartOnes on here but I will pretty much buy anything that is on sale.
With that being said, I really enjoyed this meal. The chicken was really tasty and didn't get soggy while it cooked. The sauce was really good, I thought it would be an orangey sauce, but it was sesame and soy (and delicious). The rice was cooked well, a few pieces got a little crunchy but it really didn't bother me. The orange that is referenced in the name of this meal refers to the orange segments in the rice that ended up breaking down in the rice. The rice also featured red and green bell peppers... I really don't have anything against bell peppers, but they don't taste like anything. I think this meal could be better if orange was incorporated into the sauce rather than the rice.
5 stars! I would definitely buy this again |
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| Lean Cuisine BBQ Chicken Pizza |
[Apr. 25th, 2008|11:38 am] |
Fat - 8g
Calories - 350
Vitamin A - 40%DV
Calcium - 25%DV
Vitamin C - 10%DV
Dietary Fiber - 8%DV
Sodium - 620 mg
Weight Watchers® Points® 7
I think this pizza is very good. I always get jealous I can't have the California Pizza Kitchen BBQ chicken pizza since I watch my weight but this is a good substitution! The crust got nice and crispy on the special box tray thing. I could also def. taste the cilantro!
Overall I give this pizza five stars!
***** |
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| Chicken Enchilads Suiza |
[Apr. 24th, 2008|10:52 am] |
What LC had to say: "Corn tortilla wrapped around chicken, onions and green chilies. Topped with a sour cream sauce and shredded cheese. Accompanied by a side of rice seasoned with green chilies, red peppers and corn."
Nutrition Facts:
Fat - 4g
Calories - 280
Sodium (mg)- 22%
Dietary Fiber - 12%DV
Weight Watchers® Points® 5
My thoughts: I did not really like this meal. The rice was perfectly cooked and tasty, the sauce was very good, but I did not enjoy the enchilada itself. The corn tortilla was very soggy and had a weird texture. The filling was alright except that it tasted way too acidic. I'm glad that there was some acid to contrast the sour cream sauce, but it was overwhelmingly LIME. The chicken in the filling was very good, no fatty pieces, and it was shredded which, to me, is better than the formed pieces.
3 stars |
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| A Micro Eats Update |
[Apr. 23rd, 2008|03:33 pm] |
Hello everyone, Moderater sgt_easton here with an update.
First, thanks to everyone for the recent reviews. Keep 'em coming! You've probably noticed that things have been a little quiet around here lately. Molly (right_track) and I broke up last week, and she doesn't live with me anymore. She lives out of state, and as far as I know, doesn't have computer access. I'm not sure if she'll continue to be a part of micro_eats in the future. So, in the meantime, I'll be the sole manager of the community. If you have any problems, let me know.
With that being said, I had spine surgery a few days ago, so I can't be as attentitve to the computer as I'd like to be. Despite these situations, remember that micro_eats is a community and is all about people posting their thoughts, so keep up the good work.
A note for the new members: The companies that make your frozen food are known to read this. We've been in direct contact with Amy's, Helen's, etc. Sometimes they even send us samples. So, what I'm trying to say is, the review that you write means a lot to these people and everyone else who enjoys frozen food. A big thanks to everyone involved!
Sincerely,
Rich (sgt_easton) |
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| Pepper Steak and Rice |
[Apr. 23rd, 2008|12:10 pm] |
What Michelina's had to say: "Succulent strips of beef in a rich tomato sauce with crisp vegetables over tender rice."
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 270
Calories from fat: 30
Sodium: 22%DV
Dietary Fiber: 7%
My thoughts: I bought this because it was $.88. You can't pass that up. Maybe you can. This was a much lower quality meal than Lean Cuisine. It was rice, bell peppers, onions (maybe), beef strips, and sauce. Michelina's really missed the mark on the sauce, it was tomato based which threw me and it was rather salty. I ate the entire thing and it wasn't very filling, so it kind of fails there.
Overall, it wasn't bad or disgusting and it tasted fine, but it wasn't amazing and I probably would not buy it again unless it was $.88.
3 stars |
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| Roasted Potatoes, Broccoli, and Cheddar Cheese Sauce |
[Apr. 22nd, 2008|11:11 am] |
What LC had to say: "Oven roasted russet potato wedges with tender broccoli topped with a creamy cheddar cheese sauce."
Nutrition Facts:
Fat - 5g
Calories - 220
Sodium (mg) 620 26%
Dietary Fiber - 19%DV
Weight Watchers® Points® 4
My thoughts: This is my favorite Lean Cuisine by far. I'm not really a fan of the weird chicken or beef or salmon in frozen dishes (it only takes one fatty piece to make you question every other piece you put in your mouth), so this scores some points there. This dish is very simple; just broccoli (stems and florets), potatoes, and that nuclear orange cheese sauce (cheddar, cheddar club cheese (?), blue cheese, and granular semi-soft cheese (??)). It would be better if there were more broccoli pieces, florets preferred, but that's really my only complaint about this meal.
5 stars! |
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| Cheesy Rice and Broccoli |
[Apr. 21st, 2008|12:26 pm] |
What Green Giant had to say: "Rice and broccoli in a cheese flavored sauce"
Nutrition Facts:
Calories: 270 (1/2 cup=100 calories)
Calories from fat: 40
Sodium: 41% (yikes)
Dietary fiber: 9%
My thoughts: This was another microwaved pouch dish, so I'm already not super happy because I have to wash a dish (!!!), but this was seriously messy. The directions state that you have to cut a small slit in the pouch and microwave it and then cut the pouch open and pour it into a serving dish. That is semi-impossible to do because there is a lot of cheese sauce and the pouch is very hot, so you either have to wait for the cheese sauce to congeal in the package (I was too hungry to do this) or pray for asbestos hands.
Aside from that, this was really good! The broccoli was cooked perfectly and was all florets. It tasted exactly like freshly cooked broccoli. The rice was perfect, not dry at all, probably because it steams inside the bag. The cheese sauce was nuclear orange (fine with me) and tasted like Velveeta (also fine with me), but the package says that it has dried parmesan cheese, dried blue cheese, and dried cheddar cheese. It really only tasted like cheddar, but ok.
I give it 4.5 stars because of it is kind of messy and its high sodium content |
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| Santa-Fe Style Rice and Beans |
[Apr. 20th, 2008|06:37 pm] |
What LC had to say: "A Mexican-style rice medley made with long grain white rice, black and pinto beans, whole kernel corn, hand-picked green poblano and red chiles, topped with a creamy sour cream sauce with Mexican tomatillos, and cheese."
Nutrition Facts:
Fat - 6g
Calories - 290
Dietary Fiber - 20%DV
Sodium (mg) 590 23%DV
Weight Watchers® Points® 5
My thoughts: I picked this up because I have been craving something spicy and while this didn't satiate that craving, it was really good. The rice was perfect and the dish was seasoned well (more smokey than spicy). The sour cream sauce was pretty good, but there really wasn't any need for it. The beans presented the only problem in that some were soft and some were kind of crunchy which was weird. This dish would be a lot better with some salsa and extra corn, but I really enjoyed it otherwise.
Rating: 4.5 stars |
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| Green Giant Simply Steam Seasoned: Garden Vegetable Medley |
[Apr. 20th, 2008|06:22 pm] |
What Green Giant had to say: "Sugar snap peas, roasted potatoes, red peppers and garden vegetables"
Nutrition Facts:
Servings: 2
Calories: 50
Calories from fat: 5g
Total Fat: .5g
Sodium: 12%
My thoughts: This was a pretty good snack or side dish. The vegetables were a little random (I don't know who thinks that red peppers are side-dish-worthy, but they're not unless they are apart of a shish kebab), but overall tasty and perfectly cooked. The sauce was AMAZING, garlicky and herby and buttery and delicious, especially on the potatoes. The only downside is that you have to put this in a bowl and eat it, which means that I'll actually have to wash dishes.
5 stars! |
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| Kashi's Sweet and Sour Chicken |
[Apr. 16th, 2008|04:08 pm] |
MY FIRST REVIEW. I live off microwavable food stuffs, so expect a lot from me...
Kashi Sweet and Sour Chicken
320 calories
3.5g fat
0.5 sat. fat
18g protein
6g fiber
Kashi's Sweet and Sour Chicken is one of my favorites of all time. Why? The vegetables taste fresh. There's plentiful edamame, onion, peppers, and mushrooms. The green beans with actual grill marks are the most amazing you'll find in a frozen dinner. The pilaf has a nice slightly crunchy, slightly chewy texture you won't find with the typical mushy white rice. The chicken isn't all freakily processed like most frozen dinner chicken...and it tastes like (gasp!) real chicken. The sauce is definitely sweeter than sour...think ketchup with a hint of citrus, thanks to the pineapple. The sauce may be TOO sweet for some, but personally I love it and it makes everything taste amazing- and I mean, lick-your-plastic-container-hang-head-in-shame-if-caught-amazing. The meal is quite filling with a small side of vegetables or fruit. It's good for you too...there's quite a bit of vitamin c, potassium, and iron. The sodium percentage (16%) is also lower than your average frozen meal. The only downside is the price. The meals are usually around $4 a pop, but the healthiness and tastiness are worth it in my opinion.
***** out of 5 stars! |
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| Hullohullo! |
[Apr. 16th, 2008|04:03 pm] |
| [ | Feelin' |
| |  indescribable | ] |
| [ | Current Music |
| | the fragile- nine inch nails | ] |
Name: Lauren
Age: 18
Vegetarian/Carnivore/Vegan/Organic/other: Mostly organic. I'm something of a healthnut.
First frozen meal: Probably Lean Cuisine Chicken Alfredo or Spaghetti, many, many years ago...
Frozen meals you'd pass off as your own cooking: None. Noone would believe me. :*(
Frozen meal you wouldn't feed your dog: Lean Cuisine salmon pieces can be pretty fricking putrid sometimes...
Weirdest thing you've ever put in the microwave: A snowman peep, but who hasn't put a marshmallow-something in the microwave? I put a brownie on a styrofoam plate in there once. I MADE FIRE.
Reason for dining frozen: My mom doesn't cook and the kitchen is unequipped. Until I move outta here, it's frozen meals for me! |
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| Salmon Mediterranean |
[Apr. 6th, 2008|02:20 pm] |
What LC had to say: "Wild salmon with zucchini,peppers and whole grain pasta in a garlic tomato sauce"
Nutrition facts:
Fat - 4g
Calories - 230
Sodium (mg) 660 28%
Dietary Fiber - 15%DV
Weight Watchers® Points® 4
My thoughts: I don't remember why I bought this and have avoided eating it for quite some time. I was feeling a little brave today, so I microwaved it.
I should have left it in the freezer. The salmon was spongy and had no flavor. As soon as I took the first bite of salmon, I wanted to spit it out because it was not good at all. The pasta and sauce was actually pretty good. The sauce was garlicky and perfect and the vegetables (zucchini, red and yellow bell peppers, and olives) were pretty good. This dish would be so much better if they 86ed the salmon and added more vegetables.
I give it 2 stars because it was edible, but not amazing. I would not buy this again. |
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| Helen's Kitchen "Mac & Cheese" |
[Mar. 20th, 2008|01:34 pm] |
Helen's kitchen is a brand who managed to make a good impression on me initially and quickly took a nosedive. This meal kicked the final nail in the coffin. Helen's Kitchen “Mac & Cheese”
With real Asiago & cheddar cheese, tofu steaks and broccoli
320 Calories
8g Total Fat 
Molly Says: I cant imagine that Helen's cooking (the cuisine on which these frozen meals are based) could be so consistently terrible as their frozen representations. This particular meal provides a wide array of unfavorable sensory experiences. The first disappointment is how unappetizing this meal looks. The shell style noodles, tofu-chicken fragments and broccoli pieces look as though they are suspended indefinitely in Elmer's glue as some kind of noodle-art kindergarten project. Of course, that metaphor implies that the sauce was thick. This sauce was the polar opposite of thick. I let the meal sit for the recommended 2 minutes, imagining that it would congeal to a relative mac and cheese like consistency. This never happened. The sauce remained incredibly thin and quite flavorless through the entire meal. The noodles were undercooked, even by my expectation of al dente noodles. I was first concerned that I may have undercooked the meal, but the sauce was boiling uncontrollably when I opened the microwave to check on it, and the chicken fragments were beginning to take on a tough texture. I considered the meal appropriately heated. The broccoli pieces were pleasing. Of course, I wish there were more of them (when don't we?) You would all be pleased to know that there were no stem pieces. Every bit of broccoli was the grade school-drawing-style florets you're all familiar with. The tofu had a decent texture. Anyone could easily be tricked into believing they were chicken cubes, however they were very small and very few. My experience with this meal was really quite displeasing. The sauce was plentiful, but flavorless and had a very poor texture. The noodles were undercooked (and really quite dense for this kind of preparation) and though the tofu and broccoli tasted acceptable, they did not make up for the vast majority of the aforementioned poor ingredients. I think I'll stick with Helen's Kitchen for their tofu products, and do without their frozen meals. I give Helen's Kitchen “Mac & Cheese” to someone else, because I really don't care for them at all. |
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| Stouffers cheddar potato bake |
[Mar. 17th, 2008|02:15 pm] |
Lunchtime! I was feeling the need for something cheesy and comforting. This seemed like the solution!
this picture doesn't do it justice, be patient, i'm still learning my camera :)
Stouffers cheddar potato bake: "Diced Potatoes in a Cheddar Cheese Sauce with Bacon"
Serving size- 1/2 package
Calories- 270
Fat- 17 grams
Saturated Fat- 5 grams
Sodium-500 mg
Of course, being unhealth conscience, I easily ate the entire package. At times like this I'm glad I don't have to count calories or worry about fat or sodium!
I microwaved it for the recommended five minutes. It came out all sizzly and smelling very nummy! The first bite was pretty heavenly. The potato chunks were nice and firm, and the cheese sauce had just the right zing and creamy texture. There wasn't as much bacon as I would have liked, but really, that's just me! The tiny bacon bits were just a little on the chewy side instead of crispy like I prefer- but hey, I didn't expect they would be crispy, given all that delectable cheese sauce! It had a nice and surprisingly crispy bread crumb topping.
It did not fill me completely up, but I didn't expect it to. It is labeled as a "side dish" after all. I just wanted something to eat- more than a snack but less than an entire meal. This was perfect! I will definitely buy it again.
Rating I give Stouffers Cheddar Potato Bake * * * * * 5 out of 5 stars for deliciously creamy sauce and perfect potatoes and topping. |
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| Michelina's Lean Gourmet: Roasted Turkey |
[Mar. 14th, 2008|06:51 pm] |
with tuna and sauce.
Gravy and mashed potatoes with roasted turkey tenderloin medallions.
170 Calories
6g of fat
20g carbs
While rummaging through the freezer, I thought I should take advantage of the fact that I'm sick to review a Michelina's Meal. I said to myself "Well, I already feel like crap, might as well eat this."
The front of the package states that this is a "Chef Inspired Recipe." If I was the chef and came out of the kitchen with this, I think it would inspire me to stop cooking. The mashed potatoes were horrible. Somehow, after three minutes of microwave time, a stir, and then another minute, there was still a cold piece. The closest thing I can approximate the taste to is a spitball.
There are some vegetables in the box. Beans, peas, carrots, corn, and maybe something else. I'm not really sure, because I couldn't taste any of it over the extremely salty gravy. It was so salty it made my mouth hurt.
Last but not least, the "turkey." Take a bunch of C grade turkey, chop it extremely fine, and smash it together into something resembling a chicken nugget. The consistency was more like tofu than turkey. For some reason, the pieces squeaked when I bit into them. I'm not sure what that means, but I do know that turkey isn't supposed to do that.
Rating: FAIL |
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| Amy's Low Sodium Shepherd's Pie |
[Feb. 25th, 2008|05:27 pm] |
I've wanted to try one of these pot pies for a while, and this one was labeled new at Whole Foods, so I decided to give it a try. Plus, I've been interested in making my own vegetarian shepherd's pie and needed some ideas on what to put in it.
160 calories, 4 grams fat, 0 grams saturated fat, 290 mg sodium, 5 grams fiber, 5 grams protein, 93% organic.
What Amy's website says: "Amy’s has created a meatless, dairy-free and lower fat version of this traditional meal. Organically grown vegetables are simmered in a nourishing broth and blanketed with fluffy mashed potatoes."
This smelled really awesome to start with, and I was highly impressed with the nutritional info. I don't know about you, but I've noticed most frozen pot pie-style meals are full of fat and calories, so this was amazing to me.
I misread the instructions and opened the bag before realizing I was only supposed to cut a slit in the top. If I had done that, it probably would've prevented some of the mess it created on the thin paper plate I cooked it on. I guess better on the plate than on me. It wasn't greasy or salty at all. Actually, I think "low sodium" really means "normal person's acceptable amount of sodium" because it tasted perfectly salted to me.
It was a tad bit bland by itself, but I feel that way about any shepherd's pie I've had, so I added some ketchup. After that, it was much improved. I can't fault Amy's for this oversight since I surmise you can't add ketchup to a frozen dinner without it being, well, gross. The vegetables were perfectly cooked. The sauce was thick and tomatoey. The mashed potatoes were a bit bland like any Amy's potatoes I've had, but they were probably more a texture than a taste addition to this meal. The only ingredient I wasn't fond of was the garbanzos, but I was able to eat them mixed with the other vegetables and still thoroughly enjoy this meal.
Overall this meal is a 4 out of 5. I'd definitely get it again because of the nutritional info, but I'd make sure I had ketchup with me when I ate it. |
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| Smart Ones Double Fudge Cake |
[Feb. 25th, 2008|08:44 am] |
Hey sorry for not posting in awhile and here's a dessert I did. Sorry for no real photo, as I didn't take it when I made it.
Calories: 220
Calories From Fat: 60
Total Fat 7g
4 WW Points
two individual cakes topped with milk chocolate fudge sauce and chocolate curls
I really recommend this product to anybody who likes chocolate cake and is trying to watch sweet intake. It does not taste like.. ahh you know that yucky fake sugar taste or whatever. The fudge sauce is very tasty and tastes like actual fudge sauce. The cake is really moist aswell. I let it thaw out for an hour instead of the microwave directions. I also put a spray of whipped cream on it which really made it delicious. These are small though so there's 2 you get in a package. Good chocolate flavour, comparable to those Betty Crocker Delight microwavable cakes.. those are good too. This is a really good dessert and I bought some chocolate eclairs from them so I can't wait to try those.
5 out of 5 stars :) |
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| Amy's "Chili & Cornbread Whole Meal" |
[Feb. 23rd, 2008|12:34 pm] |
I just tried... Amy's “Chili & Cornbread Whole Meal” - and LOVED it.
“A soul satisfying meal of cornbread and tasty organic chili with organic beans and vegetables and just enough spice to lift your spirits. This tastes so great it's hard to believe that the entire 10 1/2 oz. meal contains only 6 gms. of fat. Only 6 gms of fat per 10 oz. Serving.”
-340 Calories
-6g Total Fat 
Molly Says: I am quite literally kicking myself for not trying this meal sooner. I love Amy's chili (the ones you can buy in the can. I especially love that you can choose the level of heat you are comfortable with.) Why would I ever think that the chili might not be great in a frozen meal? Frankly, what is most shocking is the calorie count and amount of fat. I cant believe that both are so low! This meal definitely tastes like full calorie, homemade soul-food. The cornbread is sweet and flavorful. The added honey creates a pleasing sweetness, while the sea salt brings out the natural flavor of the corn- and adds a savory element to the bread. The bread is dense enough to be considered a side. The brown rice has great texture. I love the addition of broccoli, carrots and sea salt as flavoring. The rice has a kind of cracked, dry quality that absorbs the sauce from the chili, making it even more delicious. The chili is truly something amazing. The black beans were earthy and flavorful. There were onions, tomatoes, bell peppers and green chilies- all organic. The dish was not offensively spicy by any means, but managed to warm up my mouth and throat nicely. While I may enjoy a spicier chili when I make it at home- this chili wasn't lacking anything. Perfectly enjoyable as was! Naturally, I mixed everything together and crumbled up my cornbread into the mix as well. This meal was satisfying, warming, flavorful and even exciting. I was overwhelmingly pleased with this meal and will definitely buy it again soon. I suggest you all do the same! I give Amy's “Chili & Cornbread Whole Meal” * * * * * 5 of 5 stars
Overwhelmingly delicious in every way!
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| Jimmy Dean Breakfast D-lites |
[Feb. 23rd, 2008|10:35 am] |
| [ | Feelin' |
| |  bored | ] |
Jimmy Dean says: These heart-healthy sandwiches are made with delicious turkey sausage, egg whites, and cheese, and have 1/3 fewer calories and less than ½ the fat of the leading breakfast sandwich
Kat says: YUM. Seriously, try these asap. If you like egg mcmuffins, particulary the "naughty" kind at McDonalds made with sausage, you will go ga ga for these. At 270 calories, you can definitly eat these with zero guilt. Ok the breakdown:
English muffin: Whole wheat goodness, chewy and crisps nicely if you prepare this sandwich with the careful Kat method- microwave the insides and toast the muffins in the toaster. I recommend a 3 minute toast and 2 minute nuke in micro.
Cheese: White cheddar, melty and gooey.
Egg: Not rubbery at all,nice and fluffy.
Turkey sausage: Juicy, not overpowering but very prevalant..has a nice slightly smoky spicy flavor.
Overall, I give these 5 out of 5 stars. These will never you let you down, definitly a newly added staple to my diet. |
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