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[	Tags	|	5 stars, american, amy's, mexican, organic, southwest, vegetarian	]
[	Feelin'	|	awake	]

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”

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I was so excited to see Amy's kitchen trying Tamales in their newest batch of products. When our box from Michelle Erbs (Amy's Marketing Manager) arrived, I was most excited about this meal.

Amy's “Cheese Tamale Verde”
“All the ingredients for our Cheese Tamales are carefully selected and prepared. The organic masa (ground and cooked corn) is poured onto individual parchments, filled with a mixture of Monterey Jack cheese, chilies and jalapeños, and then folded and steamed. The tamales are then unwrapped by hand, topped with our delicious verde sauce and served with a side of Spanish rice made from organic brown rice and organic black beans.”
-360 Calories
-16g Total Fat

Molly Says: I could not WAIT to try Amy's Tamales when I saw them listed as a new product on Amy's Website. When Michelle offered to add us to Amy's press list (thereby sending us new products when they're made available) I was literally counting the days until I could pop this into my microwave. All of my excitement was well placed in this product. Amy's Tamales are unbelievable! Whats most impressive about the meal, hands down, is the verde sauce. I'll admit that I haven't ventured out for real Mexican cuisine in some time, and so the verde sauce is something that I haven't tried in quite awhile, if ever. The flavor is like nothing I've ever tasted. Sweet and spicy with a hint of something unique that I couldn't put my finger on. I wish there were more of this delicious sauce. The rice is perfect. I love the richness of the black beans and the texture of the organic brown rice. When mixed together in a smoky tomato sauce, this made for one of the most flavorful Spanish rice mixtures I've ever had. The serving of the rice was generous. Onto the tamale. WOW! The masa is PERFECT. I was afraid that the tamale might not translate well to a microwavable meal but I was dead wrong. The masa steams in the package and is absolutely tender (yet firm enough to hold the filling completely) and delicious. The cheese, pepper and tomato filling is (as Paula Deen might say) “OUT OF THIS WORLD!” This meal was the perfect mixture of spicy, sweet, rich, light, bold and delicate flavors that will leave you satisfied and eager to buy more. BRAVO Amy's Kitchen!

I give Amy's "Cheese Tamale Verde"
****************************************
Tons of stars. This meal was everything I'd dreamed it would be...

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[	Tags	|	amy's, kids meal, mexican, organic, vegetarian	]
[	Feelin'	|	calm	]

For dinner tonight I tried Amy's “Kids Meal Mexican Quesadilla with Rice and Beans” courtesy of Amy's marketing manager Michelle Erbs.

“This is a kids’ meal that Amy truly loves. Quesadillas are deliciously complemented by Amy's traditional refried beans and perfectly seasoned Spanish rice. There’s a mouth-watering chocolate cake for a sweet ending, as well as a page inside the box for kids to color.”
-420 Calories
-15g Total Fat

Molly Says: Amy's has stepped away from the standard kid-favorite foods and managed to create a pleasing, kid-friendly Mexican-style meal suitable for any little chico or chica. The newest kids meal offers a kicked up variety while remaining completely suitable for any child's palate. Amy's uses whole wheat tortillas that somehow taste akin to a flour tortilla making them unoffensive to a child's limited tolerance for (ewww....) healthy food! The tortillas are filled with organic cheddar cheese, a creamy contrast to the tasty tortilla. To complement the quesadillas, Amy's kitchen adds a dollop of their refried beans. The refried beans in this kids meal are noticeably more smooth than those used in the adult versions of their Mexican style meals. If I had to guess, I'd say that Amy's kitchen does this by design, to avoid the possible choking hazard that may be presented by a big bean. The refried beans are topped with a sprinkling of cheese. Because of their smooth texture, the beans worked as a dip for my quesadillas. Amy's kitchen manages to sneak broccoli, onions and tomatoes into their rice mixture, while keeping the rice totally non-offensive to even the most picky palate. The whole meal is topped off by a piece of chocolate cake. Amy's uses maple syrup to sweeten the smooth and moist chocolate cake. There is a coloring picture printed inside one of the panels of the box and a maze on the back of the box, a great way to keep kids busy while microwaving this unique Mexican kids meal.

While I wouldn't recommend this meal to an adult, due to the lack of spices and diverse ingredients (all for the purpose of making the meal “kid-friendly” mind you) I would absolutely recommend this meal to parents looking for a healthy and organic kids meal that encourages open mindedness and growth of palate in their children.

I give Amy's “Kids Meal Mexican Quesadilla with Rice and Beans”
4.5 of 5 stars
For encouraging ethnic exposure in a world full of cheese pizza and chicken nuggets

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[	Tags	|	2 stars, amy's, gluten free, mexican, organic, southwest, vegetarian	]
[	Feelin'	|	shocked	]

Shocking News: Mighty Amy’s strikes out!  Fans leave dinner table stunned and disappointed.  It’s the end of Amy’s career long winning streak!

That’s right folks. This is an old fashioned strike out by one of our most beloved brands. Amy’s kitchen, WHY?!

Amy’s Kitchen “Tortilla Casserole & Black Beans Bowl”
-390 Calories
-18g Total Fat

Molly Says: I had hoped this day would never come. I was initially wary of this meal because of its tremendous fat content and abnormally high calorie count. Still, I yearned for spicy, bean-y goodness and Amy’s was there to deliver what would come to be known as their worst performance yet. I’ll start with the good part of this meal, and what earned it two stars: the black beans. The black beans in this meal were delicious. They would make a spectacular addition to any Mexican/southwestern style meal, without a doubt. They were topped with a sprinkle of Monterey jack and cheddar cheese which held them together in a cheesy, creamy and pleasing way. The beans cooked up perfectly and the taste was award worthy. The “tortilla casserole” however, was literally offensive.  It tasted like Doritos layered with cheese, tofu fragments and a mixture of onions and peppers, that were doused in some kind of liquid (the box says: Lime juice, filtered water and extra virgin olive oil…) and left in the back window of my car on a very hot day. The tortillas (read: Doritos) were soggy in the middle and lower layers, and crispy at the edges that emerged from this catastrophe of a casserole. I tried to save it with a dollop of light sour cream, but alas, it was unable to be resuscitated.  Amy’s released two new “bowls” meals of Mexican/southwestern inspiration in their last batch of new products. The first was the "Mexican Casserole Bowl" which was very pleasing, delicious, satisfying etc. The second was this “Tortilla Casserole & Black Beans Bowl”- the bastard stepchild of the aforementioned meal.   I can’t imagine that anyone could find the tortilla casserole segment of this meal to be pleasing OR nutritious. I expect both of these things from Amy’s health conscious, organic and vegetarian (and so often delicious) company. My advice is to nix this meal altogether. I don’t think it could be saved. The concept of layering tortilla chips with cheese and relevant vegetables and spices is something I’d expect from Hamburger Helper, not Amy’s Kitchen.

… And the moral of this story is: All that glitters isn’t gold.

I give Amy’s “Tortilla Casserole & Black Beans Bowl”
* * 2 of 5 stars
I was diggin’ the black beans but the casserole couldn’t be saved.  

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My apologies to:

thomasirvin

Molly Says: I've been on both sides of the fence with Amy's burritos. I've throughly enjoyed some, and been unimpressed by others. This burrito was delicious, despite my prejudice about cheeseless foods. This is the first burrito that didn't explode in my microwave. I considered that to be a positive omen. I peeled this burrito open so you could see its insides. I also topped it with a dollop of light sour cream, but made sure to taste it without for the sake of this review. This burrito was amazing. Easily the best Amy's burrito of the bunch. The burrito was generously swollen with corn, tomatoes, potatoes, red bell peppers, black beans, kidney beans, broccoli, chilies... the list goes on to name herbs and spices galore. This burrito was sweet, spicy and smoky. What surprised me the most is that I didn't miss the cheese at all! I would absolutely recommend this burrito. I wish I had tried this sooner and I will absolutely buy more next time I'm at the store.

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[	Tags	|	5 stars, helen's kitchen, mexican, organic, tofu, vegetarian	]
[	Feelin'	|	impressed	]

When Rich and I went to visit my Dad in Syracuse we stopped by what MUST be the largest Wegmans market (with the largest organic section) that I’ve ever seen. We picked up several meals that are unavailable in our area including this Helen’s Kitchen meal. I only wish we had picked up a few more of these. If nothing else Helen’s Kitchen “Cheese Enchiladas” have motivated me to schedule another visit to Syracuse.

Helen’s Kitchen “Cheese Enchiladas” with tofu steaks in spicy red sauce.
- This is where I would put the company’s explanation of the product however there is no company pitch of this product anywhere on the box or website. Clearly Helen’s Kitchen knows that this meal speaks for itself.
-150 calories per serving. Serving size is one enchilada (I ate both.)
-9.1g Total fat/serving

Molly Says: There are plenty of people who immediately pass up a meal if Tofu is the primary ingredient. I was one of those people for the longest time (even after becoming a vegetarian.) The reason for this is that many people have had bad experiences with tofu, and who can blame them? So many meals neglect using the product to its full potential. I’m sorry that I didn’t buy more of these and I’m sorry I let it sit in the freezer for as long as I did. This meal is remarkable, and to my surprise, the tofu only helped bring me to that conclusion. The meal is quite basic, using basic ingredients present in Spanish/Mexican cuisine to create a very pleasant ethnic meal. The corn tortillas are enhanced with the addition of lime juice. They are wrapped around firm spiced tofu steaks (which, as I had mentioned, were the perfect texture and flavor) and permeated by a spicy tomato-based enchilada/cheese sauce. The spiciness was a welcome change from some other American-palate-pleasing variations of enchiladas that I’ve tried in the past. This meal was rich and surprisingly diverse. The mixture of cheddar and Monterey jack cheese with the tomato based ethnic spiced sauce was unbelievably delicious. The simplistic approach to enchiladas was well received by my fairly selective palate. I could taste the spices and viewed them as a special surprise from a company that is doing one thing (in the case of frozen foods, one thing at a time [IE no sides]) and doing it very well. I could have been served this meal in a restaurant and been just as pleased. If you have reservations about tofu, or if you’ve been disappointed by frozen food retailers approach to ethnic cuisine (or if you just want an extremely pleasant lunch) I would recommend giving this meal a try. I feel confident that you’ll enjoy this product thoroughly.

I give Helen’s Kitchen “Cheese Enchiladas”

***********************************

They’ve truly impressed me and should be an example to organic frozen retailers.

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Latest love?
Amy’s “Southwestern Burrito”
-“This new burrito is made with fire roasted poblano peppers, jalapeño peppers, black olives and organic corn masa, combined with organic pinto beans and Monterey Jack cheese in an organic whole wheat tortilla.”
-300 Calories
-10g Fat

Molly says: I apologize for the poor quality of the picture. Our digital camera is on its last legs and this was taken with Rich’s cell phone. The burrito is approximately 5 inches long and maybe 2 ½ wide. It is filled with the perfect ratio of the ingredients listed in the description. What’s better is that I can taste and identify every ingredient too. I found that the “Bean and Cheese Burrito” by Amy’s kitchen was very bland. Such is not the case with the “Southwestern Burrito.” It’s pleasantly spicy and has a somewhat diverse texture (crunchy corn, soft beans and cheese, salty olives and spicy poblano pepper pieces.) My only complaint is that while microwaving this by the heating directions, the filling blew out both ends of the burrito. I lost a substantial amount of filling which soaked into the paper towel that the burrito was wrapped in while microwaving. I have a theory on why Amy’s burritos always ooze out the ends while microwaving. I have NO complaints about the texture or thickness of the whole wheat tortilla. I think that because the tortilla is thin and ideal, the likelihood of having a “blow out” is much greater. I think I would be more disappointed if the tortilla (like so many others) was too thick and the burrito had very little filling. I wish Amy’s kitchen could perfect this flaw, if it didn’t blow up, it would have easily gotten five stars.

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[	Tags	|	amy's, burrito, mexican, organic, southwest, vegetarian	]
[	Feelin'	|	annoyed	]
[	Current Music	|	Man at C&A- The Specials (Dance Craze LP)	]

Amy’s “Cheddar Cheese Burrito”- Is it all hype? (Sounds like I’m going to gripe.)

Info:
“Organic flour tortilla wrapped around organic pinto beans, rice and vegetables in a mild Mexican sauce, with cheddar cheese added.”
-280 Calories
-8 Grams Fat
-0 Trans Fats

Molly Says: Meltdown! Everyone evacuate immediately! Buyer Beware: This bean burrito has an explosive tendency. Not a travel friendly food! Ok- moving on. The burrito blew out both ends in the microwave. Ug (sincerely hoping that’s not an implication to what comes next…) The burrito wasn’t terrible, but I think my lifetime distaste for beans may be relapsing. It was VERY bean-y! I did really like the tortilla, it was soft and tasty (and easy to cut through, as I clearly had to eat this with a fork.) The burrito didn’t seem cheesy enough to me. I chose to buy this burrito because it said “Cheddar Cheese” quite directly, and for that reason, I assumed it might be more rice and cheese and a little less bean. I really couldn’t taste the cheese, or notice the rice over the beans. It’s not that the beans didn’t taste good, but I can’t do the texture of squishy beans in such large amounts. I would suggest this burrito only if you are a real bean freak (which I am not.)

I give Amy’s “Cheddar Cheese(?)Burrito”
* * ½ of 5 stars
For its tasty tortilla, but overly “bean-y” quality (no beans about it!)