This Winter, We Got Stewed

Ah, February. There’s nothing more comforting on a chilly evening than to sit down at a cozy dinner table for a home-cooked meal - something like a hearty stew with fresh-baked cookies for dessert.

Unfortunately, that kind of lifestyle (not to mention that kind of overblown writing) mostly disappeared years ago, which is why The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel decided to sample a more typical alternative: canned stew and ready-to-bake cookies.

A lot of people have eaten canned stew, once, which is probably why there are more vegetarians every day. But we found a pleasantly edible variety.

A mammoth (40-ounce) can from Nalley’s was really very good for the price ($3), with big chunks of beef, clearly defined vegetables and carrots, and an almost-homemade taste. It was even reasonably low in fat.

Anyone who thinks that house brands are always as good as name-brand products would think again after trying the Western Family beef stew. It had much more gravy, and correspondingly fewer solids, than the Nalley’s, and the carrots were seriously overcooked. It was a buck cheaper, but not worth the savings.

Even more disappointing was the stew from another well-known brand name, Dinty Moore. It was more expensive than the Nalley’s but found few friends; among other problems, the beef was seriously overcooked.

For dessert, panel members sampled a popular new product, ready-to-bake cookies. Basically, these are packages of refrigerated dough that you spoon onto a cookie sheet, then bake.

Unfortunately, the best thing about the cookies was the aroma while they cooked - marvelous. The taste fell short.

Cookies from Nestle and Pillsbury were moist but far too sweet, with an unpleasant texture (the package of Nestle we purchased was past its pull date, which probably didn’t help the quality).

And a chocolate chip cookie from a company called Sweet Shoppe emerged very dry and chalk-like - and, at $7 for a 4-1/2-pound tub, a rather expensive way to experiment.

Our panelists wouldn’t buy these for adults, and they wouldn’t buy them for children. So you’re probably better off either buying the ready-to-eat packages, or baking your own.

The product: Nalley Big Chunk Beef Stew, 40 ounces for $2.99.

Nutrition notes: Nine grams of fat (32 percent fat calories) and 250 calories per cup of stew.

Would panelists buy for adults? Yes: 3. No: 1.

Would panelists buy for children? Yes: 2. No: 1.

Kind comments: “If you don’t have the time to start from scratch, this isn’t bad - real beef, a variety of vegetables. Not bad at all.” - Stacy Casto.

Unkind comments: “Although potatoes weren’t bad, overall it was still pretty awful. Nasty appearance.” - Maria Ranniger.

In conclusion: “Real meat and vegetables. Meat is very chewy. Potatoes are good.” - Susi Faville.

The product: Western Family Beef Stew, 40 ounces for $1.82.

Nutrition notes: Nine grams of fat (45 percent fat calories) and 180 calories per cup of stew.

Would panelists buy for adults? Yes: 0. No: 4.

Would panelists buy for children? Yes: 0. No: 3.

Kind comments: None.

Unkind comments: “I like the fact they seem to use all the cow.” - Mike Harrington.

In conclusion: “Gravy rather mealy - clings to the potatoes. Would definitely not buy this product.” - Maria Ranniger.

The product: Dinty Moore Beef Stew, 40 ounces for $3.43.

Nutrition notes: First ingredient is beef (not water), higher fat content (55 percent) and 230 calories per 1-cup serving.

Would panelists buy for adults? Yes: 0. No: 4.

Would panelists buy for children? Yes: 0. No: 3.

Kind comments: “Meat tender, somehow processed. Potatoes have nice texture.” - Susi Faville.

Unkind comments: “Mushy vegetables, not appetizing. Lots of soft meat.” - Stacy Casto.

In conclusion: “Vegetables were mushy. Beef was too dog food-like.” - Mike Harrington.

The product: Nestle Oatmeal Cookies with Raisinets, 18 ounces for $2.45.

Nutrition notes: Thirty-six percent fat calories and 150 calories in two cookies; makes 28 cookies.

Would panelists buy for adults? Yes: 0. No: 5.

Would panelists buy for children? Yes: 0. No: 4.

Kind comments: None.

Unkind comments: “Too sweet, lousy texture. Not good cookie.” - Mary Aegerter.

In conclusion: “Flat, grainy, sweet and icky. Better suited as a horse treat.” - Stacy Casto.

The product: Pillsbury Cookies with M&M’s, 20 ounces for $2.28.

Nutrition notes: Forty-two percent fat calories and 130 calories in 2 cookies; makes 40 cookies.

Would panelists buy for adults? Yes: 0. No: 5.

Would panelists buy for children? Yes: 1. No: 3.

Kind comments: “A flat disk, looked better than it tastes. The M&M’s are bright & cheerful.” - Stacy Casto.

Unkind comments: “Not good. Too sweet - chocolate bits disappointing. Off taste.” - Mary Aegerter.

In conclusion: “How disappointing. Kids would probably like it, but it tastes artificial. Bad-tasting fat?” - Susi Faville.

The product: Sweet Shoppe Ready to Bake Cookie Dough, Chocolate Chip, 73 ounces for $7.29.

Nutrition notes: Forty-seven percent fat calories and 114 calories in 2 cookies; makes 144 cookies.

Would panelists buy for adults? Yes: 0. No: 5.

Would panelists buy for children? Yes: 0. No: 4.

Kind comments: None.

Unkind comments: “Looks like homemade. Tastes very bad.” - Mike Harrington.

In conclusion: “Not good.” - Mary Aegerter.