Mexi-Appetizers Win Test
So you plan on throwing a holiday party, but you’re short on time to cook — and even shorter on cash for a caterer?
Never fear. We searched the supermarket freezer cases for ready-to-heat appetizers and asked The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel to evaluate the results.
Their verdict: not bad, but not exactly the stuff seasonal memories are made of.
The narrow winner was a Ruiz assortment of miniature Mexican-style appetizers: vegetable quesadillas, shredded beef and cheese burritos and chicken and cheese chimichangas (the favorite, and the highest in fat).
All were relatively tasty, even without salsa (hey, we’re cheap, too), although the ratio of filling to tortillas could have been higher. A bonus: For the party-impaired, there’s even a diagram on the box showing how to arrange the appetizers attractively on a plate. Ole!
Tyson’s frozen Buffalo wings delivered plenty of heat (and fat), but not enough flavor for some panelists. They probably would have been better with some blue cheese dressing for dipping (which we didn’t provide, either).
Bagel Bites mini-pizzas from Ore-Ida were the most mundane of the three, despite the package’s proclamation of “new & improved pizza sauce.” Some panelists thought the toppings tasted artificial, while others simply don’t believe bagels have any business serving as pizza crust.
Continuing in the celebratory spirit, we also served panel members a trio of store-bought eggnogs.
Their sentiments were split between a thicker, richer, nutmeg-heavy Darigold version and a lighter, cleaner, more vanilla-like offering from Wilcox Farms (made with whole eggs, as opposed to the powdered stuff).
Then there was the piece de resistance: Borden’s shelf-stable eggnog in a can, which was almost twice as expensive as the others and several times more stomach-turning.
Tasters fumbled for words to describe it, with Catherine Lunt Greer perhaps coming closest: “If you took some of that cocoa butter that people used as suntan lotion in the ‘70s, melted it, added a little milk and yellow food coloring and dumped it in a punch bowl, you’d have some very disgusting eggnog that would taste just like this.”
Beach party, anyone?
Ruiz Supreme FiestaPack Mini Mexican Style Appetizers
Price: $10.99 for 3.9 pounds (48 pieces).
Nutrition (average): 310 calories (33 percent fat calories), 500 milligrams sodium in 4 pieces.
Taste: ***
Value: **
Comments: “Good finger food. Great for watching a ballgame with friends.” - Mark Barrett
“Considering that each of the three varieties has a different filling and different format, these all taste surprisingly similar. The little burritos are cute but the tortilla is doughy; the little chimichanga is tasty but greasy and the little quesadilla is OK, but come on - how hard would it be to make that yourself?” - Catherine Lunt Greer
Tyson Buffalo Style Hot Wings
Price: $7.49 for 40 ounces (32 pieces).
Nutrition: 220 calories (59 percent fat calories); 560 milligrams sodium in 4 pieces.
Taste: ***
Value: **
Comments: “Very hot - this taste is not for everyone. Nice little snack. Juicy tender chicken.” - Ann Finke
“Wow! This is spicy hot. Unfortunately, that’s the only thing you taste. There’s no chicken flavor. And they are very greasy. If you could just figure out how to get a chicken taste with the same spicy-hot bite and much less grease …” - Jeannie Coffey
Ore-Ida Bagel Bites, Cheese, Sausage and Pepperoni
Price: $6.99 for 31.1 ounces (40 pieces).
Nutrition: 190 calories (32 percent fat calories); 570 milligrams sodium in 4 pieces.
Taste: ***
Value: **
Comments: “What a great concept - cute little bagels with a slightly spicy sauce. I’d buy these, or at least try to replicate them at home.” - Tina Johnson
“Mushy, soggy and very processed. Not worth the power to heat them up.” - Sandy Davidson
Darigold Egg Nog
Price: $1.89 for 1 quart.
Nutrition: 180 calories (44 percent fat calories); 105 milligrams sodium in 1/2 cup.
Taste: ***
Value: ***
Comments: “Full of nutmeg, as eggnog should be. Thick and rich-tasting. Very traditional.” - Sandy Davidson
“Very sweet and thick. Needs bourbon to cut the sweet.” - Tina Johnson
Wilcox Farms Old-Fashioned Eggnog
Price: $2.29 for 1 quart.
Nutrition: 190 calories (47 percent fat calories); 110 milligrams sodium in 1/2 cup.
Taste: ***
Value: **
Comments: “Tastes like melted ice cream or not-yet-set tapioca pudding. Less nutmeg than most store-bought eggnogs, not as thick. Yummy.” - Jeannie Coffey
“A little thin, but still will pass.” - Mark Barrett
Borden Egg Nog
Price: $3.69 for 1 quart.
Nutrition: 160 calories (50 percent fat); 80 milligrams sodium in 1/2 cup.
Taste: **
Value: *
Comments: “No hope for this one.” - Rich Clemson
“Yellow water! Smells awful, tastes awful - terrible aftertaste - Santa would not like this left for him.” - Ann Finke
This sidebar appeared with the story: WANT TO JOIN OUR PANEL? They also serve who only sit and eat. We’re looking for new members to fill a few vacancies on The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel next year. The panel meets one evening each month (usually the second Wednesday) to taste new supermarket products and to compare different name brands of the same item. The only qualifications are a fondness for food and friendly conversation, although a sharp wit and a strong stomach certainly help. Interested? Send a short letter explaining why you’d be the perfect panel member to: Food Panel, Features Department, The Spokesman-Review, P.O. Box 2160, Spokane, WA 99210, fax to 459-5098 or e-mail to rickb@spokesman.com. Be sure to include your age, occupation and daytime telephone number. We look forward to serving you.