Mama’S Best Italian Doesn’T Thrill Us
In honor of Mother’s Day, we decided to serve The Spokesman-Review’s reader food panel something like Mom used to make. Mama Mia, that is.
Staring into the supermarket freezer case, we were struck by the number of new lasagnas with the word “family” on the boxes: Marie Callender’s “family meals,” Prego’s “family entree,” Banquet’s Meals Made Easy (“Bringing the family to the table.”)
But as we should have guessed from their family trees, none was particularly impressive.
Banquet was the best of a mediocre bunch, which was somewhat surprising since it contained the least fat (we don’t remember Mom counting fat grams). It wasn’t particularly tasty, but at least it was relatively inoffensive.
Prego’s offering was more flavorful, but it unfortunately wasn’t a flavor that most tasters enjoyed. As for the Callender’s, while it looked good on the plate, it didn’t deliver much in the mouth. (Suppose Marie’s kids order out for pizza?)
To end the evening on a homey note, we served a trio of prepared tapioca pudding cups - which were about as popular as a dose of castor oil. The people who liked tapioca were disappointed, while those who didn’t couldn’t begin to imagine why anyone would.
Forced to choose, the panel picked Swiss Miss (presumably not a mother) by a slim margin over Hunt’s, with Jell-O’s version - the most expensive - bringing up the rear.
As the tapioca settled, we all started to feel jealous of the handful of panelists who missed the meeting.
Suppose mama told them not to come?
Banquet Meals Made Easy Lasagna With Meat Sauce
Price: $3.28 for 28 ounces, or 3.5 (1-cup) servings.
Nutrition: 350 calories (29 percent fat calories); 960 milligrams sodium per serving.
Taste: ***
Value: ***
Comments: “Too much oregano, grainy ricotta cheese and unpleasant taste to the tiny bits of sausage.” - Jeannie Coffey
“Looks like a ridged potato chip with sauce on top. Sauce is rich and red. Has somewhat of a tangy aftertaste. OK; not really a bad or good opinion either way.” - Ann Finke
Prego Beef Lasagna With Three Cheeses
Price: $5.99 for 40 ounces, or 5 (1-cup) servings.
Nutrition: 370 calories (43 percent fat calories); 1,160 milligrams sodium per serving.
Taste: **
Value: ***
Comments: “Ricotta filling is soft and runny, but overall very flavorful. This has a pizza flavor to it.” - Sandy Davidson
“Noodles are soggy, the cheese is sorely lacking and the little sausage pellets are nasty. The sauce is too sweet and leaves a weird aftertaste.” - Catherine Lunt Greer
Marie Callender’s Lasagna With Meat Sauce
Price: $6.09 for 40 ounces, or 4.5 (1-cup) servings.
Nutrition: 350 calories (43 percent fat calories); 770 milligrams sodium per serving.
Taste: **
Value: **
Comments: “Looks good, meaty texture, real tomato chunks. But BLAND, as in plain cardboard, unflavored. Appearances can be (and are) deceiving.” - Eileen Bakken
“Cheesy mouth feel, (but) nada tasta! Lasagna wannabe.” - Rich Clemson
Swiss Miss Tapioca Pudding Snacks
Price: $1.33 for 14 ounces (4 snacks).
Nutrition: 120 calories (25 percent fat calories); 150 milligrams sodium per snack.
Taste: ***
Value: **
Comments: “Really bad aftertaste and it’s mighty lumpy. But it tastes like vanilla, so it might be OK if you’re into tapioca.” - Catherine Lunt Greer
“The tapioca feels dry. Otherwise, the taste isn’t bad.” - Jeannie Coffey
Hunt’s Tapioca Snack Pack
Price: $1.42 for 14 ounces (4 snacks).
Nutrition: 130 calories (27 percent fat calories); 140 milligrams sodium per snack.
Taste: **
Value: **
Comments: “Weird color and funny aftertaste.” - Rich Clemson
“Tastes like custard. Has that artificial vanilla extract flavor and smell. Thick - I can wallpaper with this stuff.” - Ann Finke
Jell-O Tapioca Pudding Snacks
Price: $2.79 for 24 ounces (6 snacks).
Nutrition: 140 calories (25 percent fat calories); 160 milligrams sodium per snack.
Taste: **
Value: **
Comments: “Very processed flavor. Lots of vanilla taste. Not thick enough for tapioca.” - Sandy Davidson
“Flavor reached out and tried to strangle me. The aftertaste was even worse.” - Eileen Bakken