Skillet Spice Tastes Nice

When it’s hot outside, some folks indulge in spicy dishes to temper the weather. We decided to try the trick on The Spokesman-Review Reader Food Panel.

Of course, when you’re serving commercially prepared Southwest skillet meals from a grocer’s freezer, the spice level isn’t exactly “hot.” But we pretended.

And we poured three different flavors of “sparkling glacier water from Mount Rainier” to wash down the meals (and cool down their tongues).

The verdict: Bring on the heat and leave the glaciers to extreme mountain climbers.

All of the skillet meals, which come ready to cook, scored well in both the taste and value categories. Chef’s Choice Chicken Santa Fe, produced by a Seattle company, edged out the competition - Ortega’s Nacho Chicken and Stouffer’s Lean Cuisine’s Beef Fajitas in the taste category.

As far as the glacier waters go, our tasters pushed aside their cups after a sip or two and opted for iced tap water to wash down their meals.

Even though the sparkling waters were flavored with unique combinations such as Ginger Lime, Citrus Twist and Kiwi Lime Grapefruit, they failed to quench thirsts.

Chef’s Choice Chicken Santa Fe

Price: $5.99 for 24-ounces (3 servings)

Nutrition: 230 calories (10 percent fat calories) and 1,090 milligrams sodium per serving.

Taste: ****

Value: ***

Comments: “Jazzed up Spanish rice - ole! Everything you like in Spanish food (corn, black beans, onions, peppers) in one dish. It can’t get much easier than this. The chicken is tender and seasoned just right.” - Tina Johnson

“Add some salsa to spice it up and you might have something.” - Rich Clemson

Ortega Nacho Chicken Supreme

Price: $4.99 for 23 ounces (2 servings)

Nutrition: 380 calories (26 percent fat calories) and 1,810 milligrams sodium per serving.

Taste: ***

Value: ****

Comments: “Good. Nice blend of spices.” - Larry Inman

“An excellent blend of veggies, meat and rice. Pleasing to the senses with its appearance, smell and flavor.” - Mike Connelly

Stouffer’s Lean Cuisine Beef Fajitas

Price: $4.99 for 24 ounces (2 servings)

Nutrition: 300 calories (10.5 percent fat calories) and 760 milligrams sodium per serving.

Taste: ***

Value: ***

Comments: “A bit oily, but otherwise tasty.” - Hilde Schoonover

“Rice, peppers, beans and a few chunks of beef make this filling. But it’s low on taste and pretty oily.” - Ella Gordon

Tahoma Ginger Lime Sparkling Water

Price: $1.59 for 2 liter bottle Nutrition: no calories, fat or sodium

Taste: **

Value: **

Comments: “Dull and devoid of flavor. Who would want to drink this?” - Mike Connelly

“What an awful taste. Worse than medication.” - Hilde Schoonover

Tahoma Citrus Twist

Price: $1.59 for 2-liter bottle

Nutrition: no calories, fat or sodium

Taste: **

Value: **

Comments: “Has an odd flavor that ruins the zip.” - Rich Clemson

“I don’t care for this.” - Jenny Whittaker

Tahoma Kiwi Lime Grapefruit

Price: $1.59 for 2-liter bottle

Nutrition: no calories, fat or sodium

Taste: **

Value: **

Comments: “As horrible as the two before it. I’ll not suck on a glacier any time soon.” - Tina Johnson

“If I was very, very thirsty … maybe I could stomach one glass.” - Larry Inman