January 24, 2013


Wolf Brand Chili With Beans

wolfchili.jpgWolf Brand Chili recently showed up on the shelves of my local Safeway. I had never seen this brand of chili anywhere I’ve ever shopped, although the label indicates that it’s been around since 1895. I’ve been a Dennison’s man all my life, but I bought a can of Wolf Brand Chili with Beans to see what it was like. Upon pouring the contents of the can into a bowl, my first reaction was one of disappointment at the lack of meat and beans and the abundance of sauce. Don’t be fooled by the picture on the can. Your bowl of chili will look nothing like it. There was a moderate amount of meat, and even less beans, covered by so much sauce that the meat and beans were barely visible. Really, did I buy a can of chili with beans or a can of sauce? Aside from this rather significant issue, the chili tasted okay. I compared it side-by-side with a can of Dennison’s and found the Wolf Brand Chili had a deeper, spicier flavor that I preferred. But, the Dennison’s appeared to have more meat and definitely had more beans. Canned chili isn’t very good when compared to homemade chili or even chili made with Carroll Shelby’s Chili Kit. But, sometimes chili from a can is the way to go. And when it is, I’m sticking with Dennison’s.

Phoood rating: Don't Waste Your Money

Posted by Jim | Comments (9)

April 8, 2012


Bob Evans Original Sausage Gravy

bobevansgravy2.jpgSausage gravy with biscuits is one of my favorite meals, but making sausage gravy at home is a lot of work. So, I was happy to recently find Bob Evans Original Sausage Gravy in the refrigerated/egg section of my local Safeway. “Ready in minutes,” the box said. That sold it. All it took to prepare the gravy was a couple minutes in the microwave. I put the gravy over some Pillsbury Grands! Flaky Layers Buttermilk Biscuits, the kind that come in a cardboard tube. The biscuits were horrible, but the gravy was pretty good. It had a nice consistency and that didn’t seem at all like it came from a plastic bag. And, there was a fair amount of sausage in it, although the pieces of sausage were pretty small. The gravy was a bit on the bland side and could have used some more spices, but I understand that it was probably made mild so that it would appeal to as many people as possible. Next time, I think I’ll add a pinch of cayenne pepper to it. No, it’s not the best sausage gravy I’ve had. But, it’s better than some I’ve eaten in restaurants. If you’re looking for quick and easy sausage gravy, it’s hard to beat. Just be sure to put it over some good biscuits.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jim | Comments (0)

August 13, 2010


Phoood Haiku: Hormel Beef Tamales

hormeltamales.jpg






Canned tamales - Yum!
Call me crazy, I don't care
Seven year shelf life






Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by Jim | Comments (9)

July 15, 2009


Cholula Hot Sauce

cholula.jpgI eat a lot of tacos and burritos at home, and the hot sauce that I put on my meal depends on my mood that day. I always keep six or eight types of hot sauce on hand at all times so that I’m always covered. Sometimes, I just want some La Victoria mild red taco sauce. I’ve been eating good ol’ La Vic as long as I can remember and it’s always the safe choice. But when I want something spicier, I usually reach for the Cholula bottle. I’ve been eating Cholula for a long time too, and in recent years have noticed it showing up more on the tables at Mexican food restaurants. So, I guess I’m not the only one that likes it so much. I love its fresh, spicy flavor and it’s not so hot that it burns a hole in my stomach. I’ve noticed that Cholula costs more than lots of other hot sauces, but I still think it’s worth it. I’ve always eaten the Original variety and didn’t even know there were three other varieties – Chipotle, Chili Garlic, and Chili Lime – until I visited the Cholula web site. I’m anxious to try these other varieties but I doubt they will ever take the place of the Cholula I love.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (11)

May 7, 2009


Nissin Souper Meal - Chicken with Vegetable Medley

nissanramen.jpgIf there’s one thing I can really get behind, it’s instant ramen. Quick to make, fairly filling, cheap, and oh so tasty. I’ve been picking up bulk packages of Nissin Souper Meal (Chicken with Vegetable Medley), and found them to be rewarding in the extreme. First off, the size is incredible. These babies are probably the biggest ramen cups (or bowls rather) I’ve ever seen. It comes with a packet of dried vegetables and herbs as well as a packet of flavoring. Pour in the packets, toss in a generous amount of water, nuke for 5 minutes, and you’ve got your meal. The ramen noodles are a lot flatter and thinner in Souper Meals, which prevent the incredibly annoying under-cooked texture you sometimes get with Top Ramen or Cup Noodles. The vegetables are an excellent addition for the texture and for variety, but I can’t say they bring a whole lot to the party flavor-wise (excluding the herbs). There’s also an amusing little packet of liquid called “The Finishing Touch Flavoring” that you add once the bowl is cooked, and interestingly enough, REALLY makes a difference in the taste for the better. I’ve only tried this one flavor so far, but as many times as I sit down to it, I don’t get sick of it. Two thumbs up, 10/10, whatever you wanna call it, this is some tasty ramen.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Elric | Comments (7)

January 13, 2009


Betty Crocker Cookie Brownie Bars Mix

cookiebrownie.jpg

When I want quick and easy brownies at home, boxed mixes are the way I go. The few times I’ve made brownies from scratch, they didn’t taste as good as when I use a mix. So, the pantry has at least one box of brownie mix in it at all times for those sudden brownie cravings. My current favorite brownie mix is definitely Betty Crocker Cookie Brownie Bars. Yes, you can satisfy your cookie and brownie cravings in the same bite. It’s brilliant! They take a little more work to make compared to ordinary brownies, but the effort is well worth it. The finished product resembles the collision of a pan of brownies with a plate of cookies. I guess you could debate whether it is a cookie brownie or a brownie cookie, but all that really matters is that it is seriously delicious. Get a couple boxes for your pantry and enjoy the beautiful marriage of cookies and brownies.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (6)

January 6, 2009


Kraft Easy Mac Cup

easymac.jpgI picked up a Kraft Easy Mac cup on sale for a buck recently at Safeway. It’s about as easy as it gets – just add water, microwave for three minutes, and stir in the cheese powder. The result is pretty much what you would expect from microwaved macaroni and cheese made with cheese powder. Kids, the extremely lazy, and easy-to-please eaters will probably like it just fine but those with more “refined” palates will undoubtedly turn their noses up at it. You won’t mistake if for some fancy-schmantzy six-cheese baked macaroni with shaved truffles but hey, it only cost a dollar and three minutes of your time. I was worried that macaroni would either be cooked too much or too little, but it was cooked just right. I must warn you about the misleading size of the cup. The finished product only fills up about half the cup, which means you may need to eat two or three of them to make a meal. For this packaging deception, Easy Mac cups receive a slightly lower rating.

Phoood rating: So-so

Posted by Jim | Comments (11)

December 15, 2008


Land O’ Lakes Spreadable Butter

landolakes.jpgA while back, I decided to switch from margarine to real butter for using on bread, toast, waffles, etc. I figured that I didn’t really eat that much of it (at least not as much as Homer Simpson) and it probably wouldn’t kill me if I enjoyed real, creamy, butter. I quickly realized that margarine has one advantage over butter – spreadability. Straight out of the refrigerator, the butter was too hard to spread, resulting in mangled waffles, ripped pancakes, and much frustration. One day, I noticed an item in the supermarket that I previously hadn’t paid much attention to: spreadable butter. My dilemma had been solved! Land O’ Lakes adds a little bit of canola oil to their butter, which makes it easy to spread right out of the refrigerator. If the canola oil adds any flavor to the butter, I really can’t taste it. There are other brands of spreadable butter out there, but be careful. I tried a competing brand that was much too soft and melted quickly when out of the refrigerator.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (10)

June 20, 2008


Fast Food Feedbag


There's not much to say. Just watch the video and laugh.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (8)

February 24, 2008


Orbit Mint Mojito Chewing Gum

orbitgum.jpgThis product was quite literally handed off to me by my girlfriend's brother along with the statement, "Do you want this? It's nasty." So perhaps I indulged into this travesty with my own set of expectations, or perhaps it was just honestly the most uncomfortable sugar-free chewing gum experience my taste buds have ever had the misfortune of becoming involved with. Orbit usually has creatively eccentric flavor compilations the likes of which induce a mild curiosity in the chewer. However with the "Mint Mojito" flavor I personally believe Orbit allowed its innovative spirit to wander a bit too far away from the flavor consistency which we come to expect from chewing gum. A stick of "Mint Mojito" Orbit gum has a strange milky lime flavor fused with a hint of mint. I noticed myself removing the piece of gum from my mouth almost immediately after beginning to chew it. Let's just say I won't be handing this gum box to anyone else, its fate lies at the bottom of my office trash can.

Phoood rating: Don't Waste Your Money

Posted by Armando | Comments (11)

February 9, 2008


Wanchai Ferry Kung Pao Chicken Dinner Kit

wanchaiferry.jpgA few months ago, I happened to notice some products on the shelf of my local supermarket, low on the shelf in the Chinese food section. It must have been the “sale” sign on them that caught my eye. They were Wanchai Ferry Dinner Kits, in Kung Pao Chicken, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Spicy Garlic Chicken, and Cashew Chicken varieties. I was looking for something new to try for dinner and the price was right, so I bought one of each. Since then, they have become a staple in our pantry. Of the four varieties, the best tasting is Kung Pao Chicken. All it takes is about 20 minutes, one pound of chicken breast, some oil, and some water. Using the ingredients included in the kit, you get a delicious dinner that will serve two to four people. Preparation is so easy that anyone should be able to do it. I don’t doubt that many people would say that the food is not “authentic” enough, and this is probably true. However, it’s far better than the last Chinese take-out I had. And, I get the satisfaction that I cooked dinner (even if did come from a box).

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (8)

May 7, 2007


Skippy Natural Peanut Butter

skippynatural.jpgIn my ongoing quest to find food that is both tasty and at least minimally healthy, I have tried several different types of “natural” peanut butters. Most of them are average at best, and in some cases are barely edible. Skippy Natural peanut butter, however, is delicious. It is so similar to “regular” peanut butter that you may not even tell the difference. And, unlike most natural peanut butters, there is no need to stir it or keep it in the refrigerator so that the oil doesn’t settle at the top. I happen to prefer the Super Chunk variety, but the creamy variety is just as good. Highly recommended for all your peanut butter needs, including as pretzel dip, in a fluffernutter sandwich, or spread on top of saltine crackers.

Phoood rating: Outstanding!

Posted by Jim | Comments (15) | TrackBack

July 24, 2005


Jif Peanut Butter & Honey (Creamy)

jifpbrhoney.jpgYesterday, I tried Jif's newest creation: Peanut Butter and Honey (Creamy Style). I remember enjoying peanut butter and honey sandwiches as a kid, so I thought I'd grab a jar. Of course, a straight spoonful had to be sampled first. The peanut butter taste hit me first. Then this pleasantly sweet taste came forward as I savored the bite. The honey was not overpowering. It took a back seat to the peanut butter flavor. It was a little bit too sweet with jelly, so I would recommend it be eaten without, unless you like sweet. This peanut butter would be GREAT on toast! I would definitely give it a Good rating.

Phoood rating: Good.gif

Posted by | Comments (3)