Organic Bistro Bowls Review

You have heard me say it before, as a busy mother of three it is sometimes really hard to find time to eat anything let alone something healthy. Especially at lunchtime.  Organic Bistro Bowls ($4.49) are the latest from the Organic Bistro frozen meal line.  Made from organic, fresh ingredients and gluten-free the bowls take minutes to heat up in the microwave and can be made in an oven as well.  My oven died the week I tested these meals so I was only able to nuke them. 

First up is the Asian Style Coconut Lemongrass with Chicken Bowl. My local grocery store stocked a lot of the Organic Bistro meals.  The Coconut Lemongrass appealed to me as it is not a typical frozen meal flavor.  I noticed that Organic Bistro has many salmon meals as well, which is another unique attribute with this company.  When I opened the box of the Coconut Lemongrass bowl I thought, "How small..." and "Hm... the vegetables look fresh and bright, the chicken chunks are large, but how do they taste? What is their texture like?" I noticed I had to cook them on high for the maximum amount of time or there was a lot of liquid still in the bowls.  Once I figured that out I was ready to eat.  The taste was surprising.  The flavors were not bland or too salty.  I could definitely taste the coconut and spices of this traditional dish. The scent of this meal was heavenly and a nice departure from my typical mid-day meals. The vegetables were fresh tasting and the chicken, while not abundant, tasted better than many frozen meals.  It was large in size with no rubbery bits or discoloration.  It tasted like real chicken.  You know what I mean. So many frozen meals have meat that looks and tastes totally foreign from what it is supposed to be.  Organic Bistro bowls may be small but they fill you up and last.  I didn't have that mid-afternoon blood sugar drop or massive desire to snack. It was a win!

I wanted to try other Bistro bowls but the second time back to the store there was only salmon bowls left and I don't eat fish.  I was looking forward to trying the Thai Style Yellow Curry with Chicken or the Thai Style Red Curry with Beef.

Many of Organic Bistro's meal- entrees and bowls contain edamame or quinoa pilaf (tastes like brown rice) which is a great way to fill up and add protein.  It's also rare to find in frozen meals.  I eat quinoa at least twice a week at lunch so this is a good option that is a bit quicker than making quinoa traditionally.  You can find Organic Bistro meals in the frozen food section at your local grocery store.

MPR Rating:  Four Stars.

Disclaimer: MPR was not paid for this post.  Products received are for review purposes only.  Opinions are MPR's only. 

The Cook's Book of Intense Flavors

I received this 288 page cookbook recently and I must admit I found it a bit intimidating.  The Cook's Book of Intense Flavors- 101 Surprising Flavor Combinations and Extraordinary Recipes That Excite Your Palate and Pleasure Your Senses ($26) is a mouthful.  Created by husband and wife is about learning to cook intuitively.  If you are looking to broaden your cooking horizons, get creative and learn how food pairings really work then this is a cook book for you. 

Containing seven chapters, restaurateurs Robert and Molly Krause illustrate how three key ingredients can come together to create a unique, flavorful dish.  This book is for cooks of all skill levels and once I got into it I wasn't as intimidated.  There are over 100 recipes to sample including Tea-and-Lim Cured Salmon, Jack and Coke ice cream and Beyond Oysters Rockefeller.  Some dishes take time, are time-sensitive and others are fairly quick and easy.  I also liked the addition of some updated classics. 

This cook book is as unique as its ingredient pairings and makes a great addition to your cook book collection or as a gift to a newbie chef in the making or even a more experienced cook.  Available at Amazon online. 

MPR Rating:  Three stars.

Disclaimer:  MPR was not paid for this post. Products received are for review and testing purposes only. Opinions are MPR's only. 

*Image from goodlifeguy.com

PBN- Deceptively Delicious

Psst…. Hey kid! You want some chocolate pudding?

How about some pink pancakes or an ice cream sandwich?

It’s good huh kid? Eat up! Load up kid! Chow down!

Psst… Hey kid! You want to know something? Those tasty treats are loaded with good things like beet puree and cauliflower and spinach!

Bwwwaahhhaaahhaa!!!!



That is how you might feel when you first start using Jessica Seinfeld’s new cookbook, Deceptively Delicious. This cookbook is great! The food is healthy and things you would actually serve your family. The secret or the deception is adding pureed fruits or vegetables to each recipe enhancing the nutritional value of each dish. I tried a few of the recipes out on my family and with the exception of one dish they all came back with rave reviews. Eating tacos with pureed carrots made me feel healthier than our normal version because who really feels healthy after eating tacos? The mozzarella sticks with cauliflower tasted exactly the same and no one could tell the difference. I even made beef stew with broccoli puree which I thought would give it a slightly skewed taste but it only made it better. My daughter has no idea that the brownies she is eating as an after nap snack have carrots and spinach in them. All she knows is that Mom is willing to give her brownies. I will keep making this recipe for her even though they won’t fool anyone who has ever had a regular brownie in their lifetime. The texture of them is off as is the flavor. It is not that they taste like the carrots or spinach. They don’t. They just don’t taste like a brownie and I make mine from scratch so I’m not talking chemicals here.

I liked the look and feel of Jessica’s book too. It harkens back to the days of the 1950s cookbooks with its spiral bound spine and illustrations. While the recipes may seem daunting at first they really aren’t. Planning in advance is necessary but it always is when you want to provide healthy meals for your family. The directions are easy to follow and I found that pureeing my veggies and fruits in one day is not that difficult even with a temperamental blender such as mine. Simply steam the veggies and puree. Store them in the fridge or freezer in ½ cup servings and when it’s time to cook or bake you are ready to go!

I felt so much better about the food we were eating because my kid and spouse alike are sometimes finicky vegetable eaters. I try to incorporate our five daily servings plus but sometimes it is hard and this just makes it incredibly easy without a lot of thought. I know that as my child gets older this cookbook will come in real handy especially with sweet treats. The additional nutritional information given by nutritionist Joy Bauer is helps keep you on track too. The extra tips on how to make store-bought food and snacks healthier made me feel a whole lot better about what to do when I actually do buy these items. This cookbook will be used frequently in my house for all sorts of occasions not just on my kids. My husband loves the idea that he is getting added vegetables and so do I. I simply love this cookbook!

This gift makes an excellent addition to any family's kitchen and would be a great gift for any Mom. You can buy it here for only $14.97. For more reviews on this book visit the Parent Blogger Network and hear what others are saying.



http://www.deceptivelydelicious.com/site/index.php