Looks: Much like the Healthy Choice Tomato Basil Penne, there is no way to cook this meal in a way that results in a dish like the one picture on the box without adding extra cheese (and some mint, I think). The picture on the box is also enlarged quite a bit, making the noodles appear larger than they actually are. 3 out of 5
Taste: SmartOnes frozen meals are generally a level above the competitors, but this one isn’t such a clear-cut winner. The ziti comes out a little over-cooked, and there’s no discernible cheese on the pasta since by the end of cooking, it has melted and been stirred into the sauce. It’s still a semi-filling meal, but not as tasty as the box would indicate. 3 out of 5
You know, this is actually my favorite Smart Ones meal. Every time I get it, there is tons of cheese… even left over in the plastic bowl after I’ve finished the pasta. Mmmm.
I like to eat this kind of food for merienda. Though, a plate of this is enough for my day’s cravings.
I take that back, it’s probably basil.
I’m guessing that it’s parsley, not mint.
Interesting. I actually just had this one yesterday and have several times in the past and the cheese is quite present for me every time. Usually to the detriment of my sanity, because when microwaving it melts to the plastic and I lose half of it ON the plastic and have to scrap it off and put it back on the food.
There is always a huge amount of cheese that ends up looking quite like what’s on the box by the end of cooking when I buy this product. I’ve bought it often. I’ve never had a lack of cheese like yours in the picture…mine always has a large coating of cheese on the top, and it isn’t all mixed in the sauce, I guess because I never “stir” the microwaved meals like it is suggested to do ino the cooking instructions.
I too think there’s actually way too much cheese in this meal. It’s also one of the highest fat content meals Smart Ones offers…probably due to the amount of cheese used.