Healthy Choice Pumpkin Squash Ravioli May 17, 2009

Yes, things are slow over the weekend, so I thought I’d do a new-product review.

Now, I’m not the type to be sucked in by fancy packaging or the latest commercial marketing schemes. Hell, I’m not even much of a fan of microwave meals. They’re often loaded with questionable ingredients and chock-full of salt so they can keep their forever-shelf life. But I was somewhat intrigued by the new line of products that Elaine Benes (Julia Louis Dreyfuss) has been hawking on TV commercials over the past month for a new line of “All Natural” microwave meals by Healthy Choice. You know the one. The commercial where she’s lapping up the meal like a “dog eating peanut butter.”

Again, I’m not one to be swayed by marketing campaigns. But the commercial was witty and the new products were on sale at my grocery store last week. Really on sale. And because I have such an affinity for foods with any combination of the words pumpkin, squash, butter, and sage in the ingredients, I had to try the Pumpkin Squash Ravioli. Sho ‘nuf I looked at the ingredients and I could PRONOUNCE all of them. Hell, when I took the tray out of the carton, it actually LOOKED like real food. Raviolis with chunks of squash and apple, and asparagus pieces frozen in time waiting to be revived through some microwave action.

The first thing I noticed was the smell while heating. There were some major spices in this dish. Cinnamon. Nutmeg. Really classic pumpkin/squash flavors. Almost smelled like dessert! I removed the tray from the microwave and allowed it to sit for just a minute or two. I really couldn’t wait any longer and immediately dug in. There was some real texture to the vegetables floating in the light butter-sage sauce. They weren’t cooked to a mush, which is a definite plus. The sauce itself was well-seasoned and really reminded me of the butter-sage sauce I often make when preparing ravioli.

The only downside – something that’s inevitable when discussing this type of dish – was the frozen raviolis. Perhaps it was because the sauce distribution wasn’t totally even, but the raviolis were just a bit tough. The edges of the pasta were way too dry and chewy. Minor quibble, though, because the dish itself was such a stunner at only 300 calories and 6 Weight Watchers Points. The serving size was ample, with about 8 medium-sized raviolis.

I’d be interested in trying some more of these new all-natural Healthy Choice meals. Only when they’re on sale, though!