A Review of Stouffer's Family Sized Chicken Parmigiano

As my grandmother gets older, her desire to cook big meals is dwindling. She still makes her staple meals, the ones generations of my family have grown up with, but she just doesn't care to bother with ones that require a lot of work with recipes she isn't used to. This can be said for a lot of families in the United States now, because time is such a precious item these days. Many of us do resort to using frozen entrees (that makes it sound fancy and appetizing doesn't it?) and some of those are very good. Unfortunately, Stouffer's Family Sized Chicken Parmigiano isn't.

Now I know better than to expect an authentic Italian meal out of a box. But Stouffer's Family Sized Chicken Parmigiano would make Chef Boyardee win all the blue ribbons in Rome. It's not that the meal is bad, because it isn't bad, it's terrible. Stouffer's should really consider pulling the item, because it lacks in all the areas I will discuss in a minute. One thing is for sure though, it was probably the worst dinner I have ever had.

Size:
Family Sized? That's what the box says on the front. Unfortunately, Stouffer's must mean a pygmy family, because what is offered inside wouldn't satiate the normal American family. Now don't get me wrong, I understand that it might be a portion type deal and I am all for proper portions and eating healthier, but this was really a joke. This is what was supposed to feed a family of four: four frozen chicken patties and some spaghetti under them. That was it. Nothing more and, thank Heavens for this, nothing less.

Taste:
Remember that old commercial where the old lady asked, "where's the beef!?" Well, Stouffer's Family Sized Chicken Parmigiano left me asking, "where's the taste!?" Now once again, I'm not diluted enough to expect real Italian cooking here, but they've sacrificed all taste in the final product. Even Chef Boyardee attempts to put some Italian flavor in its food, but there was absolutely none in this meal. There was no garlic, basil, oregano, nothing. I can't eat bland food and no human was ever meant to I think. I had to crack out the garlic powder and my crushed red pepper just so I could have a little flavor with my meal.

Texture:
Remember the old saying, "if it sticks to the wall, it's ready to eat." Well, Stouffer's doesn't appear to live by that saying. Spaghetti is supposed to be al dente, repeat that yourself. Instead, what Stouffer's Family Sized Chicken Parmigiano offers is some mooshy noodles with ketchup on top of them. If I were to take these noodles and throw them against the wall, they'd probably seep right into it. The sauce is basically just ketchup. The chicken here really is a joke. It is nothing but frozen chicken patties, all white meat, on top of the noodles, but they remain spongy and cold no matter how long you cook them, well, they stay that way until they reach their next step, which is black brick of all white meat.

Overall:
There are only five words I can use to describe this dinner, "do not buy this dinner." Really, save your money and just order a pizza.