Review - Hormel Refridgerated Entrees - Meat Loaf

With a 10-month-old and a busy schedule, I often feel rushed to get everything done in the evenings, especially cooking dinner. When I first saw the Hormel (r) Refrigerated Entrees at Kroger, my interest was peaked by the "Cooks in just 4 minutes!" on the front of the box. I kept talking my self out of buying any of the entrees because I was certain that it would taste bad or be tiny portions.

When I went grocery shopping on Saturday, some of the entrees were on sale, so I decided that it wouldn't hurt to try one or two types. One of the types I decided on was the Meat Loaf. When I got home, I put it on the shelf in the fridge and thought no more of it - at least not until yesterday afternoon when I was trying to come up with something quick for dinner.

After arriving home yesterday evening, I started preparing dinner immediately. I had decided to pair the Meat Loaf with cheesy mashed potatoes and green beans. I got the pan of water going for the mashed potatoes and opened a can of green beans, then popped the Meat Loaf in the microwave, following to the package directions. The water was ready for the milk and potatoes just as the microwave beeped. I set the timer for 2 minutes while I finished getting the potatoes ready because the entree was supposed to sit for 2 minutes before peeling back the film.

Everything was timed perfectly. The mashed potatoes and green beans were ready by the time the timer went off. I split everything between 2 plates, one for me and my daughter and one for my husband. Dinner was on the table a mere 15 minutes after I started preparing it!

Now came the true test - the taste. While it definitely wasn't as good as home-made, it was edible, even tasty. My 10-month-old wasn't a big fan, but her tastes change daily. My husband didn't complain, though, which is a very good sign.

The ultimate conclusion - for a quick dinner, the Hormel (r) Refrigerated Entrees Meat Loaf will work fine if I can find it on sale again (sale price - $4.99; regular price - $6.99). If I have the time, though, I would really rather have home-made.

***Disclaimer: This review is solely based on experience. No requests were made for this review and no exchanges will be made with regard to this review.