Product Endorsement: Macaroni Grill Meals

Our family loves to eat at Macaroni Grill. It's relaxing, delicious, expensive, fun...you get the idea. I was pleasantly surprised when they branched out and began offering some of their staple entrees in the dry pasta section of the grocery store. I will admit that I thought the boxed meals were still expensive so I purchased them on occasion or waited until they were on sale.

Last week I had chicken breasts in the freezer and these two boxed meals in my pantry so I thought we'd cook them both up for dinner and offer the first, of hopefully many, product endorsements.

I made the Chicken Alfredo. The instructions were easy to follow and the ingredients that I had to add were readily available in my kitchen (chicken, butter, milk.) In both meals the boxed pasta cooks for a few minutes and then you turn off the heat and let it continue to cook for another 5 minutes. I think this works well to yield the perfect bite to the pasta for each dish.

Mark made the Chicken Piccata. The sauce was just right - not too thick or thin. The chicken was quite tender. We had all the ingredients listed on the box, but the Piccata at the restaurant also includes a few capers. We had some expired ones in the fridge so out they went. Next time I will make sure I've got fresh capers on hand to add that finishing touch. The meal doesn't lack in flavor for want of the capers, I just really enjoy them.

My rating for both boxed meals is a: 3

Rating Scale:

1=distasteful/won't buy again

2=good/might buy again

3=loved it/will definitely buy again