I've been a bit incapacitated recently, and as such have not been able to prepare meals in my usual way. I haven't been able to go out shopping either, so Lady M has kindly, and happily, taken over responsibilities.
Ready meals can occasionally be very good. For example I often buy a Sainsbury's 'Butter Chicken Curry', that after some 'tweaking' become totally delicious. I've even seen an Indian man buying several packs. We also occasionally have an M & S Lasagna, or a Fish Pie. Both very good.
Recently Lady M couldn't resist an M & S Lamb Moussaka. I don't think I'd had a ready made Moussaka before, so I was very interested to see how it compared to home made.
Firstly I have to say that it was nothing like any Moussaka I'd eaten before. The Aubergine was very present and delicious, but the Lamb could almost have been anything. However, overall it was very tasty, but probably should have been sold under a different name.
Would we buy it again? Well, yes we would. It's a great stand-by to have in your freezer, and would never disappoint.
Verdict: 8/10 as a nice meal, but possibly not if you were expecting a genuine 'Moussaka'.
25 comments:
Sorry to hear you have been incapacitated and not cooking. When I saw you had been baking (usually Lady M's domain) I assumed you were in fine fettle.
I'm not too bad now, but I've recently also had a bad left foot which prevented me from doing much. Now't but trouble!
That doesn't sound good. Did you ever get to see your G.P.
I hope you improve soon.
I've eaten many sorts of moussaka, even one with a mashed potato topping. That was was the worst!
The best Of Course is eaten hot from the oven of a small taverna with a half litre of local chilled wine. Nowadays that isn't so easy to find. Seek out a small island off the tourist track!
However, for a reminder of the real experience in days gone by your frozen variety sounds just fine! Probably much better than moussaka from a touristy greek taverna which might have been heated up in the microwave
No, just phone calls. Vey difficult to actually see one these days.
I'm OK, in fact I've just been out for a short walk with Billy. I just have to be cautious.
It was actually very nice, but, as I said, NOT as Moussaka. Lady M makes a very good one, the difficulty is finding minced Lamb.
Prepared meals do come in handy when cooking for oneself isn't possible. I've had to rely on such food which I'm glad is available but never as good as what I would fix for myself if I could.
I've had an M&S Lasagna that was as good as any I've had anywhere. Occasionally they get them 'just right'.
With the moussaka, it sounds as though you weren't quite ready for that particular ready meal as you had not tried it before. I am sorry to hear that you are struggling to get out to the shops.
I'm not too bad now, thanks. I just have to take things carefully.
Your blog doesn't seem to reveal much about your day to day life as you are often coming up with surprises these days. Bad ankle, bad foot, blood pressure, not feeling well, doctors not seeing you, not shopping, not cooking, and then the next day it's as if it never happened. I hope you manage to trudge along until Christmas. If not get the Harrods parcel opened quickly.
It shoulda been mutton!! They probably used lamb that had no flavour, yet!!
And my Grandpa used to send us a Harrod's or Fortnum&Mason's hamper every year whilst he was able.... and it was a real wicker hamper in the '50s.... Mum lined one and converted it to a picnic hamper!!
When my parents ran their antiques business, all the hampers [11 of them] went out the shop door.... quite rapidly!! My brother was given the picnic hamper one when their first child arrived!
My ankle healed, then suddenly hurt again. It couldn't have healed properly. I'm OK, I just like to moan!
We still use an old Harrods hamper as a picnic hamper. Especially for Ascot, Henley, and various Polo venues.
We always use minced beef. Minced lamb is very difficult to find. Tavernas use beef as well.
I'm sure if I made one, I would use Beef.
Absolutely nothing wrong with a ready meal now and again especially when we are not 100% !!! They are so good now .... the only minus is that they probably have more sugar, salt and preservatives in them than when we make them but that's not going to hurt now and again. They do tend to be a bit mean when it comes to the meat content !!! Hope you are on the mend Cro. XXXX
Thank you, yes; I'm much better. I did something to my left foot that left me immobile for a few days, but I'm walking again.
I hope you are feeling better soon, good docs and good physical therapy can keep us moving.
The one caution about ready meals is that the salt and preservatives are heavily present. Because of this, tasty or not, I try to avoid them.
An occasional ready meal is probably okay. Take caution, especially if BP is playing up.
I'm OK for the moment, but I've had my scares. It's just old age!
These are not something we have too often, but there are always one or two in the freezer; just in case!
Waitrose usually have minced lamb.
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