The 99 Cent Chef: deal of the day

Showing posts with label deal of the day. Show all posts

Monday, June 17, 2019

Sriracha Chicken - Deal of the Day Review

My latest Deal of the Day is a 5 alarm fire hot bowl of deliciousness. If you can take the heat, then stay in my kitchen and check out my review of Sriracha Chicken Bowl by evol.

Sriracha is a red, spicy sauce first found in Thai and Vietnamese restaurants. You use it like any American regional hot sauce. The flavor is similar to red chili based hot sauces. It was popularized here by the California purveyor, Huy Fong Foods. Locals call it Rooster Sauce because of the cock on the bottle label.

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I guess it ended up at my local 99c only Store is because of the firey heat. Not everyone can handle it. But if you live on the spicy side of life, you will like this chicken, rice and veggie bowl.

The chicken pieces are on the small side, but I think real chicken was used, not processed loaf type. The white meat chicken was moist and flavorful.

I especially liked the baby corn and sugar snap peas. The veggie pieces are whole and still had a little fresh snap. There is also broccoli, carrot and onion, too. I enjoyed the veggie medley evol. has come up with.

This is a tasty stir fry made with brown rice. Often rice in frozen fare is mushy and can go from watery to dry - not the case here. The rice kernels had a slight chew, with a nice nutty flavor, you expect from brown rice. I would have liked more brown rice, evol., don't be so skimpy next time. This is a light and small meal at 9 ounces.

As expected evol. uses fresh ingredients without chemical enhancements. I've bought their meals before and have always enjoyed them.

If there is a problem with the Sriracha Chicken Bowl, it's the namesake, Sriracha. Hey, I pour on the hot sauce for Cajun meals and breakfast tacos are loaded with salsa, so I'm no hot sauce wimp. But even my calloused taste buds were put to the test.

It was hard to taste the full veggie and chicken flavors when smothered in fiery Sriracha sauce. Whew, I had to take a breather halfway through the meal. But it was good going down. Although it is a hot dining experience, the heat quickly faded, so all is good, ultimately.

frozen zapped

At 9 ounces, it's nice light lunch or dinner, but not enough for hearty eaters. I like the all natural ingredients list.

While I liked my latest Deal of the Day, not everyone will be able to take the heat, especially youngsters, so be judicious with who you serve the Sriracha Chicken Bowl too.

So, on my Cheap$kate Dining Scale of 1 to 9, 9 being best, I give Sriracha Chicken Bowl by evol. a...strong 7!

When I need a blast of hot flavor, I would get this Deal of the Day again.

Monday, April 1, 2019

Lobster Bisque - Deal of the Day

Creamy, rich and seafood pungent, my latest Deal of the Day is a great cold weather soup. Lobster Bisque by Hanover Foods hits the spot and is the right price for this cheap$kate.

My local Dollar Tree stocks it from time to time -- when it's there I like to get a can.

It's only 10.5 ounces of thick soup that directions say to add a can of milk. That's what I did, but next time I would add no more than 3/4 or half a can of milk.

I found it watered down the Lobster Bisque. I wanted a Clam Chowder consistency. But it was still a tasty bowl of goodness.

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The bisque was sweet and not too salty as with most canned soups. The ingredient list starts with water whole milk and cream -- you can really get that rich mouth feel from the milk and cream.

Celery and spices are also listed, but these ingredients are minor. What stands out is the creamy seafood lobster flavor.

While not a wimpy Lobster Bisque, don't expect chunks of lobster for $1. There are a few crumbs of ground lobster in the soup just to let you know they use the real thing.

If you want a meaty soup on the cheap then I would add a few chunks of krab or fake crab. If you have some frozen bay shrimp add that. Hey, go all out and get a small lobster tail !!

This can of Lobster Bisque will not fill you up, so serve it with some crusty bread, a salad or a sandwich. I made a Sliced Turkey Breast Sandwich with melted cheese -- boy was that a great combo.

So how does this Deal of the Day rate on my Cheap$kake Dining Scale of 1 to 9, 9 being best? I give Lobster Bisque by Hanover a strong 7!

While not an East Coast Classic Lobster Bisque, for a buck this will do on a cold winter's day.

Wednesday, March 6, 2019

Fresh Frozen Black-Eyed Peas - Deal of the Day Review

My latest Deal of the Day healthy to the Nth degree. Fresh frozen Black-Eyed Peas by Stahl Bush Farms and purchased from my local 99c only Store.

They are about as fresh as you can get and they are ready to eat when they are heated through or reach room temperature. Just click here to read all about them. They also grow and package fresh frozen berries, veggies and more legumes.

And the Black-Eyed Peas are firm but still tender, not mushy like canned peas. You are tasting the clean flavor of Black-Eyed Peas. There was no seasoning that I could detect.

You can also feel good about this product as Stahl Bush Farms, located in Oregan, is certified sustainable. Even the package is biodegradable. It's a win-win side dish.

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What I like about these fresh frozen veggies or beans is the natural flavor is not drowned in salty water like canned. I eat canned tomatoes and tomato sauce the most, follow by canned corn and pinto beans, but not as much as I used to because of the high salt content.

These peas are a bit dry when microwaved, so add a tablespoon of water per serving.

Since they are cooked through, the peas heat up quickly on the stovetop or microwave. Mix Black-Eyed Peas into a favorite stir fry, or plain steamed white or brown rice, for your New Year Hopin' John celebration. I like them best mixed with sauteed mushrooms.

Sprinkle a few tablespoons over your favorite salad or add some to a pasta salad, too.

While tasty I find these Black-Eyed Peas a bit bland, but there is always Cajun Seasonings or hot sauce to make them more interesting. Oh, heck with it, go ahead and add some crisped bacon or pieces of ham. At least you control the seasonings amounts to suit your taste.

So, on my Cheapskate Dining Scale of 1 to 9, 9 being best, I give Black-Eyed Peas by Stahl Bush Farms, straight out of the bag (with a little water and heating through,) a strong 7! But if you flavor them with spices, or add to a salad, then they are a perfect 9!

Friday, December 14, 2018

2018 Christmas GIFs

HO HO HO & Merry Christmas! This Cheap$kate Santa comes bearing not gifts, but GIFs, so you don't have to wait until the early morning of December 25th to open your pictorial presents!

'Tis the time of year where I set the table with a cornucopia of eye-popping delights for you to over-indulge in.

Have you been bad or good this year? Well, I'm not judgmental whether you've been a do-gooder or the naughty type, so read on.

While not a brightly wrapped package sitting under the Christmas tree waiting to be opened, you can watch my GIFs anytime. If you don't know what I'm talking about, just check out the animations below for an eyeful.

My cute taste testing niece Candyse.

The letters, GIF, stands for Graphics Interchange Format and is a short video, graphic, or photo clip. There is usually no audio, and a clip lasts for a few seconds. I make a GIF that plays in a loop, that is, it keeps repeating. You can read all about a GIF by clicking here.

I use GIFS to show how a recipe looks in compressed and speeded-up time as it bakes, fries or boils; the slicing or assembling of veggies, fruit, and meat; and sometimes I make them just for fun. As an example below, I peel a raw shrimp for Mom's Shrimp and Rice recipe.

So keep on scrolling and feast your eyes on my 2018 roundups of GIFs past. And click on any recipe name or food product to see the scrumptious recipe/review blog post.

Happy Holidays!