Marks & Spencer Italia Macaroni Cheese

Marks and Spencer have had problems with their clothes division lately but they never fail in the food hall section. This food review is testament that this is another quality product to tempt your taste buds. This particular product is in the Italia range.



*******The Packaging************


The pack size is 360g and comes in an attractive white microwaveable plastic dish although it can be cooked ...
...a film lid and over this is a cardboard outer. What never ceases to amaze and entertain me (sad I know!) is the serving suggestions. This product it would appear is best served on a plate and eaten with a fork but just for artistic merit please feel free to add a sprig of parsley. Also on the front of the packaging are a few icons that most people will recognise including:

· Can be cooked in an oven or microwave
· Suitable for ... more

Marks and Spencer have had problems with their clothes division lately but they never fail in the food hall section. This food review is testament that this is another quality product to tempt your taste buds. This particular product is in the Italia range.

*******The Packaging************

The pack size is 360g and comes in an attractive white microwaveable plastic dish although it can be cooked in the oven (further details to follow). This has a film lid and over this is a cardboard outer. What never ceases to amaze and entertain me (sad I know!) is the serving suggestions. This product it would appear is best served on a plate and eaten with a fork but just for artistic merit please feel free to add a sprig of parsley. Also on the front of the packaging are a few icons that most people will recognise including:

· Can be cooked in an oven or microwave
· Suitable for vegetarians
· Suitable for home freezing

The product is also ‘Ready to Cook and should be kept refrigerated between 0-5 degrees C.

**********Cooking Instructions**************

The macaroni cheese can be cooked in a conventional oven or microwaved.

In a conventional oven it will take 25 minutes on 190deg C, 375 deg F or Gas 5. If the product is frozen then it will take another 10 minutes.

In a microwave oven you can have a steaming hot plate of macaroni cheese in 4 minutes flat.

************Ingredients******************

Cooked egg pasta (39%) (Semolina, water, egg), milk, vegetarian cheddar cheese (18%), Crème Fraiche, butter, Wheat flour, Salt and Pepper.

***********The bit that spoils it all – the calories/fat content*****************

OK, now you are all drooling at the thought of trying this I’ll go and shatter your illusions. This is the nutritional breakdown and is not for the faint hearted or easily shocked:

(Per Pack):

Energy – 2285 kj or 540 kcals
Fat – 30.2g of which 20.9 g are saturates
Fibre – 2.5g
Sodium – 1.01g
Equivalent as salt – 2.5g.

So, if you are watching your waistline this is maybe not the best choice for a quick snack or accompaniment. Bear in mind that the daily average for women is 70g of fat a day then this nearly blows half of your allowance and men are allowed 95g so that is nearly 1/3rd. As much as I love this product I limit how often I have it, as it is very high in fat.

*****************The Price***********************

A pack of this macaroni cheese will set you back £1.89 but for as long as I can remember (certainly since Christmas) the Italia range has been on a permanent 3 for 2 promotion making it excellent value and certainly comparable to buying a sandwich from M&S and infinitely more filling and warming in the Winter.

I would certainly recommend anyone to try this as it really is how macaroni cheese should be – the taste is creamy, cheesy enough but not too strong and the pasta handles being blasted in the microwave very well. Often pre-prepared food like this is a disappointment in the taste department but I think this is just right.

© L Compton 2002
 

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