From Freezer to Plate: Trader Joe's Hake En Papillote

I am always on the lookout for good freezer meals. A lot of people will say that you shouldn't eat them because they aren't good for you, or that they are loaded with sodium, or that they are in the plastic that shouldn't go in the microwave (look, I used to work with a lot of older ladies who had a lot of paranoia). Although some of these concerns may be valid, I also know that there are some out there that are awesomely delicious. 

I am a busy mom that works a full time job and quite often I eat lunch at my desk. I also have a picky husband (I think I have stressed this before) and sometimes the meal he may want for dinner  may not be something I should or want to eat. Both of these places are where frozen meals fit into my life. Some people live off of Weight Watchers meals and there are some that are tasty, but there are a world of options out there for all of us far beyond a Red Box.

Here is the delicious frozen Hake En Papillote I found at Trader Joe's:

This was a delicious piece of white fish that was dressed in a nice pesto sauce with zucchini and cherry tomatoes. Oh my, was this tasty!! I will start by telling you a little food secret about me. I LOVE zucchini!! Any squash really. I can eat bowls and bowls. Yellow or green, spaghetti or summer, I love them all!! So having that in this dish with the pesto was fantastic. The fish was moist and melted in my mouth. 

This is what the package looks like when you open it. The outside of the box from TJ's tells me that "en papillote" directly translates to in paper. Trader Joe's took the process of cooking fish in parchment paper to a whole new level. They have made an origami box that has a top and bottom. You toss this in the microwave on a microwave safe plate and when it is done all you do is take the top off  and enjoy.

My final thoughts on this dish:

It was fantastic with only one complaint. I don't like cooked cherry tomatoes. The skin gets gross and the tomatoes taste weird so I picked them out. The rest was outstanding.

The whole serving is 6PP. It is a great alternative to all the other low point frozen dishes!!

The one serving was $3.99 and although that may not be the cheapest for an individual frozen meal, it is completely worth it. I will buy it again without even thinking twice.  The other day, after having the microwave make my house smell scrumptious with this meal, I told the hubby that the meal seemed pricey at $3.99. Then I caught myself and said to him "what am I talking about? I never thought twice about ordering a value meal at McDonalds for over $6 at lunch time!" Eating healthy is not cheap but its not that much worse than the horrible choices I was making before. What I may put out in money to make this change I will gain back in time I get to spend with my child because I am getting healthy. As far as I am concerned, that time is priceless and that is what this journey is truly about. So $3.99 for lunch is the best $4 I could have ever spent!

Hawaiian Pizza, 6 Points Plus

Recently, I have become obsessed with Flatout flatbreads. I love that they can be used for so many things and that they also come in different flavors. I decided that I would try one of the recipes for pizza that I found on their website for dinner. You can find the original recipe here but please note that I changed it a little bit on the amounts that were used. This recipe serves one so feel free to multiply it as many times as you like. The original says it serves 2 put I would say only if you using it as an appetizer.

Flatout Light Original

You will need the following ingredients to make this Hawaiian Pizza:

1 Flatout Light Original Flatbread

2 Tbsp Pizza Sauce

1/4 cup Kraft Mexican Shredded Cheese

1/4 cup Pineapple Chunks (in their own juice)

4 slices of Oscar Mayer Deli Sliced Smoked Ham

Cooking Spray (I used my Misto)

The original recipe calls for you to grill this pizza which would be great if you were BBQing but thankfully they were smart enough to add alternative directions to use your oven. That is the technique that I used.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees

Lightly spray both sides of your flatbread with your cooking spray. Place in the oven directly on the racks and bake for 7 mins.

While its in the oven take a minute to cut your four slices of ham and your pineapple chunks. I chose to cut the chunks in half to make them a bit more bite size.

This is how I chose to wedge my ham and since it is thinner I also chose to layer it. If you would like to use a thicker ham, you can but I chose this ham for its great flavor and low point value. (plus I use it to make sandwiches so I have it on hand and can usually pick it up with a coupon and on sale...BONUS)

By now your flatbread should be done, so take it out of the oven.

This gives it a nice crisp. Now add your pizza sauce...

Then your cheese (you can choose to add the cheese after the ham and pineapple if you like)...

Then add your pineapple and ham and throw it back in the oven (straight on the rack) for another 7 minutes. Once its done its ready to enjoy.

WEIGHT WATCHERS POINTS PLUS: 6 POINTS PLUS

My husband is a very VERY picky eater. Some recipes I have made he may not even finish. Some he loves and asks me to make again. SO that being said, I have decided to poll my picky eater and resident non-dieter to ask him for his input as I tell you all about these recipes I try. I gave him a scale... 

Hated It

Its OK

Loved It

OMG!!

This one received a LOVED IT!! 

That absolutely means we will have it again because I thought it was fantastic. Experiment if you like with different toppings and other flavors of flatbread (like the Italian). I know I will!!