Lately, my vote has to go to Home Run Inn pizzas. Man, they are so good. The crust, the cheese, the sauce, the ingredients... they're all perfect and so tasty.
Though I may tire of them soon, they've been a great asset to the "easy cooking" nights we have around here sometimes.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
The one not eaten. Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
I really like the various California Pizza Kitchen frozen pizzas. Especially the Thai chicken one.
Also Bagel Bites.
-pH
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
I find most Digiorno pizzas good. California Pizza Kitchen pizzas are also very good, but too expensive for me to feel like it's worthwhile. The secret to a really good frozen pizza is to put extra toppings (at least herbs & red pepper flakes) on before inserting into the oven.
A friend once brought over organic pizzas from Whole Foods. Not sure of the brand, but they were very good.
Does anyone else have the problem of the pizza melting slightly before you get it into the freezer, resulting in all the (now unfrozen) toppings sliding to one side of the pizza?
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
The Safeway Select pizzas. (Or Vons, or Tom Thumb.) The quattro formaggio is the best. Safeway has great generic stuff under the "Select" heading.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
I couldn't agree more about the Home Run Inn pizzas. I was just thinking two days ago that it's been a while since I've had those -- the freaking crust is so dense that a few slices can fill you up.
Mama Rosa's are dirt cheap and very good (available in the freezer section at WalMart).
I have always like Totinos and Tony's, too. Not crazy about Red Baron, though.
Posted by solo (Member # 3148) on :
Dr. Oetker Ristorante (link). Specifically the Mozzarella and Pomodori. I liked the Quatrro Formaggi but my wife didn't like the blue cheese on it. I don't think I've tried the other kinds.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
I've never seen Home Run Inn pizzas. They sound delicious, and now I am sad.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote:Originally posted by El JT de Spang: I have always like Totinos and Tony's, too. Not crazy about Red Baron, though.
[Culinary confession] My secret fantasies often include a small cheese-only Tostino's. [/culinary confession]
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
Totinos.
Of course, I consider frozen pizza to be a totally different food from pizza.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I like the party crust. I have never understood the appeal of Red Baron. I like the idea of self rising crusts, but they almost always disappoint.
I'm very much a crust afficianado.
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
quote:Originally posted by ClaudiaTherese:
quote:Originally posted by El JT de Spang: I have always like Totinos and Tony's, too. Not crazy about Red Baron, though.
[Culinary confession] My secret fantasies often include a small cheese-only Tostino's. [/culinary confession]
Always?
How.....messy.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
I think an enterprising grocery store could make some good money by offering a frozen pizza cooking service. There are many days where I'd love to have a frozen pizza at work, but there's no way to cook it (unless you count those microwave ones, which can be pretty good). So being able to call up the store, give my credit card, and pick up a pizza 15 minutes later would be pretty cool.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head: Totinos.
Of course, I consider frozen pizza to be a totally different food from pizza.
Have I been calling my sweet pea the wrong name all this time?
Edited to add: Totino's! (with the apostrophe) *shakes fist at the years of injustice
Gah! on me. Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I'm guessing you don't know the Totino's pizza song.
Are you hungry? Get a Totinos...
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
Wait, I just noticed that some people recommending Home Run are also recommending Totino's, which leads me to believe Home Run is actually craptastic.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
They are totally different, but both awesome.
Home Run has crust the density of dark matter, extremely thick and stretchy cheese, and is flaky and delicious.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
Totino's isn't craptastic! It's just not quite what I'd describe as "dinner pizza." It is to pizza what Lunchables are to sandwiches.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I'm not sure about the whole dense crust thing. Is it like a chicago pie dense or burned leather dense?
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
See, but Totino's is craptastic AND delicious. I don't know how they do it. I love the pizza rolls, too.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I have a lust for the thin bumpy-textured crust, the sweetly pert red sauce, the yielding strands of melted cheese.
I'll be in my bunk.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:See, but Totino's is craptastic AND delicious.
Well spoken, sir.
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
Why even try with the frozen ones, when a Boboli bread pizza takes aproximatly the same time and tastes fresh?
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
I like making one of the really cheap cheese pizzas (probably totino's) on my pizza stone. Yummy.
But otherwise, we like to buy plain Tombstone pizzas and put the toppings on ourselves. Frozen pizza toppings leave a lot to be desired.
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
quote:Why even try with the frozen ones, when a Boboli bread pizza takes aproximatly the same time and tastes fresh?
Well, for one thing, Totino's costs ninety-nine cents. Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote:Originally posted by Artemisia Tridentata: Why even try with the frozen ones, when a Boboli bread pizza takes aproximatly the same time and tastes fresh?
Desire admits not of the disciplined mind, but the rampantly irrational heart.
(To tie together several ongoing threads, I think it goes back to my babysitting days, when I ate after the childern were in bed. The (in my house) illicit Showtime, the forbidden Coca-Cola, and my sweet bad boy, the Totino's. It's Pavlovian.)
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Yeah! Why is it that the babysittees always have better TV than you! And better food.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
Totinos are okay, but I've found that, ounce for ounce, they're generally more expensive than other frozen pizzas I enjoy more (Jack's, Tombstone, etc.).
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
But when you want toppings and you have kids that only like pepperoni, it's better than buying more pizza than you need. For four dollars we can all have what we like best.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
quote:Originally posted by Primal Curve: ...other frozen pizzas I enjoy (Jack's, Tombstone, etc.).
You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar.
Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
I really like Chef Boyardee pizza, too. I know it's not frozen, but they taste awesome. Of course, we add mozzarella.
I also like to make my own pizza dough. I recently found out that I could make a homemade crust out of self-rising flour, water, and oil on my pizza stone. Very simple and very yummy with sauce I've seasoned myself from a hunt's tomato sauce can, parmesan shaker cheese, and mozzarella. Yup.. Very superior to frozen pizza and not much more work.
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
quote:Originally posted by pooka: I'm not sure about the whole dense crust thing. Is it like a chicago pie dense or burned leather dense?
I really don't know how to describe it. It's not tough; it's just dense.
Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
My favorite frozen Pizza was made by (if I remember correctly) G&W. I haven't been able to find them again since I was a teenager, so I assume they either went out of business or just stopped being sold in areas where I live. They were kind of like Totinos, but they didn't have the bubbly bottom crust (something I always disliked about Totinos. It's so messy eating those. Crust gets everywhere).
Posted by MidnightBlue (Member # 6146) on :
quote:Originally posted by Artemisia Tridentata: Why even try with the frozen ones, when a Boboli bread pizza takes aproximatly the same time and tastes fresh?
Has Boboli improved significantly since I was little? I remember them being thick and dry and fairly tasteless.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
quote:Originally posted by El JT de Spang:
quote:Originally posted by pooka: I'm not sure about the whole dense crust thing. Is it like a chicago pie dense or burned leather dense?
I really don't know how to describe it. It's not tough; it's just dense.
I think there's more fat in the crust than you find in most pizza dough, which tends to be more bread-like. It's more like a thick pie crust.
Honestly, it's just like getting a pizza from a good pizza joint, but cheaper. The toppings are generous and recognizable and just damn good.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:To tie together several ongoing threads, I think it goes back to my babysitting days, when I ate after the childern were in bed.
Same here! Except for me, it was the food that I'd make for my brothers when I was babysitting.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
I dunno about you guys, but everytime I eat a Totino's pizza, a babysitter dies. It's like a freaking R.L. Stine book.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
quote:Originally posted by Katarain: I really like Chef Boyardee pizza, too. I know it's not frozen, but they taste awesome. Of course, we add mozzarella.
I also like to make my own pizza dough. I recently found out that I could make a homemade crust out of self-rising flour, water, and oil on my pizza stone. Very simple and very yummy with sauce I've seasoned myself from a hunt's tomato sauce can, parmesan shaker cheese, and mozzarella. Yup.. Very superior to frozen pizza and not much more work.
Ha! That's what the pizza stone gods would like you to think.
You know what I wish they would sell, though? A frozen bag of pizza toppings to boost my topless frozen pizza. I gotta go put that on Jon Boy's million dollar idea thread.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Digiourno Ultimate is pretty nice.
I abhor all things CPK, so I have not tried their frozen pizzas.
Posted by mackillian (Member # 586) on :
quote:I have a lust for the thin bumpy-textured crust, the sweetly pert red sauce, the yielding strands of melted cheese.
I'll be in my bunk.
That garnered an out-loud snort.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
quote:Originally posted by mr_porteiro_head:
quote:To tie together several ongoing threads, I think it goes back to my babysitting days, when I ate after the childern were in bed.
Same here! Except for me, it was the food that I'd make for my brothers when I was babysitting.
One meal I was expected to occasionally feed the cadre of 4 boys I often took care of was a large dinner plate [each] with a thick spread of peanut butter and dollops of artificial maple syrup stirred in. That was it.
*spreads hands
I could have made them more and there was plenty of other veggie-and-fruit stuff to fix, but that was supposed to be it.
I needed my Totino's. And some apples.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: Digiourno Ultimate is pretty nice.
I abhor all things CPK, so I have not tried their frozen pizzas.
I can't stand the Digiourno sauce. I can't say why, as I haven't had one in awhile, but I think I remember it overpowering the pizza.
What do you dislike about CPK?
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
"I abhor all things CPK, so I have not tried their frozen pizzas."
Cabbage Patch Kid?
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
California Pizza Kitchen?
(*just went through the LA airport)
Posted by Jon Boy (Member # 4284) on :
This thread has made my day.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Yes, California Pizza Kitchen. What do I dislike about them? Their crust, their wretched pizza toppings (I am of the opinion that some things just do NOT belong on pizza, at least American-style pizza), their restaurants with the big open design (I like small enclosed spaces), their sauces, their logo... Shall I keep going?
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I think it's possible I've never had California Pizza Kitchen. If I'm going to pay that much for a pizza, I'm not going to probably get a frozen one.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
But Cabbage Patch Kid frozen pizzas amuse me. It seems so macabre, considering the toppings would be plastic.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
quote:Originally posted by erosomniac: Wait, I just noticed that some people recommending Home Run are also recommending Totino's, which leads me to believe Home Run is actually craptastic.
Not a fair comparison. It's like comparing a good table wine and fermented store-brand grape juice concentrate.
[edited for more funny]
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
quote:Originally posted by pooka: You know what I wish they would sell, though? A frozen bag of pizza toppings to boost my topless frozen pizza. I gotta go put that on Jon Boy's million dollar idea thread.
Why wouldn't you just use fresh toppings?
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Because fresh toppings need their own thread. Hello!
Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
I am ambivalent to California Pizza Kitchen, but I hate their logo, as well.
I don't really like frozen pizza as a rule, BUT I really love Trader Joe's frozen petso pizza.
I used to take bobolis and top it with fresh tomato and provolone before sticking it in the oven - that was fabulous, as well.
Curses on the Red Baron pizzas that were in my freezer growing up. I hates them.
My mom and I make the best pizza from scratch.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
You have to understand, my husband won't eat frozen pizza because "Mommy's is so much better". So frozen pizza, for me, is a blessed escape.
I love making pizza, and I love cooking, but sometimes I wish I could just pop something in the oven and have done with.
I'm one of those terrible people who kind of likes it when their spouse goes out of town. I miss him, but there's so many foods he hates that we can have. Hamburgers, hot dogs, mac and cheese, fried chicken...
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Ah! Pooka, that's so true! My husband hates anything out of a can, box, anything frozen, or anything fast food. And I'm not even a good cook! But he never goes out of town, so... *dons apron*
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
If I was dating someone who liked home cooking that much I'd advise them to learn how to cook.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
He CAN cook. Better than me. And he likes it. But he's willing to eat what I make with no complaint, and he has a full time job. (And I mean, literally, NO complaint. He was halfway through a slice of still-raw pizza before I noticed, once. I think it's his way of encouraging my cooking attempts.) But he's honest with me when I ask him what he likes, and I try to be sweet and avoid what he doesn't like. Which, unfortunately, is almost everything. He still eats what's in front of him, though.
edit to add: I think if he openly complained about what I make, I'd be more likely to tell him to make it himself. Perhaps he knows this. Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Smart man. Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
As far as I can tell, all frozen pizza in New Zealand sucks. Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
Why, exactly, do people hate the CPK logo so much?
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I don't know. It just really bugs me.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
(Maybe part of it is the colors, part the patterns/design, and part the fact that "California" is in all lower case letters, when it should be capitalized, yet "Pizza Kitchen" is in all capitals? Either capitalize it all, capitalize none of it, or capitalize appropriately-- or at least the other way around.)
Posted by EmpSquared (Member # 10890) on :
quote:Originally posted by porcelain girl:
I don't really like frozen pizza as a rule, BUT I really love Trader Joe's frozen petso pizza.
The whole time I was reading this thread I was thinking "nobody's going to mention the pesto pizza from TJ's!"
*grumble grumble*
Does anybody here like the actual CPK restaurant? Carne Asada pizza, Adobe Chicken Corn Chowder, Chicken Tequila Fettucine (albeit greasy), all good stuff. Mmmmm... I haven't been in a while.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Ick, ick, ick, ick. And as I mentioned I hate their restaurant design, too.
Posted by erosomniac (Member # 6834) on :
quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: (Maybe part of it is the colors, part the patterns/design, and part the fact that "California" is in all lower case letters, when it should be capitalized, yet "Pizza Kitchen" is in all capitals? Either capitalize it all, capitalize none of it, or capitalize appropriately-- or at least the other way around.)
Yeesh - you're a modern graphic designer's nightmare!
Posted by kojabu (Member # 8042) on :
I've recently ventured into frozen pizza land and have tried two kinds so far. Digiorno's wasn't that great and tasted like a frozen pizza. It kind of reminded me of a large scale bagel bite. Last night I had Trader Joe's 3 cheese which I was quite impressed with. On top of being cheaper than Digiorno's, the sauce was great and made for a good meal.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
quote:Originally posted by PSI Teleport: He CAN cook. Better than me. And he likes it. But he's willing to eat what I make with no complaint, and he has a full time job. (And I mean, literally, NO complaint. He was halfway through a slice of still-raw pizza before I noticed, once. I think it's his way of encouraging my cooking attempts.) But he's honest with me when I ask him what he likes, and I try to be sweet and avoid what he doesn't like. Which, unfortunately, is almost everything. He still eats what's in front of him, though.
edit to add: I think if he openly complained about what I make, I'd be more likely to tell him to make it himself. Perhaps he knows this.
You have children and cook meals for your husband? Even once a week (or more)? What dimension does your species come from? I think I got one from the "use children as excuse to not do anything" dimension.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
Your children are still pretty little. I've been there, believe me.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
I know. I don't mind doing the cooking. It just gets a little old when I do it for months at a time. I also usually work overtime, so I don't come home until late, which means we don't start dinner until really late, since I'm the one cooking it.
Posted by Pegasus (Member # 10464) on :
quote:Originally posted by erosomniac: Yeesh - you're a modern graphic designer's nightmare!
A former co-worker (graphic design related industry) actually called and made a complaint to a company that changed their logo on his favorite coffee or some-such. The phone operator had no idea how to respond to it. Posted by Shanna (Member # 7900) on :
I could eat Freschetta's four-cheese pizza everyday.
Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
quote:Originally posted by Sterling: As far as I can tell, all frozen pizza in New Zealand sucks.
They don't know what pizza is in New Zealand. My friend Nikki was staying with friends in New Zealand and they got a "pizza." She was horrified, and showed them what an American Pizza is like. They were in sacred awe.
Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
All of Trader Joe's frozen pizzas are pretty good, actually.
We use to get frozen CPK's every so often, but then I got two in a row that didn't rise. Never again.
As to their logo, I just don't find traffic yellow with black palm trees to be appetizing. AND the checkered tablecloth effect? It just looks more like a rollerblade rental than something to eat. The capitalization issues don't bother, just the design quality on the whole. Mediocre, and off putting.
If I were hungry and there was a CPK pizza in my freezer, I would still eat it, though.
Posted by BannaOj (Member # 3206) on :
Freschettas is probably my #1 choice, however my cooking record of them is infamous. (Yes I can wreck a frozen pizza... all one has to do is leave the cardboard on the bottom)
I too have secret Totinos/Jeno's cravings I love them cooked on the rack with a crispy crust. Although they just had a recall, so I would wait a month or so before buying any. http://www.totinos.com/faq.htm
And, I like Red Baron French Bread pizza. It's best if cooked in a toaster oven, something about cooking it in a toaster oven makes it taste much better than if cooked in a regular oven.
*confession*... I haven't tried every frozen pizza in the store, but I did buy every variety of Salisbury Steak TV dinner in a store once to decide which I liked best....
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
quote:Originally posted by TomDavidson:
quote:Why even try with the frozen ones, when a Boboli bread pizza takes aproximatly the same time and tastes fresh?
Well, for one thing, Totino's costs ninety-nine cents.
But, LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO EAT CHEAP CHEESE! Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I want a Totino's. Right now.
Posted by PSI Teleport (Member # 5545) on :
quote: I know. I don't mind doing the cooking. It just gets a little old when I do it for months at a time. I also usually work overtime, so I don't come home until late, which means we don't start dinner until really late, since I'm the one cooking it.
Well, now that you've said that, I'll tell you that the one thing that puts the fire in my pants is seeing my husband start cooking (or doing dishes) when I know I should have. I used to get irrationally guilty over it, even in the days just after having a baby. Not to compare myself to Jess, I just have an unhealthy guilt complex. Sometimes I think my Jes would rather have a mentally stable wife than one who cooks. Posted by Lostincyberspace (Member # 11228) on :
what ever is cheapest.
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
CPK thin crust.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
quote:Originally posted by porcelain girl:
quote:Originally posted by Sterling: As far as I can tell, all frozen pizza in New Zealand sucks.
They don't know what pizza is in New Zealand. My friend Nikki was staying with friends in New Zealand and they got a "pizza." She was horrified, and showed them what an American Pizza is like. They were in sacred awe.
That pretty much sums up pizzas here, too. Only I haven't made real (to me, which is not necessarily American, since I've never had pizza in the US) pizza here, so, you know, they're still all in the dark.
The frozen pizza here sucks. So so so very badly. Dominoes was... okay. For a while, when it first opened. Now it bites so bad. And you know what they use for sausage on their pizza? Hot dogs. Cut up, but still.... They have no clue. *shakes head* Posted by Katarain (Member # 6659) on :
I'm really glad that there are other people who actually *like* totino's and don't just eat it solely because it's cheap.
My hubby hates it, and doesn't understand how I can be so happy to have it sometimes. If he wants something frozen that I don't like, I just say That's okay! I'll have one of those cheap frozen pizzas! Yum!
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
I don't eat pepperoni! And haven't have a totino's in quite a while.
Posted by porcelain girl (Member # 1080) on :
Last night a friend and I split Trader Joe's 3 cheese pizza. AWESOME.
Posted by Amanecer (Member # 4068) on :
quote:I could eat Freschetta's four-cheese pizza everyday.
Ditto.
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
I don't have this weird frozen pizza thing, but I do have moments when I really, really want canned tamales -- the kind wrapped in paper with the vivid orange-red sauce.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I could name my favorite brands of frozen pizza, but only like three Hatrackers would even have heard of them. Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
quote:Originally posted by Primal Curve: I know. I don't mind doing the cooking. It just gets a little old when I do it for months at a time. I also usually work overtime, so I don't come home until late, which means we don't start dinner until really late, since I'm the one cooking it.
Crockpot. I do most of our cooking and I work full time. Sometimes I only have an hour before I have to be back at church for meetings or whatever, so the crockpot is really handy to have food ready when I get home.
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
I prefer to use a crackpot. The food (when it actually appears) usually isn't very good, but the recounting of all the conspiracies that led to whatever failed or succeeded in the making of the dish are often quite entertaining.
Posted by Primal Curve (Member # 3587) on :
quote:Originally posted by dkw: Crockpot. I do most of our cooking and I work full time. Sometimes I only have an hour before I have to be back at church for meetings or whatever, so the crockpot is really handy to have food ready when I get home.
That would be cool, but it would mean the food sitting for about 11 hours.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I have a crockpot that has cooking settings up to 10 hrs, and it will automatically stay on warm for hours after that. (I think it's a Rival -- I'll check.)
I'm still learning how to use the crockpot. I have a longer history with freezing things I've prepared in advance. I don't do the commercial frozen-meal-prep-places, but I think some Hatrackers have had excellent results there.
---
I'm sorry it has been so difficult for you. Sounds like you are working really nasty hours!
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Yep. I have some recipes that I put in the night before so they are ready for lunch. That's about 16 hours. That sort of thing is what crockpots are designed for.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
CT, the one with the digital timer? That's a Rival CrockPot SmartPot with Digital Timer. I have one too and adore it.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
I have a 3.5-quart Rival crockpot that was about $25 on sale at a hardware store. It isn't fancy [re-edited: yes, it isn't fancy after all ], but the outside stays cool to the touch, and the inner cooking stoneware is removable and can be put in the dishwasher.
It can be set for one of 4 settings: 4 or 6 hours on "high," or 8 or 10 hours on "low." After that, it automatically switches itself to "warm" and keeps food at a safe temperature to avoid spoilage. The brochure recommends leaving it at "warm" for no more than 4 hrs, but I think don't it shuts itself off at that point. I've never tested that part.
---
Edited to add: Yes, ketchupqueen, I think that's it. [Actually, no -- see below.]
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by dkw: I want a Totino's. Right now.
I've got three in my freezer right now. Three Cheese, Combination, and Classic Pepperoni, take your pick.
For $1 you can't beat Totinos.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Don't forget the recent recall on pepperoni Totino's, BlackBlade. There was an E.coli problem, and it may be worth checking out before you eat it. I think the recall was linked above.
--- PS: Dibs on the three-cheese.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, that's the regular SmartPot. I have one of those, too (available regularly for $30 at Target, I just got one with a rebate that made it $25), but they also make ones with a digital timer (I got one for a wedding gift) that costs about $10 more and you can set to "Low," "High," or "Warm" and then set the time in 30 minute increments up to either 10 or 12 hours (I forget, since I rarely cook anything more than 9 hours) and then it switches to "Warm." It does not switch off after 4 hours on "Warm." But if you have had it cooking all day "Warm" is usually actually hot enough to keep it boiling/steaming (and therefore inhibiting germ growth.)
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
That sounds cool, kq.
[Er, make that "hot." ]
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
(Oh, and my new SmartPot also came with a mini crockpot for dips and sauces inside as a free bonus. The smaller SmartPots-- I got the big one-- were available with a free insulated travel carrier for going to potlucks.
Target is going to have 1 Qt. CrockPots on for $15 on Fri. and Sat., and you can buy it now and then price match it then...)
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
(Sorry for going on about CrockPots in the pizza thread so much. I just really love them. I taught a class for a Relief Society activity a few months back and everyone loved it. Especially the food afterward. I have lots of favorite recipes if anyone ever needs any.)
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
quote:Originally posted by ClaudiaTherese: Don't forget the recent recall on pepperoni Totino's, BlackBlade. There was an E.coli problem, and it may be worth checking out before you eat it. I think the recall was linked above.
--- PS: Dibs on the three-cheese.
A SUSPECTED E Coli problem,
Also Totinos has "pepperoni" and "classic pepperoni" I wonder which one was at risk. Looks like I'll be going with combination tonight, but oh I forgot Mrs. BB is making dinner tonight so I don't need to lose sleep over any of this.
Thanks for the mention of the link above though, totally missed it.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
The recall includes both "pepperoni" and "classic pepperoni." At least 21 symptomatic people had tested positive for the E. coli O157:H7 bacteria after eating pepperoni from this supplier. They all recovered, though, from what I understand.
I think the term is generally "suspected" regarding *causality* for legal purposes, but the E. coli problem itself is confirmed.
---
Enjoy Mrs. BB.
---
Edited to add: recall details as follows
quote:The following products are subject to recall: [View Labels] 10.2-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza Pepperoni." 10.2-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Classic Pepperoni." 10.2-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Pepperoni Trio." 10.7-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Combination Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza." 10.5-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Three Meat Sausage, Canadian Style Bacon & Pepperoni Pizza." 10.9-ounce packages of "Totino's The Original Crisp Crust Party Pizza, Supreme Sausage & Pepperoni Pizza with Green Peppers & Onions." 6.8-ounce packages of "JENO'S CRISP `N TASTY PIZZA, PEPPERONI." 7.0-ounce packages of "JENO'S CRISP `N TASTY PIZZA, COMBINATION SAUSAGE AND PEPPERONI PIZZA." 7.2-ounce packages of "JENO'S CRISP `N TASTY PIZZA, SUPREME SAUSAGE AND PEPPERONI WITH GREEN PEPPERS AND ONION PIZZA."
Each package also bears the establishment number "EST. 7750" inside the USDA mark of inspection as well as a "best if used by" date on or before "02 APR 08 WS." The company applies the "best if used by date" on the package based on a 155-day shelf life, however consumers are urged to look in their freezers for similar frozen pizza products and discard them if found.
The frozen meat pizza products subject to recall were produced on or before Oct. 30 and were distributed to retail establishments nationwide.
Ack! You might want to double-check that "combination" one, too, since it looks like it may be listed in the recall as well.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by dkw: Yep. I have some recipes that I put in the night before so they are ready for lunch. That's about 16 hours. That sort of thing is what crockpots are designed for.
Pfft. Pikers.
Many Orthodox Jews labor under the delusion that Crock Pots are exclusively used for cholent. Since cholent has to be put to cook before Shabbos starts (and preferably fully cooked by that point), that means an absolute minimum of 16-18 hours (depending on sunset time and lunch time), and more often 20-24 hours.
That's what the "keep warm" setting is for. The name is misleading, but it's plenty hot to cook at that temperature. Chicken going in for more than 6 hours, or red meat going in for more than 8, stays at "keep warm" the whole time in my house. And comes out great -- frequently after cooking for 12 hours or so. (Longer on Shabbos. )
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
Mine doesn't have "keep warm" just "high" and "low." I put the long cooking stuff in on low and it comes out wonderful.
I bought some Totino's pizza tonight, but no pepperoni.
Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
quote:Originally posted by dkw: Mine doesn't have "keep warm" just "high" and "low."
Sounds like my old one. It worked fine on "low," but when I needed a new one, I deliberately got one with a lower setting, and it does help. (Unlike some people, I dislike overcooked cholent, and cook Shabbos food on as low a temperature and for as short a time as I can manage.)
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
Eeek! *takes the pizza's outside and sets them on fire* GAH! NOW THE SWEET AROMA OF PIZZA IS FILLING MY HOUSE!
Posted by Saephon (Member # 9623) on :
I've never even HEARD of Totino's but this thread really makes me want to try it. I'm also interested in giving Trader Joe's pizza a shot.
Lemme tell you something though; I went to Italy this summer and....wow. Five pizzerias on every corner and down every alley...and the competition was so high, the prices and quality were all top-notch. I sampled as much as I could and washed it down with Italian soda...I gained five pounds during my stay; it was just so....heavenly
edit: Oh my gosh. I just went to Totino's website and came to the realization that the pizza rolls I've been snacking on for years are made by them! I never even took note of the brand name or noticed that they also made normal pizzas! This is so weird Posted by rivka (Member # 4859) on :
I can't even eat them and I know Totino's makes pizza rolls.
Alas, Madison Avenue has a long-term lease on part of my brain.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I was at the store with my husband Wednesday night and tried to remember what the pizza in the first post was called. I knew it was something hearty and non-gay sounding, and as I tried to express these parameters to my husband, he said "Red Baron?" I had to laugh. I mean, the idea of the Red Baron is not in any way gay, but the chap pictured on the box does look awfully cheerful. And let me say that in most respects, a gay-sounding name is promising in a pizza. Uno, Giordano, Connie...
Posted by steven (Member # 8099) on :
*eats raw liver*
*stares at thread*
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
quote:Originally posted by quidscribis:
quote:Originally posted by porcelain girl:
quote:Originally posted by Sterling: As far as I can tell, all frozen pizza in New Zealand sucks.
They don't know what pizza is in New Zealand. My friend Nikki was staying with friends in New Zealand and they got a "pizza." She was horrified, and showed them what an American Pizza is like. They were in sacred awe.
That pretty much sums up pizzas here, too. Only I haven't made real (to me, which is not necessarily American, since I've never had pizza in the US) pizza here, so, you know, they're still all in the dark.
The frozen pizza here sucks. So so so very badly. Dominoes was... okay. For a while, when it first opened. Now it bites so bad. And you know what they use for sausage on their pizza? Hot dogs. Cut up, but still.... They have no clue. *shakes head*
I had pizza from a takeaways restaurant here that was kinda... Sorta... Okay. Basically ham and chicken with cheese and barbecue sauce. But frankly, most of the American chains (even the ones I've forsaken since college, like Domino's) would blow them out of the water.
And many of the menus at pizza places here make me go "Nooooooooooo....!!!!" Refried beans, guacamole and sour cream?! Uh, wrong?!
God as my witness, I will never take American convenience foods for granted again.
Posted by JonHecht (Member # 9712) on :
a) Where are you from, Sterling?
b) I am making a new topic about delivery.
Posted by Sterling (Member # 8096) on :
I'm from the United States, but I'm temporarily living in Coopers Beach, New Zealand. Thus the culture, uh, pizza shock.
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
We can get devilled squid on our pizza. And there's burizza, a chicken buriyani (chicken in fragrant spiced rice) on a pizza, that sounds so totally disgusting to me. There's also fish pizza - chunks of white fish. It's just... so bizarre.
I've had pepperoni pizza, and I don't know what the pepperoni was, but it wasn't pepperoni.
The worst is when they use local cheese. Imported cheese is fine - we don't have much variety, but it tastes good and how you'd expect it to. The local stuff is soggy, tastes like petrochemicals, and is so incredibly squishy.
Posted by krynn (Member # 524) on :
DiGiorno used to make these "Deep Dish DiGiorno" pizzas. they took an hour in the oven to make, but i loved them. i havent seen them in any stores for a while now. Maybe they weren't as big a hit with the rest of the world...
[ November 29, 2007, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: krynn ]
Posted by Chipmunk (Member # 7975) on :
Thank you for this useful (and timely!) reference. It inspired me to try some new brands, during the holiday frozen pizza sales.
So far, the best "new" (to me) brand has been Freschetta. Other good showings were Bellatoria (nice thin crusts), and Hy-Vee's (a regional grocer) in-house-brand. My all-time-favorite microwave pizza remains Red Baron breakfast pizzas.
I have not been able to find any Trader Joe's - are they a regional brand?
Has anyone tried Digiorno's new stuffed crust variants? I've been tempted, but haven't succombed yet.
The absolute worst frozen pizza I've ever experienced was Tombstone's "Light" vegetarian. Close your eyes and imagine the subtle cardboard taste of Tombstone's, combined with broccoli. I most certainly had a problem-with-my-brain-being-missing when I bought that one. Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Trader Joe's is a regional grocer. There's a location finder on their homepage.
Interesting about Hy-Vee. There aren't any Hy-Vees where I live now, but they exist in my hometown. I'll have to ask my parents if they've tried their pizzas.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Last night I took a chance on some rectangular pizza that looked like what they used to serve for lunch in Fairfax Public Schools. It was pretty close. I don't know why I have such fond memories of cafeteria food. I guess it's because we were a big family and mostly we had to pack lunch, so cafeteria food is kind of magical to me. I love Boca burgers too.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Yeah, I used to love the cafeteria spaghetti. As an adult, I'm not sure why...
Posted by Chipmunk (Member # 7975) on :
quote:Originally posted by Noemon: Trader Joe's is a regional grocer. There's a location finder on their homepage.
Ah, mystery solved! I knew I'd heard of them (have lived in California).
Ditto on the cafeteria nostalgia. My mom started working when the last of us reached high school, and upped all our allowances, which suddenly made school lunches an (occasional) viable luxury.
Of course, the big treat was the occasional trek to the closest McD's (just barely close enough to walk to, but far outside the budget of my generation).
Back to Pizza (whenever I say or type that, I hear Mickey Smith's voice in my head): I have my first ever California Kitchen one in my freezer, and am planning to try it tonight, after the caucus, if it doesn't go too late.
[ January 03, 2008, 02:59 PM: Message edited by: Chipmunk ]
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
I recently ate at an elementary school cafeteria, and the rectangular pizza was just as vile as I remembered.
We always had the choice whether to eat school lunch or pack a lunch and I usually brought mine because the cafeteria food was disgusting.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
Yeah, I could never figure out why the other kids liked that pizza. Man was it revolting. I did develop a taste for the school's chickenwichs, though. And I have fond memories of both the tostada (with shredded lettuce) and their cinnamon rolls.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Frown]](frown.gif)
They sound delicious, and now I am sad.
![[Evil]](graemlins/evil.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
![[Cry]](graemlins/cry.gif)
![[Smile]](smile.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
Your children are still pretty little. I've been there, believe me.
![[Party]](graemlins/party.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Blushing]](graemlins/blushing.gif)
], but the outside stays cool to the touch, and the inner cooking stoneware is removable and can be put in the dishwasher.![[ROFL]](graemlins/rofl.gif)