Thursday, 13 February 2014

Cook - frozen ready meals just like you made them!

I have recently been sent a range of ready made, frozen food from Cook


They have been providing meals using the same techniques and ingredients as you would use at home since 1997 and the founders Edward and Dale love to hear your feedback and love to tell the chef who made you particular meal that you liked it. 

There are less than 400 calories in each pot with the actual number of calories written on the top in big writing.


I was sent individual portions of Middle Eastern Lamb Koftas, Japanese Salmon, Thai Butternut XSquash Soup and Prawn Tom Yum, along with a two person portion of duck confit, mashed potatoes and apple & blackberry crumble.


The individual portions are perfect for me to take to work and first I took the Middle Eastern Lamb Koftas.

Sometimes ready made food has that samey samey taste to it but I am happy to report that my Cook meal didn’t have that.  I had the Middle Eastern Lamb Koftas, in a sweetly-spiced tomato sauce with chickpeas, couscous, golden raisins and mint.

I cooked it from frozen in the microwave at work and by following the instructions on the back, cooking from frozen for best results.

I found this one to be both filling and satisfying and very tasty.  Each pack tells you the name of the chef that cooked it and mine was cooked by Michael Ewens on this occasion.  Well done to Michael I have to say.  I would certainly buy this one if I saw it in the supermarket and with only 281 calories and at a cost of £3.99 I think it made a great lunch to have at work.

 

The second one I took to work is the Japanese Salmon, chunks of salmon with soy, ginger, soya beans and black and white rice.  This one is 394 calories and is a cost of £3.00.  Mine was cooked by Lewis Feaver and had a lovely Asian aroma and was tasty and filling.

The Prawn Tom Yum is a classic Thai soup seasoned with tamarind and lime with king prawns, vegetables and noodles.  this has two chilli peppers on the front to indicate that it might be spicy and it was just a little too spicy for me but I loved it and had to keep on eating it despit the heat.  Mine was cooked by Gennaro Ruocco and was only 231 calories per portion at a cost of £3.99.


The products are available in a selection of shops across the country. If you go on their website and enter your postcode you can see the retailer nearest to where you live.  My nearest stockist is Battler's Green Farm Shop near Radlett, Herts which is not far from where I work - how lucky is that. I shall definitely be stopping by.


You can contact them via their website, Facebook or Twitter
 
Many thanks to Cook for the package of food they sent me for review. I did not receive any payment for writing this and all opinions are my own.

 

 

 

 

 

 

24 comments:

  1. Cook is really popular amongst my friends, who often but their regular dishes for dinner parties. The food is good quality and very tasty. I had no idea they did reduced calorie meals, I'll certainly give them a try. GG

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    1. I was really pleased with the food, will be buying them in the future!

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  2. Oh this so Fab!I hope they start stocking at a supermarket close to me! Manjiri- sliceoffme.wordpress.com

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    1. Put your postcode in on their website and it will tell you their nearest stockist.

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  3. I think these used to have a shop in Loughton? Never tried them but I'm not averse to a good quality ready meal on a Saturday night - my night off!!

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  4. Worth trying Sarah. I especially loved having them for work - I could pop them in the freezer when I got in and they were ready to microwave at lunch time.

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  5. I don't think we have these in the US, but they look tasty.

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    1. You must have an equivalent in the US. This is an up and coming company.

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  6. These sound useful. My problem with ready meals, even really good ones is that they seem to put too much salt in.

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    1. I don't often use ready made food but these are great to have in the freezer for those moments!!

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  7. I'd love to say I have room in my freezer for frozen meals, but it is tiny and having some pizza dough, frozen fruit and frozen veg pretty much fills it.

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    1. My freezer is a nightmare, time for a spring clear out I think! Then re-stock.

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  8. I never tried frozen ready meals. I actually don't like freezing my own produce I don't really know why :) I think because of the taste, it fade with time for me ;)

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  9. We don't have a lot of frozen ready meals, usually i freeze what I have made. I love knowing there is something great in the freezer!

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  10. Sounds like a tasty mix, I tend to freeze my own 'ready meals', so useful on days when you can't be bothered to cook from scratch!
    Janie x

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  11. I love knowing I have food in the freezer that I cooked!

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  12. My aunt who hates cooking LOVES cook products because they do actually taste as if they are home cooked.

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  13. Sometimes ready meals are life savers.Good to know there are ready meals that are nice out there.

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  14. I agree, sometime you just have to and if you know there is something tasty it is a plus.

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  15. looks like a good option for a quick supper.

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    1. There are times when you need someone else to cook dinner and these are a very nice option.

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  16. I don't really eat frozen ready meals but might be handy to keep in the house for when I am not at home and OH needs feeding.

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    1. They make great stand by's and good to take to work too.

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