Is That An Empanada in Your Pocket, or Are You Just Glad To See Me? (Goya Frozen Empanadas and Goya Ropa Vieja)

Not to ruin your appetite, but USA Weekend’s June 2nd-4th edition carried a large article about the dangers of visceral fat, which is the weight we all gain around our middles, variously called “beer belly,” “belly fat,” “love handles” or “gut fat.” This type of fat is very different than subcutaneous fat, which lies just under your skin on top of muscle. Visceral fat, on the other hand surrounds and invades your vital organs, storing fat inside your midsection, beneath your muscle tissue. If you haven’t read any of the studies or news stories about this health hazard, you can read their article here.

And, back to work....

I thought that today we would do something a little off the beaten track…something not Stouffer’s, or Lean Cuisine, or Banquet. I cruised the Diner seeking ideas, and stumbled across the Goya line of frozen entrees. Goya, like most frozen food lines, seems to range from the incredible to the inedible. Goya categorizes their frozen lines into “Prepared Specialities,” “Entrees,” “Vegetables,” “Plantains,” (bananas to us Norteamericanos) and a line of dips (Recaito, Sofrito and Guacamole).

According to Diner Reviewers, the two top products seem to be the Ropa Vieja (Shredded Beef braised with onions and peppers over rice) and the Empanadas, which are meat pasties made from seasoned beef, bell peppers, tomatoes and onions in a traditional Spanish style turnover. One reviewer from the Diner, Mayadevi, rated the Ropa Vieja 5 forks and said:

I have never actually had anyone beg me to serve them a frozen dinner before I served this one ! It is truly delicious and very filling. Perfect for comfort food on a cold winter's evening. I served it to a friend who helped me put a cabinet together one night and now every time they come over they ask if I have any of, "that Spanish Ropa stuff..." I try to keep some in the freezer just for him but it's almost impossible !

The Empanadas also get killer reviews; from Kwils, who rated them 4 forks:

I first enjoyed empanadas in St. Augustine, Florida and they were authentic Spanish food. These frozen empanadas come pretty close to the same flavor and make a great meal or snack. I'd definitely buy them again. The meat is flavored perfectly and the seasonings are done in good proportions.

Historynut also gave the Empanadas 4 forks, and said:

The last I was able to buy these, they were on a close-out at the grocery store. I hope I will soon be able to find them again. They are best when made in the oven or in a pan and lightly browned. The meat and seasonings inside the pastry crust are perfect in taste and it's very much like the way the meat turns out in a homemade empanada recipe.

Alas, not everything is fabulous; the Ham Croquettes earned big thumbs-down ratings from both Kwils and Mayadevi; Kwils actually threw them out after multiple attempts to choke them down, and Maydevi threw out the 5 remaining in her 8-serving package. So – you’ve been warned about the Goya Ham Croquettes, which get the Icebox Diner Toxic Waste Award. But if you’re in the mood for authentic Spanish, you apparently can’t go wrong with the Emapandas or the Ropa Vieja.

Note: There would be pictures of these products, if Google's Blogger platform was functional. It isn't, nor has it been for now nearly 10 days. Sorry about the lack of pictures; I know how important they are to Blogs in general. If and when Blogger comes back up, or I change hosts (an increasingly attractive option), I'll put the Goya products pictures back up. In the meantime, if you want to see pictures of the product, or read more Reviews of Goya and other frozen meals, go to the Icebox Diner.

Do you have questions or suggestions for Auntie? Just send us mail!!