It's been a while since I last posted - none of the microwave foods have been on special this week, so I have been eating real food. However, I know that my fellow gourmands have been eagerly awaiting my next entry, so in their interest I have purchased my next meal (at full price!).

Yes, I have returned to lasagne, this time Signature Range brand. At full price, this comes out almost $2 cheaper than the Wattie's variety (reviewed previously) and the portion seems far more generous. "Pasta layered with rich minced beef with red wine & a creamy cheese sauce". Red wine huh, that's very sophisticated. My tastebuds stand erect with anticipation. This meal is supposed to contain basil, oregano and nutmeg, so I hope I can actually taste them this time, unlike the Wattie's. 

Cooking time is as per usual 5 mins, 1 minute standing, 2 minutes in the microwave. Prior to being nuked, the Signature Range lasagne is slightly more aesthetically appealing than the Wattie's brand - the cheese looks less plastic and more "fluffy". I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not. Still, it looks about as appealing as a bloodied yeast infection.

I feel like I'm looking at a pre-op skin graft. It smells overwhelmingly of beef. Time to tuck in!

The cheese/beschamel on top has a slightly less sharp cheddar flavour than the Wattie's, but it is a little more viscous and creamy. Likewise, the beef and tomato is less acidic and sharp, a little more bland. On my second mouthful I happened to bite into a big hunk of fat. The pasta itself lends nothing to the meal whatsoever, not even an al denté texture to differentiate it from the rest of the "meal". A nice touch are the chopped onions, something I noticed was lacking from the Wattie's brand. 

My main criticism is that the flavour lacks the punch I was hoping for. The tomato sauce tastes more like a generic gravy, and the cheese on top lacks sharpness and definition. If I hadn't pre-seasoned with salt and pepper I dare say that it would be like eating flavourless gruel. In all, while the portion is more generous than that of Wattie's, I don't think the two are worthy of any real comparison. 

Final Verdict:

As a microwave meal: 4.5/10

As an actual meal: 1.5/10

I still have more than half of the dish left to power through, so wish me luck! Until next time...