So Satisfying Pasta (Batchelors Pasta and Sauce)

Member Name: xjemloux

Product:	Batchelors Pasta and Sauce
Date:	18/06/09 (96 review reads)
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I've always got Batchelors pasta n sauce stocked up in my cupboard for them lazy moments where I just can't be bothered to cook anything major. I havn't tried any other flavours except chicken and mushroom and I absolutely love it.

The packets the pasta comes in are nothing special being a navy packet which you have to rip open at the top to get the pasta out. On the front it says Batchelors and underneath this Pasta 'n' Sauce with a spoonful of pasta in between which looks real appetising. Underneath this we are told the flavour of the pasta which in this case is chicken and mushroom. On the bottom left hand corner it has a little picture of a microwave and it says 8-10 minutes. This tells me this is an extremely quick and convenient meal to make.

On the back of the packet I'm told that in this packet I have Pasta tubes in a delicious chicken and mushroom flavour sauce which can serve one as a snack or two as part of a main meal.

When you open the pack you are immediately greeted by a strong, chicken aroma which I find very mouthwatering. When looking inside the packet it seems as if there is hardly any pasta, and it is just covered in an off coloured powder - it doesn't look like it would make a decent nibble really let alone a snack for one.

You can either cook these on the hob or in the microwave. I've tried both and my results have varied massively, on many occasions. But I've come to the conclusion that hob is best even if it seems more time consuming.

To cook in the microwave you need to empty the pasta into a microwaveable bowl, add milk and boiling water and butter if thats what you like. Cover appropriately, which does help if you dont want spills in your microwave. You then need to cook for either 10, 8 or 9 minutes depending on the strength of your microwave. You need to stir twice throughout cooking though. Once cooked you need to leave to stand for 5 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken.

Now by following these instructions very carefully, each time I end up with different style pasta. More often than not my pasta is dried up and the flavoured powder is sticky at the bottom of the bowl, which obviously means my pasta and sauce is not as flavoursome as what it should be. I find the pasta sticks to the side of the dish and awful lot and not all the pasta tastes the same as some has been generously coated in sauce and other tubes are dry with a slight hint of flavour to them if that. It doesn't make a very attractive dish to look at either, varying in colours due to some pasta tubes having sauce covering them and the dried up sticky powder gathered in the bowl which to be honest looks like snot! I'm not trying to put you off these pasta sachets at all because I love them but I don't think I'll be using the microwave again, it may just be me but I don't find they are very tasty or make a good snack at all if microwaved.

To cook on the hob you cook it a bit different, using the same water milk and butter if you like. You need to add it to the saucepan and bring to the boil. Stir in the pasta, boil gently and stir occasionally I'm told for 10 mins or until pasta is tender and again the sauce will thicken once left to stand.

Just stirring occasionally I don't find works as I end up with similar results as when it's just left in the microwave to cook and is only stirred twice as it dries up so quickly. Instead I will stand over the hob for the full 10minutes or until I think my pasta looks ready and I will continuously stir, as I feel I have more control over my pasta and it's flavouring. This way I find the sauce is creamy and evenly spread over the tubes and manages to hold alot more flavour. All of my pasta cooks equally, and every single tube of pasta becomes tender and soft rather than some being soft and some hard. It looks so much more appetising and appealing to the eye once cooked on the hob I think, it looks like a fresh meal of tasty pasta and if somebody was going to present it to me on a plate I wouldn't be disapointed.

Is it tasty though?

Well yes I absolutely LOVE the stuff - after I've cooked it on the hob that is. The sauce is thick, creamy and very flavoursome. It goes a wonderful yellowy colour with specks of seasoning spread evenly throughout which adds to the overall look. It has a strong taste of chicken, and a stunning savoury chicken smell. You can smell the herbs which have been added it truly taste scrumptious to me.

Even though when first opening the packet it looks like a stingy amount of pasta in amongst some discoloured flavoured powder I was very surprised at how filling and satisfying this pasta can be. One packet of this is enough for one person for one meal - not a snack as it suggests on the back of the packet. I have a big appetite and this fills me and satisfies me until my next meal a few hours later.

Per serving of this pasta - which is apparently half the pack you are provided with;

222cals
1.2g fat
0.6g sats3.0g sugars
1.40g salt
And then of course with added butter and milk these values probably increase.

For anybody who enjoys a tasty pasta dish now and then, or likes the convenience of foods like this I would definitely reccomend trying these out they are extremely tasty and make a lovely meal - a small but filling one!

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