Smart Ones Three Cheese Ziti Marinara Review

On my last trip to Dominick's, I found another major frozen foods sale in full swing and I made hay while the sun is shining, as my grandmothers used to say.  The first result of this buying frenzy is Smart Ones Three Cheese Ziti Marinara which not surprisingly consists of ziti pasta in a delicious marinara sauce topped with mozzarella, monterey jack and parmesan cheeses.  ("NOW WITH MORE CHEESE!" trumpets the front panel of the package and I can believe it -- the abundance of chewy baked cheeses especially was delightful.)  I've got to say that this is one of the best baked zita dishes I have ever tasted.  You would have never guessed that this dish was supposed to be a healthy alternative.

STATS:

The contents of this 9 oz. package is a single generous serving which contains 320 calories with 70 calories from fat.  There are eight grams total fat, three and a half grams saturated fat, zero trans fat, two grams each polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats, 10 mg. cholesterol, 590 mg. sodium, 47 grams total carbs, four grams dietary fiber, two grams sugars, 14 grams protein.  Minerals and vitamins include 15% (D.V.) each Calcium and Iron, 10% Vitamin A, and 4% Vitamin C.

TASTE TIP:

I know you probably can guess what's coming -- I stopped the heating process halfway, peeled the plastic carefully back, and pressed four black olives into the top, then completed the heating process.  Fresh red raspberries were on sale today too and I had some of them for dessert.