Review - Shrimp Fried Rice - Jan/Feb '01

[Peggy]

At the risk of being too blunt, I can critique this recipe with one word: BORING! Looking at the recipe you would think that it has a lot of interesting flavors...wrong! It was very bland. The end result was fairly colorful but the rice was still quite white in color. One tablespoon of soy sauce is not enough for 5 cups of rice. I salvaged it by adding more seasoning but it just wasn't very exciting to the palate. After the doctoring we gave it a weak 5 out of 10.

In the future, I will return to making my "add a little of this and that" version of fried rice. It comes out much more flavorful.

Peggy

[Grace]

That's the second bland review this recipe has gotten, and Peggy, since you and I have very similar tastes (we seem to like the same recipes!! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif ), I will pass on this one - thanks for the review!!!!

[laughsandlaughs]

Interesting, because I halved the recipe and thought the flavors of ginger and green onion really came through. It wasn't quite as soy-saucy as I'd like, but I chalked that up to personal tastes, which is why I serve soy sauce on the table. I did add a few things...diced sauteed tofu, julienned carrots, and sliced mushrooms and this got a thumbs up from both of us and we're pretty picky because we're used to eating out a lot.

[MicheleF]

Bland, Bland, Bland.....I was dissappointed that this dish had minimal "spunk". I also thought that the sauce that you mixed up to pour over the rice at the end of stir frying would make it taste great, but I was wrong. Lots of extra soy sauce made a slight improvement. I don't believe I will follow this recipe again..... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif

[almiter]

With most CL recipes I double up on the spices/flavorings/salt. I find a lot of their recipes improve with this rule of thumb. Just my personal preference: I like things very flavorful and alot of their recipes tend to be bland. I at least give the bland ones another chance by this method and by improvising.

[Peggy]

Grace,

How funny! I noticed that we had similar tastes also. That's why I always look for your reviews!! If you think it is a winner, I know I will agree too! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif I wonder if we have anything else in common....???

Peggy

[Grace]

Peggy - there was only one recipe I noticed we COMPLETELY disagreed on! Chicken in Wine Cream Sauce. It's one of our absolute favorites around here, and you said it was inedible (I think?). Oh well, guess we're not identical long lost twins, but close enough!! You're right - makes me wonder what else we might have in common?! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Peggy]

Grace,

Oh no, that wasn't my negative review! I saw that review and wondered about it (it was written by Danielle). I printed off your post for the Chicken with Wine Cream Sauce and made it (of course). We loved it! The chicken recipe I said was inedible was the Java Crusted Chicken. That one was vile! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/tongue.gif Let's see if we continue to agree! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

The true test: what was your opinion on Spaghetti Pie?

Peggy

[This message has been edited by Peggy (edited 01-15-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Peggy (edited 01-15-2001).]

[This message has been edited by Peggy (edited 01-15-2001).]

[Grace]

I'd love to test our theory, and try the Java Crusted Chicken, but I don't think I want to risk making something VILE!!

As far as Spaghetti Pie goes, it was just ok in my opinion. Nothing at all to get excited about, but it was edible. We ate it (had friends over, they ate and it liked it), but I doubt I would ever bother making it again. As we all say, too many other good recipes to make to bother with just so-so ones! I should have run a search to see, but what did YOU think of spaghetti pie?!!

[Danielle]

OK, I feel bad now that I gave the Chicken in Wine Cream sauce a bad review. I was comparing it to another recipe I have for chicken in wine sauce, which we really prefer much more. I guess I'm just a little biased! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Peggy]

Danielle,

Please don't feel bad because you weren't crazy about a recipe! Everyone has different tastes and they need to be respected. I feel it is important to post your true feelings because if you feel that way, many others will too! Overtime you find people who have similar tastes (ie. Grace and I). Their reviews will be more helpful and meaningful to you. Does that make sense? http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Take Care,

Peggy

[Peggy]

Grace,

Ditto on the Spaghetti Pie. We thought it was very average... I had very high expectations from all of the positive reviews. It just didn't measure up as anything special. Seems that we are running at 100% agreement. This does concern me though, because I just read your review of Chicken Francais and I am making that for dinner tonight! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/frown.gif I'm tempted to switch gears and make something else, but I'm too curious!

Have a great day!

Peggy

[Grace]

Oh yes, Peggy, I agree wholeheartedly, as does most everyone else here, I think. EVERY review is great, no matter if it's great or not-so-great. I personally am in no way offended if someone doesn't like the same recipe(s) I do, so keep posting what you really think, Danielle!! It's helpful either way! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[phantomcg]

I made this for dinner last night and doubled the sauce amount and didn't use quite as much rice as called for because of the comments from the BB. I liked it last night, but I have to say that the leftovers I had for lunch were much, much better.

Cheryl