Review: New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies & Sports Conflict: Liking Two Teams in the Playoffs
Junk Food Nation, what happens when you like two different teams in the playoffs? Case in point: you guys know I am one of those hated Yankees fans; been one ever since I was a tiny runt in Upstate New York. On the National League side, however, I’ve been watching the Nationals since they restarted here in DC, and I’m a big fan. BIG FAN. The Yanks are in the AL, and the Nats are in the NL, so for now, there’s no conflict. But what happens if they meet in the World Series? What then?
For me, the choice is easy, I’ll always root for my Yanks, but the question does remain for those fans who maybe don’t have such an easy choice. If you grew up in St. Louis, for example, but have lived in DC for the past ten years, you might be having a conflict right now with the current series featuring those two teams. And what if you grew up in the Bay Area, and there’s an A’s-Giants World Series?
I’m a firm believer that people can bandwagon on teams in the playoffs, even if they haven’t been rooting for them at all during the regular season, because EVERYONE should get to enjoy the playoffs. Honestly, as someone who doesn’t have a team to root for in the NBA, this is what happens with me every season. But which team do you choose – the one that your co-workers like, or the one that your friends like? The one that your boyfriend likes, or the one that your mom likes? For some people without deeply rooted sports loyalties, the choice can be difficult.
What do YOU do when there are two teams in the playoffs that you like? Tell me in the comments below.
Today’s junk food: New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies!
New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies: The Money Shot
New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies were found in my local Giant Food Mart. You know, the only thing I really know about Marie Callender’s is that its a company that makes REALLY tasty stuff and is REALLY unhealthy. I can’t count how many Marie Callender’s chicken pot pies I’ve had over the years. Enough to kill a cow, I’m sure. But soooooo delicious. So when I saw MC had sweet pies – I was all in.
Ready in 10 seconds?? WHAT
New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies can be ready in 10 seconds…which is reference to their warming instructions. I’ll get to that in a minute. I like the look of this pie on the box – layers of whipped goodness on top of a :chocolate cookie crumb crust.” So…an Oreo crust? AMAZING.
You know, I didn’t realize that before Marie Callender’s was a frozen food line, it was a chain of restaurants. Wow. Where have *I* been? The website says there are 80+ restaurants across the US, but I’ve NEVER SEEN ONE. Have you? Are they good?
WISK!
I like how they want to display fresh ingredients on this New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies’ box to show you how down-home-cookin’ it is. Bars of chocolate, a cup of cream, a wisk, and ….some random cookie crumbles at the top? That looks messy, MC. Photoshop that bit out, please.
Marie Cellander’s frozen meals have been around for a while. The description of their regular size Chocolate Satin Pie is located here.
Yep…not…healthy
New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies have sugar as the #1 ingredient. AWESOME. One pie is 380 calories, and there’s a little message at the top that says THIS ENTIRE PACKAGE CONTAINS 760 CALORIES. GOOD LORD. I feel like they had to put the extra message on to WARN people about these pies. The entire box has 22 grams of saturated fat, or 110% of your daily content! Bring on the elastic pants!
3 ways to thaw!
Back to the Ready in 10 Seconds label. Apparently, these New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies are meant to be eaten at room temp, so you can thaw them normally or nuke them for 10 seconds! Whose job was it to figure THAT out?? Reminds me of the Pop-Tarts instruction that says to microwave for 3 seconds.
Cute stack o’ tubs!
Mini pies indeed
New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies came in two small plastic tubs. Very convenient for transport, I’ll give MC that.
Chocolate shavings!
Opening one of the tins, the smell of some nice rich chocolate came flowing out. As expected, these New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies looked tasty and smelled great. Would Marie Callender’s ever disappoint? I think not.
First bite!
My first bites of this New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pie were DELIGHTFUL. The white whipped cream was light and fluffy and full of sweet and creamy flavor. The layer of chocolate silk/mousse was light and FULL of chocolate flavor; it was amazingly rich. The cookie crumble bottom was a LITTLE dry, but it was more like a cake-like crumble, rather than just a dry cracker/cookie crumble texture. All together, it was a great flavor combination, with the not so sweet crumble being accented by the smooth and fluffy and sweet top layers.
Closer look
Top off the pie with some fresh chocolate shavings to accentuate the chocolate flavor, and you really have a great treat. These New Marie Callender’s Chocolate Satin Mini Pies tasted just like they had been fresh baked and cooled, I have to be honest. REALLY GOOD. Really REALLY bad for you. But REALLY TASTY.
PURCHASED AT: Giant Food Grocery
COST: $2.79
Thoughts? Please comment below (I always reply) or hit me up on Twitter @junkfoodguy or LIKE my Facebook Page and message me there. Also, you can always email me at junkfoodguy@junkfoodguy.com. Let’s hang out.
Sincerely,
Junk Food Guy
Discuss - 30 Comments
sweet, I had been debating buying these, but no more!
@Dubba: no problem! I bought another flavor too…
Back from 2 weeks of vacation.
I didn’t know Marie Callender’s was a restaurant chain either! I’ve had the beef pot pie as well as the chicken.
@Elisa: The pot pies are EXCELLENT
I’ve been thinking about trying these, but the price was kind of a big turn off. I guess I didn’t look at them closely though, because I never realized there are two in a package. Seems much more reasonable factoring that, so maybe I’ll give em a go.
The only team sport I watch is basketball, and I’ve never had that problem since I’ve been a Spurs for life. There are a few other teams I like (one of them was the Thunder until they knocked the Spurs out of the playoffs last season), but rooting for them always comes second to rooting for the Spurs.
I do have this problem a lot with tennis though. There’s a bunch of different players I like, and it’s almost inevitable that some of them end up playing against each other. I still try to pick one to root for though, because it just makes the match more enjoyable. I usually just choose based on things like nationality (gotta go with the American players first and foremost) or which one is the underdog.
@Devin: Tennis is a great call – I often like more than one player, and like you, will root for the US player or the underdog. It is tough though – you want a good story to play out, but there’s conflicted feelings.
I seriously still can’t believe companies have noticeable amount of trans fats in products. I’m fine if it’s under .5 per serving so I don’t have to see it right on the nutrition facts and have to read through the ingredients list to see what’s going on. I’m too lazy for that half of the time so those 2 grams would just bug me. That being said I probably would still eat this one aha,
As for rooting for two teams, I’ve never had that problem. I stick with my favorite team until they’re no longer in contention and then follow the story lines of the games that are left to play.
@Nick: Yeah, noticing the trans fats in food has unnerved me recently. I’m certainly no health junkie but….can I at least PRETEND that the thing isn’t killing me?
I’ve never liked anything made by Marie Callender’s since they always taste either too salty or too sweet, but I am commenting to say I have a set of utensils with that exact same pattern. I Inherited them from my Grandmother. Just thought it was funny since I’ve been a long time reader and this is the first time I’ve noticed.
@MJ: HAHA! NICE! Love the old school utensils….
Ya I only root for 1 team. Once my team is eliminated, I’m usually very bitter and can’t watch to anymore. Of corse I have to root against the Yankees, because I’m am a sour Red Sox fan.
@Will: Yes, the root-against corollary is an interesting one…I feel the same way about the Cowboys.
We have Marie Callender’s restaurants around Los Angeles – they’re just like Perkins or Friendly’s restaurants – mediocre food but really good pie. Those pies look so adorable and yummy, even if they will make me fat. Elastic pants unite!
@Teresapalooza: Got it – mediocre dining. Makes sense they’d try to capitalize on their top product then
I can’t stand Marie Callender’s restaurants… I’ve actually stayed away from their frozen products because of how terrible I remember the restaurant food being. People seem to really like the frozen meals and pies though… perhaps these are actually (somehow) better than the food served at the restaurants? I wouldn’t know… like I said, never tried any of the frozen food.
@Echo – who knows? Maybe frozen food is where they are putting their investment capital
THERE ARE TWO IN A PACK?!?!?!?!?!?!
They also have restaurants in Santa Cruz, CA. Their chicken pot pie tastes exactly like their frozen pot pie. Inside decor is a little outdated but I think the restaurant was geared toward family’s and senior, since that all I saw when I was eating. Not outstanding but not bad either.
@Matthew Lee: Not the most ringing endorsement haha 😛
Love their pot pies!!! And junk food guy, I really enjoy your site! Keep up the great work.
@David: thanks man – I appreciate it! Spread the word!
I am a huge fan of both the Pats and Ravens (long story), so it was awful when they played each other in last year’s AFC championship, and also in regular season and other playoff games previously.
What I normally do is stress and cheer for every good play (defensive AND offensive). As the game goes on and a clear winner starts taking form, I start coping with the losing team’s season being over instead of cheering for the winning team.
If I HAVE to pick a side, I think about 1. who deserves a win more 2. which team could go further in playoffs.
I take sports too seriously I think. It’s stressful. I know my method is not good. Maybe those pies will help me cope.
@Arian -the coping with the losing team’s season being over – I’ve DEFINITELY done that before too
I had blueberry pie at a Marie Callendar’s in Norman, Oklahoma, about ten years ago. It was, like everything MC makes, delicious.
@Jason: 10 YEARS AGO!? hmmm
I would put it on my face.
The best feeling in the world: Fill a pie shell with cream, and throw it at yourself. Then play Cut the Rope/
@Benamore: HA
The mini chocolate pie – the cookie crust is just crumbs
They need to be pressed and more filling. SE
@Susan – agree – it was very crumb-y. I took the easy route and just dumped it all into my mouth like an animal 😉