Why doesn't what I cook look like the picture on the box?

I just finished eating an early dinner which was turkey with "all the trimmings." It was Mary Callender's Honey Roasted Turkey frozen dinner. They were only $3.50 at Vons. Once I placed my dinner in the microwave, thoughts went through my mind that my dinner creation would win first place on "Top Chef," and I would be invited to the Rachael Ray Show to cook my creation, and even end up replacing her ("The BurgerWars Show"). After following the directions precisely the way they were written on the box, this is how my dinner turned out. The picture on the box looks better. Surely it can't because I am an incompetent cook. I ate it anyway. I hope I don't end up seeing the food again before going to bed.

burgerwars said: Why doesn't what I cook look like the picture on the box?....Surely it can't because I am an incompetent cook.You mean there's a chance I am not an incompetent cook?? Nothing I cook looks like the picture on the box!

So popping something into a microwave is considered cooking?

Did Thanksgiving come early this year?

Tv dinners there's nothin' else to eat
Tv dinners they really can't be beat
I like 'em frozen but you understand
I throw 'em in and 'wave 'em
and I'm a brand new man, oh yeah!

Tv dinners they're goin' to my head
Tv dinners my skin is turnin' red
Twenty year old turkey in a thirty year old tin
Can't wait until tomorrow....
to thaw one out again, oh yeah!

Tv dinners I'm feelin' kinda rough
Tv dinners this one's kinda tough
I like the enchiladas and the teriaki too
I even like the chicken if.... The sauce is not too blue.

And they're mine, all mine, oh yeah
And they sure are fine.
Gotta have 'em
Gimme somethin' now.

Why don't the taco's that Jack has pictured on his window, look like the taco's I get in my bag?

burgerwars said: After following the directions precisely the way they were written on the box, this is how my dinner turned out. The picture on the box looks better. Surely it can't because I am an incompetent cook.It's not that. You just need a microwave that supports Photoshop.

Learn to cook, deadbeat!

Read the box carefully. In small print next to the picture you'll notice it says "serving suggestion". They are suggesting that you serve what is in the picture, not what is in the box!

george2001 said: Read the box carefully. In small print next to the picture you'll notice it says "serving suggestion". They are suggesting that you serve what is in the picture, not what is in the box!

BOOST!!

you are no microwave iron chef!

squid3 said: Why don't the hot blondes I go to bed with ever look the same when I wake up?

This one is simple, all hot blondes have fatter, uglier identical twin sisters. Once you fall asleep they switch places. I though this was common knowledge.

squid3 said: Why don't the hot blondes I go to bed with ever look the same when I wake up?

Jose Cuervo is not a friend of yours.

burgerwars said: If my creation turned out successful, I would have invited 10 friends over for Thanksgiving to feast on the same meal. At only $3.50 each I could have fed them all for $35.00. I figure I would have to get a couple of six-packs of soda to go with it ($5), so for $40 it would be a Thanksgiving dinner that nobody would soon forget!
I think WalMart is already planning ahead for the new economic reality during this Thanksgiving holiday. Of course, you still have to cook the meal.

A turkey dinner for eight as low as $20

According to a survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation, last year’s average cost of a turkey was roughly $1.19 per pound. Beginning today, select Grade A turkeys are available for 40 cents per pound at WalMart.* These gobblers are part of WalMart’s $20 Thanksgiving menu guaranteeing family favorites will be on the dinner table this holiday season. WalMart’s $20 Thanksgiving feast includes:

* One 12-pound Grade A turkey*
* Three 11 to 15.5-ounce cans Green Giant vegetables
* Two 14-ounce cans Ocean Spray cranberry sauce
* Three 6-ounce boxes of Stove Top stuffing
* One 5-pound bag of red potatoes
* One 12-count package of Sara Lee dinner rolls
* One 22-ounce pumpkin roll cake

* Prices and availability may vary in AK, HI, OK, NM, WI and at WalMart.com. Prices on select Grade A turkeys begin November 4; limit two turkeys per customer; weights and brands vary by store. Prices on electronics items begin November 7. Quantities are limited; no rain checks; purchase limit on select electronics items of two per customer. All prices do not include tax.

HTN said: A turkey dinner for eight as low as $20

According to a survey by the American Farm Bureau Federation, last year’s average cost of a turkey was roughly $1.19 per pound. Beginning today, select Grade A turkeys are available for 40 cents per pound at WalMart.*

* Prices and availability may vary in AK, HI, OK, NM, WI and at WalMart.com. Prices on select Grade A turkeys begin November 4; limit two turkeys per customer; weights and brands vary by store. I understand why prices may vary in Alaska & Hawaii (shipping costs, etc.) by Oklahoma, New Mexico & Wisconsin?????????

provigal said: I used to do the books for a food stylist. She told me that most of the food you see in pictures is not really cooked...especially the meats...they use one of those mini-blow torches on it until the color looks right. For whipped toppings it's shaving cream...for froth on beverages...dishwashing soap bubbles...part of the reason for this is that properly prepared foods won't hold up under the hot lights @ the photo shoot.

I read an article about this once. I remember that ice cream is really a something like Crisco shortening with coloring added. Most of the things in the pictures aren't edible. But they sure look pretty!

Jstkiddn said: provigal said: I used to do the books for a food stylist. She told me that most of the food you see in pictures is not really cooked...especially the meats...they use one of those mini-blow torches on it until the color looks right. For whipped toppings it's shaving cream...for froth on beverages...dishwashing soap bubbles...part of the reason for this is that properly prepared foods won't hold up under the hot lights @ the photo shoot.I read an article about this once. I remember that ice cream is really a something like Crisco shortening with coloring added. Most of the things in the pictures aren't edible. But they sure look pretty!It depends: the truth in advertising stuff applies here also. If it's a generic picture of "ice cream", then yes, it usually isn't actually ice cream but a substitute that won't melt during the shoot. If it is a specific brand/food on display, though, meant to be representative of a specific product, then it HAS to be the actual product.

However, just like photo shoots of people for advertisements, magazines, etc -- there is considerable primping and setup beforehand. The contents of your burger are the same... but the meat is cooked just so, cooled and placed just so on the one perfect bun of the lot, and the one perfect leaf of lettuce is placed so that it shows crisply over the edge of the bun; the one perfect tomato slice out of 10 sliced tomatoes is placed carefully on top; the cheese is heated just slightly and formed into the perfect curl over the patty to suggest that it melted from the warmth of the beef... you get the idea. It may be the same contents, but just like getting to see the pores and experience the bed head and morning breath of that model you hit the sack with the night before, what you see in the picture doesn't quite match reality.

This thread has taught me that Fatwalleters eat tv dinners and still go to bed with hot blondes... ok, so they don't wake up with them, but I suppose that would be the FW alcohol effect.