A PR company recently contacted me about trying McCain’s Harvest Splendour Medleys, frozen potato side dishes that can be made in less than half an hour.  As I am a very busy person who prefers to make her meals as easily and quickly as possible, I jumped the chance to try the products out.

 Harvest Splendor Potato and Carrot Medley (top left); Potato and Broccoli Medley (top right); Yukon Gold Potato and Mushroom Medley (bottom left) and Three Potato Medley (bottom right)

The Medleys, which can be found in the frozen foods aisle at the supermarket, come in four different varieties that include a host of different vegetables such as broccoli, mushrooms and carrots.  Each package also includes seasoning, which can be added to the dish before cooking.  The Medleys can be cooked either on a skillet on stove top or in the oven, done in less than half an hour.  I have tried both methods.  I have to admit, however, that they are not my favourite quick meal/side dishes.  I like my potatoes crispy on the outside and waxy inside.  These potatoes were definitely not waxy.  Instead, they were a bit powdery – especially when cooked in the oven. In addition, the seasoning could have been a bit better.  Perhaps they’re expecting that the main course would be more flavourful to off set the plainness?  If that were the case, then there won’t really be a need for seasoning – usually, the plainer the starch, the better it is to go with a dish that is highly flavoured.

Potato and Carrot Medley being cooked on the stove top

Don’t get me wrong – these sides aren’t that bad.  After all, they’re great in terms of convenience – no need to rinse and chop, nor does it take nearly an hour to cook.  The inclusion of fresh vegetables in some of the Medleys allow busy people to make one less side.  However, it certainly doesn’t score points in terms of taste (which can be changed by adding additional seasoning) and more importantly, texture.

Image credits: Product images courtesy of Veritas Canada; Second image © Cynthia Cheng Mintz