Finding comfort in rib-sticking casseroles

* Item: Banquet Meals Made Easy

* What you get: About 5 servings

* Cost: About $4

* Preparation time: About 30 minutes in the microwave, about an hour in conventional oven (conventional oven is preferred).

* Review: Casseroles seem to be the next hot comfort food. They're appearing on fast-food menus (Boston Market, for example) and in groceries' frozen-food sections. I launched my taste tests on Banquet's new line. Both the rib-sticking Creamy Broccoli, Chicken & Cheese and the Potato, Ham & Broccoli Au Gratin versions resembled something concocted with a can of condensed soup. Gourmet? Well, no. Satisfying? Absolutely. We favored the ham variety. It was a little salty, but the potatoes browned nicely.

Pub Date: 3/25/98