I do not like to grill. At all. On some level, the grill actually makes me nervous – which is kind of weird because I thoroughly enjoy cooking (and I know there’s nothing to fear, on any level). So Jamie is in charge of outdoor cooking and I happily handle all indoor responsibilities. Though I need to get over my grill issues because Jamie likes to overcook meat.

That being said, I love cooking out and enjoy so many dishes when prepared on the grill. I happily prep then pass off to Jamie. But sometimes we cheat. Sometimes I just don’t feel like getting supper together after work, so I’ve often picked up prepared burgers from Heinen’s to quickly grill. And even though I think I make a pretty good burger and prefer mine when cooking at home, I do enjoy the variety of burgers at Heinen’s. And as much as I hate to admit it, my in-laws prefer Heinen’s burgers over my own, so I usually pick these up for them when they visit in the summer.

The folks at Heinen’s asked me to review one of their prepared dishes. While I like the burgers, I’ve found other dishes rather ho hum. In general, they lack seasoning – even a little salt can go a long way. But I took this opportunity to try a new dish, particularly for the grill: the blue and black bean marinated pork kabobs (we bought three for a total of $15).

Knowing what my experience has been thus far, I wasn’t sure what to expect – but they looked fabulous. And I have to admit, they tasted pretty good, too. Jamie grilled them beautifully – the pork, peppers and mushrooms. The meat was tender and much more flavorful than anticipated. I didn’t enjoy as much as the burgers, but definitely more than other prepared dishes I’ve tried. Jamie and Natalie were equally as happy. And for two people, three kabobs was one too many. They are quite generous with the portions sizes, for both the meat and veggies.

Bottom line – if you like to grill, but sometimes are short on time, this is a good alternative. We’ll pick up again.

This post was sponsored by Heinen’s.

As part of my ongoing partnership with Heinen’s. they have asked me for honest reviews of some of their prepared dishes from time to time. Last night, I tried pork tenderloin stuffed with chopped fennel, thyme and apricots then lined with bacon ($10).

The tenderloin was plenty for the three of us to share, and I even have leftovers for lunch today. Overall, the taste was enjoyable. I loved all the fresh thyme and fennel and especially liked the apricots with bacon. But the pork itself could have used some seasoning. If you try this, I’d suggest seasoning the pork with kosher salt and pepper first; it needs it.

In general, I’m not one to pick up prepared food. If I’m not dining out, I really enjoy cooking at home. And something like this would take no time to create myself. But, there are those days when  you just don’t feel like cooking – or eating out. This is a nice alternative. And I’d have no reservations about picking up this pork again – though I would be sure to properly season next time.