Betty Crocker's newest last-minute standby, Hamburger Helper, Swedish meatballs retails for $1.69 for the 7.75-ounce box.
Don Russell (married, five children at home, ages 14-4): "The bottom line with this product is if you enjoy the large array of Hamburger Helpers available today, then you'll like this new one. If you don't care for General Mills' boxed dinners, then stay away. The Swedish meatball version had the usual dominant salty flavor and a rather strong nutmeg presence. I didn't mind sampling this new dish, but I wouldn't go out of my way to have it again."Edyth Jensen (married, three children at home): "This Swedish meatball mix has a light, nut-spice flavor, but it doesn't have a very attractive color - it is a bit gray. It smells good."
Nihla Lake (married, two children at home): "Please, tell us we've finally tried the last `flavor' of Hamburger Helper! No more of this torture.
"We finally found something that this family can all agree on - dislike for Hamburger Helper. It was too salty, the flavor was too strong (we `enjoyed' it all night long!) and it had too much fat content. Just to be completely fair, the box was lovely."
Rich Firmage (married, three children, oldest 8 years old): "Hey, one Hamburger Helper is just like the next and I don't like any of them. They call this `homestyle' - what a joke. And where do they get their noodles? They are incredibly lousy - sticky and tasteless. If you're into Hamburger Helper - this tastes like all the rest - you'll probably like it. (We tried the Swedish meatballs, at least that's what the box said)."
Bill Allred (single): "The best thing about this Hamburger Helper was the excellent ground beef I purchased at Smith's to add to this bland mix. Just what is this Betty Crocker product supposed to help the hamburger do? It certainly adds bulk. But I would be hard pressed to say that it adds any flavor. `Well, it's pretty bland, but it filled me up fast,' was the most favorable comment made about the product. I'd say that you should run out and buy Hamburger Helper if you are one of the few people I remember who actually liked school lunch."
Conclusion: We now dub thee, Hamburger Helper, the Rodney Dangerfield of prepared foods. Poor baby, the best we can say is: "Smells nice, (taste tactfully not mentioned!) fills you up and the box is lovely!"