Product: Kraft Organic Macaroni & Cheese Dinner

Description: New boxed mac-and-cheese product from Kraft using organic semolina pasta and organic, dried cheddar cheese

Preparation summary: Boil pasta for about six minutes, then mix drained pasta with three tablespoons milk, one-and-a-half tablespoons butter and powdered cheese.

High points: The cheese powder is a more mellow, more natural color compared to the electric-orange cheese mix in the traditional line. The overall flavor is a wee less fake, although devotees of Kraft will still find it nostalgically familiar.

Low points: Would it break the bank at Kraft to give us a half-ounce more of the cheese mix? If you accidentally incorporate just a few extra drops of milk, the sauce turns out bland. Additionally, the organic version is nearly double the price of the original product.

Average retail price: $2.29

Availability: Major grocery stores

Product: Gone Bananas!

Description: Four frozen chocolate-dipped bananas on Popsicle sticks by Trader Joe’s

Preparation summary: Keep frozen until ready to eat.

High points: Cool and refreshing without the drippy mess you encounter from other frozen treats on wooden sticks. The icy bananas, when fresh out of the freezer, resemble gelato in texture, which effectively hides their true mushiness when they start losing their chill.

Low points: Chocolate lovers may be disappointed by the fact that the bananas take dominance over the fudgey coating.

Average retail price: $1.99

Availability: Trader Joe’s

Product: Konriko Artichoke Rice Mix

Description: Uncooked rice from the Acadian region of south Louisiana, flavored with onions, spices and dehydrated artichokes

Preparation summary: Add rice mix to two cups boiling water containing a teaspoon of butter or margarine and one teaspoon of salt. Let simmer for about 30 minutes.

High points: The spices taste less generic and more peppery compared to other flavored rice products. And the rice comes out moist and slightly creamy.

Low points: The dehydrated artichokes seemed missing in action.

Average retail price: $3.69

Availability: Major grocery stores

Product: Gorton’s Grilled Salmon with Lemon Butter

Description: Two rectangular filets of wild salmon with grill marks, lemon butter and parsley

Preparation summary: Recommended method is to cook in a 400-degree oven on baking pan for 14 to 16 minutes. Or cover loosely with wax paper and microwave on high for three to four-and-a-half minutes.

High points: Filets are pleasingly dense and taste very fresh with bursts of lemon and parsley finished by a mild flame-grilled flavor. Pairs extraordinarily well with the artichoke rice reviewed in this column.

Low points: Scummy white protein surfaces when cooking, but easily scrapes off.

Average retail price: $4.29

Availability: Major grocery stores