Kraft Meltdowns convenient for kids — but forgettable

Kraft Singles Meltdowns Flavored Singles. Nacho, Pizza, and Taco. $2.79 per 8-ounce package of 12 individually wrapped slices.

Bonnie: Kraft Singles Meltdowns are individually wrapped American cheese slices that have supposedly been formulated to melt more easily.

I say supposedly because when I followed the package instructions to melt the Nacho on tortilla chips by microwaving on high for 15 seconds, the cheese was not fully melted. And it still wasn't after I added an additional 10 seconds. The result looked and sadly tasted similar to the orange glob served in many a pub. The other flavors were no better.

It's true that these slices contain 35 fewer calories and 2.5 grams less fat per slice than regular Kraft Singles, but I still recommend skipping them.

Carolyn: Truly innovative new products have gone the way of your retirement savings during the current recession. That's all the more reason to be excited about Kraft's new Singles Meltdowns. These are pizza-, nacho- and taco-flavored Singles cheese slices designed to be melted on bagels, tortilla chips and tortillas respectively to create instant pizza, nachos and quesadillas.

There is nothing new about flavored cheese: Meltdowns are as much a new usage idea as they are a new product. At a time when millions of kids come home from school to empty houses with empty stomachs, they're a very good idea indeed.

The quesadilla I created from the Taco slice was hardly any less complex than the one I had in a tony hotel restaurant a couple of weeks back; and my bagel pizza was at least as good as Weight Watchers Smart Ones new "artisanal" ones (watch for our review next week!) and less babyish and cookie-cutter than Pizza Lunchables. (I could see some creative kids letting ketchup stand in for the missing tomato sauce, for instance.)

My only fear is that these kids are going to be even worse than me at following package instructions to wait for these to cool off before biting in. (I foresee burnt tongues from sea to shining sea.) There's also a need for toaster oven directions for future Emerils who'd like their pizza bagel crust crisp.

McCormick Slow Cookers Soup Seasoning Mixes. Chicken Noodle and Vegetable Beef. $1.65 per 1.2- to 1.48-ounce packet.

Bonnie: I'm a fan of McCormick seasonings, but not their seasoning packets like these new soup ones for the slow cooker. McCormick designed each mix to be combined with water and added to fresh vegetables and beef or chicken in your slow cooker.