Have we discovered the perfect apple or what? Ambrosia apples are amazing: attractive, crisp, sweet – and when cut, they take a long time to oxidize! (turn brown) Imagine that! I've enjoyed these for years, but just for fun, the other day I bought some other apples to taste test, and they did not measure up. This one is still the clear winner, hands down. 5 stars.

What is your experience with Ambrosias?

It started out as a simple dinner based on Buitoni Three-Cheese Tortellini mixed with Buitoni Pesto with Basil, plus salt, pepper, Stella Shredded Parmesan Cheese, along with garlic bread.

The family didn't care for the tortellini with pesto. I thought it was fine, maybe a 7. They rated it at about a 2. So we wrapped up the leftovers.

On night #2, to each person's reheated bowl I added Signature Cafe Tuscan Tomato & Basil Bisque from Safeway, along with leftover pinto beans, sliced string cheese and parmesan cheese, served with fresh Naan. 

The consensus? The new concoction was a lot better, but people were still not completely satisfied. My take on it is that night #1 was fine, and night #2 was much better! I loved the rich, buttery tomato soup as a sauce for the tortellini.

The bisque deserves a starring role in a future dinner, as a soup or pasta sauce. 

The tortellini will revert to its original spot in my food lineup, which is in cold pasta salad or chicken tortellini soup with mushrooms and spinach.

My older child, who did not try either tortellini dinner, loves pesto as a substitute for mayo on sandwiches. I'll need to try that.

I considered the bisque an 8.5. It was a fairly expensive lesson, but that's OK. Will I buy these items again? Yes on the tortellini, yes on the bisque.

- Buitoni Three-Cheese Tortellini, 3.5 stars
- Buitoni Pesto with Basil, 3.5 stars
- Signature Cafe Tuscan Tomato & Basil Bisque, 4.5 stars