Freshly Review - Day 1 - Initial Impressions

So, with my health being so poor for so long, but now good enough for my spouse to go back to classes, we've decided to give Freshly a try.

If you aren't familiar, they are one of these new trends of  "meal box plans" by mail.  BlueApron and Plated are the more well-known, but they send you ingredients which you then have to cook.  Since in my case, the standing-long-enough-to-cook is the issue, we opted for Freshly, which is ready-made meals which you just have to heat up in the microwave.  You can choose from 6, 9, 12, or 21 meals.  We opted for 6 meals to give it a try before we committed to any more.  The meals aren't exactly "super cheap" (ranging from $10.75-$11.50 per serving depending on how many you get), but it's about equivalent to fast food, and looks to be a LOT healthier.  I do feel it's a tad overpriced for the serving sizes at full price, but not so much that it is a deal breaker by any means.

Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Cup

I have a new passion – or perhaps it would be more accurate to say addiction – for single serve, microwave desserts in a cup.  This is absolutely the most brilliant invention ever.  It's quick - from the decision to make it, to eating is less than five minutes.  It's easy - all you need is a measuring spoon and a mug, really; and it leaves no more mess behind than that, either, and no extras to store.  And it's delicious!  It is easily as good as most storebought cookies, and better than many homemade ones I've tried.

This particular recipe is the first one I tried, and while it is not perfect, it is easy to try, and quite good enough to hook me!

Super Simple No Fail Fudge

Who doesn't love fudge? But it's a treat that can only be bought in a store, not reasonably made at home for the vast majority of people, right?

Wrong.

With this super easy recipe, anyone can make fudge at home; and more than that, you can make a huge array of kinds of fudge, from strawberry lemonade fudge for a summer picnic, to ultra decadent chocolate hazelnut fudge to give away at Christmas.

Cheater Microwave Raspberry Cake Recipe

Easy Dessert Recipes Perfect for Dorm or College Food, or Any Time

This easy cake recipe using fruit preserves is quick and simple, but can be modified to fit any taste for sweets.

This super easy cake recipe is perfect for satisfying a sweet tooth without lots of preparation and mess, or a lot of technical know-how, as with most baking recipes. This makes it ideal as a beginner college recipe for a young adult just off on their own and living in the dorms, or any time you have limited space or equipment for baking. No oven or specialized equipment is necessary, just a couple of bowls, a glass or ceramic dish, and a microwave. It is also very quick to make, so can be easily used to just throw together if you decide at the last minute that a meal just has to have a dessert, or whenever you don't have the time to deal with the mess that most baking results in.

Try experimenting with different preserves, in addition to the recommended raspberry. Apricot, blackberry, plum, strawberry or even apple would probably be wonderful. Just be sure to use the seedless preserves, not jams with the seeds, nor jellies, as these are likely to give the finished cake undesirable tastes or textures. Above all, have fun with it! Try combining different flavors in the cake and the frosting, like apricot in the cake and plum in the frosting. Or try a triple-berry cake, with raspberry, blackberry and strawberry. With a recipe this easy to put together, it isn't hard to get creative.