Staying at home means avoiding the nail salon, and as someone who always smudges regular nail polish (seriously, how is it possible that they can still be ready to smear by the time I go to bed?), I have a newfound appreciation for the variety of modern manicure solutions available. I previously reviewed Ohora's at-home gel strips , which are a great option for hassle-free designs. Another option that I really like, even though I am far from a pro, is dip powder. Dip powder is essentially an acrylic powder that contains pigments or glitters. You purchase a set of liquids that can be used with the powders of your choice for a quick and clean manicure that requires very little dry time. Dip powder is easily accessible, and if you're new to dip nails in general, I'd suggest a reasonably priced option for practice. I started with the Lavender Violets brand on Amazon, which comes with a set of powders + all the liquids you need for a beginner. I did find that the l...
I have a love/hate relationship with meal kit delivery services. On one hand, it's nice to get a bit of variety in the weekly rotation. On the other, I have often found that the prep time, delivery delays, or more-than-occasional rotten vegetable made the experience more frustrating and less reliable than I would like, especially because, after the initial promo period, they are not exactly cheap.
On a neighborhood Facebook page, I scrolled past a request for meal delivery recommendations and saw that a neighbor had recommended Freshly pre-made meals. I had never heard of, let alone tried, a meal service that did not require any prep work on my part, and this sounded like a great alternative to take out for those busier weekdays.
You can also set dietary preferences, and there are plenty of healthier alternatives to favorites, such as cauliflower pasta or cauliflower mash.
I selected the 4 meal per week plan, with the intention of getting two meals for myself, and two for my husband. The first selection included Chicken Tikka Masala and Swedish Meatballs and Cauli-Potato Mash.
Unable to perfect my own tikka masala recipe at home, I always try it when it's an option. While the flavor of the sauce was a little bland, the chicken itself was well cooked. In fact, I've found that all of the Freshly items have a great texture. These are not frozen entree quality, and while I wouldn't choose this particular dish again, it wasn't off-putting, and the meat was really well cooked.
The Swedish meatballs were excellent, and I would definitely try them again. The sauce was delicious and the cauli-potato mash is a great texture.
The real star of the show (so far) is the Steak Peppercorn. I have to admit, I was underwhelmed before I placed it in the microwave, but I am so glad that I didn't judge this book by its cover, and gave it a shot anyway. I am not sure what sorcery the Freshly chefs use, but the steak, even when microwaved, is amazing! Cooked to a perfect medium, the steak is tender, lean, and well seasoned. This dish got rave reviews from my husband and me, and I would definitely order it again.
Some things to keep in mind regarding expectations:
- I'm not sure that it's possible to make microwaved pasta dishes quite the same texture as those that are made from scratch at home. I'd recommend going for the cauliflower options (since they are more difficult to make at home) and skipping the traditional pasta. Considering that pasta is cheap, relatively easy to make, especially with a pasta pot like this, I'd add it to the grocery list instead of the Freshly order.
- Some items can get mixed within the container during shipping. This doesn't affect the flavor, but your collard greens might get mixed in with the barbeque, for example. It definitely affects the appearance in some instances, so if that's important to you, it could be a bit of a turn-off.
Overall, I am enjoying using Freshly to supplement my weekly meal plan. The convenience simply cannot be beat, and it makes a great quick lunch or dinner option once or twice per week.
Interested in trying Freshly? Use my link for $40 off!
Keep an eye out for more reviews from me, including the Little Spoon Plates, coming soon.
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