In our previous discussion, I shared my exploration with the 5-Dinners-in-1-Hour meal plan. I’m delighted that the majority of the six recipes I tried were delectable, and I definitely plan to prepare them again. So, let’s dive right into my final analysis of the meals and the meal plan structure.
Baked Ziti – I thoroughly enjoyed this. My version turned out slightly watery, which could have resulted from the pasta or the pan I used. My husband endorsed it, and even my choosy 16-month-old relished it when we had leftovers for lunch the next day. I incorporated a small amount of meat as we lean more towards non-vegetarian meals. My rating would be 4/5 stars.
Spicy Chicken Cacciatore – Another winner in our household! Both my spouse and I were fond of it. Gets a deserving 5/5 stars.
Cilantro Lime Salmon – This one was disappointing. The lime flavor overshadowed everything else. Usually, my husband isn’t fussy about food, but this particular dish displeased him. My rating, unfortunately, is 0/5 stars.
Slow Chicken Taco Soup – Initially, I was skeptical about this recipe, as it looked overly simplistic. But it turned out to be my personal favorite from the bunch, and I admit I overindulged at dinner time. My husband typically steers clear of soups, but this one caught his fancy. Definitely, a keeper with a top score of 5/5 stars.
Almond Crusted Chicken – This was fairly appetizing, particularly once sprinkled with some parmesan cheese. However, both my husband and I agreed it lacked something. We felt a Ranch-style sauce drizzled on top would have elevated it. Assembling did present some challenges. The recipe suggests including tahini sauce in the egg wash, which in my opinion was rather pointless. It didn’t enhance the dish or flavor and felt like a wasted expense. Maybe next time, I’ll experiment by smearing a little tahini on the chicken after it’s dipped in egg and then rolled in almonds. It merits 4/5 stars with room for betterment.
Asian Beef Salad – Though the dish initially sounded enticing, it turned out rather bland. It was so mediocre that I decided against serving it to my husband, who isn’t fond of having salads for dinner. This one bags 2/5 stars.
All in all, I appreciate how user-friendly this system is. The standout advantage was that it helped me save money over the two weeks I tried these dinners. It also cut down on time and stress, leading me to look forward to experimenting with more future recipes and incorporating some favorites into the 5-dinners-in-1-hour framework.
It is worth noting, though, that over a phase from September to November, the three menus offered seemed repetitive. This means I might not continue my subscription. Instead, I plan to revisit in a few months to check if new menu options have been introduced. In my opinion, the 3-month subscription offers good value as it gives access to 36 different menus (4 menus each month with three plans to compare). It’s easy to find delicious recipes by exploring the three menu categories each month. The site also features a handy menu builder to collate your favorites.
On the whole, I appreciate this website and intend to adopt this cooking technique, likely once a month, as I enjoyed the experience. I am also entertaining the idea of freezer cooking, and I’ll share more on that next week.
