The Children are grown now, so what’s for Dinner? It requires a shift in focus!

With a family of seven, dinner use to consist of whatever we had that would stretch to feed the seven of us. Now the problem is, what do we have that won’t require us to eat it for the next 4 days. Empty nest also means that you may need to change your cooking and eating habits.

Also with a smaller family comes the challenge of how to cook smaller meals where there isn’t a TON of leftovers. That is until we discovered quality ingredients delivered right to your door each week.

NEVER was imagined that a box of food could be anything more than just food. However, that is exactly what we discovered through this tour and review of Fresh cooked meals. I even created an entirely new recipe that is sure to be a Care Free favorite!

While I am going to jump right into this review article, I invite you to read part one “A cure for challenging dietary habits…” for the complete picture.

My take on Linguine, either you like a thicker pasta for your Spaghetti or you don’t. While having to substitute our own “preferred” pasta, which happens to be whole wheat Angel Hair pasta wasn’t the issue that we had with this dish.

It was the ingredients that were included with this meal that was the disappointment. You would think that “Hello, FRESH” implies - FRESH in ALL their meals plans.

When spending $10.00 per person per meal, I believe this company could do better than providing dried thyme and chili flakes. And the diced tomatoes, what a joke, try canned Italian tomatoes (sauce) not many visible diced tomatoes, more like canned spaghetti sauce, again NOT FRESH! Not to mention that pasta is available fresh in the dairy case so why not in HelloFresh recipes like their Tuscan Sausage Linguine.

Overall Meal #3 Score: 50%

Due to the careless way the instructions are written and expected to be followed, this was the most impromptu-ly devised meal I have ever created…with a recipe no less! Allow me to explain.

Step 1: Prep and roast the potatoes: Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Cut the potatoes into ½-inch wedges. Mince the chives. Zest and halve the lemon. Toss the potatoes on a baking sheet with a drizzle of olive oil and a pinch of salt and pepper. Place in the oven for 25-30 minutes tossing halfway through cooking, until golden brown.

When you watch the video, by following the directions in step one, it appears that everything that you just prepped was for the potatoes, correct? Well, not so my friend.

Here I have created an EXCELLENT new potato recipe and my picky eater of a husband LOVES them too!

Bake at 400 degrees for about 25-30 minutes, turning the potatoes about halfway through cooking. Didn’t understand what I was to do with or why I had to cut the lemon in half…so I chose just too only use the Lemon Zest on the potatoes, and placed the two halves of lemon into a zip-lock and placed into the refrigerator.

I preferred to toss my potatoes and seasonings in a covered bowl and then pour them out onto the baking pan.

It seems to me that it coats the potatoes better than trying to toss potatoes and seasonings on a flat baking sheet.

One thing about HelloFresh meals; You NEVER know what you might end up creating. A masterpiece or a pile of poo (I still can’t believe how bad a first poopy diaper and leftover Grated Salad could be)!

If HelloFresh would consider making a 7^th step, they might solve a multitude of issues for novice home cook.

We all have known people at some time in our life someone who could cook and make everything look FABULOUS, right? And then there is that other friend, you know the one, at seems to cook the most amazing food, just by winging it. And try as they might, the concoctions that come out of their kitchen just never look EYE Poppingly Professional, but tastes amazing! I am that “Other, Friend” more of a “Wing-It” type home-cook that might follow a recipe for a time or two, but then I just have to BREAK FREE and fly on a wing and a prayer! And with those prayers what often results is a New Recipes and Life Applicable Lessons but never before have I been able to tag it so appropriately to a dish that I created!

Might not be the prettiest thing to look at, But the TASTE IS AMAZING!

Reason: Step One, resulted in preparing something different than what was intended but produced:

Careless Potatoes

Which I believe also NAILS their logo that you see when your box first arrives. “HelloFresh More Than Food”

(Subtracting 50% because the title of the menu states: MIXED GREENS.)

Reasons: In no known universe is Arugula to EVER be called mixed greens.

HelloFresh’s picture on the front of the card is a complete Misrepresentation of the product that was actually received.

(Subtracting 10% for products that aren’t available in the box of meals)

Reason: Attention to detail is not one of HelloFresh’s strong suits on this and other recipes we have received.

I find it rather interesting that HelloFresh can include a small bottle of Maple Syrup to go with the Sticky Seed and grated salad, but can’t provide olive oil in a small packet or bottle for this and other recipes.

Overall Meal Score: 140%

My objectives when signing up with HelloFresh were:

1) I needed some variety in our meals since our life changing experience Oct. 10, 2012.

2) I had to be able to satisfy a meat, potato and bread type dude.

3) Making smaller amounts of food for our smaller family now that the kids are grown and on their own.

4) Helping others along our way. If it helps us, maybe it will help someone else.

My husband said it best when I told him that I had signed up for HelloFresh weekly meals:

“I understand when all 5 kids were at home we had to focus on quantity and not quality, now we are focusing on quality with less quantity.”

I could not have said it better myself, my love!

At this point having prepared and eaten the first food box from HelloFresh let’s look at the scores that each meal has received. You may want to read this article “A cure for challenging dietary habits delivered right to your front door”, to catch up with our review process.

Meal One:

Pan Seared Steak with roasted butternut squash and Green Bean Almondine

Overall score: 92% perfect being 100%

Meal Two:

Jamie’s Baked Sweet Potatoes with Grated Salad & Sticky Seeds

Overall score: 95% perfect being 100%

Meal Three:

Tuscan Sausage Linguine with Zucchini, Chilies, and Parmesan

Overall score: 50% perfect being 100%

Meal Four:

Chicken Milanese with Crispy Potatoes, Mixed Greens, and Creamy Lemon-Chive Dressing

Overall score: 140% perfect being 200%

1) I will be brutally HONEST!

2) I will have an Epiphanial moment that will weave its divine thread throughout the A-Z’s of Life.

While HelloFresh has some things that they could improve upon, I do believe that they are carrying out to a certain degree, what their logo says about them; More Than Food.

Could they improve in some areas? Yes! However couldn’t that be said about us all? And from that stand point, if you will dig into LIFE, you will discover that is really is “More Than Food” and it’s a lesson that can be learned from a few Care Free Potatoes!

Mistakes, misunderstandings and general accidents may only be a blessing in disguise. Roll with what comes. Make adjustments as needed and “Wing-it” a little. You just might end up with a life changing moment with some Care Free Potatoes!

I hope you will click here to discover that it really is more than just about the food, it’s a new perspective on being Care Free; focusing more on quality and less on quantity!