Product: Harry & David Garlic Smoked Mozzarella Dip

Description: Smokey mayonnaise-based dip also containing soybean oil, mozzarella cheese and dehydrated garlic

Preparation summary: Ready to serve

High points: Extremely full flavored, so a little goes a long way

Low points: Imagine chasing down a few strips of bacon with a shot of liquid smoke. The smoky essence overwhelms any hint of cheese, lemon juice and spices lurking in the product.

Average Retail Price: $7.95

Availability: Harry & David in Fashion Valley Mall

Product: Trader Ming’s Kung Pao Noodles & Sauce

Description: Wheat flour noodles and chili-infused kung pao sauce contained in a Chinese to-go box

Preparation summary: Empty contents of noodle and sauce packets into the box, mix with a fork, then reseal box and microwave on high for two minutes

High points: Chili flakes and an invisible measure of pineapple in the sauce strikes a snappy balance between sweet and spicy. Meal portion is fairly substantial.

Low points: Sauce consistency is too thick with only a few particles of peanuts that surface. Noodles are dead soft.

Average Retail Price: $1.99

Availability: Trader Joe’s

Product: Girl Scouts Lemon Chalet Cremes

Description: Lemon “cream” sandwiched between two rectangular biscuit-like cookies debuting this season by the Girl Scouts of the USA. Each box contains 14 cookies.

Preparation summary: Ready to eat

High points: The generous layer of filling is both sweet and reasonably tart, with just enough natural flavoring to avoid that Lemon Pledge aftertaste. The cookies are a tad larger compared to others in the Girl Scouts line, which, compared to Thin Mints, helps prevent you from polishing off an entire box in one sitting.

Low points: Our young scouts are inadvertently peddling palm and cottonseed oils contained in the cookies, thus attacking the arteries of their adult buyers.

Average Retail Price: $4

Availability: Girl Scouts distributors, or by calling 800-643-4798.

Product: Annie’s Microwavable Mac & Cheese

Description: Five single servings of white cheddar macaroni and cheese using organic pasta, designed for the microwave only.

Preparation summary: Empty noodle packet into microwave-safe bowl, add a half-cup of water and cook on high for three minutes. Then, add the powdered cheese, mix and serve.

High points: Fast and easy to prepare

Low points: Servings are miniscule. Noodles become inundated by starch after cooking in the small amount of water, which prevents a sauce from forming when mixed with the cheese powder.

Average Retail Price: $2.49

Availability: Henry’s, Trader Joe’s and select grocery stores