Easy Microwave Desserts in a Mug: Third Edition Paperback – November 21, 2009

This is my 2nd copy after giving the first to my divorced dad who lives alone with a very small kitchen (read a hot plate, a microwave, and a small refrigerator!). The recipes are yummy and the mixes make great gifts! It even works well for food-allergic people. For example, most other microwave books use premade mixes and canned foods that frequently contain allergens. Because it's premixed, there's no way to remove the allergen without losing a lot of flavor. But this one lists all the ingredients separately, making substitutions easy. I've substituted for gluten, dairy, and egg so far with little or no problems. I supposed people on 'normal' diets might not like my substitutions but my kids and I sure enjoy them. It's also handy for last minute celebrations. I can whip up a mug cake or two and send my kids over to join the birthday party with almost no notice! No more standing around while the other kids eagerly enjoy cake. (Making a cake from scratch is a major production. Now try making it without gluten, dairy, or eggs. ARGH!) Oh, and Lyons's other books are good too. Short and to the point - all the info you need and none of the filler.Here's my allergen-free recipe tips:Use a gluten-free baking mix that already has guar gum or Xanthan gum added.To sub for butter, use your favorite dairy-free margarine or try vegetable shortening.To sub for milk, you can try soy powder + lecithin, powdered rice milk, powdered coconut milk, or powdered almond flour for dry milk (you'll probably have to experiment some).If non-dairy dry 'milk' is unavailable, try substituting your favorite liquid non-dairy milk for the water you add to the mix when 'cooking' in the microwave.To sub for eggs, use either flax meal or chia seeds. 1/2 TBSP flax meal or chia seeds = 1 tsp egg white powder. (The latter is what she uses for eggs in the book.)For vanilla powder, break up a dried vanilla bean and grind ONE piece (or maybe 2) in a clean coffee grinder. Use half the amount listed in the recipe and if not tasty enough, try again with the full amount listed next time.

I bought this book after taking it out of the library. I have made the peach crisp three times and the chocolate cake once. It is so easy to make the recipes and it only takes some simple ingredients to have a small dessert for one. I make two for my husband and I and it's just enough so I don't have any leftovers calling me from the kitchen every night. I have bought all the ingredients so I can make any one anytime I want to. I don't bother putting some of the ingredients in a mug to give away as gifts. I just bought the book to make dessert for my husband and I. I bought some cheap mugs (14 ounces) from Walmart to use and they work great in the microwave. I put most of my cookbooks away in a pantry when I'm not using them, but this one stays in my kitchen always. I am so glad I bought it.

I was hesitant to purchase this book due to a couple of bad reviews. I'm glad I didn't pay attention to them. Yes, you will benefit from having powdered egg whites on hand and vanilla powder, but don't have to have the vanilla powder on hand (can use extract). I had both.....I'm a baker, what can I say...... Anyway, fun to make up for gifts for numerous people or for the college students going away.....or just plain easy to have a few premade for those times you just don't have the strength or energy to measure out and cook. We've already used this many times and continue to go back for more.

I was looking for mixes to make and microwave in a mug. This is not that type of book. In it, you mix a few ingredients to put in a plastic bag, but then have to mix up many other other outside the mug, then put back it all back into the mug and bake in the oven. Seems like a whole lot of waste of energy warming up the oven to make one mug worth a dessert. Seller did there part providing excellent service, just that the title of the book was misleading.

too hard

Love this book. Pretty much made every single one of them since bought.Use butter powder from hooiser farm instead of fresh butter. I want to be able to take to work. Works well with no adjustments.Instead of instant rice I use a cup of cooked rice for rice pudding.Don't like a few but that's personal taste. Brownies are great. So is chocolate pudding. The muffins etc. Even pecan pie really does like pecan pie. Cinnamon coffee cake yum.

Used the recipes to make kits for our college student who cannot cook. Recipes that we used turned out great. Vanilla powder is difficult to come by locally so if you plan to use it you should order it with the book.

For a single person who loves desserts, it's definitely worth trying. Sorry to say, I haven't done that yet but you have brought it back to mind.