I dig me some good grub. But then, who doesn’t? My problem is that, while I love a good meal, I am not rich enough to go out to dinner every single night and I was not given the best training when it comes to cooking my own meals – though, I can make Kraft Mac & Cheese like a boss. Enter Blue Apron.
I had heard about Blue Apron from a couple of my friends who had tried it and raved, but then I just kept saying that I would check it out eventually. Finally, I saw that they had deal going where I would get a three free meals and one of those meals was an Udon bowl – which I love – so I figured it was time to check it out.
I am so glad that I did.
The service Blue Apron provides is pretty killer. You can see the meals available online a few weeks out from your delivery. There are both meat-eater and vegetarian options – and you have the option of mixing and matching if you wish.
Checking out the menu was kind of exciting and also a bit nerving. You mean to say that I, a non-trained chef, am going to produce Crispy Chicken Milanese with Warm Brussels Sprout & Potato Salad? Sure, we will see.
I set up my order and the next week my package from Blue Apron was waiting for me on my doorstep when I got home from work.
And it was like a foodie Christmas at my place, as the wife and I opened the box to find all kinds of good stuff…
All of the fresh ingredients were still cold, thanks to an icepack, and clearly marked. And there was a recipe card for each with not only directions but pictures detailing what item went with what and how everything should look.
Our box contained everything for:
- Crispy Chicken Milanese with Warm Brussels Sprout & Potato Salad
- Fresh Pimento Cheeseburgers with Collard Green & Carrot Slaw
- Seared Cod & Udon Noodles with Shiitake Broth & Togarashi-Spiced Cucumber
The first one we tried was the seared cod / udon dish.
The wife and I teamed up on the dish – something we rarely do when it comes to cooking – and it was actually pretty fun using ingredients we had never used before – or in the case of Togarashi spices, never even heard of before.
Prepping and cooking the meal was fairly quick and easy – from start to finish it took us about 20 minutes or so – and we soon were at our dining room table (yeah, no eating this one on the couch!) enjoying a really tasty home cooked meal.
And yes, there is truly something really nice about eating a meal that you, yourself created with your own hands – especially when it is something unique that you have never made before.
The next day we made the cheeseburgers – a night in which we turned this…
into this…
It was also a night that I discovered I want pimento cheese on my burgers from now on. The slaw was also really tasty.
Our final meal from Blue Apron for the week was the Crispy Chicken Milanese. I arrived home late from work and the wife had it waiting for me – she even took before and after photos.
It was really good and, yes, that is just another reason she is a rad wife.
After trying out Blue Apron for a week, the wife and I decided to keep using it. Every week the box will set you back about $10 a plate – which is about the price of fast food combo meal nowadays and way cheaper than dining out out at a restaurant. And, you do not have to buy a gigantic portion of the ingredients the way grocery stores make you do, so it’s nice to not end up throwing unused ingredients away when they go bad.
There is also something very nice about coming home to a box of food and not having to battle the snowbirds at the Trader Joe’s parking lot.
Blue Apron also sends along tips and instructions for different cooking techniques which are helpful with your Blue Apron orders or to help you make better meals in the future.
This week, we are changing things up a bit and trying a couple of vegetarian dishes along with some catfish. Our menu will be:
- Crispy Catfish with Yellow Curry & Bird’s Eye Chile Sauce
- Caramelized Onion & Kale Quiches with Frisée & Pear Salad
- Mushroom & Fennel Fettuccine with Hakurei Turnips & Mascarpone Cheese
And I am looking forward to putting all of them in my belly!
There are plans available for 2 people and their is a family plan is well. If you want to try it out you can get 3 Meals Free on Your First Blue Apron Order by using the link.
If you try Blue Apron now – or if you currently use it or have used it previously – let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
Top Image: Blue Apron. All other images: Kristen Dolan
Note: this article features affiliate links and if you buy anything, Cactus Hugs may get a small amount – but hey, you get to try some rad food and we get to pay for web hosting. Win-win!
