This post is sponsored by Blue Apron. I was compensated for my time. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Hi Friends!
You know when something happens in life and the timing is just so perfect that you can’t help but feel a huge sense of relief? That’s exactly how I felt when I opened an email from Blue Apron a few weeks ago. I was just home from the hospital with a new baby and getting dinner on the table was a bit of a struggle. Getting to the grocery store was even more of a challenge. So when Blue Apron offered to let me test out their meal delivery service, I jumped at the chance!
In case you’re unfamiliar, Blue Apron basically take meal planning to the next level. They deliver fresh ingredients right to your door (in a refrigerated box) so you can skip your weekly trip to the grocery store, and all the ingredients are pre-measured for you in exactly the right proportions- which makes preparation a cinch! They ship to over 80% of the country and all meals can be made in under 40 minutes. When you sign up, you get three meals per week- for two or four people for the price of $9.99 per person with free shipping and there’s no commitment – you can skip or cancel the service at any time.
I was excited when I saw the menu that I’d be getting to test out. All three meals sounded delicious.
Here’s what I made:
Chicken Schnitzel with Watercress, Apple & Beet Salad
{click here for the recipe}
One of the things I liked most about Blue Apron was how it exposed me to new ingredients. I eat a lot of chicken prepped a lot of different ways, but schnitzel is not something I’ve made before! I’ve also never tried watercress, and although I like beets, I rarely cook with them.
I loved having the ingredients pre-measured for me so all I had to do was wash, chop and mix. Baby was moderately unimpressed with my cooking efforts.
The end result was great! The chicken was flavorful and the salad was such a unique combination of flavors! I loved the apples and beets together and the dressing had a nice tang to it!
Another highlight- the recipe cards. They came with very clear, easy to follow directions and ingredient lists and a nice description of the dish.
Up next:
Shrimp & Mustard Green Laing with Jasmine Rice
{click here for the recipe}
Mustard greens were another new-to-me ingredient!
Here’s the final product:
I loved that all their meals had great visual appeal and could be made easily but look super fancy. This meal had great flavor and was a fun change from the typical curry that I usually make.
And finally:
Orecchiette Pasta with Roasted Cauliflower & Capers
{click here for the recipe}
I was a little unsure about this meal because I’m not a huge fan of capers…but I am a huge pasta fan.
Cauliflower is another veggie I don’t buy often but I really enjoyed it roasted in this dish.
I shared this dish with my dad and he really liked the combination of flavors.
I like fun colored veggies so I was a little bummed they sent green cauliflower instead of the purple variety in the picture on the recipe card…but that didn’t affect the flavor 🙂
Side note – don’t I just have the cutest kitchen assistant?!
Anyways… now for the big question- would I use Blue Apron myself?
Yes, but mostly for special occasions. Here are some situations where I think it would be great:
- Date night! How fun would it be to use a Blue Apron box for date night- even a couples date night! You could order three 2-person meals and invite another couple over for dinner. All of you could have fun together cooking in the kitchen and there would be enough food for everyone to have a taste of 3 different meals.
- Treat yourself! Have a particularly busy week coming up? Schedule a Blue Apron order to make dinner time easier at the end of a busy day.
- Presents! Know a family who has a new baby or is caring for a sick family member? Send them a Blue Apron order to make their lives easier. Or simply treat a friend or family member for a Christmas present!
CLICK HERE for more details about gifting Blue Apron meals.
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So there you have it! Want to check out more Blue Apron Recipes? CLICK HERE.
Enjoy!
–Lindsay–
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Oh my gosh, those meals look awesome! I am digging the fresh ingredients and unique recipes. I am totally with you in that I’d use it for date night or a busy time of the year like right now! Ha!
Sounds perfect! I like the full-color very detailed recipe cards — a past service I tried was a little more mysterious with the expected recipe outcome 😉
I really liked Blue Apron’s meals – very tasty and as you said, introduced me to some new flavors and ingredients. I did find that the meal prep took more time than I had most evenings. I agree with it being a nice splurge and a good gift to give.
I love this concept! I have so many client who are time-challenged. It may cost a little more than going to the store yourself but for many it is totally worth it!
Interesting! We have one in ATL called Garnish & Gather that I love – they source everything locally and you make the meals at home. I love it because you still get to cook, and I often learn a new technique.
Yes – you most definitely have a cute assistant! Blue Apron Meals sounds like a lifesaver to those short on time and others like me who despise the cold! 😉
Wow. Best Christmas gift idea for my MOM!!! She’s always wondering what to make for dinner!
I actually ordered from Blue Apron for the first time the same week as you (we had all the same meals)… I thought it was a really cool service and the meals were delicious with fun ingredients… although a little expensive to do on a regular basis. Your Schnitzel looks much tastier than mine though, I had some trouble with the breading!
This is great for someone who doesn’t like to cook or needs help with it. Good xmas gift too!
this is such a fun idea and would make a great gift!
This sounds heavenly! I could have used these this week since both hubby & I are in the middle of finals week! 🙂
That’s a really cool service. Loved how they measured everything for you and provided good instructions! Seems like instructions are sometimes really lacking!
Do they have options for package selections, as in can you specify vegetarian or paleo or something similar? Thanks for sharing!
Your chicken meals looks EXACTLY like the picture. That’s amazing! My meals never turn out just like the recipe!
OMG. I just signed up. I assume they just send you the meals and then you go for it? What a fun way to experiment w/ new ingredients and recipes. I’ll let you know how it works out. First delivery is in early January 🙂
Yay! I signed up and I’ll give it a whirl. It is perfect to have delivered next week so that I have a few go-to meals without needing to get groceries which will just go bad in our fridge while we are gone over the holidays. I can’t wait for them to get here!
I just tried out Blue Apron last night for a blog post too! The meals got me out of my comfort zone and were delicious. I think you are right that it’s definitely for a special occasion!
i’ve heard such good things about blue apron! i never would’ve thought to pair shrimp and mustard greens.
I think sometimes the hardest thing about getting dinner on the table is deciding what to make and figuring out what to buy. This does all that for you and the finished meals look wholesome and beautiful. I will share this on my FB pages since it’s definitely something the “mom” in my blogging world will want to know about. Thanks!
The pasta dish looks really good!! I love how convenient these meals are!
The meals look really good! I would only use it for special occasions too though. The food is much fancier than I usually eat. Those are dishes I would probably only eat once a year at a fancy restaurant!
I love the concept of Blue Apron, but really enjoy cooking for myself too. I couldn’t see myself using it all the time, but really like the idea of ordering for special occasions, as a treat, etc. Great ideas!
Hi Lindsay! I hope you’re feeling better! I have heard so many good things about Blue Apron and could see it as a good choice for my husband and me. Happy Thursday to you:)
Your meals look amazing! I wish blue apron delivered to canada!