Meal planning is one of those ongoing things that we have to do in life. Â Eating and planning meals is a daily event for all of us.
It’s not often that I have my mom and dad over to eat. Â My dad is a little picky and he is so used to my mom’s food and cooking habits that he doesn’t really like to eat out of the ordinary food all that much. Â We chuckle over this in our family, because we know how dad is. Â He’s not one for new things. He adores my mom’s cooking and that’s where he would rather eat most all the time. Â Of course, she on the other hand, would like a break occasionally. My sister and I try to go over there about once a week to have lunch with them. They love that of course and we do too. Â Mom has always cooked a big meal at lunch time and continues to cook meals for them every day. Â Cooking has always been her thing.
Last year, I introduced you to a meal delivery service called Blue Apron and this year I’m going to be working with them quarterly to show you the meal service plans they offer and how it works in a real home. It really is a neat concept and I do think it’s a great idea for many folks. Someone who is working and simply doesn’t have a lot of time to meal plan and grocery shop. Older folks who can’t get out of the house all the time to shop and bring home the groceries. There are lots of people who could benefit from a meal service like Blue Apron and I still think it’s a fantastic idea.  Going to the grocery store and having a set list of recipe ingredients is half the battle in cooking tasty meals at home. Â
So, since I’m partnering with Blue Apron this year and sharing meals every few months, I thought this would be a good time to have my parents over to try out a new dish.
The box arrived and I unpacked everything. Â As usual, all the recipe ingredients are packed up nice and neat in this refrigerated box and everything comes out fresh and ready to cook.
You can choose from a selection of meals offered for that week online and get those things that appeal to you. And you can choose meals for 2 or 4.
- Each menu is between 500-700 calories per person, so these are healthy well-balanced meals too.
- Ingredients are super fresh and sourced from quality local suppliers and artisans.
- All meals can be prepared in 40 minutes or less. (love this part!) As you can see above, all the ingredients are well marked for each recipe and the bags have handy tags on them identifying what goes with what. The only thing that is not included is oil and salt and pepper. They figure you have that in the pantry.
With a recipe card inside, it’s easy to start cooking. Â The card has all the ingredients listed on one side and then the step by step directions on the other. Â We are having Braised Chicken Thighs for this meal along with cheesy polenta, which is sort of like grits.
I chopped and prep all the veggies, getting it ready to simmer.
Adding spices to the chicken thighs, they are ready to cook.
They sauté in a saucepan for a few minutes, then it’s time to add the veggies.
Following the directions exactly, my braised chicken thighs look really good. Â Polenta was included as a side dish to this meal.
And here’s the final presentation. Â My roommate, Rhonda, was home too so we all sat at the table and ate a delicious lunch together.
It was a treat for mom and dad and for us to actually sit at the table and eat. Â We don’t do that very often. Â When my outdoor porch gets cleaned up, I’ll be eating lunch on the porch table.
The girls all enjoyed the meal. Â Dad was content with his, but didn’t brag on it too much. We all thought it was a delicious combo and it reminded me of Chicken Cacciatore, the flavors of onions and peppers and tomatoes blended together. Â The polenta you see in the prep picture was prepared too. It’s sort of like grits and I added butter and parmesan cheese to it. Â You can see it in a separate bowl on the table.
Another meal from this box that I tried out was the Salmon Rolls. Â It was really, really delicious, sort of a chicken salad type recipe using salmon. Â I opted not to use the bread, but this was a delicious meal. Â I had never heard of pea tips before, but that was the ingredients used for the side salad, mixed with a tasty lemon vinaigrette. Â I loved this one a lot and will keep this recipe!
- I really like the fact that Blue Apron lets you create good, chef-designed recipes at home. I have thoroughly enjoyed every single meal I have had from Blue Apron. Not one has disappointed me yet.
- I can’t tell you how much food we have to throw out that doesn’t get used in time. Blue Apron sends just the right amount of measured ingredients with no waste.
- You get your choice of 2 types of plans, for either 2-people or the Family Plan. Each plan sends one delivery a week, each with three tasty meals for either 2 or 4 people.
- The chefs at Blue Apron are always working on new and delicious menu items and create 6 new recipes a week for the plan. You will be sent 3 recipes chosen for you based on your meal preferences.
- The price for the 2 person plan is $9.99 per person per meal.
- Feeding a family of four? The Family plan is either one or two deliveries per week and the price for this plan is $8.74 per person per meal.
- You never have to worry about shipping, it’s always free! And the box is refrigerated so it stays fresh even it it sits on your porch for awhile.
- Adding new dishes all the time to their menu, Blue Apron has something for every palette.
Blue Apron meal service ships nationwide to over 80% of the country (full map of delivery zones.)
Blue Apron has a special offer for my readers:Â
First 50 readers will get two meals off their first Blue Apron order free!
Just click here:Â Blue ApronÂ
Note: This post is sponsored by Blue Apron. All the pics and sharing of the products is all my own.
Oh Blue Apron is some kind of foodie angel in a box!! The meals are so delicious and so good for you. Your parents are so adorable and look, as if they can’t wait to dive into the dishes you have prepared. Looking forward to a new dish each month.
What happened to the polenta? Was that part of the Blue Apron box?
Yes, it was on the side in a separate bowl in the pics. It was very good too!
Your parents look great in their matching lunch attire!
I just love posts that include them and will be anxious to see more of your dad’s garden.
Yum, I will have to see if I can get this product when I go to rural Minnesota! The picture of your parents is lovely, the background shot of your home is lovely, too.
Rhoda I have to again thank you for introducing us to Blue Apron last year. My husband and I enjoy the incredible range of food adventures every week. We’ve literally taken a world tour over the last year. I highly recommend this service to anyone who likes to explore new cuisines. I’ve never had a disappointing meal.
Janet, thank you for letting me know! I’ve been thoroughly impressed with all the meals too. They have all been very tasty.
Interesting concept but I am rather like your daddy, picky. I would have to use Chicken breasts instead of thighs!! But the salmon dish sounded tasty. I do think home cooking is so important and if this product causes busy people to cook at home, sit down at the table and chat, it is well worth the price.
Goodness this looks like something I would love! No time to shop and cook, it would be a real time saver! Your parents are so cute! I have mine over every Sunday for dinner! xo Leslie Sinclair
Hi, I am wondering if they are considering a plan for “singles”?!
I would be interested in that type of plan!
Monica, I’m not sure, but the meals for 2 would be great for leftovers, if you like those. I happen to love leftovers!
Rhoda, your comment regarding your dad’s taste for food brought back memories of my dad. Back in the day, when everyone started preparing casseroles as a meal and salad on the side, my mom and dad were visiting us out of state. My mom pulled me aside and said “if your dad doesn’t eat very much, it’s because he isn’t a fan of one dish meals. He still wants me to prepare meals as I did when all four of you were at home!” I said, Mom, this meal is for you and if daddy doesn’t like it then he can eat salad!” We laughed and laughed, knowing how stubborn he could be, but like a good guest (even at his daughter’s table!), he ate the casserole and pronounced it delicious! This was encouragement enough for my mom to begin preparing casserole meals for two at home that were healthy and good for them! Great memories ……I love reading your blog!
Awww, Sandy, we just have to love them huh? Those dads can be very stubborn but that makes them lovable too.
We’ve been Blue Apron fans for a couple of years. We love the convenience, fresh ingredients and quality. Some of the recipes have become family favorites.
Rona, I’m so glad to hear that.
Love this post. I have signed up and can’t wait for my first order to arrive. I live alone but my children come home often and I love to cook for them. It’s usually one of them at the time so I ordered the one for 2 people, then I get left overs for work lunch ..yum!!! Thank You so much for the offer and for sharing this wonderful idea and company.
I am in the process of moving to a house with a beautiful pond view and love your decorating ideas. I live on the coast of North Carolina so of course I was drawn to your blog.
I love this Blue Apron idea and just now signed up. I get my first box May 8th and am really looking forward to it and to trying things I may not have had before. Sometimes I feel like cooking but don’t know what to make then I don’t feel like going to the store. I am hoping this works out for me.
Sandy, I think you will enjoy Blue Apron! If I didn’t travel so much, I’d do it all the time too.
This has absolutely nothing to do with Blue Apron (which is amazing btw), but the picture of your parents – I swear they are looking younger than ever! A beautiful picture of a dear couple we readers have come to feel like family. Jane
Hi, Jane, that is so sweet. I love how my readers so enjoy my parents, I keep telling them how popular and famous they are nationwide.
Yum! And your parents are the cutest!!!
Your parents are too cute!