I’m not sure what’s happening to my motivation lately, but when it comes to household to-dos, I’m feeling less than enthusiastic about cooking, cleaning and keeping up with everyday tasks. Can I blame this on my third trimester? Yes?
About a month or so ago, I was feeling uninspired in the kitchen and, frankly, just plain lazy when it came to planning and preparing delicious dinners. Then I got a text from my mom that included a picture of her latest Blue Apron meal and I started salivating. I immediately ordered a Blue Apron shipment for me and Ryan, hoping a delivery of fresh ingredients and chef-inspired recipes would help break me out of my rut.
It ended up being just the kick in the pants I needed to enjoy my time in the kitchen again and that week Ryan and I sat down to three flavorful meals that we actually had fun preparing together thanks to easy-to-follow recipe instructions and creative cooking techniques. (I swear I learn something new to try in the kitchen every time I order Blue Apron!)
A little backstory about my experience with Blue Apron for those who may not know how I first discovered the service that delivers all the ingredients you need to make three gourmet-quality meals: I first heard of Blue Apron back in December 2013 when my friend Merri made us a delicious Blue Apron dinner of udon noodle soup during one of my visits to New York City. Merri signed up for Blue Apron to teach herself how to cook since she was not really comfortable in the kitchen and raved about the step-by-step instructions that came with each shipment of the meal delivery service.
After I arrived back home, I could not stop talking about Blue Apron and that inspired Ryan to give me four weeks of Blue Apron meals for Christmas that year! We now continue to order Blue Apron meals about once a month or so (we get the two-person plan that breaks down to $9.99 per person per meal with free shipping) and still have yet to make one meal we haven’t loved! We’ve also inspired my parents and two of our friends here in Charlotte to hop on the Blue Apron train.
Our Recent Blue Apron Delivery
Late last week I received my most recent Blue Apron delivery and requested a combination of vegetarian and fish/poultry dishes. The three meals we made were fantastic and, as always, incredibly flavorful thanks to farm-fresh ingredients sourced from quality suppliers and artisans.
Here’s what ended up on our menu:
We made this dish last night and thought the basmati rice was wonderful and incredibly aromatic. We made it with a blend of spices and thought the rice added so much flavor to this dish. I absolutely loved the addition of the fresh mint and cilantro, too!
Blue Apron’s vegetarian dishes are almost always our favorite and this one was no exception. After combining the peppery arugula with Parmesan, lemon zest and olive oil, we had a delicious fresh pesto on our hands to use on top of fresh fettuccine. I couldn’t get enough of this one!
This recipe incorporated pillowy Chinese steam buns that we filled with seasoned ground turkey and topped with zesty kimchi. It was a messy one, but I loved the spicy turkey and fresh veggies!
I personally love the way Blue Apron always includes recipes from a variety of cuisines so I’m constantly exposed to new flavors and spices. Recipes like the Spring Miso Ramen, Manhattan-Style Fish Chowder and Seared Salmon and Long Beans all sound amazing to me!
Blue Apron Giveaway + PBF Reader Discount
And now it’s giveaway time! One PBF reader will win a free week of Blue Apron meals for two!
To enter this giveaway, click here to head over to Blue Apron and check out what’s on the menu for this week and leave a comment below telling me which recipe you’d be most excited to create at home!
And please don’t worry if you don’t win because the first 100 readers who try Blue Apron will receive two free meals on their first order! To receive this promo, please click here to order.
Please note: This giveaway includes a week of meals for two people. Blue Apron now delivers to most of the United States. (You may see if delivery is available in your area here.) I will randomly select a winner on Friday.
Good luck!
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Disclaimer: While this post is sponsored by Blue Apron, affiliate links are not included and I am not receiving any compensation for orders placed with Blue Apron. Though I am partnering with Blue Apron this year, Ryan and I continue to purchase Blue Apron meals on our own because we really do love the service that much! Thank you so much for your continued support surrounding sponsored posts. I truly appreciate it!
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The hoisin-glazed chicken meatballs look and sound really good! I’m always up for trying a meatball that is something other than Italian!
I would be excited to Ty the hoisin glazed chicken meatballs! Have always wanted to to check out Blue Apron!
This week’s menu looks great – I’d probably try the Paneer & Vegetable Kati Rolls first!
I would love to try the huevos rancheros. They look delish!
I’d love to try the Hearty Sweet Potato, Broccoli & Quinoa Salad and the Seared Cod!!!
The hoisin-glazed chicken meatballs look so good! I love meatballs but sadly never make them at home so this would be perfect for me!
The seared steak and mashed potatoes look amazingggg
Love the idea of the hoisin-glazed chicken meatballs! Something I never make at home but looks great.
Oooh – I like two for this week! The Sweet Potato, Broccoli, and Quinoa Salad and the Seared Cod! Yummy! 🙂
I don’t venture out much with fish, usually I rely on salmon. I would select the cod dish because I’ve never prepared it at home!
The Huevos Rancheros would be my pick! I’m always up for something with a kick!
Cod and the chicken meatballs. Both things i think my husband would eat but not something i normally cook
I would be most excited to try Huevos Rancheros. I love getting it for brunch going out to eat, but have never tried to make it at home!
The Pork Bolognese & Mafalda Pasta looks amazing!
Seared Cod with Spring Vegetables & Lemon-Mustard Vinaigrette looks amazing!
HUEVOS RANCHEROS!! Yay, I hope I win!
Oh, I’d like to try the Hearty Sweet Potato, Broccoli & Quinoa Salad with Tahini-Lemon Dressing & Goat Cheese!
I love Huevos Rancheros!!! Though, everything looks good! 🙂
I. Cannot. Cook. I’d love to try this. I’d start with next week’s Paneer and Vegetable Kati Rolls.
Seared Steak and Mashed Potatoes!
I think I would pick the seared steak with mashed potatoes! I get nervous cooking meat thinking it won’t be done correctly or it won’t have flavor so step by step instructions with all of the ingredients provided would be just the kick I need to give it a try.
The glazed chicken meatballs look delicious!
The Blue Apron meals always look fantastic! The seared cod and hoisin-glazed meatballs look good.
Seared cod looks delish
The seared cod !!
The seared cod looks great! Especially since I’m trying to add more seafood to my diet.
Huevos Rancheros!! I am trying to learn to cook fresh meals at home so I stop going out so much. Would love to try!!
That seared cod looks amazing! I would love Blue Apron to help me become more comfortable cooking proteins!
Great giveaway! I Love Blue Apron and I would try this week Seared Steak and Mashed Potatoes.
I would love to try the Hearty Sweet Potato, Broccoli & Quinoa Salad with Tahini-Lemon Dressing & Goat Cheese! It sounds delicious!
I’ve been wanting to try Blue Apron since one of your earliest posts, but I keep putting it off. I love the variety they offer, but I think I’d most like to try the seared cod (since I’ve never cooked cod at home). Yum!
The chicken meatballs or the Kati rolls look amazing! Thanks for a great giveaway!
The glazed meatballs sound good.
I keep saying I need to do this, and haven’t yet- I wish there were a way to gift it though, such a neat idea! (unless i’m just unaware, ha)
I’d love to try the sweet potato/quinoa salad- love lemon and tahini together!
The hoisin-glazed chicken meatballs sound amazing!
Definitely the huevos rancheros! If they’re on a menu, I order them. I’ve never attempted to make them at home!
Hi, Julie!
If I won the free week of blue apron meals I would definitely want to check out the hoisin chicken meatballs. They looks amazing and I am always trying to find a new non-casserole way to eat rice and lean meat.
The chicken meatballs looks great!
Seared steaks for sure! Yum!
The seared steak and mashed potatoes!
The seared cod looks fantastic!
The seared cod looks fantastic!
Seared cod or Huevos Rancheros for sure!! Yum!!
I think the hoisin chicken meatballs sound delicious!
The Grilled Brie Sandwiches look amazing! I’m a sucker for anything that has brie in it 🙂
I’d love to try the Hoisin-Glazed Chicken Meatballs!!!!
Definitely huevos rancheros!
I think the seared cod looks yummy to try!!
Seared pork chops…… TOP of my list.
I’d like to experiement with the Paneer & Vegetable Kati Rolls with Tamarind-Date Chutney — I’ve never made anything like this before so it would be so fun!