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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I would love to try the hoisin glazed chicken meatballs. They just started to deliver in my area and I’m anxious to try it
Sweet potato, broccoli and quinoa salad looks the best!
Love blue apron! the hoisin glazed meatballs!
Wow!! That chicken piccata looks amazing.!
I’d love to try the sweet potato, broccoli, and quinoa salad! I love goat cheese 🙂
I would like to try the salmon burgers because I love salmon
I’d like to try the hoisin glazed chicken meatballs…
The Hoisin-Glazed Chicken Meatballs!
The seared steak and mashed potatoes looks soo yummy!! I would love to try Blue Apron!
vegetable kati rolls!
The Hoisin-Glazed Chicken Meatballs look tasty!
The hoisen glazed chicken meatballs! Yum!
chicken meatballs!
Those Huevos Rancheros look amazing!! I’ve been meaning to try Blue Apron; what an awesome service!
Salmon burgers! Makes me feel like summer is here 🙂
It’s a close one b/w the 1) Hearty Sweet Potato, Broccoli & Quinoa Salad with Tahini-Lemon Dressing & Goat Cheese and the 2) Paneer & Vegetable Kati Rolls with Tamarind-Date Chutney
Those chicken meatballs!
sweet potato, broc & quinoa salad – I’m vegetarian & this sounds YUMMY!
I’d love me some huevos rancheros. Thanks for the giveaway 🙂
I would try the paneer and vegetable kati rolls as it’s something that my husband and I have never tried before.
I’d love to try making the salmon burgers! I buy them frozen all the time, it’d be interesting to try them from scratch
Sweet potato, broccoli and quinoa salad looks delightful, as does the chicken meatballs. Ok, who am I kidding, they all look good!
Grilled Brie Sandwiches!! Yum
I think the vegetable rolls sound good
The huevos rancheros look delicious!
Mexican shrimp fried rice!
The hoisin glazed chicken meatballs look great!
My fiance and are real protein buffs so we agreed together that these 3 sound the best to make: Seared Steaks & Mashed Potatoes, Hoisin-Glazed Chicken Meatballs and the Seared Cod with Spring Vegetables & Lemon-Mustard Vinaigrette. I hope we win this Giveaway! It would be so nice to try it out for free before committing to doing BlueApron. If we liked it enough, we would definitely consider.
Salmon burgers look delicious! and also very outside of my normal cooking “comfort zone”!
Seared Cod! It’s hard to get fish perfectly cooked at home.
Grilled brie sandwiches sound so delicious!
I just used the discount but I would love to keep using this service with some free meals or give it as a gift- Fathers Day! I can’t wait for the salmon and cod recipes!
Huevos rancheros!
Another vote for the huevos rancheros!!!
Seared cod
I would love to try the huevo rancheros!
The hoisin chicken meatballs – it’s not something I’d typically make at home.
Hoisin glazed chicken meatballs
The huevo rancheros looks amazing! I would love to try it 🙂
I’d pick huevos rancheros for sure!
You’re such an adorable prego! I’m wondering if that full…tight feeling you get could be Braxton Hicks contractions!
Masoor Palak Deal….I love Indian food and want to be more comfortable cooking it.
The huevos rancheros look delicious!
I’d love to try the sweet potato, broccoli, and quinoa salad!
mm huevos rancheros
The glazed Chicken meatballs look delish!
I would love to try making the hearty sweet potato, broccoli, and quinoa salad with tahini-lemon dressing and goat cheese. Um, yum!!
Ugh – that sweet potato, broccoli, quinoa goodness… so tasty!
THe sweet potato broccoli and quinoa salad looks amazing!
Seared steak and mashers!
Oh boy, I would love to make Huevos Rancheros!