God richly provides everything for our enjoyment! – 1 Timothy 6:17
If you read this space at all then you already know how much I enjoy food. I enjoy variety, I enjoy unique restaurants, I enjoy creative and exotic preparations, I simply enjoy eating. And – fortunately for Rebekah – I enjoy cooking too. If there’s time to plan ahead, if there’s no rush, and if there’s no pressure, then getting caught up in the kitchen for a few hours, preparing a really great meal, is a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
Time, of course, is the key ingredient that’s often in short supply. That’s why I was intrigued when my friend Mitchie offered to send me a “starter incentive” coupon for Blue Apron, an Internet based meal delivery services.
So this week I finally signed up for a trial subscription, and today I thought it would be fun to share in my blog.
The Verdict, so far:
So far, so good. A big box arrived Tuesday afternoon with all the ingredients, pre-measured, for three interesting meals.
What made it extra good – for me – was the fact that all the food was fresh and high quality. That means I had to peel and slice the carrots, trim and dice the scallions, crush and chop the garlic, and do everything – step by step – just as if I had shopped the grocery store and started from scratch.
What makes it convenient, and a total time of just one hour from walking into the kitchen to serving a gourmet meal, is the fact that everything is right there – including the spices – and the step-by-step directions are extremely clear.
I will say this, however, if you don’t already know how to cook well then this is not going to be easy.
But if you’re a novice interested in learning, then following these directions can serve as an excellent tutorial. Just allow yourself twice as much time and be extremely cautious. Going through a dozen or so menu cards will eventually give you mad skills you can use forever.
Our first meal was the Moroccan Chicken with Prunes and Brown Rice. It was excellent, and I’d give it a solid “B” on my rating scale. The juxtaposition of the Moroccan spices with the sweetness of the prunes and the honey made for a complex, pleasing flavor profile.
At $10 per serving it’s a little pricey compared to the traditional go to the store approach, but the savings in terms of time and the elimination of waste go a long way to offsetting the cost.
So here’s my verdict. If this week’s other two dishes go well, then I’ll likely order six meals a month and see how it affects the budget.
The bottom line here, however, is more than cost, it’s pushing me out of my routine and into new flavors, creative techniques, and uncharted recipes.
Watch this space for more reviews for the Chipotle-Glazed Meatloaf with Crispy Potatoes, and the Spicy Shrimp Coconut Curry with Green Cabbage & Rice.
Peace and blessings – and good eating – DEREK
[…] again, the flavor profile was excellent. I have already learned a lot from the way both recipes (click here for the Moroccan Chicken) used the juxtaposition of sweetness (in this case coconut milk) and spice (curry paste). Adding […]