Hello Fresh Review!

If you've hung out on this blog long enough, you probably have a pretty good idea about how much I love to cook. I love preparing new dishes, I love making old favorites, I love sharing food with family and friends...I even love meal planning! Ha!

A friend recently shared her experience with the company, Hello Fresh, and I was intrigued. I'm not the best a bargain grocery shopping--but I can tell you that the cost of $69 for three meals that serve two people didn't feel like a steal. But...throw in a $40 discount on your first box with ZERO obligation to order another box? That felt just frivolous enough to hook me.

Individually wrapped, perfectly portioned dinners deliver to
to my door step? Yes, please.

Here's the premise: once a week, you log into your account and select three of the meals offered for the next delivery. So far, each week they have had a chicken dish, a pork option, a beef entree, and some sort of seafood to choose from. They deliver it the following week in a ridiculously well insulated box (with like a crazy layer of wool and MULTIPLE ice packs) sometime between 8a-8p. Each week our boxes have actually arrived after 8pm, but weather has been so nuts in Texas the past few weeks that I'm sure UPS is running like mad trying to stay on top of things.

First Hello Fresh meal: Pork al Mojo! Hubby's fave!

Week one we enjoyed:
-Pan-seared Chicken with Tomato-Barley Hash & Charred Broccoli
-Argentine-Spiced Steak with Couscous Salad and Cilantro-Scallion Chimchurri
-Pork al Mojo with Cuban Rice and Beans (hubby's fave of all the meals we've sampled so far!)

Mmmmm...the chimichurri was SO good.

Week two we've sampled:
-Cuban-Style Beef Picadillo
-Old Bay Spiced Salmon and Sweet Potato Cakes with Tomato and Arugula Salad (my fave--but I added some much needed heat with smoked paprika and cayenne)
-Tarragon Chicken and Wheat Berry Salad
***I actually forgot to select me preferred meals for this week, so I was on pins and needles waiting to see what we'd be sent!

As someone who cooks often and tweaks recipes instinctively, I found myself modifying the recipes a bit to adjust to our tastes, but overall each meal was delicious. I loved that we were eating things that while the recipes would have intrigued me when I read them, I doubt I really would have added them to the meal plan. The flavor profiles have been far out of my comfort zone, but have all been super yummy. The clean up has been a cinch each meal, too (HUGE plus!). Biggest downside has been that we don't have much on hand for leftovers after these dinners, and I am a BIG fan of leftovers for lunch (both hubby and I have no problem eating the same thing for a few days, haha!).

Overall thoughts? I think I'll keep Hello Fresh in my back pocket for weeks that look I don't want to think about what we're eating and can't get my act together enough to grocery shop. It's definitely a splurge, but thanks to my little Beachbody income, it's one I can justify every now and then :) I love that by helping others meet health and fitness goals, I can have some "fun" money to spend!!

So...if you've stuck it out this far, here's a referral code you can use to earn $40 off your first Hello Fresh box! Can't wait to hear what you think!!

http://www.hellofresh.com/?c=KSBELW

Spicy BBQ Pulled Pork and Green Apple Coleslaw

As the temps climb, it's funny how quickly my food cravings change. Out goes the soups and stews; in comes the BBQ, cold crisp slaw, and fresh summer veggies. This recipe has been shared a few times on my facebook page, but a recent request for it caused me to dig it out again. It's proof that A) BBQ doesn't necessarily have to mean stretchy pants for days and B) that your crockpot isn't only good at serving up deliciousness when it's cold out! And when you crave some BBQ deliciousness on a holiday weekend like this one, but the rain keeps your grill out of commission, this is a PERFECT solution!

Want to serve it up a little healthier? Skip the bun and serve the pulled pork either in lettuce cups or over half of a baked sweet potato (sounds weird, but the spicy-sweet combo is delish!)

And...y'all. Don't skip the slaw. I have dreams about this coleslaw. It is THAT good.

Perfect Memorial Day meal!

Crockpot Spicy Pulled Pork

(adapted slightly from Pioneer Woman)

1 onion, cut into wedges

1 pork roast (mine was about 3.75lbs)

Salt and pepper

1 can (11 oz) chipotles in adobe

1 20oz bottle Dr. Pepper

2 tbpn brown sugar

Line crockpot with a slow cooker bag, or generously spray with cooking spray. Drop onion wedges in bottom of pot. Add pork—generously salt and pepper whole roast. Pour chipotles (and the sauce—that stuff is money!) and Dr. Pepper over roast. Sprinkle brown sugar over everything, place lid on, and cook on LOW for 6-7 hrs (pork should be falling apart at end of cooking).

Then I removed the meat, and used a slotted spoon to remove onions and peppers from the cooking liquid. I returned the pork to the crock pot and shredded with forks. There is a lot of excess juice—to serve, I used the slotted spoon to remove the shredded pork, and served on a whole wheat bun, topped with BBQ sauce (I love Stubb’s—no high-fructose corn syrup!) and coleslaw (see yesterday’s post!!)

Leftovers are AWESOME—pork enchiladas, tostadas, nachos…you get the idea! Or freeze the leftovers and enjoy sometime in the next three months!

Even the coleslaw leftovers are delish!!

Green Apple Coleslaw with Poppyseed Dressing

(adapted from Foodnetwork.com)

¼ apple cider vinegar

¼ cup mayo (I know, I know…)

¼ cup Greek yogurt (now I’m back!)

1-2 tbsp Dijon mustard

¼ cup raw honey

1 tspn salt

½ tspn ground black pepper

2 tbsp poppy seeds

1 bag coleslaw mix

1 bunch scallions, diced

1 large green apple, cored and julienned

In a large bowl, whisk together apple cider through poppy seeds. I poured about ½ a cup of the dressing into a small container to set aside leaving about ½ cup of liquid in the bowl—you’ll want to dress the coleslaw to taste. Toss in coleslaw mix, apple, and scallion. Cover bowl with saran wrap and let rest in refrigerator for 1 hour.

21 Day Fix Approved: Baked Chicken Fajitas

I have a GREAT group of ladies in the middle of their 21 Day Fix journey right now. I'm always inspired by my challengers, but something about this group and their tenacity, dedication, and positivity has me pretty overwhelmed. Add in that each of them has a list a mile long (don't we all???) of reasons to NOT be taking care of themselves ("I have a small baby at home," "I work full time," "I HATE cooking."....I could go on and on!), and I'm even more inspired by their successes. After just ten days, here are a few of the victories (scale and non-scale!!) they shared with me...

-"I didn't skip a single workout!"
-"I...realized how much water I was not drinking. I'm carrying a water bottle now."
-"I think I'm more flexible."
-"I zipped a pair of shorts I haven't worn in two years, and my waist is down a 1/2 an inch!"
-"I'm just proud of myself for not giving up...I'm only down a few pounds, but I love how Autumn reminds me it is one pound at a time."

Y'all. That's the reason I do this. It isn't about a quick fix. And even though this program is only three weeks long and usually has pretty ridiculous results (one of my challengers is down 18 lbs after two rounds of 21 Day Fix!!!), it's not about the "get fit quick" scheme. You aren't ingesting anything that isn't whole food based and good for you. There aren't weird supplements or creams. If quick results are all you are after, you need to find a different blog to read because I'm more impressed with the little victories like the ones I shared. These women have committed to making LIFE STYLE changes. Is it always easy? No. Are there days that are harder than others? Yes. But are we making small changes that over time will have a lasting effect for the health and well being of both ourselves and those we live with and love? Absolutely.

OK. Stepping down from my soap box :)

Last night I asked my gals what had been their favorite meal so far. The first vote was for this quick and easy Baked Chicken Fajita dish...that I coincidentally was making as the comment was posted to facebook, lol! I LOVE that in the time that it takes for my oven to preheat, I have the whole dish ready to go. Heat up some tortillas and slice an avocado while the fajitas are baking, and dinner is served!

Warning...your home will smell like a fiesta!

Baked Chicken Fajitas
(Serves 4)

Ingredients:

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips
2 Tbsp EVOO
2 tsp chili powder (I usually opt for 1/2 chipotle chili powder and 1/2 regular...I like heat!)
2 tsp tsp cumin
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1/4 tsp pepper
1 (15 oz) can diced tomatoes with green chiles (such as Rotel)
1 medium onion, sliced
1 small red bell pepper, cut into strips
1 small green bell pepper, cut into strips

Sliced avocado (optional)

Salsa (optional)

Corn tortillas

Preparation:

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Place chicken strips in a greased 13×9 baking dish.
In a small bowl combine the oil, chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, dried oregano, and salt.
Drizzle the spice mixture over the chicken and stir to coat. Next add the tomatoes, peppers, and onions to the dish and stir to combine. Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are done. Top corn tortillas with chicken, vegetables, avocado, and salsa.