Hello Fresh Subscription

Is it just me or do some weeks hardly have enough time to wash enough undies to make it through to Saturday, never mind enough time to finish a thousand other things on a "to-do" list that never seems to shrink? With all this insanity I try to look for short cuts here and there, because more time back in my life is a win! Thanks to the wave of subscription box mania there are several different fresh meal deliveries offered. So far I have only tried one, Hello Fresh, thanks to a very sweet Instagramer who gave me a coupon she was unable to use because she lives in Canada. We enjoyed it so much the first time that we decided to give it another try when they offered me a discount to come back and try again. I love a good deal so I couldn't resist!

Quick overview from their site:

Always Fresh & Healthy

Fresh is not only in our name, it's our promise to you. We bring you the freshest and healthiest food, with a dash of fun, a sprinkle of learning, and a dollop of deliciousness, all for a great price.

Always Experienced Chefs

We create delicious recipes from a variety of cuisines. Each one is reviewed by our in-house dietician to ensure it's balanced and nutritious. Our signature step-by-step recipes make cooking easy and quick, so you can get delicious meals on the table every day.

Always Trusted Suppliers

Seasonal, fresh, and the highest quality. We build close relationships with our small farmers, butchers, fish mongers and fellow culinary enthusiasts to ensure that only the best ingredients make it to your dinner table.

Pricing

3 Classic Meal Box for Two - $69 ($11.50 per person)

3 Classic Meal Box for Four - $129 ($10.75 per person)

3 Vegetarian Meal Box for Two - $59 ($9.83 per person)

3 Vegetarian Meal Box for Four - $109 ($9.08 per person)

 

This may sound a little high, but it gives back the time to your day/week that would otherwise be spent planning, shopping and prepping. The "service" you receive makes everything balance out - at least it does for us. They also make it super easy to stop and start your subscription multiple weeks at a time by just clicking on the week - green is deliver and red is to skip. Where is my "That Was Easy" button - yes, I actually have one.

You do get to customize a little based on dietary needs/preferences and they will let you swap out one of the three meals that week for two other provided options.

I believe shipping schedules are pretty standard (Friday's, I believe), however, if you have specific circumstance that need to be met for delivery they are very willing to work with you. It comes well packed in an insulated bag. Everything is packaged with several ice packs to ensure freshness. 

We made these meals over more than a week period because we had so much going on we couldn't make them each night. Everything stayed very fresh! If you get in a bind, because LIFE happens, throw the protein in the freezer, the fresh ingredients will last - at least they did for us.

The vegetables and seasonings are packaged in individual bags by recipe. I like that they think to pack them on top to protect them. I am unsure if these bags can be recycled. Everything is pretty much pre-measured so there is very little guess work to do.

The proteins and the ice packs are on the bottom, separated by a cardboard sheet. The shrimp was packaged in its own bag with a separate ice pack to ensure it would stay the appropriate temperature.You can definitely reuse the freezer packs too - which is a bonus as I always seem to be forever in need of them since I often leave them wherever I am going!

And finally, they include a nice booklet that outlines all of the recipe information: ingredients, preparation instructions, nutritional information and photos to go along with everything to help anyone feel confident in making these recipes.

I love that these are printed on sturdy card stock instead of plain paper. We saved the recipes from last time because we liked them so much and I don't have to worry about them getting torn or ruined in the kitchen.

(They also include an envelope containing other offers from other subscription companies that you may be interested in.)

This week we have Pan-Seared Chicken with Tomato-Barley Hash and Charred Broccoli, Argentine-Spiced Steak with Couscous Salad & Cilantro-Scallion Chimichurri and Coconut Shrimp Satay with Shaved Carrot & Cucumber Salad.

I can't wait to try these recipes!

 

And while I will continue to wish for a personal assistant and a private chef (and a  maid and a gardener and a trainer and a... the list goes on) the interim help from this delivery company is a little less expensive and a little more attainable now and then. Thank you Hello Fresh!

Hamptons Lane - Summer Picnic

I am definitely a subscription box addict. I will try almost anything once (or twice!). Who wouldn't love a box of surprise goodies arriving at their doorstep each month (or several times a month). It is like Christmas year-round! YAY! However, with addiction comes trouble - of course. At some point you have to reduce the number of boxes if only to rescue the slow burn on your wallet or your husband *wink*. I purchased Hamptons Lane once for some homemade pasta making equipment - I have always wanted to make my own pasta so it fit a "bucket list" thing for me. (Just don't ask me if I have actually made that pasta - don't ask.) Now for the trouble. I *thought* I had cancelled this subscription (it is a fun indulgence once in awhile for me - just not every month), but apparently I hadn't and magically (or not) I received a box at my door this month for their picnic theme. Ooops! My husband rolled his eyes, but surprisingly didn't say a word. BONUS!

So quick overview from their site: "Curated artisan ingredients, handy kitchen tools, with unique recipes delivered in a monthly themed box." This is spot on and each month has been pretty interesting. Two important things to note - the price is $47 a month AND you can skip any month you are not interested in (IF you remember, that is).

The theme this month (May 2015) is Summer Picnic. A pamphlet is included that provides details on each of the items included in the box/theme. They will also include recipes and beautiful inspirational photos that pertain to some of the items provided, as well as, just for the theme of the month.

HoneyPax Tupelo Honey
"Say hello to the Queen of Honeys: the light, smooth, and buttery 100% raw Tupelo Honey, delivered in easy, no-fuss, single-serving to-go packs. Tupelo Honey is considered the finest in the world, so smooth it doesn’t crystallize and harvested only during a short period of time in a river basin nestled between North Florida and South Georgia. Award-winning HoneyPax Tupelo Honey is perfectly sized for a cheese platter on a picnic – each packet like a dose of sunshine, a taste of spring."

     I have heard/read about Tupelo Honey, but I have never tried it and I am excited to because we are definite honey lovers here. Our preference is wild flower honey over most others, but I purchase lots of different ones to try and look forward to putting some in my tea. I love the size of these packets and I would like to purchase more this size vs. always having bottles. Plus I think these are perfect for travel. I like to have a quiet cup of tea in my room when I am traveling and this is the perfect thing to have in my bag for just those occasions. It can be purchased for $11.50 for 10 packets - but is currently sold out on the link their site provides.

Olivewood Stainless Steel Knife and Leather Sleeve
"Designed and crafted exclusively for Hamptons Lane by famed knife-maker David Pallares of Pallares-Solsona in Spain, this perfectly sized picnic knife is fashioned from the finest olivewood and stainless steel for a functional knife with a beautiful finish. It’s size and lightweight design offer the versatility that you need at a picnic, while the stainless steel blade is sharp enough to cut through cheeses, meats, breads, and fruits, and will not rust while you are on the go. Each piece is hand stamped on the handle and blade with the iconic Pallares-Solsona mark, and fits perfectly into the protective Hamptons Lane leather sheath."

     The knife is great! Very sharp, perfect size and has a beautiful handle. I am not at all thrilled that that is was just "thrown" in the box and there for the leather cover is badly bent. Seems silly to be annoyed by this, but I am. It would have been more appreciated if they took the time to actually wrap it and protect it vs. just dropping it in there. I can see using this knife in my house, as well as, packing it in our picnic basket. It is the perfect size for many things and it is comfortable in the hand. I really, REALLY like it!

Mustard & Co. Organic Garlic Dill Mustard
"This is the PB and J of mustards. That is, Garlic and Dill were just made for each other. Alone they're great, but together they are out of this world. Use this raw mustard to add some kick to chicken salad, or even take a Smoked Salmon Egg Salad Tartine from basic to mind-blowing. Aside from its bold flavor, we especially Mustard & Co. it for is local ingredients (like from our friends at Jacobsen Salt Co.!), and their traditional technique for minimally processed mustard to preserve the horseradish-like spiciness, ensuring a raw, organic, real mustard flavor with each taste."

     Mustard is the preferred condiment in our house. It is a healthy choice for sandwiches, salad dressings and burritos - yes, burritos! Don't argue, just try it. This particular mustard is super thin and runny. Hmmm. Not sure how I like that. It is spicy, which we love, but that may not be everyone's cup of tea. While I do like the flavor, the clean ingredient list and it will definitely be used I am not sure it is something I would ever repurchase it. It comes in three packs for $21.

Jan’s Farmhouse Cranberry Pistachio Crisps
"Award-winning crispy crackers created by a lady who not only loves good food, but is passionate about food that is good for you. Jan’s Farmhouse Crisps are ultra-thin crispy crackers chock full of delicious ingredients like dried cranberries, flax seed, pistachios, sesame and pumpkin seeds. Jan and her team makes the crisps adored by folks like Martha Stewart for you to enjoy on their own, with gourmet cheese, dipped in hummus, slathered with Tupelo Honey, crumbled into salad, or as a crispy layer on a veggie sandwich. Just be careful: they are totally addictive."

     Yes and yes - they are TOTALLY addictive! Without any accoutrement I could go non-stop hand to mouth with these crisps! I love how paper thin they are. I feel like the cranberry flavor is prominent, but the combination of seeds and herbs make these crisps just awesome for me and perfect for any party, picnic or Wednesday afternoon just because. I will definitely repurchase these. Sadly, these seem to only be available in certain states and only in bulk online. Maybe I can get my family to split a small pack with me! The smallest I see is a half case (6 boxes) for $37.50 (~$6 ea.).

Bee's Wrap Sheets
"Already featured in places like Cooks Illustrated and Saveur, Bee's Wrap is nature’s answer to plastic wrap and aluminum foil. Made with organic cotton muslin, beeswax, jojoba oil, and tree resin, Bee’s Wrap harnesses the antibacterial properties of the beeswax and jojoba oil to help keep food fresh and allow you to use the sheets again and again. Wrap your picnic sandwich using the warmth of your hands to mold the Bee’s Wrap and create a seal that stiffens when it cools, holding its shape. Smells great, looks chic, and saves the planet – we love it!"

     This is an interesting item! I am looking forward to trying it out. I must have missed the issue of Cook's Illustrated that it was featured in (I am a little obsessed with that mag), I am going to go back through my issues and try and find it. I always feel guilty about using plastic wrap so it would be nice to find an alternative - though I am not sure how "affordable" this alternative would really bee (see what I did there? ok, that was bad). Their site is very helpful, I didn't realize you can hand-wash these and reuse them - how many times, unsure. Very cool - even more excited to try them now. A variety pack (S, M, L sizes) is $18.

While this was an accidental purchase, I am honestly thrilled about it. I think the box was well curated and that there is a good array of items for all the picnic lovers in us. I don't always look at "value" of what I spent vs. what I received on boxes such as this as their curatorial value is what matters to me and this one is spot on. I would definitely recommend this box - perfect for Spring or Summer or a gift - it would make a great gift paired with a couple of extras like cheese, cured meat and olives! YUM!