Have you heard about... Blue Apron.

It's been a while since I've done a "Have you Heard About" post, and never before have I dedicated an entire post to 1 "you-must-know-about-this" item, but guys, this one is that good! So... have you heard about Blue Apron!?

I first read about Blue Apron HERE and then it started popping up on other blogs and in my social media feeds. My curiosity was piqued so when I saw a deal on Gilt City I decided to go for it. Here's the scoop:

- Blue Apron is a delivered-once-a-week subscription service for meals. The delivery you receive includes all the ingredients you need to make 3 meals, already divvied up into the right proportions (e.g., 6 oz salmon, 3 tsp paprika, 1/2 cup rice, etc) plus a colorful, step-by-step recipe card.

- You can order your 3 meals for 2, 4 or 6 people

- The cost of a 2-person Blue Apron delivery is $59.99 per week (aka, $10 per person, per meal)

- There is no additional delivery charge and you set your exact delivery day/time on the BA website (delivery map HERE). The box is insulated/contains ice packs so you have wiggle room before you need to get it into your fridge

- There is no commitment. The service sets you up to receive a box each week, but you can cancel any time before the weekly cut off and you can skip as many weeks in a row as you need.

My first delivery arrived promptly as scheduled and I was amazed at how neat and well labeled everything was:

Life does not come more self-explanatory than this

I cooked on Mon, Tues and Sunday last week. Here are the final results in all their "hellz yeah I made that!" glory:

Beef & Bulger-Stuffed Squash w Caesar Salad

Pan-Seared Salmon over Whole Wheat Israeli Couscous
with Fava Bean-Olive Relish

Chicken Thighs with Caramelized Fennel and Onions
& Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

They even guide you on how to plate everything to make it look extra purdy!! 

So ok, Blue Apron final thoughts:

* Pros

- SO.FREAKIN.CONVENIENT.

- Delicious! All 3 of our meals were awesome and far more fancy and inventive than anything I typically prepare. 

- The recipes are incredibly easy to follow, plus you get to start a collection of these laminated cards for future re-use.

- Diversity. In 1 week we ate beef, chicken and salmon. Niiiice.

- Everything was fresh and tasted it!

- The portion sizes were perfect. Fills you, but not stuffed, definitely not skimpy

* Cons

- BA definitely cuts down on food waste, but not packaging waste. All the little zip lock baggies and containers had me feeling more than a little bad for the environment.

- You can't select exactly which 3 meals you want from the weekly "On the Menu" page. BA selects 3 and if there's something you don't like, you go to your preferences and say "No fish", then they auto-select a different 3, cutting out the fish. Unfortunately this means you may lose the chance to try another recipe that you did like because BA decides which 3 create the best compliment to one another. My fingers are crossed they change this policy soon.

- It is SUPER easy to follow these recipes, but they are definitely more complex than my usual weeknight meals (more ingredients, more prep, more things to clean after). That said, the food is way tastier/more inventive than my usual fare and I don't think it's more than 20 extra minutes spent (plus Dr. H has been helping more which is fun!)

This is the PERFECT subscription for people who like to cook, but need to make the process as streamlined as possible. From a cost perspective, I would have a hard time doing better at the grocery store buying all these ingredients and from a final product standpoint, I couldn't have been more pleased with myself for preparing 3 delicious meals last week. PLUS, Blue Apron makes an awesome wedding gift (nothing says newlywed like cooking together) or maybe use it when you're planning to host a dinner party? The possibilities are endless, so I highly suggest you get your Blue Apron on today!

Reader's Note: This is not a sponsored post, I just loved me some Blue Apron THAT MUCH!

Spring Eats

Fact.

Every year, the arrival of warmer, brighter evenings makes the effort of preparing a fresh dinner far more appealing. Even after a long day at the office, something about throwing open the kitchen window and whipping up a tasty meal for me and the hubs is extremely satisfying. Add a crisp glass of white wine and some lively tunes and I'm all smiles. Here to help you freshen up your repertoire and satisfy your tummy are a few new recipes for your cooking enjoyment!

Orrecchiette awesomeness

Even though Kale is all the rage lately, I've yet to cook it in my own home. Prepping a new veggie for the first time is kinda scary (too wilty, too crispy, no flavor, that smell!), but thanks to THIS simple recipe, kale is on the menu for tonight! Orecchiette with wilted spinach, kale and toasted pine nuts... I hope you're hungry Dr. H.

Because everything is better when you combine it with pasta, here's an awesome "summer" pasta dish featuring fresh tomatoes, feta and spinach (maybe add some greek olives as well if you're feeling adventurous!?) Keep it vegetarian or serve next to some grilled shrimp for a bit of extra protein and flavor!

So healthy... I might need to add a carb!

For me, eating healthfully throughout spring and summer is much easier than during fall and winter. I actually crave lighter fare and more fresh veggies once the weather gets warm. Hoping to get a little variety into my chicken repertoire, this 5-ingredient balsamic poached chicken recipe will be making a debut in my kitchen soon (perhaps with a side of sliced sweet potatoes or that orzo up above!?)

A summer chili! For reals!

No need to send your crock pot off to hibernate until the fall thanks to this tasty Mexican bean and chicken recipe. As usual, Pinch of Yum breaks the deliciousness down into a few easy steps and ingredients meaning you can get this started before you head to the office and come home ready to devour a tasty meal (perfect for a night when you want to hit the gym after work!!) For even more mexican crockpot goodness, click HERE.

I'm in love with Joe.

In my fantasy world, ALL my groceries fit in 1 tote bag
and I look this chic traveling home from the store.
(Reality = 3 bags and 5 "stop and rests" en route)

We've never met; I don't know what exactly he "trades"; but I am in love with Trader Joe. Trader Joe's is my absolute favorite place to grocery shop because it is impossibly cheap (I live in fear of some sort of child labor expose) and though Dr. H and I love to cook, life doesn't always allow time for following recipes, no matter how few ingredients.  Also, their employees are clearly taking some sort of happy pills and they pack your bags with Tetris like precision. So here are some Merry Meri & Dr. H approved favorites for your next trip to the happiest grocery store on earth (and check out THIS great site for more ideas).

Trader Joe's refrigerated and frozen sections are filled with packaged foods which will give you the satisfaction of a "home cooked" meal in a fraction of the time. 

We love ALL the pre-marinated chicken breasts
(found in the refrigerated section)

We ALWAYS have a bag of these guys
in our freezer. So easy, so tasty.

Recommended by one of my girlies, this is now a staple
in our freezer for "I don't know what to make" nights.

AWESOME side dish for an otherwise homemade italian
dinner (or ya know, pasta with turkey meatballs!)

A few other AWESOME "TJ-sponsored" meal ideas: Vegetable or Shrimp Fried Rice and a few types of dumplings and shu mai (all found in the frozen foods section); Keep some pizza dough in the freezer for an impromptu make-your-own pizza night; Reduced Guilt Mac Cheese (small portion, but so tasty I pretty much lick the container clean); frozen Linguine with Clam Sauce (one of the only non-takeout meals Dr. H will feed himself if I'm not home for dinner); Quinoa Duo with Vegetable Melange (because I still haven't figured out how to cook quinoa flavorfully).

The broccoli florets are another favorite.

I also like to keep some frozen vegetables from TJ's in our freezer. Though they aren't nearly as tasty as their fresh counterparts, it's nice to know that I can always get my greens into a meal without stopping at the grocery store on the way home from work.

And of course, my friend Joe has you covered for sweet treats as well:

The perfect tart and sweet snack when you're
craving "just a taste". Get them. Get them now.

Be careful. Studies show that it is impossible to keep these
in your home without eating them all within 72 hours ("studies")

Are you a fan of Trader Joe's? Do you have any favorites which I should add to my next grocery list? Leave a comment - share the deliciousness!

Hump Day Distractions

Hump Day indeed.

Another week, another Wednesday... at least there's predicatibility!? Got some funny, yummy, crafty goodies to get you to the other side of the week. Enjoy!

* These have made the facebook rounds already, but they're so awfully hysterical that I had to re-share.
* I think this simple recipe could be a wok'in good time!
* The DIY trend of buying something meh and crafting it into something awesome, curtains edition.
* The most beautiful places to get lost with a good book.
* Nothing better than an awesome cover of an awesome song.
* Remember those adorable sisters? They're back and their Dad is a freakin genius.
* Workin on your fitness doesn't have to be like THIS (unless you're like the lady on the treadmill; she is amazeballs!)

Sweet Treat.

My sister makes every birthday extra "sweet"...

...she wraps up dessert with ease! (it's my blog, I get to brag:)

I am a foodie. As I've mentioned once or twice before (hehe) I love to eat and cook. Where I fall short in the kitchen however is when it comes to dessert. I'm a lover of ice cream over most baked goods and Betty Crocker I am not. Sis is a marvel when it comes to sweet treats, but I need to keep it simple. I try to select easy recipes that have some sort of "wow" factor to distract you from the fact that the core ingredients probably came out of a box. So here are a few super easy, but sure to impress ideas for your next "I'll bring dessert" moment. 

Bite sized banana splits!
Perfect for a dinner party and so CUTE to serve

From Pillsbury pre-made to blooming beauty

"Awesomeness in a pan"
It's all about the (chocolate, candy, pre-made) ingredients! 

I'll make the cobbler AND bring the ice cream!

Bake (buy!?) cake; cover in candy; tie with a bow...
that's my kinda dessert!

Ed. Note: I discovered ALL of these inspiring eats on Pinterest! Follow me by clicking HERE (and on Twitter HERE, because you know you want more merry in your life).

Good Eats.

As the weather warms up and we start shedding our layers of bulky winter clothing, I find myself craving a totally different type of cuisine. Though I love me some rich, creamy goodness, come spring I gravitate towards more fresh and colorful foods. Though I may be eating Cadbury Eggs for breakfast, here are a few recipes which include "good eats" for your weekend enjoyment. Happy cooking! ("eat me" via Pinterest)

Holy YUM and other possible deliciousness
(butternut squash mac cheese!?) over at PinchofYum

Hailed by many as the superior tater, I recently decided to give cooking sweet potatoes a try and I'm lurve. For a super easy side dish, I like to slice the potato into thin "discs", rub on a little olive oil and kosher salt, and bake in the oven for about 20 minutes (depending on thickness and desired crispness). Stuffed potato skins coming soon!

The healthiest Paula Deen recipe EVER.

Dr. H is obsessed with avocado. OBSESSED. I am definitely a fan, but unlike hubs, I don't sit around eating it with a spoon - I need a little flava. I know how to guac or serve it up with Mexican, but this might be my next dinner party dish.

Buffalo Chicken Quinoa Mac & Cheese.
Kitchen to do list fo sho

I like quinoa, but I haven't figured out how to take the grain "to the next level". I usually eat it as a side dish, prepared in chicken stock instead of water with seasoning  to taste, but with the help of Iowa Girl Eats, I think I'm ready to get fancy!

Pizza. Fruit. Sugar. YUM.

Leave it to Betty Crocker to help us make fruit less healthy right?! To lighten up this recipe a bit, I'm thinking of substituting the cream cheese frosting for Light Cool Whip, or maybe Greek Yogurt with some Splenda mixed in? (suggestions welcome!)

This, that and another thing.

It's not easy being green/gimpy

Lots of random thoughts floating through my brain... It's funny how a change in your day to day (like rehabbing a bum knee) can make everything feel so... different. In case you were wondering, I swapped my Sunday nap for a super-late wake up, but in honor of Friday's call to action, I did lay on the couch for several hours. / Did anyone else find the Oscars a bit... off? I felt like there just wasn't enough of what I watch them to see: rich beautiful people, wearing stunning clothing, giving each other awards. / Last week was a 4 day week, this week is a 5 day week. That always makes me nervous. / A good mani/pedi will always brighten your day. / This weekend I successfully took some internet inspiration and brought it to life. Most of the recipes and crafts were as easy as advertised and it felt cool to actually DO some of the things I stare at on my computer.

Pinterest isn't just a great place to procrastinate (though it's that too!) I brought several recipes from my "eats" and "delicious desserts" boards to life: 

Dr. H and I forgot to slice the giant "pizza roll" before we cooked it so ours didn't look this pretty,
but it still turned out MIGHTY tasty! (Note: we skipped the pepperoni). Recipe via Pinterest

This might be one of the tastiest things I've ever cooked!
LOVE a chance to use my slow cooker & substituting light cream cheese for actual cream!? Genius!
(Note: I did not provide bacon bits. I apologize). Recipe via Pinterest

My failure of the evening. These yogurt covered strawberries look so pretty on Pinterest,
but mine were lumpy and funky. Can't win em all I guess! 

I also took on a project posted by my crafty crush at OhHappyDay and it turned out great. Dr. H is skeptical about my "Snowflake Hole Punch" purchase, by I assured him that years of use will more than justify the purchase. 

My "Winter Blues & Snowy Whites" dinner party decoration

Lastly, you really should be using Fresh Direct. Cooking from recipes is a piece of CAKE when you can order everything you'll need online and have it delivered to your door the night before you need it for just $6 (that's the delivery fee). No more wandering the grocery store aisles looking for "seasoned salt" for this gal!

I have no idea how I got this to animate, but I freanking LOVE it!

A plan to make NO plans!

The holidays are over, my hubby is home, I’m finally not sick and I am not going out of town. My plan for this weekend is to have NO plans... Ahhhh. Feels good. But...

I’m a do-er and a planner at heart. No plans means I have the freedom to MAKE plans and there are so many things to choose from!! I realllly need to clean out my closet (is doesn’t close). I want to go to for dim sum (it’s been over a month). That exhibit with the slide at the New Museum is closing soon (an indoor slide. for adults. seriously). I want to try out a new recipe and enjoy a nice bottle of wine (thank you Pinterest and wine of the month club!) There’s a jazz festival downtown!? (http://www.winterjazzfest.com/tickets.html) Is there ever such a thing as no plans? How can I do nothing when the world is filled with things to accomplish and experience and EAT!? I retract my statement. This weekend I have a plan to make perfect plans. I will strike a perfect balance between productive and fun. I will sleep late and accomplish something. Nothing is set in stone, I’ll do as I please. A plan to make vague plans?! Happy weekend merry readers!

P to the S: I went to see How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway this week with new leads Darren Criss and Beau Bridges. The show is beyond fabulous... if you are a lover of musicals I’d rate it as a must see (while dreamy Gleek Darren Criss is in it if you can score a ticket:) xoxo.

Image via Pinterest