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Hello…Yummy! HelloFresh

ByDiane Henkler Updated:

One of you, Linda…I am talking about you… left me a comment earlier this week that said…. She was not a cook like me.  Ha! I laughed out loud as I read that!

I am not a cook or foodie. I don’t enjoy cooking, planning what to have for dinner and grocery shopping. I like to entertain and set tables all nice and pretty, but planning meals, cooking and food shopping are dreaded chores.  I buy cookbooks only to use them to display in my kitchen and make me feel like a “foodie”.  I can make my tried and true recipes that I have shared here on the blog, but they are about it.

When my oldest daughter started working many long hours as a new doctor in a hospital, she and her boyfriend who is also on the same crazy schedule as she is, asked me if I have tried Hello Fresh. At the time, I had not tried it. She had nothing but praise to say about the meal delivery service.

Fast forward to two weeks ago when I was asked if I would like to try the service. I was game, since I figured Ed and I are empty nesters it would be a way to break out of our routine.  HelloFresh allowed me to prepare healthy meals for the two of us, teach me new cooking techniques and expand my palate, while also saving me time by taking care of the grocery shopping and meal prepping! It was WIN/WIN in my book.

Portobello and Orecchiette Primavera recipe for dinner

I signed up and received a box on my doorstep this past Tuesday afternoon. It comes wrapped in an ice pack so no need to have to wait for the postman. It contained the makings for 3 complete meals for two.  I liked it immediately since it already saved me time by not having to meal plan and go to the grocery store.  More time to paint and update the house in my own style. :-)

Hello Fresh recipe cards

HelloFresh makes broadening your palate easy, with three step-by-step, delicious recipes delivered straight to your door weekly. Included in the box was a recipe book detailing the steps to make each fresh and healthy meal that is reviewed by an in-house dietitian to make sure you are receiving healthy and balanced meals.

Being such a visual learner, seeing made it so easy for me to follow the directions and have success in the kitchen.

Hello Fresh meal contents

All the ingredients needed to make a meal come in a box. Everything is clearly marked and listed on the recipe just like my DIY tutorials. :-)

Hello Fresh meal preparation

I followed the steps on the recipe card and had Portabello and Orecchiette Primavera made in no time.

TIP:  The one thing that I can claim is very “foodie” of me was the purchase of a high quality chef’s knife a few years ago. Invaluable when you want to eat fresh and healthy food. A sharp knife and some skills on how to use it, make chopping fun… that and of course a glass of wine make me feel like a gourmet. Note the word “feel” since I am truly not.

Hello Fresh Meal delivery service

I even picked up a cooking tip when I made this recipe.  After cooking the asparagus the instructions said to place them in an ice bath (bowl filled with ice water) to stop them from cooking and getting all shriveled up.  It kept them perfectly crisp-tender.

Hello Fresh dinner

Our first HelloFresh meal….was DELISH. We even had leftovers to enjoy for lunch on Wednesday. More time saved! Cook once, enjoy twice. :-) The recipe card even tells you how to add the garnish which is included in the box. Looks like it was made at a 5-Star restaurant and not in my kitchen.

Hello Fresh recipe

HelloFresh made the cooking easy and fun! Thursday night I made Pesto Chicken Skewers and last night I made Chipotle-Glazed Pork Chops. Cooking didn’t feel like a chore this week, but an event I actually looked forward to.

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I am participating in a sponsored campaign hosted by HelloFresh. I received compensation for this post. All opinions stated are my own.

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12 Comments

  1. Fuji Sushi says:

    Very so yum. Thanks!

    Reply

  2. I love to cook with wine.

    Reply

  3. Here’s a Linda coming out with my hands up – I’m innocent of all charges! Meanwhile, I’m ashamed to say that for the last few weeks, and having to contend with the barbaric heat, my husband and I have taken this approach to meal prep: “feed your own face” or FYOF for short. Real meals happen on weekends (meat, potatoes, etc., usually involving the BBQ) but during the week, we’re fine with wraps, eggs of all sorts, soup, sandwiches, even toast with meat spread or decadent peach jam. Easy and light whenever the mood strikes. Being empty nesters, dinner protocol has certainly changed around here — ah, but it’s boring sometimes, too… sigh.

    Reply

  4. I’m going to try it. I appreciate the discount very much and would not have tried it without that incentive. I hope I love it. It’s just me and my husband so I can justify $10 per meal. We would spend more than that just going to Panera. And what kind of knives do you use? I sprung for a few good knives a couple of years back and love them.

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      Hi Deb – When we moved a gave away all the knives that we never used and junked up the utensil drawer. I have one chef knife (I use the most) and a bread knife. They are made by J.A. Henckels. I also have one vintage carving knife that is from Germany.

      Reply
  5. Sheryll $ Critters. says:

    I would love this, but too expensive for me.

    Reply
    1. Elaine Williams says:

      I agree with you. I hate grocery shopping but not as much I’d hate springing for the delivery food. But I did like Diane’s comment concerning her chef’s knife….”that and of course a glass of wine make me feel like a gourmet” LOL – I love to cook with wine, sometimes I even put it in the food.

      Reply
      1. Diane Henkler says:

        Hi Elanie –

        The wine is key when cooking:-) Adding to the food, even better. One of the best marinates I have for poultry has a cup of wine in it. You can use either red or white and it always makes the chicken taste so good… that and garlic :-)

        About 15 years ago I was in the pots and pan dept. of a department store. There was a rep from a high end cooking knife company demonstrating how to use their knifes. I was fascinated. It was quiet in the store and I hung out with her for about an hour so she could teach me how to use the chef’s knife. It was an investment, but one that I use a few times a day.

        Reply
  6. lindalw666 says:

    I am curious now…and that’s quite a savings you’ve enabled for your followers! I will have to look into this, as I don’t like cooking, but I persist in wanting to eat stuff!

    Reply
    1. Diane Henkler says:

      You are too funny…somedays I wish I would not want to eat so much of the stuff. The post menopausal hormones are not kind!

      Reply

  7. I was always curious about the meal delivery. Sounds like an awesome experience. I like to cook and try new things but stepping into the empty nester I don’t know how to cook smaller meals so this would be awesome. The only question was cost. I think because there would be minimal waste and I don’t have to go shopping it would be worth it.

    Reply