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review – Page 26 – Luv Saving Money

We Made Our First Meal From Blue Apron #HolidayGuide2016

holiday-guide-2016

I had been wanting to try Blue Apron for a while. I would have to get the family plan. When I looked at the price, I didn’t know if it would be worth it.  I never tried any box that might even be similar to Blue Apron so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Will I still have to go out and buy some ingredients? What are the portions sizes like? How do they deliver fresh food and still have it be fresh when I get it?  So  many questions. Well guess what, I tried Blue Apron and I can answer these questions for you.

I tried the family plan. I got notification ahead of time that my box was shipped. They even let me know what meals I could look forward to making. The day I got my first box I was so excited. The box was pretty heavy. It was stuffed to the top with fresh veggies, meats, spices, etc.

free trial blue apron

To give you a more accurate pictures, this was all the contents of my first box. Enough to make two meals for a family of 4.  You can even see it includes things like fresh greek yogurt, special oils, sauces, etc.

Blue Apron box contents free trial
Family plan box contents

The box also included to recipe cards with pictures and tips. There was also a fun fact sheet on one of the ingredients, Farro.  This box I was going to be making Pastrami-Spiced Salmon with pickled beet relish and  Cauliflower-Farro salad. The other recipes was for Orange Chicken with Honeynut Squash and rice.

We decided to make the Pastrami Spiced Salmon with pickled beets and cauliflower-farro salad first.  This was all the ingredients for that recipe:

Pastrami spiced salmon blue apron

You can see all the ingredients were very fresh and healthy looking. Nice size too.  The recipe tells you how to prep your veggies which was good because, honestly, I had never used fresh beets before. I was peeling and chopping veggies. Got the cauliflower ready for roasting.

blue apron cauliflower

The salamon was already in 4 salmon steaks. it still had the skin on one side. It tells you exactly how to cook it and for how long. It even tells you how you can garnish and plate your food which was nice.

The cauliflower-farro salad was a mixture of the cauliflower, farro, greek yogurt and some spices. A very fresh and healthy salad.

Well after everything was done it was time to plate it up and call everyone for dinner.

Try Blue Apron free
Pastrami-Spiced Salmon with Pickled Beet Relish and Cauliflower-Farro Salad

My husband absolutely love this dish. Honestly it made so much food we had left overs. He went back and polished off all the left overs later too.  My 7 year old son liked the salmon and he at least tried the beats and salad. My 3 yr old ate the salad, some of the salmon and a bite of beets.

To me the beets tasted something like a coleslaw. The salmon was thick, flavorful, and tender. I’m not a big fish eater but this salmon was amazing. My favorite part was the cauliflower-farro salad. I think I’ll be making it again on my own. Which is one of the nice things about this too. When you try dishes you like, you have the recipes to keep and ingredients so you can make it again another time. Adding more dishes into your dinner ideas pot.

To answer another question I posted, the only things that weren’t included in the box that I had to use was salt pepper, and olive oil. Everything else was included in the box.  A friend of mine was interested in maybe trying it. When I told her everything I got to make the recipe and only needing salt, pepper, and olive oil, she said “wow, if I were to buy all those ingredients in the store it would probably cost more than that!”

Pastrami Spiced Salmon
Dinner is served!

Blue Apron would also make a great gift for the budding chef or foodie!

 

I received sample for marketing purposes. Any opinions expressed are my own. I will be compensated for sign ups through my link.

Blue Apron Family Plan Unboxing

I’ve been dying to try Blue Apron for some time. I had so many questions though: Does it really come with EVERYTHING I need to make the recipes? Is the serving sizes really going to be enough for my family? How can they deliver fresh ingredients and have them still be fresh?

I got my first box. I was so excited to open it up. I got the family plan so I was supposed to get enough to make 2 recipes.  When I opened my box it was stuffed full of fresh ingredients.

blue apron family plan unboxing
It’s packed well with dry ice packs and an insulated pack so the food was still cold when I received it.  As I pulled all the ingredients out I was surprised to see the big healthy looking beets, fresh chives, and even a cup of plain greek yogurt needed to make one of the recipes. I did a facebook live unboxing video that you can see here:

Everything is labeled. For the record, the recipe “knick knack” bags that I wasn’t sure what they were in the video contained things like: spices, oils, and sauces.

I really do try to cook a decent meal as often as possible for my family. I get into a rut though with what to make. I feel like I’m making the same things over and over again. When I ask my family what they want it’s usually “I don’t care” or the few family faves they request. Blue Apron is a welcome addition to our family meal planning. No running to the store to get ingredients to make these recipes. No wondering if you have the ingredients to make something. And recipes that might be a bit different than what you’re used. For me that’s more than welcome.

When I was making the recipes I found the only things I needed that weren’t included in the box were: salt, pepper, water, and olive oil. Even the salt and pepper is optional though.

blue apron family plan review

Blue Apron has a deal right now to get $80 off your first 4 boxes.

I received a free box to partner with Blue Apron.  I will also be compensated for referrals. 

Tucson Tamale Giveway

tucson tamale, holiday tamales, thanksgiving tamales, christmas tamales, tamales

Celebrate the holidays this year with the rich taste of the Southwest by savoring gourmet, traditional Mexican fare from Tucson Tamale. Made in the traditional method with warm masa, gentle corn husks, and a bouquet of flavors. Spending hours together, embracing the connectedness of family, infusing all the love right into the food.

blue orn tamales, vegetarian tamales, vegan tamalesInspired by the events of one man’s love for a woman whose family had a love and passion for bringing family together by making tamales. Todd Martin was not only in love with his soon to be wife Sherry, but he also fell in love with the taste and process of making tamales. Trying to satisfy his desire to find really good tamales Todd Martin did what others do, he began making his own! In 2008, the Tucson Tamale company was born. Made from small batch, high quality ingredients and every tamale is hand rolled, steamed and packaged for happiness.

The corn used in the masa is organic and non-GMO. Traditional tamales are made with lard but Tucson Tamale knew they were different and wanted to continue on their unique path and use non-GMO expeller pressed canola or sunflower oil. Every November Tucson Tamale makes their signature “holiday” tamale for Thanksgiving. Stuffed with fresh roasted turkey, organic vegetables and the amazing sage masa. Naturally gluten free and since the tamales are not made with lard, vegetarians, meat lovers and even vegans can enjoy the wide variety of meatless and meaty tamales delivered right to your door.tucson tamale, homemade tamales,

If you are in Arizona, you can find these tasty delicacies at AJ’s Fine Foods, Safeway or visit one of their three locations in Tucson. Eat in or take out! Take some home to enjoy for later, they are safe to store in the freezer. For those of you not in Arizona or the immediate area to Tucson we are happy to share this wonderful giveaway for a sampler pack of a box of happiness with Tucson Tamales.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lovable Labels Birthday Specials and New Designs! (+Giveaway)

Lovable Labels is celebrating their birthday and they’re doing it in a big way.  LOTS of savings on personalized labels.

I’ve long been a fan of Lovable Labels for their durability, washability, and custom…ability.  I know it’s not a word but I had a thing going there. Seriously though, I have labels on things that have been on there for years. Been through the clothes washer, dishwasher, soaked, stepped on, and heated.  Seriously these labels are the best.

So back to Lovable Labels birthday sale. Lovable Labels introduced 4 new designs: Pixel World, Zombie Camp, Manga Zone and Fruition.

lovable-labels-collage-new-designs

They also have some awesome deals going for the birthday celebration. 50% off LOTS of items!

  • 50% Off Sticker Labels
  • 50% Off Slimline Labels
  • 50% Off Clothing Dots
  • 50% Off Mini Dots
  • 50% Off Back to School Packs

AND they offer FREE Shipping!

lovable labels birthday sale

The back to school packs are awesome for labeling all your kids things for school or daycare.  I used the heck out of my back to school packs for my kids for daycare. They had to have EVERYTHING labeled. It sure saved me a lot of time. The labels were easy to read. The clothing labels are washable too.

As part of the Lovable Labels birthday celebration one Luv Saving Money is going to win a personalized Back to School pack and choose from any of the available designs!

GIVEAWAY

1 Luv Saving Money reader will win a

personalized back to school pack with choice of the available designs. 

Open to US and Canada

Lovable Labels Birthday Celebration

I will be receiving lovable labels products for this post. Any opinions expressed are my own.

Did You Know Oriental Trading Has Costumes?

Are you procrastinating on getting your costume?  Maybe you haven’t had time to put together a costumes for the kids. Oriental Trading has costumes in all budgets. My youngest son really had no idea what he wanted to be for Halloween and my daughter told me she wanted to be a fairy princess.

We found a fairy princess costume for my daughter. As soon as we got them in the mail they just had to try them on.

Oriental trading fairy princess costume

Of course this is a quick try on. I’m thinking for trick or treat we’ll put her hair up in pig tails and maybe use some of that glitter hair spray in her hair. I’ve heard it’s supposed to be chilly here too so we’ll probably have to  layer underneath.

After scrolling through pages of costumes my youngest son was back and forth between about 4 costumes. He finally settled on a skeleton ninja.  I think the costume itself is pretty neat.

oriental trading skeleton ninja costume

My kids love their costumes and I love that they weren’t expensive.

Oriental Trading Costumes

 

Are you dressing up for halloween?  What are you or your kids going as for Halloween? 

I received the above mentioned products in order to complete an honest review. Any opinions expressed are my own.