Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post brought to you by Blue Apron. All opinions are 100% mine. Thank you for supporting the companies that we love and help keep this site free!
Did you read that title?! It’s basically Christmas, Easter, birthdays and Valentines Day all in one. I would say Halloween but there were no costumes involved…unless you count the apron 🙂
So it is true. Jeremy did indeed cook for me. He’s not the most confident in the kitchen. The whole story began when our Blue Apron box arrived. I was really excited. With a newborn in the mix, going out to eat just isn’t in the cards for us….so having a big refrigerated box of fresh ingredients delivered right to our doorstop was a real treat. It meant that we would be eating REALLY good that night. The other surprise is that Jeremy offered to cook one of the meals for us!
Pick the jaw up off the floor. I know how shocking that statement is. It falls somewhere in between “the moon has split in two” and “Kanye is BFFs with Taylor Swift”. You pick which sentence is more surprising 🙂
The box has all the ingredients already in it and that made this whole adventure a whole lot less intimidating. He turned some of these…
into this masterpiece….
Drooling, huh?! Clean off the keyboard. You don’t want to short circuit your computer and miss out on the rest of this post.
Here’s further proof that this actually happened….exhibit A:
Our funniest moment was when he said “What’s a zester?” followed by a five minute rummage of all the kitchen drawers. Also, I will never forget his attempt to peel and cut an onion. I was on the floor laughing. He also cried at one point (granted it was from the onion but I like to think it was from pure cooking joy).
The meal he chose to prepare was a seared pork chop with baby sweet potato salad and it was SO good. This was his first time cooking pork chops or sweet potatoes. This particular meal only had six ingredients (I think that is why he chose it) and since Blue Apron provides directions with photos, I think it was far less intimidating.
I could get used to him cooking in the kitchen. It was such a nice treat to just sit and nurse and watch him try something new! Also…I am a bit more appreciative of what he goes through while I do the cooking. Hungry boys are no joke!
Our final review of the meal was….perfection. He doesn’t even usually eat sweat potatoes but he ate ALL of his that night. I was really impressed too. And I think he understands now why I always get frustrated when he doesn’t come right away when the food is hot. It’s a lot of heart you are pouring into these meals and you are so excited to serve up the most delicious version!
And since I have talked about Blue Apron before (I can’t help it! We love them!), I thought I would spice things up with an epic movie trailer about my bearded wonder….
You can never say that I don’t try to make food posts more exciting 🙂
The following night I cooked the catfish that came in the box and holy moly…it was so freaking good. I am really starting to like fish thanks to Blue Apron. That is coming from someone who has avoided aquatic meats for better part of MY ENTIRE LIFE. But now I kinda love them. That’s crazy.
Also…when your Blue Apron box comes and you unpack it….let the kids make veggie faces….it’s so much fun and keeps them busy while you chop 🙂
Some of you may be like me….you like good food…you like trying new things…and you like cooking but it’s hard with kids in the mix. And you hate the drama of going out to eat. We love eating out but honestly, the looks you get when the kid’s spaghetti is flying across the table is not worth it. So this is kinda like the marriage of both worlds….I don’t have to go grocery shopping…I know all the ingredients will be delivered right to me (in the right proportions so I don’t have to brainstorm ways to not waste the leftover produce!) and the chef-created meals are fresh and delicious….I can let the kids play till dinner is served…and it’s gonna be something new and different and tasty!
If you are interested in Blue Apron and haven’t tried them yet…first know that they probably deliver to your area (they deliver to 90% of the country!). Shipping is free 🙂
Then pick your plan…they have two options….a two-person plan and the family plan. The price is about $8.74 per meal ($69.92 for eight servings!). You can skip or cancel the deliveries at any time.
Third thing…if you haven’t tried it before and would like to….they are offering the first 100 readers two meals free in your first Blue Apron order! Here is the link.
And if you are a foodie, you have to try some of their other recipes….I can’t wait to make the Top Round Steaks with Arugula-Walnut Pesto and Panzanella. That sounds like a real winner 🙂 Or this Tom Yum-Style Shrimp & Noodles….with yum in the title, you can’t go wrong.
So who is with me and votes that Jeremy should cook at least once a week?! I totally think a man in the kitchen is the best kinda gift! It’s easy on the eyes, it’s funny when they start crying (food for the soul!) and it’s delicious! What are you eating tonight?!
My mom and I just saw an ad for Blue Apron and I was telling her all about it. This looks delicious!
Hi! Just made my first Blue Apron order! We have a 2.5 year old and a 10 month old and I just couldn’t read another one of your posts without finally trying it!! So excited! The two free meals made it worth it for a first time try so thank you! Enjoy those little ones!
You have the wackiest sense of humor! I found your blog a few years ago when I was looking at doing wainscoting during our reno and have been a devoted follower since. You are a bright light – I laugh out loud so often! Thank you! Thank you!
We got this in our Blue Apron box too….it was delicious!
My husband cooked it too! We split cooking duties – I do weekends, he does weeknights because I have a long commute, so he has it ready when I walk in the door. He ends up cooking most of what we get through Blue Apron, and I love it!
OF COURSE Jeremy should cook more! It’s sexy when men are in the kitchen and prepare something delicious!
I had Blue Apron’s catfish the other week. It was good and the potato salad was quite tasty! Blue Apron has been a huge hit with my family, particularly with my boyfriend as well. We had a fried green tomato sandwich and he swore he didn’t want to try it… then he did and declared it the best thing he’d eaten in a long time!
Thanks for introducing us to Blue Apron!
The president of my MOMS club offered some of her totally free friends and family offers. I received my order last week. I’ve never had purple potatoes, the chopped scallions added so much flavor. It was like Christmas opening the box. All the ingredients were in there even tiny bottles of red wine vinegar. I loved it because I didn’t need to think about what I was making and took my givens out of his comfort zone.
***took my husband out of his comfort zone
I tried Blue Apron because of an earlier post from you, it looked so good and I was soooo disappointed it was not delivered to my state, so I kept checking and lo and behold, they deliver to my area. I am on my 5th or 6th delivery and am ADDICTED. I have learned so much about cooking, cutting, mixing! it is just my son and I, and I am blessed with a 14 year old that will and does try EVERYHING! He unloads the box, sets out the recipes and decides what he wants each night. I have not graduated to letting him cook, 1) he doesnt want to 2) I am learning and like it! Co Workers, Family ask me each week, what am I making, they are as excited as I am, and I have been able to donate the little bottles to a friend with a little girl for her kitchen. THANK YOU!
KATIE – I’m literally (REALLY) cry-laughing at the trailer!! So good!!
LOVE, love, LOVE the “trailer.” So funny. 😀
The movie slayed me!! Katie you always make me laugh and brighten up my mornings!
We also learned about Blue Apron from you – back in the post where Weston took a bite out of the red pepper. 🙂 It has been a lot of fun! My husband, whose go-to meals are PB&J and cereal, has gained confidence cooking with their recipes. We have both tried new foods – farro, fresh horseradish, purslane – and have both been surprised when the “worst” sounding meal has been our favorite. We have also saved in our repertoire some deceptively simple, delicious sides, like the creamed spinach that contained no cream and tasted like it came straight from Maggiano’s. Thanks, Katie!
Interesting choice of words. Going out to eat is not in the cards, yet you have a fairly recent Instagram photo with all four of your boys in it at Olive Garden?!
My husband was cooking a Blue Apron meal once and didn’t know how to zest either, or knew that we had a zester, and I came in to find him peeling the lime with a knife and cutting it into tiny pieces. I died laughing but then had to eat tiny chewy pieces of lime “zest” in my meal. Men need to cook once in a while – it’s a learning experience!!
Hi Katie! Love your blog, love your family, feel like a total stalker sometimes. Your comment about getting glares from people when you take your kids out to eat reminded me of a question I’ve been wanting to ask someone for a while. I’m in my 20s, no kids, no friends with kids, so I’m afraid the question has fallen to you!
When I’m out in the world, at a restaurant or a store or an airplane or wherever, and I see a mom or dad struggling to handle kids who are being kids, I always give a friendly little smile. What I’m trying to say with this smile is , “hey! Looks like you’re having a bit of a rough moment. Don’t worry, you’re doing a great job, and we of the human race support you and admire you for creating these tiny wild animals and working to teach them how to be people. You are incredible! Thank you!” I am aware, however, that this is a lot to try to fit into one smile, and the message may not be getting through. I would just hate it if any of these smiles were received as pitying, or judging, or mocking. What I want is to be supportive without being intrusive.
Frankly, I’d be totally game to watch a toddler while Mom runs in to the bathroom to change her baby, but I’m pretty sure that walking up to strangers and volunteering to take their children off their hands is how you get arrested! 🙂 So what do you think: is smiling at a stranger with fussy kids more likely to be a nice gesture of support or an intrusion into an already-tough moment? I defer to Mom-wisdom! Thank you!
That video was hysterical! Loved it!
You make my heart happy, Katie Bower! May God bless you and your crew real good!
Finally gave me the push to try it! Promo offer didn’t hurt 🙂
Thanks!
My husband cooks at least one night a week. I’ve told him I don’t care if he cooks hamburger every single time, I’m just happy somebody else is cooking. And in our house, cook doesn’t clean up.
Yessssssssss. The dramatic video was the best part.
Does anyone know if they have a large variety of grain and dairy free meals? I would like to try, but we have some major allergens we need to avoid.
If it is a family event or birthday…we still go, right?! I am saying that Blue Apron is easier than going out to eat…that’s the message here!
xo – kb
I don’t know…you might want to email them on that!
xo – kb
Smiling is totally appreciated! And don’t be afraid to say something nice…a simple “You are rocking this!” or “Your family looks so loving and happy!” is sometimes the highlight of my day!
xo – kb
I get SO annoyed when my husband doesn’t come to dinner as soon as I tell him it’s ready! Glad I’m not the only one!
That movie trailer is everything! How do you manage to continue producing hilarious and informative posts with four small boys including a newborn?!?! Ah-maze-balls.
Love a husband/daddy who is not afraid to jump in the kitchen! My husband cooks a lot around here, and I have a magnet on my fridge that says, “God gave me the wisdom to marry a man that cooks!”
hahaha! great vid!
I have always wanted to try Blue Apron. Especially after all your posts about it!
Do you get to pick the meals that are sent in each delivery?
Thanks for the links to their recipe site. I have zero excuse for not doing my own shopping, but I do like to try new things and they seem to have some nice ideas!
Yes.
xo – kb
Katie….your blog always puts a smile on my face! I love your YouTube video of the hubby cooking…hysterical!
Blue Apron is great!
Do you do the 2 person or family plan? Curious if your boys will eat these meals. My picky eater would turn his nose at it, then his little brother would just to follow suit. Ha.
We have done both. My boys don’t generally like steak or spicy food…so if there is a meal that Jeremy and I really want, we just order the 2 person plan and get things we want to try. If there are items that we think the boys would be more open to, we get the family plan. You can switch things up each order!
xo – kb
I love how you make sponsored posts so entertaining! That movie!!! We’re still loving Blue Apron too.
I’m so glad to hear that Jeremy cooked for you! A man in the kitchen is pretty sexy in my book. As the father of four boys I think it would be an important thing for him to show his boys that men can be in the kitchen and cooks too and not just grilling. I know as a SAHM it is something you’re going to do more, but good for Jeremy to step up to it! Let it be one of many meals he prepares for your family. I’m still disappointed that I am in one of the places Blue Apron doesn’t deliver to–my zip is St. Paul, Minnesota and I check monthly—still NO! Arg! I was like you and fish and I’ve slowly come around too, catfish is probably my favorite. So tasty!
Katie! You’ve done it again….recommended a company I’ve been wanting to try. So a huge thank you for writing about Blue Apron again and for the discount offer. I joined TODAY! I’m single, which presents a struggle for me to meal plan, shop, and cook. Hopefully, this will inspire me not only to try new foods but spend less money and eat healthier by forgoing dining out.
The stars are aligned – just yesterday, a friend suggested I try a meal delivery service, and here you are with Blue Apron. It seems meant to be, so I signed up! Planning meals, shopping, cooking – I see other people doing these things regularly (and well!), and I’ve wondered why they are so tough for me. I’m going to regard this as structured practice, someone to “hold my hand” and walk me through things until I get comfortable in the kitchen. I mean, I’m 48 – it’s about time!
HAAA! Hilarious!
Good job, Jer. Looks delish. 🙂
you kill me with that video! hilarious!