This post is brought to you by a STSL sponsor.
I got talking with a co-worker of mine the other day about Christmas. I know I know, we just finished Halloween! But the subject came up, and we got more onto the topic of gift giving and lamenting on how difficult it can be to buy for certain people.
I mean, it’s so true, right? We all have that one person every year where we scratch our heads and think, ‘what the heck am I going to buy him/her this year??’
My co-worker mentioned how she had been thinking about getting her mom a subscription of some sorts, since there are so many to choose from nowadays. She said she’s really into cooking, so I asked her if she had ever tried Blue Apron. She told me that while she’d heard of it, she wasn’t totally sure what it was.
Now you guys know how I feel about Blue Apron. It’s no secret that Jay and I LOVE their meals and have been eating them for over a year now. So I gave her some more details…
Like how Blue Apron delivers all of the farm-fresh ingredients, in exactly the right proportions (so huge!), right to your door step, and they even come in a well packed cooler to keep the ingredients fresh. Shipping is always free, you can cancel at any time, or you can just skip weeks in between if you’re not feelin’ the menu.
I also mentioned how they offer two types of plans, the 2-Person Plan and the Family Plan. I told her that I’ve had the experience to try both, but honestly, the 2-Person Plan has been my favorite overall. I guess I’ve just enjoyed the chef-designed recipe selections more from that menu?!
Like, for example…these Spicy Korean Chicken Wings with Rice Cakes and Baby Bok Choy? Umm, helloooo, I would have neverrrr made this meal at home. But it was just incredible, and Jay was thrilled at the idea of us having chicken wings for dinner.
It just makes our whole family happy over here. ;)
I also told her how I’ve really loved seeing the improvements that Blue Apron has made since I first started receiving their meals. For example…
You can now see weeks in advance for what’s coming up on the menu, which is awesome. AND they’re adding new dishes ALL the time.
Even better? You can now customize your weekly menu to get exactly what you want out of the meals that are being offered for that particular week!
Blue Apron now also ships to most of the country, which is fabulous (I know many of you had been waiting for them to come to you!).
And their most recent improvement? They now offering a recycling program!
I know many of you have mentioned your dislike of the added packaging, but now there are two ways to recycle your Blue Apron packaging:
- Use the recycling locator to find recycling options in your community or return your packaging for free to Blue Apron via USPS
- You can learn more about the program HERE!
And honestly, Blue Apron could be an incredible gift for any occasion. For example, another friend of mine recently reached out to me to ask my honest opinion of Blue Apron, since she reads the blog and knows that I love them (hey Tiff!). She’s due to have a baby girl soon and wondered if the meals would be a good idea once the baby arrives.
I mean, what new mom wouldn’t want a fresh Brie & Pear Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Brussels Sprout, Arugula, and Hazelnut Salad?? I already told you guys, this meal was a major WIN, especially the fresh salad.
I told her that some of the meals may wind up being a little more prep time than she’d want (most meals take us no more than 40 minutes, but with a new baby = as quick as possible!).
But I think if someone were to gift free meals to someone with a new baby and THEN offer to come and cook them? Or maybe you have the meals delivered to you, you prep, then bring them over? That could be an amazing gift for someone!
Especially if they’re something quick and easy to transport like their Mexican Chicken & Rice Casserole with Monterey Jack Cheese & Lacinato Kale, Baked Sicilian-Style Rigatoni with Lacinato Kale & Ricotta Salata, or the Rigatoni Puttanesca with Eggplant & Fresh Oregano (<– one of my favorite BA dishes!!!).
So I can say with my honest opinion that, if any of you out there are trying to think of a fun, maybe little bit different gift to give someone this year, why not give Blue Apron a try?
As a little incentive, Blue Apron is offering a special discount offer: The first 50 readers will get two free meals on their first Blue Apron order! Just CLICK HERE!
And even better? I asked if they’d be willing to offer up a little giveaway for my favorite readers, and sure enough, they were in…they have offered to gift one lucky STSL reader a complementary 2-serving delivery of Blue Apron!
To Enter:
1) Click here to view all of Blue Apron’s recipes
2) Select a recipe that you’d like to create
3) Comment back on this blog post with the name of that recipe
I’ll choose a random winner on Friday, November 13th. Good Luck! :)
This post and giveaway are sponsored by Blue Apron. Thank you so much for your continued support of STSL. <3
The seared steaks look delicious!
I just gifted this to my sister who is expecting soon! She loves to cook but doesn’t have time to shop. It was the best gift idea. I want to try the roasted salmon.
Lentil bolognese looks awesome! I’ve yet to try blue apron as it seems a bit time intensive with two under two!
Great gift idea! I would love to try the BBQ salmon with mashed sweet potatoes.
Crispy Cod and Spiced Couscous please!
the seared steak looks amazing and my meat loving husband would love it!
BBQ salmons looks delicious!
I would love to try the seared steaks and sage brown butter!
The butternut squash and kale rigatoni would be awesome to try!
Crispy Cajun catfish sounds interesting!
I would love to try the Crispy Cod and Spiced Cous Cous!
I would love to try the blackened chili-dusted chicken. It looks amazing and is so different than anything we are currently cooking!
I have been dying to try Blue Apron. I would love to make the seared steaks and sage brown butter.
The Roasted Cauliflower Mac & Cheese sounds incredible! I would love to try that!
The lentil bolognese looks lovely!
So many delicious options! I would love to try the acorn squash tempura tacos! Yum!!
Mushroom Browned Butter Cavatelli looks amazing! This is an awesome gift idea and I know the perfect person to get a subscription for! Thanks for the idea! :-)
The ramen meal looks awesome!
I would love to try the seared steaks!
The spiced shrimp and couscous sounds delicious!
I would love to try the crispy ricotta pierogy…sounds yummy!
I really want to get my mom this for Chistmas. She lives alone and its hard to find motivation to cook when you’re just by yourself. I figure with 2 portion meals she will have left overs throughout the week.
I personally want to try the spinach and fresh mozzarella pizza because who doesn’t love a good pizza?!
Quinoa fried rice looks yummy – something I like but probably would never make myself.
Everything looks good! I typically don’t need extra help coming up with meal ideas, but Blue Apron’s look so creative. The stir-fried beef and udon noodles would be on my list to try.
The mushroom browned butter cavatelli looks amazing! I never cook pasta at home but should start!
I would definitely choose the Garlic Herb Butter Shrimp as we never seem to eat as much seafood as we would like, so that would be a nice little treat!
BBq salmon yum!
Ponzu-Tahini Soba Noodle Salad– YUMMM
Mushroom Browned Butter Cavatelli looks amazing! Blue Apron is amazing and has made dinnertime so much easier.
I want to try the tandoori chicken
Jamaican Jerk Chicken & Maduros
with Stewed Collard Greens & Charred Lime
I would love the bbq salmon with mashed sweet potatoes
I would like to try the Crispy Cod and Spiced Cous Cous!
I would love to try Blue Apron! The North African-Spiced Shrimp and Couscous looks amazing! The Crispy Broccoli & Red Onion Pizza looks like a great dish, too!
The tomato and goat cheese pie looks delicious! I’ve tried Blue Apron before but found it slightly frustrating only because I attempted to make everything with a whiny 1 year old at my feet. I think making this for my husband and I after baby has gone to bed is probably the best choice.
Thai chicken meatball curry – YUM!
I want to try the One-Pot Shrimp Perloo!
Crispy Cajun Catfish for me, please.
Looks like everyone is promoting Blue Apron these days….I need to get on board because practically every meal I’ve seen on a blog looks DEEEEElicious! I’d love to try either the Thai-Spice Salmon or the Chinese 5 Spice Meatballs…..YUM! :)
There were so many to choose from….they all look so good and pretty…..the one that caught my eye was spiced chicken pitas & couscous.
i’d love to try the crispy parmesan chicken- yum!
I’d love to try the fall vegetable and goat cheese quiche!!
P.s-the 2 free meals wasn’t working for me…. it was just the regular $59.99 for 3 recipes (2 ppl) at $9.99 per serving.
The thai meetball curry looks great!!
The butternut squash and kale rigatoni sounds great!
I’d love to make the Thai Chicken Meatball Curry!
I would like to try the Seared Salmon and Campanelle Pasta. That looks delish and I love Salmon.
Roasted cauliflower mac and cheese looks amazing! A love the idea of making a healthy spin on one of my favorite comfort foods
I would love to try the goat cheese quiche!
I can’t get the brie and pear sandwich out of my mind!! Looks divine!!
Wow so many delicious looking options!! i’d love to try the Brie & Pear Grilled Cheese Sandwich with Brussels Sprout, Arugula, and Hazelnut Salad and the Spicy Korean Chicken Wings with Rice Cakes and Baby Bok Choy that you have mentioed. As well as the sweet potato and fontina pizza- yum!
Acorn Squash Tempura Tacos!!! We subscribe to Blue Apron (due to your review), but didn’t get to try the tacos since some combinations aren’t available :(
I would love to try the Fall Vegetable & Goat Cheese Quiche!
Ahh there are so many ones to choose from – they all look good!
But I would say I would love to try the Butternut Squash and Kale Calzones. Looks yummy and so different than what I would normally make :)
Thanks for the giveaway!
Ahh yay, go Blue Apron !!! Thanks again Courtney for your honest feedback! Casey, myself, and our little babe cannot wait to try their recipes! We love to cook and I think this is the perfect option for us. First shipment is scheduled for next week :)
Lentil Bolognese! It looks like the perfect comfort food. And, crispy rosemary?! Sounds divine.
I would love to try the North African-Spiced Shrimp and Couscous. And the Coconut-Curry Braised Cauliflower!
The “Mushroom Browned Butter Cavatelli with Lacinato Kale & Soft-Boiled Eggs” looks delicious! I’d love to learn to soft boil an egg and the recipe seems easy enough to do.
The Thai chicken meatball curry looks awesome!!!
catfish po’ boys!!! yum!!
butternut squash and kale riggotoni sounds so delicious
Would love to try blue apron meal
They all look SO GOOD, but I would definitely choose something with steak!
Lentil Bolognese :)
I’d love to gift this to my parents! I know they’d love BBQ salmon with mashed sweet potatoes
Butternut squash and kale rigatoni
Ok. I’m definitely sold on giving this to my brother and his girlfriend for Christmas! I think it would make a fun “date night” to try out some new recipes for dinner! I personally would love to try the mushroom risotto…sooo nommm looking!
The chicken khao soi soup looks yum!
So many of the dishes look good! Like the Spinach & Mozzarella Pizza, Chicken Tetrazzini, Southern Style Burgers and Spinach & Ricotta Stuffed Shells. I could go on!
I think I’m going to gift Blue Apron to my mom for Christmas. Sometimes the worse part about making supper is coming up with what to make and I know she’d love it.
The Stir Fry Beef and Udon Noodles looks very intriguing! I have been looking into Blue Apron for a while and just haven’t made the leap yet :/
The roasted cauliflower mac and cheese looks delicious. Using cauliflower in that way somewhat intimidates me, but I know Blue Apron could help me get past that.
The roasted cauliflower mac n cheese looks yummy!
Southern Style Burgers & Old Bay Oven Fries…. I just can’t pass up a summertime favorite, even though its almost winter!
The North African Shrimp and Couscous looks delish, though it’s hard to choose just one!
Yum! Would love to try the Cauliflower curry meal and the Seared steak! We don’t purchase such special ingredients like this for weeknights, so a steak would be such a treat!
Kung Pao Chicken Tacos
Quinoa fried rice sounds amazing!
I so want to try Blue Apron! Especially those Trattoria style cheeseburgers..um yum!
Salmon pastrami on rye sounds like a delicious choice!
Spiced Salmon & Homemade Cranberry Chutney
I would love to make the Tandoori Chicken & Brown Rice! Mmmmm!
The lentil bolognese looks interesting! I`m always looking for new, meatless options for dinner.
The fingerling potato & kale hash looks fantastic!
The brie and pear grilled cheese sounds absolutely amazing!
I don’t cook with fish too often so any of the fish recipes look great…I think BBQ Salmon and mashed sweet potatoes sound perfect!!
Coconut curry cauliflower
ALL the vegetarian recipes look SO GOOD
The crispy ricotta pierogi look and sound delicious!
I’ve been loving grilled cheese in my pregnancy so I’d choose to try the brie and pear grilled cheese!
The crispy cod and spiced cous cos looks yummy!
Their salmon dishes look amazing! Can’t even narrow it down to just one!
So many of the recipes look great, but I especially like the Lentil Bolognese
with Fettuccine Pasta & Crispy Rosemary!
I would the seared steaks with sage brown butter. It sounds so decadent!
I’d love to try one of the salmon dishes like seared salmon and campanelle pasta. Fish can be hard to get just right at home so directions would be great!
I’d love to make the Baked Sicilian-Style Rigatoni.
I would love to try the thai chicken meatball curry. I’m trying to learn how to cook different types of food and thai always seems so intimidating!
The catfish po boy sandwiches look great!
The BBQ salmon sounds terrific! Would love to try it!
The seared steaks look amazing !
The spiced shrimp & cous cous looks awesome!!
I’d like to try the BBQ Salmon recipe!
I would love to the the acorn squash tempura tacos!
Oh wow, the Sumac-Spiced Steak with Honeynut Squash looks amazing. I’d love to try to make that one!
Any kind of cheesy pasta meal would do best with me and my toddler : )
I’d love to try the Brie and Pear Grilled Cheese Sandwich! Yum!
Thai chicken meatball curry! What! All my favorites in one!
Butternut squash and kale rigatoni sounds delicious!
The seared chicken with sweet potato rounds looks great!!
I’d love to try the crispy ricotta pirogi!
I would love to try Acorn Squash Tempura Tacos!!
I would love to try the stir fried-beef and undon noodles! It looks so yummy!
Sweet Chili and Basil Chicken looks great! Thanks!!
Orange Chicken Thighs with Cherry Salsa.
I think this sounds tasty, and I am a bit intimidated/unfamiliar with cooking Meat & Fruit together. I’d love to learn and taste!
I would love to try any of the meals. This may encourage my husband to cook!
That pear and brie grilled cheese looks amazing!!
Wow, the list of recipes just keeps going! I would love to learn how to make pierogis from scratch. It seems so fancy, but I’m sure Blue Apron would break it down to make it do-able.
Pooh! Quinoa fried rice for sure!
I would love to try garlic herb butter shrimp!
I would love to try the seared steaks!
Seared steak and udon noodles sounds great
I would love to try the quinoa fried rice!
I would love to make the Oktoberfest pork chops!
One pot shrimp perloo…..sounds cool and all in one pot…yay!
The Jamaican Jerk Chicken looks awesome!
I would love to try the North African-Spiced Shrimp and Couscous
Vadouvan-Spiced Lamb Burger sound good to me!
The Thai chicken meatball curry would be something new and fun to try!
The seared steak!
Roasted cauliflower Mac n cheese??! yes please!! I’ve been wanting to try Blue Apron and this would be a perfect start.
Quinoa and black bean burgers sound relish :)