Weekly Menu Round-Up: April 11-15

Well, it’s been a while since I’ve last done a Weekly Menu here on the blog, so here we go! If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you probably see what I cook in the kitchen via my Weekly Menu’s on my Instagram Stories. I definitely feel like the last time I did a Weekly Menu, it created via my HelloFresh subscription. Well, y’all, I have CANCELLED – yes, cancelled – my HelloFresh subscription. Why?! It was a lot of money for a lot of meals that I wasn’t eating given my lifestyle and time-consuming. So, now, let’s get into this week’s menu!

Meal 1: Roasted Chili Line Cod. I found this recipe online (https://fashionablefoods.com/2014/06/27/2014618roasted-chili-lime-cod/) and am SO excited to try it. It not only looks Uber-healthy but also Uber-delicious. So, I will be serving this healthy and delicious-looking creation with roasted broccoli and cauliflower and couscous.

Meal 2: Kale Caesar Salad with Air Fryer Shrimp, Roasted Chickpeas, Cherry Tomatoes, and Croutons. This recipe is actually based off of one I tried when subscribing to HelloFresh and I loved it so so much that I wanted to create my own, more affordable version! I’ve always been a sucker for kale salads too and my local Food Lion grocery store sells a HUGE head of kale for about $1.00. So, I am going to be serving this recipe with soup of all things – haha – if I feel the need to add something on the side though.

Meal 3: Honey Garlic Shrimp with Brown Rice & Roasted Broccoli. I found this recipe (https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/quick-healthy-dinner-20-minute-honey-garlic-shrimp/) for Honey Garlic Shrimp when I saw that my local Food Lion grocery store was having a sale on the shrimp that I like. This recipe consists of soy sauce and honey, so it’s a bit of an Asian fusion dish (which I LOVE!!!!).

With Easter coming up, I am SO excited to be able to celebrate with my family. My Mom is putting together a beautiful Easter celebration meal and we plan to dye eggs just like during my childhood years. Here’s to a great week with LOTS of blessings!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: March 14-18

Another week, another weekly menu!! These past few weeks, I have been using HelloFresh. While I LOVE the meals via HelloFresh, it has taken a toll on my budget and has added up a lot. At the same time, I miss being able to cook the meals that I’ve cooked and wanted to cook on my own without my fridge being overtaken by HelloFresh. SO, I am trying a few weeks without HelloFresh to get a feel for it. Overtime though, I may use HelloFresh from time to time. This week will be a busy week, but it will also allow me to whip up some meals on my own!

Meal 1: Baked Rainbow Trout with Lemon, Black Pepper, and Garlic and Roasted Broccoli and Buttery Cauliflower Rice. The other day at my local Giant grocery store, I found some Rainbow Trout filets on sale, so I picked them up! I figured I would whip up a Rainbow Trout recipe and loved this one (linked here) that I found via a simple Google search. I’m excited to try it and serve it with some healthy side dishes aka my favorite roasted broccoli and cauliflower rice for a healthy, yet delish recipe!!

Meal 2: Crockpot Chicken Noodle Soup & Garlic Naan Pepperoni Flatbread Pizza. This past January, I tried Progresso’s newer release of dry Chicken Noodle soup and LOVED it! So, I am going to whip it up again in the Crockpot and serve it with some Garlic Naan Pepperoni Flatbread pizza, as Monday (March 14) is Pi Day *Math majors like myself rejoice!!*.

Meal 3: Healthy Shrimp Salad topped with an Avocado and Buttered Parmesan Rainbow Pasta. I found this delicious-looking Healthy Shrimp Salad (linked here!) via Pinterest and KNEW that I had to try it. I am also oh so excited to be able to serve this salad with buttered parmesan Rainbow pasta noodles (a childhood favorite of mine!), as well.

While a shorter weekly menu, it has definitely become more realistic of what my weekly menus now look like. I am excited to try some healthy recipes that are both budget-friendly AND delicious!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: March 7-11

This week’s menu has some healthy yet delicious additions to it! The majority of this upcoming week’s menu includes contents of my 9th HelloFresh box. If you follow me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!), then you know that I regularly share my HelloFresh meals on my Instagram stories. This past week, I switched my HelloFresh subscription to 3 meals a week as opposed to my initial 4 meals a week, given my current lifestyle. At the same time, this upcoming week is also the week of my Papa’s Birthday – this FRIDAY!!! – and I cannot wait to celebrate with him and enjoy some great meals along the way, too.

Some pretty delicious Avocado Toast topped with Feta, Tomatoes, & Smoked Salmon at Bluestone Lane Cafe in Foggy Bottom, Washington, DC this weekend!!

Meal 1: Greek Goddess Bulgur Bowls with Chickpeas, Harissa Hummus, & Cucumber Feta Salad. This Mediterranean dish looks so healthy, yet so delicious. I’m a BIG fan of Cava – aka the Mediterranean ultra-healthy version of Chipotle – that I DO NOT go to enough. So, this recipe most definitely feels like a vegetarian version of a Cava bowl (I usually get mine with Braised Lamb AND the Harissa Hummus which is included in this dish!!!). I have ALSO recently been really into snacking on hummus and pita here and there, given the fact that my local grocery store has deliciously-made garlic pita chips. That all being said, I can’t wait to try this dish!

Meal 2: Creamy Mac & Cheese. A simple, yet easy lunch dish and add-on to any HelloFresh meal via the HelloFresh market. I’m super excited to be able to try HelloFresh’s variation of Mac & cheese! Enough said.

Meal 3: Warm Buttered Shrimp Rolls with Creamy Lemon Slaw and Seasoned Potato Wedges. A few weeks ago, I had an amazing HelloFresh dish just like this one, but with tempura shrimp rather than warm buttered shrimp. This dish is getting compared to lobster rolls – a Maine staple dish that I LOVE having every time I go up there for family reunions. So, I am oh so excited to be able to eat this dish, too!

Meal 4: Shrimp and Roasted Chickpea Caesar salad with Grape Tomatoes & Garlicky Croutons. Funny story, I ALWAYS have loved adding shrimp to my Caesar salad, when given as a protein option for the salad! So, when I saw that a basic Caesar salad was a meal choice with shrimp, grape tomatoes, and roasted chick peas, I could NOT resist trying it!! I will be serving this dish with some garlic bread – HelloFresh has some pretty great garlic bread, too.

Meal 5: Cauliflower Crust Boboli Pizza. Although not apart of my HelloFresh box this coming week, I have ALWAYS been a big big big fan of the Boboli pizza crust brand. Since I just noticed that Boboli offers a Cauliflower pizza crust option while at the grocery store the other day, I knew that I NEEDED to try it! So, I am going to try it this week and serve some good olde cauliflower crusted pizza with some Caesar salad.

Here’s to a great week for us ALL!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: February 14-20

Another week, another weekly menu – YAY! I’ve been LOVING how much y’all love my weekly menus, too. This past week, I received my fourth HelloFresh box (read my blog post on my 4 weeks with HelloFresh experience here) with my first-ever reward inside of it which was …. a mini cheesecake that was OH SO GOOD! If you follow me on Instagram (@_thepinkchickadee), then you know that I post the recipes that I cook AND the final results of each HelloFresh meal that I make on my stories. This little Instagram Story time of mine in the kitchen has been nothing but a blast for me AND has allowed me to share the results of each and every single one of my weekly menus – one of which is now listed below!

Meal 1: Creamy Dreamy Mushroom Cavatappi with Scallions and Parmesan. This dish low-key reminds me of the Pesto Cavatappi at Noodles & Company aka one of my favorite dishes sold there and my go to order! Initially, when selecting my menu for this coming week, I was hesitant to choose this dish, well, until I saw it again in a different light and maybe just maybe craving Noodles & Company while I was at it. I will be serving this creation probably with a Caesar salad aka my favorite salad – haha!

Meal 2: One-Pan Black Bean & Poblano Quesadillas with Lemon Crema. The moment that I saw that this recipe was in the Hall of Fame of HelloFresh recipes, I just knew that I had to try it! It appears to be a super easy yet super delicious comfort food AND probably something that I will eat ALLL of before I head to bed the day I make it. ALSO, I feel like this will be a great The Bachelor Monday recipe, too, which is PERFECT because I get my HelloFresh boxes EVERY Monday. I am pretty sure that I will top this recipe off with none other than some sliced avocados.

Meal 3: Shawarma Chickpea Lettuce Wraps with Israeli Salad, Pistachios, & Lemon Garlic Yogurt and Creamy Tomato Soup. A few weeks ago, Papa and I had a Middle Eastern chickpea rice bowl with salmon. Personally, I was shocked when I handed Papa this week’s recipes in a stack to look through and that was the one that he chose (he isn’t the most adventurous eater, but I am seriously the exact opposite of him – in fact, Middle Eastern and Indian and Chinese cuisines are probably my absolute favorites in the world along with pizza!) and we both LOVED it. So, when I saw this gorgeous food creation pop up in my options for this week’s menu, I could not pass it up. At the same time, I cannot wait to see how the Creamy Tomato Soup balances it all out.

Meal 4: Shrimp & Honey Miso Broccoli Donburi with Sweet Potato, Scallion Rice, & Eggs. My recipes that feel like the healthier version of Asian takeout dishes are seriously some of my HelloFresh favorites! So, I am so so so excited for this lovely creation and to make a fun rice dish yet again! Seriously y’all, HelloFresh legitimately has some of the best twists on rice and I seriously won’t cook rice from the grocery store anymore – haha!

Meal 5: Pesto Caprese Sandwiches with an Almond-Studded Green Salad. I got this lunch dish in my HelloFresh box a few weeks ago AND have been craving it ever since my last box. Not only am I craving the sandwich, BUT I am also craving that gorgeously delicious and healthy salad, too.

Meal 6: Vanilla Delight Cheesecakes & Chocolate Lava Cakes. Not really a meal BUT it is a great Valentine’s Day treat for me and my Papa – who, I am by the way spending Valentine’s Day with this year!

Here’s to another great week with some pretty great meals. Also, it’s the week of Valentine’s Day, SO here is your public service announcement to treat yourself to a delicious meal and something sweet too – you deserve it!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Four Weeks of HelloFresh

Four times the charm, I guess! This week marks *surprise* my fifth week of HelloFresh. So, that being said, I have four weeks to reflect on of being a proud HelloFresh subscriber. Each day, I post on my Instagram stories my cooking experiences with HelloFresh (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!). In case you’re wondering, I have the 4 meals a week plan with 2 servings PLUS I order some staples for lunch, such as their sandwiches, salads, and fun little toasts, too via the HelloFresh market. My new favorite staple is their oat latte’s which are PERFECT for a healthy pick me up during the work day FULL of hustling. Now, let’s get into my four weeks of HelloFresh reflection!

*Disclaimer: Now, before I get into the meat of this post, it is in NO way being sponsored by Hello Fresh.*

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

How do you get free Hello Fresh meals? Get $120 off your first Hello Fresh box(es) when your order using this link: https://www.hellofresh.com/pages/share?c=HS-7N1HD4BXO&utm_campaign=clipboard&utm_couponvalue=120&utm_invitername=Kate&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=raf-share

So, initially, when I started HelloFresh I was hesitant. I have ALWAYS BEEN a sucker for selecting my own meals based on my weekly cravings. Usually, my weekly cravings were 9 times out of 10 food items that are SO bad for me. That being said, I was so worried I would miss out on my cravings and perhaps have some FOMO. One of the main reasons I started HelloFresh was to begin the process of clean and healthier eating AND have the sheer convenience of my meals sent right to my door perfectly portioned for dinner for me and Papa and/or dinner for myself and lunch the next day. I have to say, though, HelloFresh has BLOWN me away! ALLLL of my hesitations have seriously been silly little worries in the scheme of it all.

When creating my weekly menus pre-my HelloFresh days, I used to take HOURS of overthinking and stressing just to create a simple weekly menu. If you know me, then you know that I am a major PLANNER and spend HOURS obsessing and planning over everything. However, with HelloFresh, I can be a lot less obsessive and a bit compulsive and simply stick to four great meals each week pre-prepped and all complete with some amazing recipes to try, too. Needless to say, my life has been made so much easier, as I just log onto the HelloFresh app, select what I want, and make sure that everything is in my set grocery budget for the week. ALSO, the more boxes you order, the more rewards you get too. My best friends Hannah and Alanna and I have each been ordering HelloFresh weekly in our respective households and we chat about it ALL THE TIME. Hannah and I both got a mini cheesecake as a reward for our fourth box aka the box with the first reward inside. Not to mention, my grocery store trips are made SO MUCH easier AND y’all know I love a good Giant and Food Lion run, too! Moreover, my life has been mad SO MUCH EASIER ever since starting HelloFresh.

A few weeks ago when I had just started using HelloFresh, my best guy friend Wyatt came over and said “I can tell you’re much happier since starting HelloFresh”. He knew that because I’m someone who really takes advantage of the highlight reel that social media is. I mean, if you follow me on social media, then you never really see me go through the emotions. It’s SO SO SO easy to simply share the highlights in our lives on social media. But, through it all, I was struggling with what I ate, where it came from, and it was all taking a tool on my emotional and physical health. BUT, HelloFresh has really helped me be my best self and has made myself feel oh so much better both emotionally and physically.

Now, above all else, you MAY just be wondering whether or not I will continue to use HelloFresh moving forward. For me, it is a most definite YES! The food is easy and fun to cook ALSO cooking is a GREAT mental break from this so called thing known as life – haha!!! – and I feel a lot better physically and mentally since getting it. My life has been so much more simplified and I feel a lot better overall since becoming a regular HelloFresh user. 11/10 for sure!!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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The Life of Katie + My Favorite Kitchen Essentials!

Adaptation and embracing the change are my two keywords at the moment, especially when moving into 2022! In 2021, I graduated back in May from Meredith College – officially ending my undergraduate college years. Since then, adjusting to post-graduate life has been a whirlwind of emotions and changes. Needless to say, it has been tough and I had a tough 6 months, like many that are recent college graduates do when first out in the real world. It sucked. BUT, I have been striving to set goals to make amends and adapt to life in the postgraduate world as, essentially, an adult. Today’s Life of Katie! is ALL about those changes that I have been and am continuing to be making moving into month 2 of 2022.

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

  • Professional goal setting – My company PRIDES on setting goals and achieving them over time, given that they are realistic and knowing what life may bring in our personal lives. When my personal life felt like it was up in flames after graduation, it was HARD to get on my feet professionally or simply feel as if I could. BUT, professional goal setting is something that not only my company requires for every employee at the start of each year *we LOVE that*, but also something I strive for personally. When I have something to aim for in the future, that helps me be my best self and enjoy the present.
  • Getting back into the church groove – One of the main things that I want to do in 2022 is make attending church a regular weekly activity. I used to attend church regularly in high school and LOVED my high school church (which happens to be the same one by my house in Washington, DC!). Church was a HUGE part of my high school life and, after graduating from college, I realized how much I missed it and want it apart of my life as a postgraduate. The community, while quite different people wise from 2017, still has the same foundation that it had when I moved down to North Carolina and many of the same folks there to this day. The community there is PRICELESS. Unfortunately, due to the Omicron variant, my church going days have been a bit delayed, BUT I want to strive to make a more consistent effort to attend more in the New Year. I am also starting a class at my church on getting to dig deeper into my Christian faith, actually starting today. Perhaps, you may be reading this while I am there!!
  • HelloFresh – This week, I am getting my fourth HelloFresh box in the mail! If you have been following me on Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), then you have probably witnessed my continuous sharing of my HelloFresh recipes and meals on the *well, almost* daily. I have LOVED getting to enjoy new and unique meals that are also super healthy, too. I am also a major The Bachelor fan and one of the contestants, Elizabeth Corrigan (who I am a HUGE fan of!), shared how clean eating has helped her manage her anxiety disorder (something I also struggle with on a similar wavelength). Since starting HelloFresh, I have actively seemed out better food options AND felt so so so much better mentally, too. Knowing that others feel similarly is a great feeling!
  • Treating myself – I have been striving to spend less and save more in 2022. However, I somehow made an effort this past week to treat myself more than ever before. I customized my Spring 2022 FabFitFun box with MANY extra treats (including boxes from my FAVORITE new tea brand – Vadham!), I shopped the Tuckernuck Sample Sale for some classic workwear and comfort staples, and *FINALLY* got ahold of the Lilly Pulitzer Analeese midi dress which I found in my size in low stock at Saks Fifth Avenue online (check out Annalisese of Southern Belle in Training rocking that new dress of mine here)! This year, I have been one to struggle with treating myself, BUT I find it as a great once in a while way to show yourself some love.
  • New friends & many new memories in the Washington, DC area – Since moving to the Washington, DC area just DAYS after graduating from college, it took months to process it all. Not going to lie, it was TOUGH, but now I am more than ready to get back on my feet and enjoy my brand-new city. Needless to say, I am SO SO excited to be living in the Washington, DC area and am super psyched to explore more in this area, too. I have met some great new connections through work, professional societies, and blogging. I am oh so excited to be able to make even more this year, too.

My Favorite Kitchen Essentials!

Since starting to cook more with HelloFresh, I have started to LOVE my kitchen now more than ever before. So, I am sharing ALL of my kitchen essentials – those that I use and love on a regular basis.

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: January 31-February 4

New week, new weekly menu! I’ve recently noticed that y’all have loved following along with my weekly menus and it makes me happy, too. They’re so much fun to post about and share what I make on my Instagram stories, too (follow me @_thepinkchickadee!). When getting into this week’s menu, I want to paraphrase something: things NEVER go as planned. This past week, I did not make my menu according to plan AND that is OKAY! My week did not go as expected – I had some mental struggles and that is all normal and okay. Just a reminder to y’all! Now, let’s get cooking, with HelloFresh of course 🙂

Meal 1: One-Pan Trattoria Tortellini Bake. Initially, I was going to bake this last week, BUT plans changed and that is okay. I am excited to try this recipe, as it feels like a delicious and simple yet comforting food staple. ALSO, it takes only 25 minutes to bake and my excitement is over the moon. Just like last week’s plan, I am going to serve this pasta deliciousness with Caesar salad.

Meal 2: Middle Eastern Salmon & Chickpea Bowls with Spiced Basmati Rice & Garlicky White Sauce. Very very very excited for this creation. I have always loved Middle Eastern cuisine and fell in love with it when I went to Bulgaria and Greece in June/July 2017 and frequented a Middle Eastern local joint right by Meredith College while in Raleigh during my college days. While I have yet to try salmon in a Middle Eastern cuisine dish, I am SO SO SO excited to be able to!

Meal 3: Sun-Dried Tomato Spaghetti with Fresh Herbs, Almonds, and Parmesan. This dish feels SO unique yet SO healthy and delicious at the same time. Very few times have I had a pasta dish with a nut of any kind in it and every time I do, it is AMAZING! I am oh so excited to try another pasta dish with nuts in it, especially right in my own kitchen. I will probably pair this dish with a salad of sorts, BUT knowing me: Caesar salad!

Meal 4: Sizzlin’ Hoisin Shrimp with Ginger Scallion Rice and Roasted Green Beans. Ever since I started using HelloFresh regularly, I have started to cook Asian cuisines at home. Let me tell y’all, the Asian dishes that I have whipped up in my own kitchen thanks to HelloFresh have been my favorites! My mouth is ALREADY watering from looking at photos and HelloFresh’s Instagram posts about this dish!

Meal 5: Charred Tomato & Ricotta Toasts with Walnuts, Chili Flakes, & Balsamic Glaze. While easy and simple, I am so so so excited to be able to try this dish. It comes with two servings, meaning I get two lunches out of it. And, y’all I am over the moon excited to try this dish out!

Meal 6: Shrimp & Mushroom Po’boys with Boardwalk Fries. While at college, I went to this pub regularly that was located right across the street from my apartment. Every time I went, I ALWAYS ordered the Shrimp Po’boy with French fries. AHHHH, y’all, I am CRAVING it right as I write this! Enough said.

This week’s menu excites me so so so much. Here’s to another great week for me and YOU!

XOXO – Katie <3

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: January 24-30

On the daily – well, at least when I cook – I post on Instagram (follow my @_thepinkchickadee) the meals that I cook on my stories. About two weeks ago, I got my first-ever Hello Fresh box and have been LOVING it ever since I started. Just like last week’s menu, this week’s menu is ALL things Hello Fresh (read last week’s menu here!). Now, let’s get into the menu!!

Meal 1: Steakhouse Mushroom Salad. This is a vegetarian salad dish that is notoriously for its great pairing with steak. Although I am mostly on a pescatarian diet (I eat other meats on occasion), I am very excited about this veggie packed salad and will be pairing it with foil baked shrimp and Air Fryer baked potatoes along with sea salt and melted butter. I am most definitely making this recipe into my own meal that screams Katie, but without the steak (though, I will say that I eat steak on very rare occasions)!

Meal 2: One Pan Trattoria Tortellini Bake. I have always loved a good pasta bake; I mean, who doesn’t?! The best part about this pasta bake is that the tortellini is made from a wheat base and is portioned to only two servings, so I get that pasta greatness and deliciousness but within moderation. I plan to serve this delicious creation with a Giant grocery store-branded Caesar salad that I tried and LOVED last week.

Meal 3: Crunchy Curried Chickpea Bowls. This dish reminds me of a veggie bowl at Cava but make it home cooked! Personally, I have always loved Cava – it is healthy and low calorie compared to the rest of the takeout world’s dishes yet it’s still just as great as the rest of the takeout world. I usually get a side of naan when I go to Cava, so I plan to eat this Cave-Like veggie bowl with toasted garlic naan.

Meal 4: Trout in Dijon Sauce with Balsamic Greens, Walnuts and Grapes PLUS Garlic Bread. This dish feels fancy restaurant good but healthy and well-balanced. Initially, this dish had pork as its protein, but I was able to swap it out for trout which I am *VERY* excited about! I am always down to try a delicious-looking seafood dish like this one and I am super excited to do so.

Meal 5: Proscuitto Caprese Sandwiches with Pesto Mayo. I LOVED getting to try the Pesto Caprese Sandwiches with Almond-Studded Green Salad last week (I am STILL craving that salad!), so I am super excited to get to try this similar variation of last week’s dish. Just like last week’s sandwiches, they are also on a ciabatta roll, which I think is perfect for Caprese-like sandwiches. Through it all, I am able to get a simple taste of Italy (I studied abroad in Tuscany in June 2018) while at home and probably working while I eat it!

Meal 6: Garlic Bread & Sweet Kale Salad. My Mom always bought and served the sweet kale salad from Costco and I LOVE it. So, I am excited to try Hello Fresh’s Sweet Kale Salad, too. Needless to say, I am ALWAYS looking for a delicious Sweet Kale Salad to try! Sweet Kale Salads are healthy, sweet, and delicious in all different ways. I plan to serve it with crab cakes, since I love how it balances out the sweetness of the salad.

Here’s to another great week with even greater meals!!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My First Week of Hello Fresh!

On my Instagram (follow along @_thepinkchickadee), I have been sharing my ratings and meals via Hello Fresh. Last week was my first-ever week of Hello Fresh – a subscription service that brings healthy meals for every type of diet right to your doorstep. While I do know that Hello Fresh is not for everybody or every budget, I have personally really enjoyed it along with its several customization options and several ways for me to cook in my kitchen like never before. So, today, I am going to be sharing my experiences with my first-ever week of Hello Fresh!

How do you get free Hello Fresh meals? Get $120 off your first Hello Fresh box(es) when your order using this link: https://www.hellofresh.com/pages/share?c=HS-7N1HD4BXO&utm_campaign=clipboard&utm_couponvalue=120&utm_invitername=Kate&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=raf-share

*Disclaimer: Now, before I get into the meat of this post, it is in NO way being sponsored by Hello Fresh.*

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

Hello Fresh offers several different plans for for 2+ meals/week and with 2-4 servings (I think – I know 2 servings is the smallest offered) and including ALL diets, including vegetarian, vegan, pescatarian, and all the meats. You can select your dieting preferences upon creating your account. At the same time, Hello Fresh also offers add-on’s each week, ranging from lunch staples like soup, sandwiches, salads, oatmeal, and even Oat Latte’s. The best part?! The meals and add-on’s vary week per week AND you get to choose which meals and add on’s (if any) you would like. You can also skip a box each week or donate one if you’re going out of town. Personally, I went with 4 meals/week for 2 servings along with a few add-on’s and it solidifies all of my at-home food intake for the week.

When I first opened my Hello Fresh package, I was in AWE! The packaging is beautiful AND the packaging is all done within a sustainable manner. My favorite part was opening up my box to beautifully put together and visually-appealing recipes for each of the 4 meals that I chose. Each meal is arranged with its own special packaging and labelled accordingly. And, everything is contained well with a HUGE ice pack to keep it all cool until its arrival at your home. Overall, I can truly say that Hello Fresh’s packaging was the icing on the top of the cake!

As I got into the meat of the week being the cooking, I found their recipes to be beautifully put together – both visually and directionally. I was able to successfully cook all of my meals and be a bit more adventurous than my usual dump and go sheet pan recipes. Cooking has been a stress relief for me, too. BUT, when it came to the end product aka the meals, I was WOWed! I felt as if I was eating takeout, but thinking much more consciously health-wise and wayyy more delicious.

Personally, I am now HOOKED on the Hello Fresh train and don’t plan to get off of it anytime soon. I am really excited to continue to use it over the next few weeks and potentially months. While it does come at a hefty price tag, the convenience of getting the majority of my groceries delivered right to my doorstep while maintaining healthy eating habits is golden for me and worth the price tag.

XOXO – Katie <3

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Weekly Menu Round-Up: January 17-21

I haven’t done a weekly menu in a while, so I feel that it is time for another! Coincidentally, this is the first time that I am crafting a weekly menu based off of the meals that I get via Hello Fresh. Just last week, I had my first week of Hello Fresh (I get my box every Monday and order 4 meals for 2 people/week in case you’re wondering!) and for the foreseen future will continue to keep my subscription going strong. This week’s menu includes mostly Hello Fresh meals with menu items curated surrounding them. Now, let’s get our taste buds craving something yummy!!

Meal 1: Frijoles Fresca Bowls with Tomato and Pepper Jack. I am REALLY excited about this meal! It is noted as a Hall of Fame recipe on Hello Fresh, and I am super excited to try it. Essentially, to me, it feels like a healthier version of a Chipotle’s vegetarian version of their burrito bowls aka my staple order there. Along with my vegetarian burrito bowl, I ALWAYS order chips at Chipotle to use the bowl as its dip. So, I am doing the same with this recipe using Wegman’s-branded tortilla chips.

Meal 2: Blackened Salmon Penne with Charred Poblano and Monterey Jack Cheese. This is a recipe that I would have NEVER thought to have made this on my own and even think of such a delicious sounding meal! So, when I saw this magnificent creation, I knew that I needed to try it. I will probably serve this pasta on its own or with some leftover tortilla chips.

Meal 3: Creamy Ricotta Tomato Ravioli with Kale and Lemony Tuscan Sauce. I have always LOVED pasta, so whenever I see a vegetarian pasta recipe pop up as a potential meal for me on Hello Fresh, then I WILL 9 times out of 10 add it to my meal plan. What I LOVE about this recipe is that I get ALLLL the benefits of a delicious pasta dish, but with NONE of the health-wise guilt that typical pasta dishes bring me. I plan to serve this dish with a side salad, too!

Meal 4: Mustard Soy Salmon with Pickled Scallions, Ginger Rice, and Zesty Carrots. Personally, salmon has always been one of my all-time favorite fishes. I am, in fact, a HUGE fish fan, but salmon is a very very dear favorite of mine. So, this recipe was a must-try for me. It added that Asian cuisine feel to me, but with all of the benefits of a healthy meal.

Meal 5: Pesto Caprese Sandwiches with Almond-Studded Green Salad. Ever since I studied abroad in Tuscany, Italy, I have missed enjoying Caprese sandwiches in general, as it was indeed a staple of my diet then. I LOVE that this recipe gives all of the healthy benefits with a simple taste of Italy right here in Northern Virginia, especially with the side salad that it comes with.

Meal 6: Grilled Cheese with Truffle Butter and Wegman’s’ freshly made Chicken Noodle Soup or Tomato Bisque. A comfort food at its finest – enough said!

This week’s menu has me super uber-excited. Here’s to eating healthy AND enjoying what I eat, too!

XOXO – Katie <3

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