Cold Chicken Noodle Bowl - This was pretty good, and I liked how easy it was (although it was no cook you really still had to cook the rice noodle but still pretty easy). I only used one of the limes as I find generally the lemon/limes juice that they call for in recipes is too much. I also didn't add the radishes as I don't like them. I think the recipe shoul dhave said remove skin from chicken (I did this and I rinsed under warm water to remove any bits of congealed fat). Solid nice hot day dinner.
Creamy Zucchini Orzo - Edible (for me not so much for my husband). I think in general I don't like the "One pot" pasta dishes. I think it makes the pasta and the sauce too gummy (kind of like old school chicken tetrazinni or something gross like that). I think they could improve if they still did one pot but had you drain the pasta and then just cook everything in the pot after you drain. Maybe if I do another one of these that is what I will do (I did think about it for this one).
Sorry no pictures again but really neither of these was particularly attractive.
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Tuesday, August 18, 2015
Been a while
I know I haven't posted in a long time but its the summer and well things get busy. Lately I have been only getting 2 meals a week just because usually we have been doing stuff over the weekend. One thing I have discovered is that if you are only ordering 2 meal you should get a dessert as well, because really it only costs you $2 (as the $8 cost bumps you into the free shipping category so you save the $6 shipping cost). So this means I have been getting more desserts which is fine but I really wish at least for the summer they would have more stovetop or even no cook desserts (I really hate putting on my oven, and I even have central air).
Ok here is a run down of my latest meals and just a brief description (starting with the most recen
Beef and scallion meatballs - This was fine, meatball ok nothing to write home about. Didn't really like the glaze, but might be because I burned the soy sauce. Noodles were good but I think the red peppers should be cut smaller.
Linguini with crab - Liked this quite a bit. I added some half and half to make it creamier but I like creamy.
Black ramen noodles - I also liked this quite a bit and was pretty easy. Maybe too many veggies to for the amount of noodle though.
Hawaiian style fajitas - Ok but wouldn't get them again. In general I find that the tortillas (and a lot of the bread products they send ) are not that great or else don't hold up well. Maybe because they have to be denser. Liked the sweetness of the pineapple though.
Tamarind beef wraps - pretty good but thought they needed some starch so I added some left over rice to them.
Pork Tonkatsu - I think this was good but don't remember much about it.
Duck confit tacos - OK but not worth the effort or money. Loved the duck breast they had a while back and was hoping this would be as good, alas not.
OK there is a lot more so I will just highlight the ones I really liked.
Gruyere Asparagus Pizza - Loved the balsamic sauce. And this made a lot of food.
Garlicky Chicken with Squash - Chicken was salty (in a good way from anchoveys and capers).
Avocado Quinoa Salad - So many things in this salad I loved and they all came together nicely.
Biggest disappointment - Stuffed Portobello Caps - barely edible (and not edible for my husband but hes not a big fan of mushrooms)
Ok here is a run down of my latest meals and just a brief description (starting with the most recen
Beef and scallion meatballs - This was fine, meatball ok nothing to write home about. Didn't really like the glaze, but might be because I burned the soy sauce. Noodles were good but I think the red peppers should be cut smaller.
Linguini with crab - Liked this quite a bit. I added some half and half to make it creamier but I like creamy.
Black ramen noodles - I also liked this quite a bit and was pretty easy. Maybe too many veggies to for the amount of noodle though.
Hawaiian style fajitas - Ok but wouldn't get them again. In general I find that the tortillas (and a lot of the bread products they send ) are not that great or else don't hold up well. Maybe because they have to be denser. Liked the sweetness of the pineapple though.
Tamarind beef wraps - pretty good but thought they needed some starch so I added some left over rice to them.
Pork Tonkatsu - I think this was good but don't remember much about it.
Duck confit tacos - OK but not worth the effort or money. Loved the duck breast they had a while back and was hoping this would be as good, alas not.
OK there is a lot more so I will just highlight the ones I really liked.
Gruyere Asparagus Pizza - Loved the balsamic sauce. And this made a lot of food.
Garlicky Chicken with Squash - Chicken was salty (in a good way from anchoveys and capers).
Avocado Quinoa Salad - So many things in this salad I loved and they all came together nicely.
Biggest disappointment - Stuffed Portobello Caps - barely edible (and not edible for my husband but hes not a big fan of mushrooms)
Thursday, June 18, 2015
Pasta with Crab
This was a decent meal although picking the crab was a bit time consuming. My husband thought this was better then the linguini with clams he had at a restaurant the night before.
What I liked - The crab was good and the I generally like cream sauces. The extra kick from the chili was a good addition.
What I didn't like - Picking out the crab. Needed quite a bit of salt. I felt that more cream was needed in the sauce (I added half and half as I had it on hand).
My modifications - Added half and half, used a little more then half the chili (no seeds) and didn't add the parsley (as I am not a fan of it).
Overall 3.5 stars (my husband would probably give it more).
What I liked - The crab was good and the I generally like cream sauces. The extra kick from the chili was a good addition.
What I didn't like - Picking out the crab. Needed quite a bit of salt. I felt that more cream was needed in the sauce (I added half and half as I had it on hand).
My modifications - Added half and half, used a little more then half the chili (no seeds) and didn't add the parsley (as I am not a fan of it).
Overall 3.5 stars (my husband would probably give it more).
Green Basil Curry
I thought this was really yummy, again I generally love the Asian inspired dishes and I love getting my veggies.
What I liked - Loved the green curry sauce and all the veggies. Generally I am not a big fan of chickpeas but I think with all the other flavors going on here I didn't mind them.
What I didn't like - I added some fish sauce and peanuts as I thought it needed some more salt (and I love fish sauce in my curries) and some crunch. But really it was good even before I made the additions.
My modifications - As I said above I added fish sauce and peanuts at the end. I only used 1/2 - 3/4 of the green chili paste (so it wasn't too spicy). I also heated up the sauce in the microwave instead of on the stove (didn't want to use another pot).
Overall 4 stars (4.5 stars with my modifications).
What I liked - Loved the green curry sauce and all the veggies. Generally I am not a big fan of chickpeas but I think with all the other flavors going on here I didn't mind them.
What I didn't like - I added some fish sauce and peanuts as I thought it needed some more salt (and I love fish sauce in my curries) and some crunch. But really it was good even before I made the additions.
My modifications - As I said above I added fish sauce and peanuts at the end. I only used 1/2 - 3/4 of the green chili paste (so it wasn't too spicy). I also heated up the sauce in the microwave instead of on the stove (didn't want to use another pot).
Overall 4 stars (4.5 stars with my modifications).
Tuesday, June 16, 2015
Tamarind Chicken with Rice
I liked this dish but nothing wowed me about it.
What I liked - The tamarind sauce was a little sweet a little salt. I liked the crispy skin on the chicken. The fried rice had a nice little kick to it.
What I didn't like - Peas and carrots kind of cliché, would have preferred something a little more interesting.
My modifications - Only used half the sriracha but I think it was the perfect amount for me.
Overall - 3.5 stars, pretty good but not that memorable.
What I liked - The tamarind sauce was a little sweet a little salt. I liked the crispy skin on the chicken. The fried rice had a nice little kick to it.
What I didn't like - Peas and carrots kind of cliché, would have preferred something a little more interesting.
My modifications - Only used half the sriracha but I think it was the perfect amount for me.
Overall - 3.5 stars, pretty good but not that memorable.
Pork Banh Mi
I really liked everything about this just wish there was more to this meal then just a sandwich, maybe a salad. I have never had real banh mi (but its on my list) so I can compare this to how it should taste.
What I liked - The shallot jam was yummy, sweet and salty. The pork meatballs had a nice savory flavor. The carrots added a nice crunch and the basil and mint added a nice bright note.
What I didn't like - As I said I wish there was a salad or something on the side. Also the bun was nothing to write home about.
My modifications - I grilled the meatballs instead of baking them. Only used about half the sriracha in the mayo.
Overall 4 stars.
What I liked - The shallot jam was yummy, sweet and salty. The pork meatballs had a nice savory flavor. The carrots added a nice crunch and the basil and mint added a nice bright note.
What I didn't like - As I said I wish there was a salad or something on the side. Also the bun was nothing to write home about.
My modifications - I grilled the meatballs instead of baking them. Only used about half the sriracha in the mayo.
Overall 4 stars.
Salmon with Charred Lemon
This was not that great. Of course I forgot the mustard sauce (but I don't really like mustard anyway), so maybe if I liked mustard and had the sauce this would have been a fine meal.
What I liked - The asparagus was good, I like the lemon on it. That might be it.
What I didn't like - The couscous was boring (like the jeweled couscous from the halloumi dish 2 weeks ago much better). I find wild salmon too dry and this did nothing about that (maybe I overcooked). Of course I forgot the mustard sauce so maybe that would have helped the dryness. And what was I supposed to do with the charred lemon, eat it? I just squeezed it on the salmon.
My modifications - No mustard sauce. I added some crushed almonds to the couscous to try and add something to it but it didn't really help.
Overall 2.5 stars.
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
Salmon Burgers with Mache
Ok I didn't like this at all. I was able to eat it but didn't really enjoy it.
What I liked - The bun was nice toasted??? The arugula was nice and peppery?? Really I am trying to come up with things that were good about this.
What I didn't like - The burger itself, not to my taste (hubby did like it though). I think it was partially the fish taste with the burger texture that I found off putting. I have never had a fish of any kind burger, so maybe I just don't like them (but I do like crab cakes). The salad was boring, not sure the mache added anything, should have used some of the extra lemon in the dressing.
My modifications - Only used half the horseradish as I don't like it.
Overall 2 stars - Edible but not happy about it.
What I liked - The bun was nice toasted??? The arugula was nice and peppery?? Really I am trying to come up with things that were good about this.
What I didn't like - The burger itself, not to my taste (hubby did like it though). I think it was partially the fish taste with the burger texture that I found off putting. I have never had a fish of any kind burger, so maybe I just don't like them (but I do like crab cakes). The salad was boring, not sure the mache added anything, should have used some of the extra lemon in the dressing.
My modifications - Only used half the horseradish as I don't like it.
Overall 2 stars - Edible but not happy about it.
Beer-Braised Chicken with Green Rice
Ok I put off making this because it didn't look that good and I got busy (as sometimes happens), but it turned out this was fabulous. Best of the week (even over the Korean tacos).
What I liked - The flavor of the chicken was so good, just enough spice. I know it doesn't look like much but the flavor more then made up for that.
What I didn't like - Shredding the chicken, its just a pain and certainly took longer then 6-8 minutes that I simmered the braising liquid for.
My modifications - Ok I am not sure what happened to the cilantro and oregano, maybe I misplaced it or maybe they didn't send it either way I made the rice without the cilantro and added dried oregano to the chicken instead of fresh. I used the chicken broth instead of beer. I think I used about half the chipotle pepper and sauce and only used half the paprika/cayenne pepper mixture, result was a spice level that was warm not hot.
Overall 4.5 stars
What I liked - The flavor of the chicken was so good, just enough spice. I know it doesn't look like much but the flavor more then made up for that.
What I didn't like - Shredding the chicken, its just a pain and certainly took longer then 6-8 minutes that I simmered the braising liquid for.
My modifications - Ok I am not sure what happened to the cilantro and oregano, maybe I misplaced it or maybe they didn't send it either way I made the rice without the cilantro and added dried oregano to the chicken instead of fresh. I used the chicken broth instead of beer. I think I used about half the chipotle pepper and sauce and only used half the paprika/cayenne pepper mixture, result was a spice level that was warm not hot.
Overall 4.5 stars
Korean Beef Tacos
Ok I forgot to take a picture before I wolfed these down. They were yummy. I have been really bad about updating so sorry if these reviews are short.
What I liked - Asian tacos whats not to like. I love tacos and I live asian flavors. They had me at hello.
What I didn't like - Kimchi, so I didn't put any on mine, but hubby did and he liked it. By making the tacos all together by the time that I ate them the tortillas were cooled off. Probably should make these like fajitas, one at a time.
My changes - Other then not adding the kimchi I made these as directed.
Overall 4.5 stars- so good.
What I liked - Asian tacos whats not to like. I love tacos and I live asian flavors. They had me at hello.
What I didn't like - Kimchi, so I didn't put any on mine, but hubby did and he liked it. By making the tacos all together by the time that I ate them the tortillas were cooled off. Probably should make these like fajitas, one at a time.
My changes - Other then not adding the kimchi I made these as directed.
Overall 4.5 stars- so good.
Tuesday, May 19, 2015
Upcoming dishes
For this Friday I am getting
Salmon Burgers with Tarragon Aioli and Mache Salad - Maybe I will try and cook this on the grill, but that could be a disaster.
Beer-Braised Chicken with Green Rice - Chicken and rice hopefully it can't go wrong.
Korean Beef Tacos with Bell Peppers, Gochujang, and Kimchi - I love tacos and I love Asian food so I am really looking forward to this even if I don't love Kimchi.
Salmon Burgers with Tarragon Aioli and Mache Salad - Maybe I will try and cook this on the grill, but that could be a disaster.
Beer-Braised Chicken with Green Rice - Chicken and rice hopefully it can't go wrong.
Korean Beef Tacos with Bell Peppers, Gochujang, and Kimchi - I love tacos and I love Asian food so I am really looking forward to this even if I don't love Kimchi.
Lemon Halloumi with Couscous
The minute I opened up the ingredient bag I knew I was going to love this recipe. The smell of cardamom made my mouth water. Unfortunately I think I overtoasted it and made the recipe slightly less then great.
What I liked - The sweetness of the couscous, the saltiness of the cheese and the tang of the lemon all made this a really good dish. The cheese was really salty almost too much to enjoy eating it by itself, but taking a bite of the cheese with the couscous was delicious.
What I didn't like - As I said I think I overtoasted the spices. Probably should have just added them to the pan along with the couscous and the dried fruit.
Overall this was a really good dish 4.5 stars.
What I liked - The sweetness of the couscous, the saltiness of the cheese and the tang of the lemon all made this a really good dish. The cheese was really salty almost too much to enjoy eating it by itself, but taking a bite of the cheese with the couscous was delicious.
What I didn't like - As I said I think I overtoasted the spices. Probably should have just added them to the pan along with the couscous and the dried fruit.
Overall this was a really good dish 4.5 stars.
Spicy Tofu with Mushrooms
Sorry no photo of this one, my toddler was throwing a fit and barely had time to eat much less take a picture. I thought this recipe was really good. I realize I love pan fried tofu (although its better in cubes as there is more crispy edges). I made jasmine rice with this as I felt it needed it and was glad I did as filled out the meal.
What I liked - Crispy fried tofu as I said before. The sesame scallion sauce was yummy, I put it all over everything. I had never had enoki mushrooms before but I thought they were good.
What I didn't like - Not sure there was anything I didn't like, it was yummy.
My modifications - Added jasmine rice and only used about half the crushed red pepper, but felt that I probably could have used more as it wasn't spicy at all.
Overall 4.5 stars (as made with rice).
What I liked - Crispy fried tofu as I said before. The sesame scallion sauce was yummy, I put it all over everything. I had never had enoki mushrooms before but I thought they were good.
What I didn't like - Not sure there was anything I didn't like, it was yummy.
My modifications - Added jasmine rice and only used about half the crushed red pepper, but felt that I probably could have used more as it wasn't spicy at all.
Overall 4.5 stars (as made with rice).
Ricotta Pea Ravioli
I am most didn't make this as it had been a week since I received the ingredients before I got a chance, fortunately there was no meat involved so I wasn't that worried. This was an ok mean really nothing that exciting to it.
What I liked - The lemon in the sauce and the filling gave everything a nice flavor. I liked the dressing for the salad, it had a nice sweetness to it. The dumping wrappers made for a really tender "pasta". THe brown butter sauce was ok, but I think a lot got absorbed by the ravioli.
What I didn't like - Radishes, so I didn't put them in, unfortunately this made the salad a little boring. The dumpling wrappers were tender but also a little flimsy at least 2 broke in the cooking/draining process. The filling was ok but nothing all that interesting.
My modifications - No radishes, that's about it.
Overall maybe 3 stars. Fine but not memorable.
What I liked - The lemon in the sauce and the filling gave everything a nice flavor. I liked the dressing for the salad, it had a nice sweetness to it. The dumping wrappers made for a really tender "pasta". THe brown butter sauce was ok, but I think a lot got absorbed by the ravioli.
What I didn't like - Radishes, so I didn't put them in, unfortunately this made the salad a little boring. The dumpling wrappers were tender but also a little flimsy at least 2 broke in the cooking/draining process. The filling was ok but nothing all that interesting.
My modifications - No radishes, that's about it.
Overall maybe 3 stars. Fine but not memorable.
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Chicken Tostadas
They were ok, but there was a lot that could be improved upon. I think I was most disappointed by the fact that the tortillas were wrapped around the other ingredients so that they were cracked and not flat (which made they fry unevenly).
What I liked - The avocado sauce, it had a nice avocado flavor (I love avocado) with a nice tang from the yogurt and lime. I liked the crunch of the tortillas but was upset they weren't evenly fried. THe roasted tomato salsa was also very nice and gave some good flavor (might have been good to roast the jalapeno in there as well.
What I didn't like - The chicken didn't have much flavor, might be partially my fault as didn't put in all the cumin because I don't like cumin all that much (its ok just didn't want it to be overwhelming). I think there should have been some more spices in the chicken (like maybe chili powder). Obviously I had my issues with the tortillas. The beans were forgettable.
My modifications - I didn't use the cabbage because I don't like it. I only used one of the 2 quarters of onion that I roasted. Only probably used half of the cumin. I microwaved the beans (be aware don't microwave in the container that they ship them to you in, it melts.
This one only gets 2.5 stars.
What I liked - The avocado sauce, it had a nice avocado flavor (I love avocado) with a nice tang from the yogurt and lime. I liked the crunch of the tortillas but was upset they weren't evenly fried. THe roasted tomato salsa was also very nice and gave some good flavor (might have been good to roast the jalapeno in there as well.
What I didn't like - The chicken didn't have much flavor, might be partially my fault as didn't put in all the cumin because I don't like cumin all that much (its ok just didn't want it to be overwhelming). I think there should have been some more spices in the chicken (like maybe chili powder). Obviously I had my issues with the tortillas. The beans were forgettable.
My modifications - I didn't use the cabbage because I don't like it. I only used one of the 2 quarters of onion that I roasted. Only probably used half of the cumin. I microwaved the beans (be aware don't microwave in the container that they ship them to you in, it melts.
This one only gets 2.5 stars.
Tuesday, May 12, 2015
grill season
I wish plated would have some recipes that used the grill (or at least give alternate grill instructions). With the weather heating up I like to use my grill and not use my oven. Depending on the weather and the recipe you may see me try more things on the grill.
Cod en Papillote
This was a fairly good dish. The cod was a bit boring but that was probably the worst thing I can say about this dish.
What I liked - The lemon flavor in both the cod and the asparagus/rice mixture was really nice and made the meal as a whole pretty unified. The red rice faro mix was something I had never tried but thought it had a nice texture to it and was flavorful (the addition of the asparagus roasted in lemon added to this). It was nice to have the grain in this dish have some flavor to it versus last weeks lack luster grains.
What I didn't like - The cod, ok really I was just bored by it. The bites with more lemon to them were better then the thicker less lemon to fish ratio pieces.
My modifications - I only used about half the parsley as I am not that big a fan.
Overall 3 stars.
What I liked - The lemon flavor in both the cod and the asparagus/rice mixture was really nice and made the meal as a whole pretty unified. The red rice faro mix was something I had never tried but thought it had a nice texture to it and was flavorful (the addition of the asparagus roasted in lemon added to this). It was nice to have the grain in this dish have some flavor to it versus last weeks lack luster grains.
What I didn't like - The cod, ok really I was just bored by it. The bites with more lemon to them were better then the thicker less lemon to fish ratio pieces.
My modifications - I only used about half the parsley as I am not that big a fan.
Overall 3 stars.
Thursday, May 7, 2015
My order for May 8th
Another week where there is no Asian dishes. Oh well I'll live.
Cod en Papillote with Herb Butter, Farro, and Lemon Roasted Asparagus - I really like the last fish I did with them en papillote so hopefully this one turns out just as nice (although I think the last one had Asian ingredients in it). Also I had lemon roasted asparagus with the chicken 2 weeks ago and thought it was really good.
Ricotta and Pea Ravioli in Brown Butter with Little Gem Salad - I'm a little afraid this is going to be boring, especially as I don't like radishes and I assume that the salad will be boring without them. The good news is it looks like I could probably premake the raviolis and use this for a weeknight dinner if I want to.
Chicken Tostadas with Greek Yogurt-Avocado Sauce - Looking to this the most, but also a little wary. I love avocados and Mexican food, but am a bit of a snob when it comes to fresh corn tortillas (honestly I feel like fresh corn tortillas with a little butter are just heaven). Also I assume they are using canned refried beans so those could go either way.
Cod en Papillote with Herb Butter, Farro, and Lemon Roasted Asparagus - I really like the last fish I did with them en papillote so hopefully this one turns out just as nice (although I think the last one had Asian ingredients in it). Also I had lemon roasted asparagus with the chicken 2 weeks ago and thought it was really good.
Ricotta and Pea Ravioli in Brown Butter with Little Gem Salad - I'm a little afraid this is going to be boring, especially as I don't like radishes and I assume that the salad will be boring without them. The good news is it looks like I could probably premake the raviolis and use this for a weeknight dinner if I want to.
Chicken Tostadas with Greek Yogurt-Avocado Sauce - Looking to this the most, but also a little wary. I love avocados and Mexican food, but am a bit of a snob when it comes to fresh corn tortillas (honestly I feel like fresh corn tortillas with a little butter are just heaven). Also I assume they are using canned refried beans so those could go either way.
Fettucine with Favas
This probably missed the mark more then it hit it. It wasn't bad but it wasn't that good either.
What I liked - The mint was nice and refreshing. It was a little bit creamy without being overwhelming. I liked that there was a lot of green veggies in here.
What I didn't like - I thought the fava beans were a little to beany for the pasta. Thought it could have used a little more flavor (white wine, red pepper flakes, something).
My modifications - I added one of the pats of butter at the end instead of cooking the onions with it.
Overall 2.5. A little bland but I ate it all. My husband liked this more then I did, but maybe he was just being nice.
What I liked - The mint was nice and refreshing. It was a little bit creamy without being overwhelming. I liked that there was a lot of green veggies in here.
What I didn't like - I thought the fava beans were a little to beany for the pasta. Thought it could have used a little more flavor (white wine, red pepper flakes, something).
My modifications - I added one of the pats of butter at the end instead of cooking the onions with it.
Overall 2.5. A little bland but I ate it all. My husband liked this more then I did, but maybe he was just being nice.
Wednesday, May 6, 2015
Fennel Pork with Apricots
This was my second pork chop dish with plated and it was another winner. The pork was tender and juicy and the salad had a lot of flavor, the quinoa was pretty bland though (really this is the third plated meal in a row where the starch has been lackluster).
What I liked - The prok and sauce were really good, nice crisp crunch to the pork and very juicy. I love blue cheese and fruit in my salad so its no wonder I liked this, plus the crunch of the almonds and the spiciness of the arugula made this salad a winner.
What I didn't like - The quinoa, bland bland bland. It was better if you added some of the pork sauce to it but still it needed something more, maybe some dried fruit. One of the pieces of pork had quite a bit of fat on it, easy enough to cut around but felt like there wasn't enough pork left.
My modifications - I only used about half the spice mix for the pork, I am not a huge fennel fan so thought using the whole thing would be overwhelming for me, I thought it was great with just half. Reduced the pork sauce longer then they said to make it a little thicker and added a bit of butter to the final product. Also added some butter to the quinoa, it needed something.
Overall 4 stars.
What I liked - The prok and sauce were really good, nice crisp crunch to the pork and very juicy. I love blue cheese and fruit in my salad so its no wonder I liked this, plus the crunch of the almonds and the spiciness of the arugula made this salad a winner.
What I didn't like - The quinoa, bland bland bland. It was better if you added some of the pork sauce to it but still it needed something more, maybe some dried fruit. One of the pieces of pork had quite a bit of fat on it, easy enough to cut around but felt like there wasn't enough pork left.
My modifications - I only used about half the spice mix for the pork, I am not a huge fennel fan so thought using the whole thing would be overwhelming for me, I thought it was great with just half. Reduced the pork sauce longer then they said to make it a little thicker and added a bit of butter to the final product. Also added some butter to the quinoa, it needed something.
Overall 4 stars.
Tuesday, May 5, 2015
Soy beef bowl
Another stellar Asian dish from plated. For me the real standout here was the avocado, carrot, edamame salad, excellent.
What I liked - The salad was great. The sweet salty dressing and the crunch of the carrots and the creaminess of the avocado, it had everything in one bite. The steak was also quite good (even my toddler ate it, but he called it chicken), I probably could have had more sriracha as there wasn't that much spice to it.
What I didn't like - The rice was just bland. It was just brown rice, honestly maybe I should have taken the marinade and reduced it and put it over the rice. It needed something other then salt.
My modifications - I marinated the steak for about an hour. Used less then half the sriracha. And added some butter to the rice because it was bland. And I cooked the beef on the grill as its getting to be that season.
Overall another 4 stars.
What I liked - The salad was great. The sweet salty dressing and the crunch of the carrots and the creaminess of the avocado, it had everything in one bite. The steak was also quite good (even my toddler ate it, but he called it chicken), I probably could have had more sriracha as there wasn't that much spice to it.
What I didn't like - The rice was just bland. It was just brown rice, honestly maybe I should have taken the marinade and reduced it and put it over the rice. It needed something other then salt.
My modifications - I marinated the steak for about an hour. Used less then half the sriracha. And added some butter to the rice because it was bland. And I cooked the beef on the grill as its getting to be that season.
Overall another 4 stars.
Japanese Chicken Meatballs
I had really high expectations for these and while they were good I don't think they quite lived up to the hype I had created in my mind.
What I liked - The meatballs had a really good flavor, they were pretty delicious. I probably could have cooked them longer to give them more color but really they were yummy.
What I didn't like - Ok the noodles were ok if not a little bland. I kept thinking I should add some fish sauce but really they were good enough that I didn't bother going to the fridge. Also thought about reducing the extra meatball sauce so it wasn't so thin before putting it over the meatballs.
My modifications - None really, just made the meatballs a little ahead of time.
Overall I would give this 4 stars, quite good but room for improvement.
What I liked - The meatballs had a really good flavor, they were pretty delicious. I probably could have cooked them longer to give them more color but really they were yummy.
What I didn't like - Ok the noodles were ok if not a little bland. I kept thinking I should add some fish sauce but really they were good enough that I didn't bother going to the fridge. Also thought about reducing the extra meatball sauce so it wasn't so thin before putting it over the meatballs.
My modifications - None really, just made the meatballs a little ahead of time.
Overall I would give this 4 stars, quite good but room for improvement.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
My order for the coming week
Fettuccine with Ricotta, Fava Beans, and Mint - I really chose this as I love mint and it seems like something I could easily whip up after work, hopefully it won't disappoint.
Fennel-Roasted Pork with Apricot and Arugula Salad - I loved the last pork dish I got from them and since I am a big fan of pork with fruit I got this one.
Soy-Sriracha Beef Bowls with Brown Rice and Avocado - I was hesitant about getting this as the one other time I had their beef (that wasn't ground) it wasn't that good, but I still got it because I love avocado and I usually like their Asian dishes.
Japanese Chicken Tsukune Meatballs with Sesame-Lime Vermicelli Noodles - This is the dish I am most looking forward to this week (even if last weeks meatball left something to be desired). I have yet to have a bad Asian noodle dish from them so hopefully this one isn't the exception to the rule.
So I have 4 meals this week, which can sometimes be a bit much for me, hopefully I will be able to make them all.
Fennel-Roasted Pork with Apricot and Arugula Salad - I loved the last pork dish I got from them and since I am a big fan of pork with fruit I got this one.
Soy-Sriracha Beef Bowls with Brown Rice and Avocado - I was hesitant about getting this as the one other time I had their beef (that wasn't ground) it wasn't that good, but I still got it because I love avocado and I usually like their Asian dishes.
Japanese Chicken Tsukune Meatballs with Sesame-Lime Vermicelli Noodles - This is the dish I am most looking forward to this week (even if last weeks meatball left something to be desired). I have yet to have a bad Asian noodle dish from them so hopefully this one isn't the exception to the rule.
So I have 4 meals this week, which can sometimes be a bit much for me, hopefully I will be able to make them all.
Chicken Paillard with Asparagus
So I really expected to think this dish was going to be so-so. Mashed potatoes, asparagus and chicken seems pretty standard to me. Fortunately I was mistaken and this meal was really good, no wonder it is a repeat.
What I liked - The lemon in both the asparagus and on the chicken really made this dish. The chicken was perfectly tender. I am not usually a fan of mashed potatoes, but I really liked these, maybe it was the lack of butter and milk/cream (which I was initially wary of) and the addition of chives, these potatoes were very savory (and a nice change from the brightness of the lemon in the chicken and asparagus).
What I didn't like - Honestly I can not complain about anything. Ok if you make me complain maybe it was the lack of something new.
My modifications - Instead of 2 tablespoons olive oil in the potatoes I did one of olive oil and one of butter. I thought the result was a nice olivey flavor without being overwhelming.
I am giving this 5 stars.
What I liked - The lemon in both the asparagus and on the chicken really made this dish. The chicken was perfectly tender. I am not usually a fan of mashed potatoes, but I really liked these, maybe it was the lack of butter and milk/cream (which I was initially wary of) and the addition of chives, these potatoes were very savory (and a nice change from the brightness of the lemon in the chicken and asparagus).
What I didn't like - Honestly I can not complain about anything. Ok if you make me complain maybe it was the lack of something new.
My modifications - Instead of 2 tablespoons olive oil in the potatoes I did one of olive oil and one of butter. I thought the result was a nice olivey flavor without being overwhelming.
I am giving this 5 stars.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Spaghetti and meatballs with pesto
I really wanted to like these meatballs. This was the first time I have made homemade meatballs and was hoping it would be something I would continue to do (especially given how my son loves meatballs), unfortunately neither I nor my husband were a fan of them.
What I liked - The pasta was pretty good, I really liked the combo of the pesto with the lemon zest, it made it feel light and refreshing.
What I didn't like - While the meatballs were tender, I felt they were a little too tender, maybe its just me but I like my meatballs with a little more density. I thought the dandelion greens were a little bitter for my taste. I thought the peas were ok but there were too many for the dish.
My modifications - I made and cooked the meatballs ahead of time and then reheated them with the pasta. Afterwards I thought a few red pepper flakes would have been a nice addition to the pasta.
Overall 2 stars.
What I liked - The pasta was pretty good, I really liked the combo of the pesto with the lemon zest, it made it feel light and refreshing.
What I didn't like - While the meatballs were tender, I felt they were a little too tender, maybe its just me but I like my meatballs with a little more density. I thought the dandelion greens were a little bitter for my taste. I thought the peas were ok but there were too many for the dish.
My modifications - I made and cooked the meatballs ahead of time and then reheated them with the pasta. Afterwards I thought a few red pepper flakes would have been a nice addition to the pasta.
Overall 2 stars.
Teriyaki trout
This was a pretty good meal, but I felt like it was nothing new, it seems like something I would make on my own.
What I liked - The fish was super moist (finally they gave me 2 pieces of fish that were of similar thickness). The dressing for the salad was nice and refreshing and very tasty.
What I didn't like - While the dressing for the salad was nice, the actual salad was pretty boring, just lettuce, tomatoes and edamame. Similarly the sauce for the fish while fine seemed just like standard run of the mill teriyaki sauce. Maybe if I hadn't had such delicious Asian meals from them before I wouldn't be complaining but I know they can do better.
My modifications - I made the dressing earlier in the day (I did use a blender to make it) and let it sit in the fridge for a couple hours.
Overall 3 stars - good but nothing special.
What I liked - The fish was super moist (finally they gave me 2 pieces of fish that were of similar thickness). The dressing for the salad was nice and refreshing and very tasty.
What I didn't like - While the dressing for the salad was nice, the actual salad was pretty boring, just lettuce, tomatoes and edamame. Similarly the sauce for the fish while fine seemed just like standard run of the mill teriyaki sauce. Maybe if I hadn't had such delicious Asian meals from them before I wouldn't be complaining but I know they can do better.
My modifications - I made the dressing earlier in the day (I did use a blender to make it) and let it sit in the fridge for a couple hours.
Overall 3 stars - good but nothing special.
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Upcoming for the week of April 20th
My food will be coming today but I think I will go back to delivery on Friday as I usually don't make my food until the weekend (which for me is Friday-Monday). As long as I don't plan on going away for the weekend this should be better for me especially as I am home and as its getting warmer my food won't be sitting on my hot porch that long.
Chicken Paillard with asparagus - I really ordered this one because it said it was a customer favorite. It doesn't look all that exciting, but I do like all the ingredients so hopefully it will be tasty. Although looking at the recipe it seems like there is only olive oil and chives in the mashed potatoes, no butter or milk/cream, I may have to go off recipe with it, but I will make as directed and only add butter and milk if I don't like it.
Spaghetti with meatballs - I have never had meatballs with a pesto sauce hopefully its a good combo. It looks like the pesto is pre-made, which sometimes isn't the best but is a timesaver. To make up for last weeks lack of green vegetables it seems everything I ordered this week has a good amount of green. Definitely seems like I can make the meatballs ahead of time, I like when I can do that, saves me time in the evening.
Trout Teriyaki- The only Asian dish I have this week, they only had two and one wasn't to my taste. This looks easy enough for a weeknight if I don't get to it on the weekend, especially if I make the dressing ahead of time.
Chicken Paillard with asparagus - I really ordered this one because it said it was a customer favorite. It doesn't look all that exciting, but I do like all the ingredients so hopefully it will be tasty. Although looking at the recipe it seems like there is only olive oil and chives in the mashed potatoes, no butter or milk/cream, I may have to go off recipe with it, but I will make as directed and only add butter and milk if I don't like it.
Spaghetti with meatballs - I have never had meatballs with a pesto sauce hopefully its a good combo. It looks like the pesto is pre-made, which sometimes isn't the best but is a timesaver. To make up for last weeks lack of green vegetables it seems everything I ordered this week has a good amount of green. Definitely seems like I can make the meatballs ahead of time, I like when I can do that, saves me time in the evening.
Trout Teriyaki- The only Asian dish I have this week, they only had two and one wasn't to my taste. This looks easy enough for a weeknight if I don't get to it on the weekend, especially if I make the dressing ahead of time.
Duck with risotto
I love duck and this duck was really no exception. I tried making duck once at home and it wasn't really that good, but this one definitely lived up to the expectations. I was a little hesitant about it but really glad I spent the extra money and went for it.
What I liked - The duck was really tender and perfectly cooked. The sauce for the duck was nice and sweet and salty (one of my favorite combos). There also was a lot of duck, this recipe would easily feed 3 people (but really you will not want to share any of your duck with a third person).
What I didn't like - The risotto, it was ok (not the best though) but I honestly didn't feel like it paired well with the sweet salty duck, maybe like an asian coconut rice would have worked better, or something with a little sweetness to it as well. I think I liked the risotto better also before I put the mushrooms in (and I do like mushrooms). Also it would have been nicer if the duck skin was crispy, you crisp it up at the begining but then add sauce which I think de-crisped it (ok I know its not a word), but even though it wasn't crisp the duck was still delicious.
My modifications - I used a lower heat to simmer the risotto as I thought that simmering on medium high heat wasn't right, but then the risotto took longer then the 25 min directed so maybe I should have used med high heat. I pre-roasted the mushrooms earlier in the day.
Overall 4 stars and that was really just because the duck was so good. If the risotto had been better (or something else) this would be 5 stars.
What I liked - The duck was really tender and perfectly cooked. The sauce for the duck was nice and sweet and salty (one of my favorite combos). There also was a lot of duck, this recipe would easily feed 3 people (but really you will not want to share any of your duck with a third person).
What I didn't like - The risotto, it was ok (not the best though) but I honestly didn't feel like it paired well with the sweet salty duck, maybe like an asian coconut rice would have worked better, or something with a little sweetness to it as well. I think I liked the risotto better also before I put the mushrooms in (and I do like mushrooms). Also it would have been nicer if the duck skin was crispy, you crisp it up at the begining but then add sauce which I think de-crisped it (ok I know its not a word), but even though it wasn't crisp the duck was still delicious.
My modifications - I used a lower heat to simmer the risotto as I thought that simmering on medium high heat wasn't right, but then the risotto took longer then the 25 min directed so maybe I should have used med high heat. I pre-roasted the mushrooms earlier in the day.
Overall 4 stars and that was really just because the duck was so good. If the risotto had been better (or something else) this would be 5 stars.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Sesame Soy Udon bowls with Crispy Tilapia
Noodles were great but the fish needed something more, ok I really didn't like the fish at all but ate it.
What I like - Again the udon noodle were really good, nice and chewy and the sauce was yummy with just the right amount of kick (probably used 1/4 of the sriracha sauce).
What I didn't like - The fish wasn't really good at all, its possible I over cooked it as I did cook it longer then directed, but even if that was the case there still wasn't that much flavor in it, I think it needed some sauce of its own. Another one where it lacks vegetables.
My modifications - As mentioned I cooked it initially for longer then directed and added less then the full amount of sriracha (but that said to taste anyway). Looking at my photo and the photo that came with the recipe I can see that my tilapia is crisper then theirs so really maybe it was just me trying to make it crisp and it should have just been seared.
I think if I took the tofu from the previous review and added it to these udon noodles it would probably be a 4.5 star review but alas that is not the case here. 3 stars, but only because the udon noodles were that good on their own.
What I didn't like - The fish wasn't really good at all, its possible I over cooked it as I did cook it longer then directed, but even if that was the case there still wasn't that much flavor in it, I think it needed some sauce of its own. Another one where it lacks vegetables.
My modifications - As mentioned I cooked it initially for longer then directed and added less then the full amount of sriracha (but that said to taste anyway). Looking at my photo and the photo that came with the recipe I can see that my tilapia is crisper then theirs so really maybe it was just me trying to make it crisp and it should have just been seared.
I think if I took the tofu from the previous review and added it to these udon noodles it would probably be a 4.5 star review but alas that is not the case here. 3 stars, but only because the udon noodles were that good on their own.
Spicy mapo tofu
I think I would have liked this better with actual pork as I was unable to get my mushrooms crisp, but otherwise it was a pretty solid dish. I made it for lunch on Saturday and it was a good meal.
What I liked - I like tofu especially when it's got a nice crisp bite to it. The sauce for the tofu/mushrooms was good but I wish there was a bit more for the rice to soak up.
What I didn't like - The lack of any real veggies (ok I knew going in what was in the recipe but still I am going to complain about it.
My modifications - I didnt use any of the Sichuan peppercorns (but thanks to plated if I did they had already cracked mine) so it wasn't spicy at all (probably should have put a pinch in).
I would give this 3.5 stars, it was good but nothing blew me away about it.
What I liked - I like tofu especially when it's got a nice crisp bite to it. The sauce for the tofu/mushrooms was good but I wish there was a bit more for the rice to soak up.
What I didn't like - The lack of any real veggies (ok I knew going in what was in the recipe but still I am going to complain about it.
My modifications - I didnt use any of the Sichuan peppercorns (but thanks to plated if I did they had already cracked mine) so it wasn't spicy at all (probably should have put a pinch in).
I would give this 3.5 stars, it was good but nothing blew me away about it.
Wednesday, April 15, 2015
Upcoming for the week of April 13th
So I will be getting my delivery of the following items this week.
Sesame soy tilapia udon - Really looking forward to this as I have yet to be disappointed by an asian noodle dish from them (of course I hope I have not jinxed myself).
Spicy Mapo tofu - I will make sure not to put too much of the spicy mapo (whatever that is) in mine.
Duck with risotto - I love getting duck in restaurants and and slightly intimidated by having to make this at home. Hopefully all will go well.
I was unable to make the fish and chips this past week mostly due to being sick this weekend, and because it is fish I will not be making it now. Oh well, this is my first time I have been unable to make something I ordered.
On a side note Plated used to have the expiration date on meats but no longer does, I wish they would bring that back (maybe with it getting to be warmer
Sesame soy tilapia udon - Really looking forward to this as I have yet to be disappointed by an asian noodle dish from them (of course I hope I have not jinxed myself).
Spicy Mapo tofu - I will make sure not to put too much of the spicy mapo (whatever that is) in mine.
Duck with risotto - I love getting duck in restaurants and and slightly intimidated by having to make this at home. Hopefully all will go well.
I was unable to make the fish and chips this past week mostly due to being sick this weekend, and because it is fish I will not be making it now. Oh well, this is my first time I have been unable to make something I ordered.
On a side note Plated used to have the expiration date on meats but no longer does, I wish they would bring that back (maybe with it getting to be warmer
chicken tikka masala
What I liked - The chicken was really tender and there was a lot of flavor in the sauce.
What I didn't like - The sauce was too spicy. Normally I like extra suace here I was trying to get mostly just the chicken on the plate with a minimum of sauce. The spinach was just boring, couldn't they have added some extra garlic in there to give it a little extra something. The nan wasn't good. In a pinch I would eat it and probably would have had I not had some rice in my freezer to heat up quick to go with the dinner.
My modifications - I marinated the chicken in the yogurt for a couple hours in the fridge before cooking. I made rice. I put some butter on the spinach just to give it some more flavor (probably some garlic salt would have been good too but I didn't think of it at the time). I had to broild the chicken a couple minutes longer then directed (still a little pink the first time I pulled it out of the oven).
I really wish they would make spicy food more to taste, meaning label the spicy ingredient and say use to taste or something. I have made indian food before and used grahm masala and never had it been this spicy (granted I am not biggest spicy fan, so maybe if you like things medium spicy this would have been fine).
2 stars (I guess I will still get my favorite indian take out still)
Tuesday, April 14, 2015
Tofu scallion dumplings
These were quite good. I was able to make the dumplings ahead of time while my little one napped and placed them single layer on a plate in the fridge.
They stuck a tiny bit to the plate when I pulled them out, but not enough for any of them to tear (just enough that I was worried they would tear). There was probably enough filling to make at least 8 more dumplings and that was only using half the tofu (as directed). Making the dumplings was a bit hard and time consuming but doing it ahead made it easier.
What I liked - I like dumpling and these had a nice fresh taste with nice seasonings. The bok choy good, make sure to salt it though. The dipping sauce was good, might have been better with some sesame oil/
What I didn't like - Making the dumplings. Didn't really feel like a meal, it was apps with some veggies, but still yummy.
What I changed - Made the dumplings ahead. Used coconut oil to fry the dumplings in. I think I cooked the bok choy longer then directed as it seemed a little too crunchy when I first took it out of the oven.
Overall 3.5 stars.
What I liked - I like dumpling and these had a nice fresh taste with nice seasonings. The bok choy good, make sure to salt it though. The dipping sauce was good, might have been better with some sesame oil/
What I didn't like - Making the dumplings. Didn't really feel like a meal, it was apps with some veggies, but still yummy.
What I changed - Made the dumplings ahead. Used coconut oil to fry the dumplings in. I think I cooked the bok choy longer then directed as it seemed a little too crunchy when I first took it out of the oven.
Overall 3.5 stars.
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Next week
This coming week (I am now getting my shipments on Wednesday) I will be making the fish and chips (maybe my son will even try this), chicken tikka masala and tofu scallion dumplings. Any one else making these? I can't imagine that this chicken tikka will live up to my favorite indian foods place's chicken tikka (one of my favorite indian dishes), but at least it will be healthier.
Ginger Trout en Papillote
Another really good offering from plated. Even though I waited about 5 days to make the fish it still turned out really good and not fishy at all. The ginger and miso butter did not overwhelm the fish but gave it a really nice flavor.
What I liked - I don't think I have cooked fish in parchement before and I really liked it, the fish came out so moist even though I cooked it a little bit longer then suggested. The peas and sweet potatoes made for a really nice side, and the minimal preparation for them let there flavors really shine thorough.
What I didn't like - Again one of the pieces of fish was quite a bit thicker then the other but I think cooking them in the parchement allowed for the fish to cook a little longer without it drying out.
My modification - I think I cooked everything a little longer then the recipe stated. My parchements never puffed up (maybe I didn't have the parchement closed enough) but the fish was done and still moist (think I cooked it about 3 min longer). Also the sweet potatos I think needed a little more time but then again my 1 inch dice might have been bigger then 1 inch.
Another 4.5 star review here.
What I liked - I don't think I have cooked fish in parchement before and I really liked it, the fish came out so moist even though I cooked it a little bit longer then suggested. The peas and sweet potatoes made for a really nice side, and the minimal preparation for them let there flavors really shine thorough.
What I didn't like - Again one of the pieces of fish was quite a bit thicker then the other but I think cooking them in the parchement allowed for the fish to cook a little longer without it drying out.
My modification - I think I cooked everything a little longer then the recipe stated. My parchements never puffed up (maybe I didn't have the parchement closed enough) but the fish was done and still moist (think I cooked it about 3 min longer). Also the sweet potatos I think needed a little more time but then again my 1 inch dice might have been bigger then 1 inch.
Another 4.5 star review here.
Monday, April 6, 2015
2 meals 1 night
So I went to my I laws for the weekend and I offered to make Saturday dinner for the 4 of us, si I decided to make 2 plated meals, the Thai beef lettuce wraps and fresh spaghetti with artichokes. Everything was great and everyone liked the food, however making 2 recipes at once was difficult. I had 4 burners going at once and having to keep switching which recipe I was looking at was a bit confusing. If I try to make food I liked the lettuce wraps more then the pasta another example of how I generally like the Asian recipes better.
What I liked -
Lettuce wraps - pretty much everything. The beef with the crunch of the water chestnuts and peanuts and the sweet spicy combo.
Pasta- fresh pasta, a little brightness from the lemon, a little bite from the red pepper and arugula.
What I didn't like -
Lettuce wraps - because I was making 2 things at once the beef and rice were a little cool by the time we ate, I think having them warm/hot would have been better, but again this was my own fault. The outer big layers of the lettuce weren't that crunchy but the inner layers were small.
Pasta - the artichokes were difficult to prep probably more then they were worth (but they were good). Would have liked a little more cheese or something to make this a little creamy, maybe more garlic, it needed something a little more.
My modifications-
Lettuce wraps - only used about 1/4 of sriracha to make sure it wasn't to spicy, think it could have used a little more.
Pasta- I used 2 strips of lemon zest and added more fresh pasta (really used fresh linguinni as thats what the store had) as we had 4 people. Added most of the cheese when I was mixing in the pasta water to make it a bit creamy then served it family style with the rest of the cheese on the side.
Lettuce wraps - 5 stars
Pasta - 3.5 stars
What I liked -
Lettuce wraps - pretty much everything. The beef with the crunch of the water chestnuts and peanuts and the sweet spicy combo.
Pasta- fresh pasta, a little brightness from the lemon, a little bite from the red pepper and arugula.
What I didn't like -
Lettuce wraps - because I was making 2 things at once the beef and rice were a little cool by the time we ate, I think having them warm/hot would have been better, but again this was my own fault. The outer big layers of the lettuce weren't that crunchy but the inner layers were small.
Pasta - the artichokes were difficult to prep probably more then they were worth (but they were good). Would have liked a little more cheese or something to make this a little creamy, maybe more garlic, it needed something a little more.
My modifications-
Lettuce wraps - only used about 1/4 of sriracha to make sure it wasn't to spicy, think it could have used a little more.
Pasta- I used 2 strips of lemon zest and added more fresh pasta (really used fresh linguinni as thats what the store had) as we had 4 people. Added most of the cheese when I was mixing in the pasta water to make it a bit creamy then served it family style with the rest of the cheese on the side.
Lettuce wraps - 5 stars
Pasta - 3.5 stars
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Spicy Tofu Soup
Another good asian dish from plated. It wasn't too spicy but then again I didn't add all the chilli sauce. Since I did all the prep work the night before it was really easy and the fact that you only need one pot was great. When I get soup I often think about the cost as I feel this was probably one of the dishes that didn't cost them that much but here I am paying $12 for a bowl of soup. But as I liked it a lot I won't complain that much.
What I liked - The tofu I found was very addicting. I had to stop myself from snacking too much on it while the broth/veggies were cooking. I do like tofu, especially when it has a nice crispy layer to it. Really it was all good.
What I didn't like - Had to add quite a bit of salt to this which I was surprised at given the soy sauce and veggie base in it. All my pots are not non-stick which made the tofu stick a bit to the pan when frying, of course I could have used one of my non-stick frying pans, but then it wouldn't have been one pot.
Modifications - I prepped it the night before and had the tofu draining all night in my fridge (between two plates and paper towels under some milk to press out the liquid) which is much longer then the 10 minutes in the recipe. I am not sure if this had any affect of the final outcome though. As I said before had to add quite a bit of salt to the final broth. Also added some coconut oil in with the sesame oild when frying the tofu.
4 stars- yum.
What I liked - The tofu I found was very addicting. I had to stop myself from snacking too much on it while the broth/veggies were cooking. I do like tofu, especially when it has a nice crispy layer to it. Really it was all good.
What I didn't like - Had to add quite a bit of salt to this which I was surprised at given the soy sauce and veggie base in it. All my pots are not non-stick which made the tofu stick a bit to the pan when frying, of course I could have used one of my non-stick frying pans, but then it wouldn't have been one pot.
Modifications - I prepped it the night before and had the tofu draining all night in my fridge (between two plates and paper towels under some milk to press out the liquid) which is much longer then the 10 minutes in the recipe. I am not sure if this had any affect of the final outcome though. As I said before had to add quite a bit of salt to the final broth. Also added some coconut oil in with the sesame oild when frying the tofu.
4 stars- yum.
Wednesday, April 1, 2015
Tunisian Chicken
Finally back in my regular kitchen, so nice to have the extra space. So one of the problems with Plated is what to do if you have a guest for dinner. If the plan is made in advance you can maybe modify your order (either by adding if you want to make more for your guest or removing something if you plan on making something else). My husband decided to invite his uncle over for dinner kind of last minute (invited sunday morning for sunday dinner). My plan was to make the tunisian chicken but add rice to stretch the meal to account for the 3rd person. I was planning on making the rice to go with this anyway as I thought just chicken in sauce was a bit lacking for a meal. I think the rice was needed for this as the spices in the sauce are pretty heavy (the heat level is not that high, but there is a kick, but there are a lot of spices in there that make this a pretty flavorful sauce).
What I liked - This had a lot of flavor! I like dark meat chicken and the braising of the thighs was nice.
What I didn't like - A little too much cumin for my taste. The lack of any kind of starch with this dish I think was a big problem, if I just ate the chicken and the sauce I don't think I would have liked it as much.
My modifications - I cut the thighs up into bite sized pieces before marinating to accomodate the extra person as there were only 2 thighs, I used all the marinade here and just added it straight to the pan, maybe this was a mistake? I didn't braise the chicken in the oven, I just put my stove on low and braised it that way. And obviously added rice to the dish. I think adding some sour cream or yogurt also would have been nice with this dish but I didn't have any on hand (unless you count my sons strawberry banana yogurt, but that would have just been weird).
Not sure what to give this for a star rating as I did make quite a few modification. As I made it probably 3.5 stars (yes now I am doing half stars). Everybody liked this dish, there was even enough sauce left over to have seconds of rice and sauce for my husband and his uncle.
Finished Dish
Marinating the cut up chicken
What I liked - This had a lot of flavor! I like dark meat chicken and the braising of the thighs was nice.
What I didn't like - A little too much cumin for my taste. The lack of any kind of starch with this dish I think was a big problem, if I just ate the chicken and the sauce I don't think I would have liked it as much.
My modifications - I cut the thighs up into bite sized pieces before marinating to accomodate the extra person as there were only 2 thighs, I used all the marinade here and just added it straight to the pan, maybe this was a mistake? I didn't braise the chicken in the oven, I just put my stove on low and braised it that way. And obviously added rice to the dish. I think adding some sour cream or yogurt also would have been nice with this dish but I didn't have any on hand (unless you count my sons strawberry banana yogurt, but that would have just been weird).
Not sure what to give this for a star rating as I did make quite a few modification. As I made it probably 3.5 stars (yes now I am doing half stars). Everybody liked this dish, there was even enough sauce left over to have seconds of rice and sauce for my husband and his uncle.
Finished Dish
Marinating the cut up chicken
Over ordered
Ok so yesterday I received my next plated order of 3 meals (spaghetti with artichokes, beef lettuce wraps, and ginger trout in case anyone is interested) but I still have one more meal to make from last week (spicy Tofu soup) and its Easter this weekend so at least 1 dinner and maybe 2 are off the table and generally I don't make my plated meals on days I go to work (Tue, Wed, Thur).
I did the prep work (chopped veggies, drained tofu) for the Tofu soup last night after my son went to bed so hopefully my son won't be to fussy/demanding after work today that I can try to make the soup.
It looks like the beef wraps might be doable on a work night as well so maybe I will try that too.
Anyone else get the ginger trout? Normally when I get seafood from plated it is frozen but this was not, not sure if it just thawed or if was supposed to be fresh. Seems a little too difficult to do during the week but worried the fish might go off. I put it in the fridge instead of the freezer as it wasn't frozen. Maybe I will email plated.
**** Update ****
I heard back from plated and they said they ship the fish frozen but it will naturally thaw in transit (as it was so cold here in the Boston area must have never thawed before). Anyways they said it would last 4-5 days in the fridge. I can live with that.
I did the prep work (chopped veggies, drained tofu) for the Tofu soup last night after my son went to bed so hopefully my son won't be to fussy/demanding after work today that I can try to make the soup.
It looks like the beef wraps might be doable on a work night as well so maybe I will try that too.
Anyone else get the ginger trout? Normally when I get seafood from plated it is frozen but this was not, not sure if it just thawed or if was supposed to be fresh. Seems a little too difficult to do during the week but worried the fish might go off. I put it in the fridge instead of the freezer as it wasn't frozen. Maybe I will email plated.
**** Update ****
I heard back from plated and they said they ship the fish frozen but it will naturally thaw in transit (as it was so cold here in the Boston area must have never thawed before). Anyways they said it would last 4-5 days in the fridge. I can live with that.
Lemongrass Pork
In general I really like Plateds asian selections and this was no exception.
What I liked - I liked the contrast of the crispy pork with the soft noodles and the combo of sweet (agave) and spicy (only added a little siriacha but enough to give it some warmth). The broth wasn't really a broth for me more of a thicher sauce, but I liked it this way as it clung to the noodles and gave them a nice flavor.
What I didn't like - I can't think of anything this was a real winner in my book.
My modifications - I made the pork a little ahead of time and let it sit out in the agave sesame mixture. I don't think this made any difference, but it did allow me to snack a bit on the pork which was tasty. Only added about half a packet of the siriacha but this was the perfect amount of spice for me.
If this one shows up again I will definitely be getting it. 4.5 stars (Ok I rarely hand out 5 stars).
What I liked - I liked the contrast of the crispy pork with the soft noodles and the combo of sweet (agave) and spicy (only added a little siriacha but enough to give it some warmth). The broth wasn't really a broth for me more of a thicher sauce, but I liked it this way as it clung to the noodles and gave them a nice flavor.
What I didn't like - I can't think of anything this was a real winner in my book.
My modifications - I made the pork a little ahead of time and let it sit out in the agave sesame mixture. I don't think this made any difference, but it did allow me to snack a bit on the pork which was tasty. Only added about half a packet of the siriacha but this was the perfect amount of spice for me.
If this one shows up again I will definitely be getting it. 4.5 stars (Ok I rarely hand out 5 stars).
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Mexican Chocolate pudding
Ok I made the mistake here of putting this in the fridge. I thought oh its pudding I can just make ahead of time and pop in the fridge to eat later. It was not that good cold. The bits that I scraped from the pot right after making and ate seemed pretty tasty though.
What I liked - Its dessert, enough said. I liked the spices added to the chocolate.
What I didn't like - I can not explain why it being cold made such a difference, maybe it was the texture. I didn't finish my portion and it is dessert so really to me that says something.
My modification - Refrigerating it (bad idea) and I wasn't sure when the milk/egg combo began to thicken so I may have added the rest of the ingredients too late as it did not take 5 minutes for the pudding to start bubbling.
Cold I give this one star (I didn't eat it and it was dessert), if it was warm maybe 3 stars as those few little bites did taste good. This was my 3rd attempt at dessert with plated so far I have only liked 1/3 (the one I liked was the coconut chai rice pudding). Overall I think they are a bit pricey for dessert.
What I liked - Its dessert, enough said. I liked the spices added to the chocolate.
What I didn't like - I can not explain why it being cold made such a difference, maybe it was the texture. I didn't finish my portion and it is dessert so really to me that says something.
My modification - Refrigerating it (bad idea) and I wasn't sure when the milk/egg combo began to thicken so I may have added the rest of the ingredients too late as it did not take 5 minutes for the pudding to start bubbling.
Cold I give this one star (I didn't eat it and it was dessert), if it was warm maybe 3 stars as those few little bites did taste good. This was my 3rd attempt at dessert with plated so far I have only liked 1/3 (the one I liked was the coconut chai rice pudding). Overall I think they are a bit pricey for dessert.
Orecchiette with Sausage
This was a pretty simple recipe which was nice. It tasted ok, had a nice amount of spice (I don't like things really spicy, just enough to make my mouth a little warm), really nothing stood out for me with this recipe.
What I liked - Spice level was perfect for me. Easy preparation, if I had been home this week probably could have made this on one of my work days. I like pasta. This made enough that my husband got to eat leftovers the next day for lunch (not as good the next day but thats to be expected).
What I didn't like - Not enough brown butter flavor, maybe this was because it got overshadowed by the sausage. Maybe browing the butter afterward then drizzling over the topped would have help instead of browning the butter them cooking the sausage in it. The directions for adding the cooking water were a little strange as you have to do it twice. Lack of vegetables.
My modifications - I think I made this exactly as written.
Overall probably another 3 star recipe. You may notice I tend to give most things 3 stars, my husband often teases me that I say most things are ok.
What I liked - Spice level was perfect for me. Easy preparation, if I had been home this week probably could have made this on one of my work days. I like pasta. This made enough that my husband got to eat leftovers the next day for lunch (not as good the next day but thats to be expected).
What I didn't like - Not enough brown butter flavor, maybe this was because it got overshadowed by the sausage. Maybe browing the butter afterward then drizzling over the topped would have help instead of browning the butter them cooking the sausage in it. The directions for adding the cooking water were a little strange as you have to do it twice. Lack of vegetables.
My modifications - I think I made this exactly as written.
Overall probably another 3 star recipe. You may notice I tend to give most things 3 stars, my husband often teases me that I say most things are ok.
Monday, March 30, 2015
Sicilian style cod
I got this one more for my husband then myself as he is a big olive and caper fan, but I quite liked it myself. I generally get the more exotic Asian or Indian dishes but it seems this week it's mostly Italian.
What I liked - sauce for the fish was really yummy (assuming you like olives, capers and sun dried tomatoes). Potatoes were simply but yummy, actually ended putting the sauce on them.
What I didn't like- One of the pieces of fish was much larger then the other so even though I tried to move the thinner piece to the side of the pan that was cooler I still ended up over cooking it a bit.
My modifications - I didn't add the remaining parsley to the potatoes after they came out of the oven mostly because I am not a big fan of parsley. 3 minutes per side was too short to cook the larger piece of fish.
I probably give this 3 stars.
What I liked - sauce for the fish was really yummy (assuming you like olives, capers and sun dried tomatoes). Potatoes were simply but yummy, actually ended putting the sauce on them.
What I didn't like- One of the pieces of fish was much larger then the other so even though I tried to move the thinner piece to the side of the pan that was cooler I still ended up over cooking it a bit.
My modifications - I didn't add the remaining parsley to the potatoes after they came out of the oven mostly because I am not a big fan of parsley. 3 minutes per side was too short to cook the larger piece of fish.
I probably give this 3 stars.
Plated meal week of 3/16 - Braised Chicken with Gnocci
I didn't think I would like this as much as I did but it was the best meal this week.
What I liked - the sauce was really smooth and velvety on the tongue. I am a fan of dark meat chicken mostly because I think it stays moist when a chicken breast will often dry out.
What I didn't like - Dill, really just my preference but I am not a big fan of dill. Pulling the skin off chicken, just kind of gross, couldn't they just have given us skinless chicken.
My modifications - I didn't realize there were 2packets of butter so when browning the chicken I only used one, later I added the second packet to the finished sauce. Instead of returning the chicken to the pan on the bone after cooking I cut it up into bite sized pieces, really just made it easier to eat. I reduced the sauce much longer after adding the crime fraiche as I thought it was too watery, I really think this helped to overall dish. I didn't add the dill to my dish as I said above I am not a fan but hubby had it on his and didn't really like it either.
Overall I give this 4 out of 5 stars.
What I liked - the sauce was really smooth and velvety on the tongue. I am a fan of dark meat chicken mostly because I think it stays moist when a chicken breast will often dry out.
What I didn't like - Dill, really just my preference but I am not a big fan of dill. Pulling the skin off chicken, just kind of gross, couldn't they just have given us skinless chicken.
My modifications - I didn't realize there were 2packets of butter so when browning the chicken I only used one, later I added the second packet to the finished sauce. Instead of returning the chicken to the pan on the bone after cooking I cut it up into bite sized pieces, really just made it easier to eat. I reduced the sauce much longer after adding the crime fraiche as I thought it was too watery, I really think this helped to overall dish. I didn't add the dill to my dish as I said above I am not a fan but hubby had it on his and didn't really like it either.
Overall I give this 4 out of 5 stars.
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Plated meal the week of 3/16 - Sunchoke and Kale Hash
Generally I get my deliveries on Tuesday but as I knew I would be going away I opted for a later Friday delivery so that I could bring my Plated meals with me to my cabin in Vermont. Honestly if you are renting a house somewhere in driving distance and not planning on eating out a lot, Plated is an excellent choice to bring with you.
So the first thing I made in my my very small not incredibly well equipped kitchen was the Sunchoke and Kale Hash.
I have only had sunchokes one other time and that was in another plated meal, and I wasn't that fond of them, so I was a little nervous that I wouldn't like this one, but I was wrong. Probably give this a 3 out of 5 stars.
What I liked - I liked the addition of the currents, I love a little bit of sweetness in savory dishes. The sunchokes were not overwhelming in this dish but were definitely a major component, maybe having the dressing and all the other flavors in together helped, or maybe I am warming up to sunchokes. Love getting my vegatables.
Could have been better - They say to drain the quinoa, I only had a standard colander that I thought the quinoa would just flow right through, so I just gently drained out the water trying to keep as much quinoa in the pot as possible, there was still a little water in there but figured it would be absorbed by the time I was done with the other ingedients. I felt there could have been more dressing, of course they are trying to keep calories low but at 590 I thought it could have the extra dressing and still be pretty low.
My modifications - They say to add as much onion as desired so I used half the onion, I felt it was plenty, my husband who is not an onion fan picked some out.
I promise to have more photos next time.
So the first thing I made in my my very small not incredibly well equipped kitchen was the Sunchoke and Kale Hash.
I have only had sunchokes one other time and that was in another plated meal, and I wasn't that fond of them, so I was a little nervous that I wouldn't like this one, but I was wrong. Probably give this a 3 out of 5 stars.
What I liked - I liked the addition of the currents, I love a little bit of sweetness in savory dishes. The sunchokes were not overwhelming in this dish but were definitely a major component, maybe having the dressing and all the other flavors in together helped, or maybe I am warming up to sunchokes. Love getting my vegatables.
Could have been better - They say to drain the quinoa, I only had a standard colander that I thought the quinoa would just flow right through, so I just gently drained out the water trying to keep as much quinoa in the pot as possible, there was still a little water in there but figured it would be absorbed by the time I was done with the other ingedients. I felt there could have been more dressing, of course they are trying to keep calories low but at 590 I thought it could have the extra dressing and still be pretty low.
My modifications - They say to add as much onion as desired so I used half the onion, I felt it was plenty, my husband who is not an onion fan picked some out.
I promise to have more photos next time.
Introduction
I started ordering through Plated about 2 months ago and I love it! So I thought I would start blogging about it and how I feel about each recipe as most are good but I have had a couple that I didn't care for.
About me. I am married, work part time and watch my toddler son the other part. Prior to my sons arrival I used to love going out to eat and cooking new and exciting foods. With my sons arrival going out to eat went down hill as did my cooking and it went even more down when he became a toddler. I really love food and found myself in a rut of making the same things over and over again, and while I am a fan of homemade mac n cheese it can get to be too much.
Generally I find that I can make 3-4 plates a week depending if I have plans outside of eating at home. Unless the recipe is super easy and quick I do not make them on days I go to work, but this is more because my son generally needs more attention on the days that I go to work.
My son is a pretty picky eater so he doesn't really eat my Plated but I am really happy now to be cooking and making good new food every week.
About me. I am married, work part time and watch my toddler son the other part. Prior to my sons arrival I used to love going out to eat and cooking new and exciting foods. With my sons arrival going out to eat went down hill as did my cooking and it went even more down when he became a toddler. I really love food and found myself in a rut of making the same things over and over again, and while I am a fan of homemade mac n cheese it can get to be too much.
Generally I find that I can make 3-4 plates a week depending if I have plans outside of eating at home. Unless the recipe is super easy and quick I do not make them on days I go to work, but this is more because my son generally needs more attention on the days that I go to work.
My son is a pretty picky eater so he doesn't really eat my Plated but I am really happy now to be cooking and making good new food every week.
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