Over the Kitchen Counter: Angie's Place for Cooking and Crafts

From Our Chefs Meal Kits

Meal kits, whether in-store or through a home delivery subscription service, are so popular and now more than ever, might be a real help when it comes to getting dinner on the table. I have reviewed Hello Fresh in several posts (you can start with this one if you'd like to read it) and while I really enjoyed getting that monthly box of 3 meals, I did find it expensive. The meals were quite elaborate and often too caloric for my WW (Weight Watchers) points. I also found them rather labour intensive to prepare with several steps involved. Seeing as the idea was to streamline my time in the kitchen, I ended up cancelling my subscription.

While I was shopping for staples at the beginning of this strange and incredulous time, and discovered there was no chicken to be had, I happened to see a few boxes tucked away in the fresh deli section of the store. They turned out to be meal kits and they had one chicken dish and one beef dish left. I picked up both family size kits and each one was $20. That didn't seem too bad for a complete dinner for 4 (obviously only $5 per person) and while my daughter pointed out that I'd just purchased a small lasagna for $20, once we tried it, I was delighted.

The first meal I made was the Chicken Parmesan with vegetables. This kit contained: Raw Chicken, Seasoned Breading, Egg mixture, Brushetta, Fresh Veggie Blend, Cooked Potatoes, Mozzarella, and Marinara Sauce. It wasn't until I got home that I discovered the safety tape had been cut but everything inside was securely sealed. I figured someone had peeked inside to see the contents. When I began preparing the dish I thought someone had actually removed the much sought after chicken packages. The kit serves 4 but there was only one very tiny package of chicken. I asked my daughter if she thought that really could be intended to serve a family and her boyfriend suggested weighing it. Indeed, it was as described on the box and once the package was cut open, it expanded to reveal the pre-cut fresh chicken strips. The dinner was simple to make and delicious. There was no cutting or measuring to do and everything was extremely fresh and well-seasoned. While the chicken portion was small, it was definitely adequate. Two thumbs up! 

The Beef and Spinach Lasagna Meal Box contained everything needed to make the dish: Raw Lean Ground Beef, Lasagna Sheets, Veggie Blend, Fresh Baby Spinach, Cheese Blend, Ricotta & Marinara Sauce, and even the Oven Safe Tray. It was so fast and easy to put together and I was very impressed with the freshness and quality of the ingredients. The lasagna sheets are fresh pasta and the marinara sauce was fantastic. The lasagna was incredible and everyone LOVED it, even daughter who doesn't usually eat that kind of baked pasta. I couldn't wait to try the other meal kits and also, to buy the lasagna again.

I have since purchased the Butter Chicken with Rice meal (excellent, and the whole family agreed!) and look forward to trying Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry and Shepherd's Pie. Even though all these dishes can definitely be made homemade, having the option to have everything fresh and ready to go, with nothing extra to buy, is a wonderful choice. I feel these From Our Chef meal kits (I believe they are PC brand but I'm not sure) are an excellent alternative to home delivery services. There is no commitment, you choose what you want to make and eat, and when, there is no extra packaging to dispose of (cooler boxes, synthetic ice packs, etc.), and they are very affordable when and if you want them. I am delighted and hope they continue to develop other recipes and selections. I am very impressed!

I hope you are all safe and well. These have been trying times and while enduring the COVID-19 stay-at-home recommendations, things have been made extra difficult as we had our puppy's surgery the day before the whole lock-down began (we were assured there was no reason to postpone). Not only did he need to be kept quiet and still, he ended up with complications (infection and wound issues) requiring weekend emergency vet service an hour away during the strict distancing and closures. All family members are working from home so it has been very stressful managing space and volume for all of us. I am SO looking forward to things returning to a more manageable situation and for a good night's rest at some point! Puppy is at least out of danger and on the mend and we are thankfu and counting our blessings. Love to you!

 

Easy Calabacitas Recipe

My friend shared this incredible recipe for Easy Calabacitas from Mexican Please and I could not wait to make it! I hadn't even heard of Calabacitas but it is a very easy-to-prepare mixture of 6 ingredients. As I eat mostly a plant-based diet, and am a fairly faithful Weight Watcher member, I am always on the lookout for simple dishes that are healthy and delicious. This one definitely checks all the boxes!

A couple zucchini, 3 plum tomatoes, onion, garlic, frozen corn (or canned or fresh), AND a beautiful jalapeño are all you need. I happened to be making roasted potatoes so I threw the tomatoes into the oven and roasted them while I got everything else going. The blender works so well to whip up the sauce when the tomatoes are done - just added to the jug with a bit of the sautéed onions and garlic, and the pepper. I removed the seeds because I don't like too much heat, and I was even a bit nervous to use the entire pepper because it was quite large. When the zucchini was soft I added the sauce and the corn and after a few minutes dinner was ready.

Oh my gosh, I can't believe how amazing this calabacitas tastes! The jalapeño added the most fantastic flavour without being overpowering and left a wonderful taste in my mouth!  You can add this as a filling to tacos or quesadillas, top it with avocado or some protein (chicken, egg, beans?), use as a side dish or just eat as is. I couldn't stay away and since it is quite a big batch, I enjoyed a bowlful for lunches over the next couple days. As prepared, the calabacitas is very low in points since only the oil you use to saute the veggies counts with the new WW Blue program. I am so pleased to have this recipe in my repertoire and plan to make it often. If you try it, let me know what you think!

Just Like Disney's Churro Toffee!

My dear friend made this amazing "copycat recipe" for Disney Churro Toffee and I just had try it myself. She said it was so easy to make and actually churned out several batches for holiday treats. Armed with the recipe I headed to the store for white chocolate melting wafers and a proper candy thermometer. That cost me about $32. I used a pound of butter and two cups of sugar as well.

Things were going along perfectly. It is not complicated to make toffee: melt butter and sugar and boil until desired temperature, in this case 285 degrees F. My new thermometer was getting close to the 280 degrees and the toffee was getting pretty dark. My instincts said to remove the pan but the directions said 285 was the magic number. Well, there was my mistake. When I poured the toffee onto the cookie sheet the bottom of the pan was burnt black!

The rest of the process was fine in terms of melting the wafers and coating the pieces of toffee with chocolate and cinnamon sugar. I hoped it didn't taste burnt as it seemed only the pan was impacted. Indeed, when the candy was cool enough to taste, the toffee was definitely overdone. Not quite ruined or 100% burnt flavour, but I think if I'd taken it off the burner just a minute or two earlier, it would be so much better. The ingredients were too dear to throw away and the Churro Toffee was still edible for sure! I have eaten so much of it and it got even better over the next few days. I'm not sure if I will make this again and my pan was almost a right-off. I've tried scrubbing, soaking, boiling, a razor blade, and baking soda and vinegar. Nothing seems to work to remove that burnt on sugar.

I am so susceptible to suggestion and when I see an amazing recipe I have to give it a try. Sometimes it works and sometimes it isn't quite successful. This Churro Toffee falls somewhere in between. I might try again, lesson learned, but not for a while. The recipe yields quite a lot and there's only so much toffee I can eat at one time! I'm not sure if the 'churro' flavour really came through but it is delicious none-the-less. I'm stubborn too, and dislike not having a perfect result when I try something new. I usually keep going, at least until I get it right!

If you'd like to try this Churro Toffee just like at Disneyland, head over to Picky Palate where it is so beautifully and generously demonstrated. It's not hard to make but keep an eye on that thermometer!!!

David's Tea Iced Tea Press

I recently placed an order for delicious David's tea and ended up adding a bunch of awesome sets and accessories to my cart. I found so many great things for Christmas gifts and stocking stuffers which I know my girls will love! I also went to the SALE tab and found a couple cool things for myself. With prices as low as 70% off some items I couldn't resist!

The coolest thing I ordered was an iced tea press. This is a specialty all-in-one gadget I didn't even know I needed but I absolutely love! Iced tea is one of my favourite drinks and as I wrote in THIS POST, I prefer the unsweetened variety which is nearly impossible to find where I live. I tweaked the recipe for homemade iced tea and really enjoyed it. Now with the incredibly easy and fun David's Tea travel mug, I can quickly make a serving in as much time as it takes to boil the kettle. I have used it every single day since I got it, even in November.

Here's the description on the website:

"What if we told you there was an all-in-one gadget to steep, ice AND sip your tea, at home or on the go? Meet the mug that’ll change how we make iced tea forever. Made of BPA-free, durable Tritan™, it makes iced tea prep quick, easy – and ridiculously fun. Just add your tea and hot water, and scoop your ice into the inner compartment. When you’re ready to sip, press it together to instantly ice your tea. No fuss, no muss. Plus its super-fine mesh stops the infusion, so even the most delicate tea won’t be oversteeped. Now that’s refreshing."

I add a tiny pinch of baking soda (to eliminate any bitter taste), a sliced lemon, and a drop of natural vanilla sweetener (with Stevia) and my brew is perfect! I am so pleased with this tea press and it is very easy to rinse out. If you are new to David's Tea definitely check out Fashion Storyteller's blog HERE. Emily is a huge tea aficionado and David's Tea affiliate so she knows everything about their amazing tea and you'll find great information on her blog. 

Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend

I have heard about this Trader Joe's Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend for years on Weight Watcher chats but alas, it is only available in the States. Since we now always fly to our vacation destinations south I don't get the chance to browse and stock up in the grocery stores like I used to when we took the kids on road trips. However, thanks to the king of online shopping, Amazon, I was finally able to order a couple of jars of this much talked about flavourful topping I was anxious to try.

My order arrived the next day (I only got regular free shipping so I was so surprised!) and I couldn't wait to try the blend. It is a mix of sesame seeds (white, black, and toasted, it appears), salt, garlic, and onion flakes. I had seen it sprinkled on avocado toast on the Today Show and that was going to be my first taste. Excellent! It is very garlicky! Next I added it on top of my 2-ingredient bagels (you can read about those in THIS POST). Also fab, just like an 'everything bagel'. The label suggests using it everywhere and on a plain bagel smeared with cream cheese. I could do that! Sure, I realize you could easily make up one's own blend but I wanted to try the original first to evaluate the ratio of ingredients.

So a big thumbs up for the amazing Everything But the Bagel Sesame Seasoning Blend. It is available in the U.S. at Trader Joe's or you can shell out a whopping CDN$13.50 plus tax to order it from Amazon. I know each jar will last quite a while and because of my impressionable and impatient nature, ordering was inevitable. I will definitely throw a couple in my suitcase the next time I'm in the States and have a car. I don't know how much a bottle costs AT Trader Joe's but I'm sure it is a lot less than $15. Until then, I will enjoy that everything bagel flavour on everything possible until my supply is gone.

Happy New Year! Let's Look at the Year Ahead...

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a lovely holiday season and are looking forward to 2019. It was a fast and furious few weeks around here and I'm definitely in the mood for some quiet and creative time. I have many goals for the year ahead and the first few months should offer me some time to get started on achieving them.

First up is re-designing some of my Pandora bracelets, incorporating the gorgeous new charms I was spoiled with this Christmas and my birthday. So much to play with and I absolutely love thinking about new themes to build upon. Disney was really represented this year in our family so that will be where I start, with both the Peter Pan charm I picked up at Disney World and the Beauty and the Beast Belle's Rose I was gifted by my sweet hubby. I can't wait to get started!

I also have fitness goals I want to pursue. We added a weight bench and more free weights to our setup so further toning is definitely in the books! I'm up a few pounds from this time last year so getting that in check is priority. I'm feeling very motivated and happy with where I am and realized this is my 3 year anniversary of re-committing to WW. Other than shaking things up a bit exercise wise, nutrition and healthy eating (and my 'plan' in general) are all going well and sustainable. I will only add to what I'm doing and have a great starting point!

Planning is still front and centre in my day and I feel it has totally helped me achieve my objectives. For some reason, keeping track and writing things down is a powerful tool for me and I really do believe it has been key. I am pretty certain I might not ever go back and revisit what I wrote but just the act of journaling itself is a big motivator. I highly recommend it if you need some accountability! I purchased a new daily Happy Planner and just got a new fitness Happy Planner. I was holding out to see if any kits were released at Michaels, with the same layout as my 2018 planner, but they never appeared. I ended up with a new version that is completely redesigned. It will take a few days to get used to the new format but I can make it work! There is less room for food tracking but now includes a water tracker and different boxes for either goals, plans, or motivational stickers. Those are all good things in my book!

Hello Fresh meals have continued to impress me and I will still take delivery once a month when the menus work for me. The last box I received was on the 18th of December and the food was delicious! I'm looking forward to the next mid-January and it will include Coconut Dal, Mushroom Freekeh Bowl, and a repeat - Vegetable Packed Calzone, which was one of my favourites so far, so a welcome duplicate!

What are your plans for the coming months and did you make any resolutions or set any goals for yourself? I'd love to hear about them so please feel free to comment below!!

Disney World at Christmas!

It has been a short while since I posted as we were away in Disney World! I have never been at Christmas time and it was just as magical as I had imagined! This time hubby and I were able to take a somewhat slower pace and spend some time enjoying the special holiday festivals, decorations, and food, along with all the other amazing Disney attractions! I'm paying the price by being way behind on everything at home, including all the baking and shopping that go along with this time of year, but it was so worth it.

There were hundreds of absolutely huge, gorgeous, and elaborate Christmas trees around the parks and resorts making for beautiful backdrops to the fun. We participated in the Holiday Cookie Stroll in Epcot where you pick up cookies around the entire World Showcase, getting proof of purchase with a stamp in the Festival Passport. It was a lot of fun to try all the different holiday cookies (Red & Green Chocolate Chip, Peppermint Sugar, Green & White Sugar, Black & White cookie, and Gold Chocolate Chip cookie) and then get a complimentary Red & Green Mickey Sugar completer cookie and a glass of milk at the end. To be honest, I couldn't make it to the grand finale, having eaten far too much cookie for one day! You actually don't have to do the stroll in one visit but since I was late to the game, it was our only chance. While I didn't like the Black & White cookie as much as I thought I would, the sugar cookies were definitely tasty!

Keeping with the cookie theme, a highlight of the visit to the Grand Floridian resort was seeing the enormous and fantastic Gingerbread House in the centre of the lobby. This spectacular sight takes more than 2 months and 840 hours of labour to produce, requiring a staggering list of ingredients! From 1,050 pounds of honey to 35 pounds of spices, there are 5,089 gingerbread shingles alone! There is even a SHOP inside the house and of course I bought a shingle and a bag of various gingerbread treats. These are not crispy gingerbread men cookies but more like German gingerbread - soft and with a hint of cherry (to my tastebuds, anyway!). I didn't eat any until I got home but needless to say, it is all gone now!

It was so much fun to indulge in these special festive treats and I loved it. I will be sharing some more of our trip in future posts, including the exclusive Pandora charms I bought to add to my Disney collection and my thoughts on the new Toy Story land and rides!

Hello Fresh: Part 2!

Last month I wrote about the eggplant dish I made based on a Hello Fresh recipe my daughter received with her meal service delivery. It was so delicious and while I was super tempted with the idea of having 3 meals planned, shopped for, and delivered to my door, I suggested that the service was not for me. Expense was my main concern, followed secondly by calorie count for the meals...BUT...never say never!

My daughter gave me a coupon for a 3-meal FREE trial. It seemed silly to just throw that away so I ended up signing on to the subscription. I know all about the pitfalls of such a set-up, I'm a child of the 70s and remember the Columbia House system and even when Netflix sent DVDs in the mail! I read the fine print (there isn't much) and decided there was nothing to lose by trying Hello Fresh. Secretly, I really wanted to sign up because I am in a total rut when it comes to feeding myself. As a vegetarian living with a family of carnivores, I have been struggling to prepare meals for myself in addition to theirs. I usually end up eating the carb and veggies from their dinner or frying an egg. I do love to cook and eat great dishes and the plant-based menus available at Hello Fresh sound mouthwatering.

So, here we go! My first delivery is next week, which happens to be ideal since my hubby will be eating his meals with work during that time. I can focus on unboxing, reading, and preparing my own meals. I cannot wait to dig in to the amazing sounding vegetarian calzone, Shepherd's Pie, and squash risotto. I will be sure to post my pics and reviews too.

The Hello Fresh app is very easy to use and I can see the recipes, ingredient list, and nutritional information in advance of my delivery. I can plan my meals accordingly and work out what I'll need for the other days. Apparently the meals yield two servings but my daughter says they are usually way too big and she subdivides further for lunches or the freezer. I plan on using the service about once a month so I can freeze suitable dishes for other weeks of the month. You can skip menus you don't care for or when you're away, and there is no minimum required to keep your account 'active'. I'm thinking this is the kick I need to get re-inspired about my own vegetarian meals and I can branch out from fried eggs for a at least a few days a month!

If you've ever tried a meal delivery service, please let me know your thoughts by commenting below!

Sicilian-Style Eggplant Caponata & Hello Fresh!

My daughter visited and treated me to a wonderful Sicilian-Style Eggplant Caponata dish she cooked herself. I rarely get a night off from making dinner and have a fancy vegetarian meal even less often. By the time I prepare food for the rest of the meat-eating family, I do not feel like making a proper recipe (vegetarian dish rather than an egg, or a salad, or simply the carb and veggies from dinner) just for myself.

The youngest had been given a coupon for a trial run of the meal/recipe/ingredient delivery service Hello Fresh and this was one of the dishes she had ordered. We duplicated the recipe after grocery shopping, using the menu card they provided. If you haven't heard of the meal kit delivery company, it is a subscription service that provides all that's necessary for 3 meals, delivered to your door. Everything is included to prepare the recipes, which you select from several options that week, depending on your plan and preferences. A giant, insulated box is left at your door and the food is bagged up into three separate meals. The recipe card thoroughly explains what is provided and how to cook the dinner. Most things are portioned exactly and the process should take about 30 minutes. For the right kind of person, this is an excellent alternative to eating out, ordering fast food, or eating processed packaged food.

I must say that the meal daughter cooked was delicious! It was straight-forward but still required chopping and cooking so I think some prior skill in the kitchen makes things easier. The recipe was fairly exotic and gourmet and we enjoyed the tomato eggplant dish on farro (a sort of large-scale barley). I was quite impressed and I think Hello Fresh has great chefs who deliver excellent choices, especially when it comes to vegetarian meals. There are a good variety of meal ideas from which to select your week's menu and everything is ready and waiting for you to prepare.

The only downside I can see is the cost (#1) and perhaps, the calorie count. While I understand most of the meals are about 600-800 calories, I think eating that way even 3 times a week would be a lot more than typical for myself, personally. I think it is a really fun idea and a great way to be inspired and enlightened when it comes to meal planning, I'm just not sure how realistic it is, long term. When I made the recipe again for myself, I still thought it was a lot of work and I don't know if I'd want to be committed to doing that three days a week. I also don't feel I could justify the expense just for myself, being in a large family. I can purchase a lot of groceries for $73.99 extra a week! If I were single and rich, and usually ate out at restaurants, a food delivery service might be an option. I like to cook when I have the time but I also enjoy the shopping and the planning so I'd probably just do that part myself too.

Have you ever tried a meal delivery service and if so, was it worth it to you?

Straws

Straws have been in the news lately as several companies are banning the plastic variety from their establishments and cities are pledging to eliminate them altogether. I read that almost 80% of litter in oceans is made up of plastic and straws contribute to that total. There is that viral video showing a poor sea turtle with a straw stuck up his nose and that became a wake up call for countries of the world, leading to an awareness of the problem and the need for action.

I'm not a big straw consumer to begin with but do use them occasionally, at restaurants, in cocktails or milkshakes. I am certainly more aware now and will no longer accept them. At home, I have had a stainless steel straw for about 3 years. I purchased it from a health food store (very inexpensive) and keep it in my cup for middle-of-the-night water sips when I'm too asleep to try to find the drink in the darkness!

The stainless steel straw is permanent. It is easily washed and works as it should; mine has the bend at the top and if a straw is needed, this one suits the bill. I suppose if one had to take the metal straw on the road for some reason (disability, teeth sensitivity, etc.) it could be a little messy but I imagine you could tuck it in a bag or make a little fabric pouch for it.

Anyway, it is good to raise awareness about the problem and eliminating straws from my life is an easy way I can help contribute to the solution. I do have an old box of straws in my kitchen drawer and am not sure what to do with them now. They cannot be recycled and the garbage bin means they end up in the landfill.