Today's dinner is courtesy of Dinnerly. We used their meal kit yesterday for chicken fajitas.

I hope their gyros are better than their fajitas were. I'm a good cook, so simplified recipes minus many of the traditional ingredients are a hard sell for me.

#Dinnerly #MealKits #Cooking #Recipe #Dinner #SeniorLife

If anyone is interesting in or considering Home Chef meal kits, I have a code you can use to get money off your first few deliveries 🙂 #HomeChef #MealKits

We're using one of those pre-measured fresh meal kits from time to time in the killick home, and they always specify about half as much water as is needed to cook the rice. Anyone else notice this? By volume, they seem to want a 1:1 ratio of rice:water. I've found that a 1:2 ratio is what I actually need to soften the rice right through. Why do they skimp on the water when it's up to me to provide it? #cooking #rice #mealKits

There was a post today by someone discussing how some people have been denigrating people who find it hard to cook for themselves, and also people who use meal kits.

First of all, how dare they make those judgement calls when they have no knowledge of a person's life or needs.

Secondly, even tho I love to cook (over 2K recipes on my old website, all cooked by moi) - I also love meal kits when the need arises. They are great for busy times, sickness, new mums, people learning to cook, etc etc.

I had the need recently when I was ill for 6 weeks. And I found them AWESOME, and greatly improved in the year or so since I had used them. Chose the brand well, and you will have delicious and healthy meals.

I am about to boost the 3 or 4 Meal Kit review posts I posted at the time, just in case you need them.

If you ever do use them, fill me in on your experience.

#MealKits

#MealKits A thread 🧵

I was reminded of a couple more things:

✅*PROS*

⟢An incredible time saver - no menu planning needed, no shopping required, no last minut dashes to the shop for the forgotten ingredient.

❌*CONS*

⟣It depends on how you look at this, but I have put it under CONS. The brand I am using uses A LOT of olive oil and butter. A LOT. I mean - much more than I would normally use. Most components have some oil added. It all intensifies the flavour, of course.

#MealKits

UPDATED variety, cost

❌*CONS*

⟣Cost - always search for discount codes. Note - some find them very cost-effective, some find them more expensive than their usual food shopping habits

⟣Packaging - a lot! A real lot, especially if you're a person who focuses on minimising packaging & pre-prepared food! But better than they used to be.

⟣Variety - this brand has really improved its vegetarian offerings in the past year (more competition no doubt). But in general you will find that there is less variety in the vegetables, and limited veggies/fruit that don't pack and travel well.

ALSO meal kits have far fewer vegetarian options to choose from than non-veg ones. It's not a problem if there is a good variety of meal types on rotation - check the menus if you are considering meal kits, to ensure you are not eating the same meals every week.

⟣Ordering - there is a 1 - 2 week delay before getting deliveries, so if you think you are going to need them, order early

⟣Ceasing or pausing ordering - meal selections are made automatically if you don't select them yourself, or skip a week, pause the subscription or cancel the subscription. You can find yourself with a week's worth of food you didn't expect.

⟣The odd change to the items that you've ordered. They are at the mercy of the market - floods, heatwaves, fires, food contaminations. And also of delivery services being
available. You might find the occasional unwanted substitution or change in delivery date.

#food

#MealKits

❌*CONS*

⟣Cost - always search for discount codes

⟣Packaging - a lot! A real lot, especially if you are a person wo focuses on minimising packaging and pre-prepared food! But better than they used to be.

⟣Ordering - there is a 1 - 2 week delay before getting deliveries, so if you think you are going to need them, order early

⟣Ceasing or pausing ordering - meal selections are made automatically if you don't select them yourself, or skip a week, pause the subscription or cancel the subscription. You can find yourself with a week's worth of food you didn't expect.

⟣The odd change to the items that you've ordered. They are at the mercy of the market - floods, heatwaves, fires, food contaminations. And also of delivery services being
available. You might find the occasional unwanted substitution or change in delivery date.

#MealKits

UPDATED with food waste, cost, flavour

✅*PROS *
⟢Easy, convenient, a meal in 30 mins, everything is provided and pre-measured. Just chop, mix, stir, serve.

⟢Less food waste - you use all that you get

⟢Delicious! This brand really does focus on flavour, and layers of flavour. Often dishes have toppings (like caramelised walnuts!!) to maximise flavours. Most dishes has some sweet, sour, spice, earthy combo of flavours. Brands differ in deliciousness.

⟢Great attention to vegetarian dietary needs (more than another brand I have tried) with at least one of lentils, beans, mushrooms, cheese, nuts with every meal.

⟢A great use of green veg, more than another brand I've tried

⟢Some great desserts that are also egg-free

⟢Options to also purchase "sides" to go with main dishes - not needed, but great salads and quick hot sides

⟢As far as I can tell, local brands used

⟢Cost - some find it cheaper (with less food waste), some find it more expensive.

#food

Got the hubs to cook this dish tonight and I gotta say I'm sold. This could be in a regular rotation for dinner. #LowCarb #MealKits #GlutenFree

I am starting to feel restless in the kitchen - wanting to create my own dishes again and cook from my cookbooks.

This is a sure sign that I am really really well again after that horrid flu/covid/notCovid whatever I had.

Two weeks ill, 6 weeks to recover fully.

I have another week of kits already ordered. I have loved them, and they have been a godsend, truly. But can't wait for normal cooking to return.

No relapses please.

2/2

#MealKits #food #cooking

The #MealKit tonight was a delicious lentil, veg and pesto dish with chilli flakes and mashed potato. Very scrumptious.

For those who have been following the #pepper debate, I used white pepper tonight in the mash and it was DELICIOUS.

1/2

#MealKits #food #cooking

So I messed up my #MealKit salads, but in a good way in the end.

Making the salad, there seemed to be all these additional ingredients. Oh, well, might as well add them - young peas, peanuts, cucumber, apple.

Later it dawned on me, they'd put the ingredients for 2 salads in the one bag. Duh.

But it worked out well - I've eaten out a couple of times this week, so there were going to be leftover meals. Now, not so much.

#cooking #MealKits #MealKitsTillXmas

It was a late one tonight. Haloumi "popcorn" in curry sauce, with garlic rice, tamarind chutney and side salad.

#MealKits #still #tillXmas #vegetarian #delicious

Also, recently there was another #MealKit dish I loved. Soffrito base with butter beans, sweet corn, herbs, spices, into the oven with a cheese topping, then served topped with pickled jalapenos and a side of garlic ciabatta.

#MealKits #UppedTheirGame #Delicious #Vegetarian

I am quite enjoying using this brand of meal kits again - a year ago I said I would never order from them again due to produce quality. It is good to see the increase in quality. One of the things I love about this brand is the attention to vegetarian meals and protein - they are much better at this than their competitor.

I got a bit of flack the other day about using #mealKits. But needs must. It is a rare thing for us, but sometimes it is necessary, whatever the reason. Different people have different needs. I don't judge. This one is healthy and balanced. What else could you ask?

*Note: sometimes I trial meal kits so I can report in. Not this time tho.

Yesterday, I didn't feel like anything too heavy - so it was a salad #mealKit (spinach, tomatoes, feta, hazelnuts, lovely dressing) with broccolini, green beans and green chilli (chargrilled with lemon and salt) with lemon zest, sesame seeds and dressing. Perfect!
The veg were supposed to be simmered but I adore beans and broccolini thrown on the grill plate. Hit with some lemon juice and salt half way through. This is the best way to cook asparagus too.

#mealKits #lifesavers #notBeingPaidForThis

Reporting in on #MealKits which I have for another 3 weeks. I am very flat today after #sick #covidNotCovid #whoKnows, headaches and listless. So extremely glad of the 30mins, don't-do-much, have-a-delicious-meal approach. It was a tray of roasted roots - beetroot, potato, onion, carrot - with spices, mixed with baby spinach and other greens, dressing, nuts, seeds, and grilled honey haloumi.

#LifeSaver #delicious

#MealKits are so convenient when energy is low - tonight was some magical combination of fresh ingredients, packets and tins that turned out quite tasty. A chickpea-spinach creamy curry topped with yoghurt and tamarind chutney, with Naan and cashew rice. I like the attention to the rice and naan. I have always thought this brand has tastier and more inventive recipes than its main competitor, but the #vegetarian dishes can get a bit repetitive.

Now this was nice, despite the fact that they provide the worst brand of haloumi available. Freekeh cooked in stock, mixed with butter, garlic, roast veg, baby spinach (and my herbs)), topped with honey-cooked haloumi, herb mayo, Greek yoghurt and pepitas. (The mayo and yoghurt saved the haloumi.)

Pretty delish, healthy. Easyish to make although a few too many dishes 😆.

#TonightIAmEating #food #mealKits

Back to the #MealKits tonight. A lovely Pear, rocket, baby spinach, cucumber, parmesan, pine nuts and balsamic glaze salad. Delicious. About to make the freekeh (with roast veg) and haloumi. I will keep you up to date 😆👩‍🍳🍽

#TonightIAmEating