Okay, Blue Apron, you are on notice

[thistle_chaser]

Chicken, Baby Artichoke & Spinach Casserole with Gouda Béchamel

RecipeTime took: One hour and 40 minutes (Blue Apron claims all recipes take 30 minutes

Comments

[loupnoir]

Step away from the weekly/daily/monthly clubs. Keep going. Are you so far away you no longer see the boxes? Good

[thistle_chaser]

That sounds like a much better idea. If I could make one dish (and then two, and then three) that I like, that would be a better start than this.

The mention about portion size is especially important, especially while I'm trying to figure it all out.

The boxes did teach me one thing: I might like chili. I think that's going to be the first thing I work on.

Thanks so much! :)

[beauty_forashes]

Reading through the recipe, I'm thinking they do assume you'll prep and measure out everything beforehand...which isn't so bad. I always have everything prepared beforehand; that makes cooking go a lot smoother and I'm never doing three things at once. Plus, while I'm waiting for the water to boil or the meat to brown, I can do some clean-up and save a lot of time afterwards.

I think you got some great suggestions in the comment above! I was thinking of rec'ing Leanne Ely's books, since she gives you a week of menus per chapter, complete with a grocery list. But the recipes are all for family dinners (each serves six), so you'd probably have a ton of leftovers unless you split the recipes up. I either split them up or freeze the leftovers, that way we can just re-heat them and save time. There must be other resources like that on the net, though! I'd read some cooking blogs - so many people love to cook and blog about it, give great tips and shortcuts, and have good ideas.

[thistle_chaser]

Yeah, usually there was time to clean up (while something was in the oven or the oven was heating or whatever), that part was very handy! I almost never had a mess left in the kitchen once the meal was made.

Thanks for the book rec, but at the moment I'm going to pass. I keep buying book after book, then looking for info online instead. :P

[beauty_forashes]

I keep buying book after book, then looking for info online instead. :P

LOL! No problem. I have tons of cookbooks and tend to do the same thing. :D

[thistle_chaser]

Not your fault at all! It was a good idea!

And ahh. They probably should have said that in their recipes then. (I sure did become envious about all their pretty little perfectly sized clear glass bowls to hold everything they needed!)

Yeah, they sent a link, which is a pain. I emailed before the cutoff for next week, but today is after it. I emailed them back pointing that out, but we'll see. I might end up getting next week's anyway.

[thistle_chaser]

They gave up without a fight! No box next week. I wouldn't have been crushed if they still sent it, since it would be the last week and the recipes might have been okay (one was lamb and I haven't had that since I was a little kid, was curious if I'd like it or not).

I ENVY YOUR BOWLS. They're so neat and make things look really easy.

D: Don't drink tea like that! NEW IS BETTER. Unless it's some undersink tea recipe...

[thistle_chaser]

*laughs* Always with the onions! :D Actually, I don't think I'd mind them if they were cooked longer (to the point where you no longer notice them so much). Because I was trying to chop so darned fast, I didn't get them as small as I might otherwise have, so they were way too noticeable.

Thanks for the link!

[spike7451]

Sorry it didn't work out for you but it sounds as though you are getting more stress than enjoyment out of it so I think cancelling is a good idea for you.

[thistle_chaser]

Yep, that's just how it is. I think it's a good idea, too.