My First HelloFresh Box for 2022

I skipped the first two weeks of the year and didn't order HelloFresh.

I was planning to order a HelloFresh box last week, but we had to do our twice-a-year Costco run, which means my small fridge can't fit all the frozen items from Costco and a HelloFresh box.

My five HelloFresh meals.

I look forward to relatively healthy eating from my HelloFresh box this week.

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Carb Smart Chipotle Beef Chili with Poblano Peppers and Cheddar Cheese

We also ordered this dish last year, primarily because it's only 580 calories which I split into two, so each meal is only 290 calories! I added all the chipotle spice, and there's heat on the chilli - I love it!

Carb Smart Chipotle Beef Chilli with Poblano Peppers and Cheddar Cheese

HelloFresh Description: This nourishing low-carb chilli replaces beans with lots of wholesome veggies! We added extra deliciousness with spicy chipotle and melty cheddar cheese! Carb Smart is based on a per-serving calculation of the recipe's carbohydrate amount.

Thai-Style Sweet Chili Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice

I am uncertain what makes this Thai style because when I think of Thai cuisine, I think of heat and peanut sauce. I enjoyed the zucchini, though.

Thai-Style Sweet Chili Chicken with Cilantro Lime Rice

HelloFresh Description: Chicken pieces are coated in a tangy sweet chilli sauce, then coupled with zucchini and burst tomatoes. The cilantro-lime rice infuses every bite with brightness.

Smoky Falafel Bowls with Tahini Drizzle

I only ordered one Falafel dish last year, and they completely forgot to pack the falafel. Fortunately, they remembered it this time. I love the tahini, and I wish there was more falafel.

Smoky Falafel Bowls with Tahini Drizzle

HelloFresh Description: Hearty falafels are perked up with a spicy, garlicky tahini drizzle in this delicious and nutritious rice bowl.

Mexican-Style Red Bean Stew with Cheesy Quesadillas

I like the heat from the stew, and the quesadillas are truly perfect for dipping.

Mexican-Style Red Bean Stew with Cheesy Quesadillas

HelloFresh Description: This Mexican-style stew is veggie- and flavour-packed! The cheesy quesadillas are easy to make, melt-in-your-mouth delicious and made even better by dipping into the stew - a perfect dinner for any night of the week.

Kale and Black Bean Quesadillas with Fresh Tomato Salsa and Crema

I ordered the same dish last year and absolutely loved it. However, somehow it felt lacking this year. Maybe I didn't add enough salt. Also, the tortilla they sent seems lower quality and much smaller, so the filling is spilling all over the pan.

Kale and Black Bean Quesadillas with Fresh Tomato Salsa and Crema

HelloFresh Description: Forget all meaty Tex-Mex quesadillas of the past! This veggie beauty is jam-packed with hearty kale and filling beans. The secret to this memorable Tex-Mex feast is the refreshing salsa with tomatoes, cilantro, and lime. Simple, yet so satisfying!

I am skipping HelloFresh next week because we're going to Real Canadian Superstore and plan to buy things in bulk, and our small fridge can only fit so much food.

Week 12 of HelloFresh

This week is the last week we're ordering from HelloFresh for the year.

Cantonese-Style Noodles with Beyond Meat
This tasty veggie knock-off has it all! Tender peppers, chewy chow mein noodles and green beans, all tossed in a glossy salty soy and hoisin sauce!

One-Pot Mexican-Style Quinoa and Black Beans with Lime Crema
This Mexican-style one-pot wonder is jam-packed with veggies and flavour, making this the perfect dinner for any night of the week.

Creamy Paprika Chicken with Sweet Peppers on Buttery Mash
This comforting dish builds slow-cooked flavour, that will have you dreaming of Oma's chicken paprikash, in a fraction of the time. Juicy chicken thighs and sweet bell peppers are a classic pairing for the rich tomatoey sauce.

Beef and Roasted Red Pepper Ragout with Spaghetti
The twist on the classic spaghetti bolognese is a winner! The ragout is packed with tender ground beef and tons of flavour. Topped with a fresh sprinkling of Parmesan, this dish will have everyone in your home going back for more.

This is my last HelloFresh post for the year. In 2021, I ordered fifty two (52) HelloFresh meals in a span of 12 weeks.

Bacon and Mushroom Linguine with Spinach and Thyme
Beef and Roasted Red Pepper Ragout with Spaghetti
Butternut Squash Ravioli with Toasted Pine Nuts and Baby Tomatoes
Cal Smart Caper-Dill Dressed Salmon with Couscous, Tomatoes, and Spinach
Cal Smart Chipotle Pork Chilli with Poblano Peppers and Cheddar Cheese
Cal Smart Harvest Beef Soup with Cream and Potatoes
Cal Smart Italian Wedding Soup with Turkey and Parmesan
Cal Smart Turkey Chilli with Lime Crema
Cal Smart Stewed Harissa Chicken with Peppers and Feta
Cantonese-style Noodles with Beyond Meat x2
Carb Smart Chipotle Beef Chilli with Poblano Peppers and Cheddar Cheese
Carb Smart Moroccan-Style Shrimp Stew with Zucchini, Feta and Almonds
Carb-Smart Stir-Fried Beef with Green Beans and Peppers
Carb Smart Tagliata Steak Salad with Basil Pesto and Arugula
Chinese-Style Beef Bowl with Garlic-Ginger Rice and Green Veggies
Chicken Tikka Masala with Peppers and Garlic Rice
Chorizo Taco Bowls with Lentil Red Rice and Lime Crema
Chow Mein-Style Chicken with Mixed Veggies
Classic Turkey Meatballs with Spaghetti and Parmesan
Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini with Mushroom and Peas
Creamy Gnocchi Alfredo with Spinach and Peppers
Creamy Paprika Chicken with Sweet Peppers on Buttery Mash
Gochujang Sugar-Glazed Shrimp with Seasoned Rice
Golden Thai-Style Chicken Curry with Chow Mein
Ground Turkey Navarin Stew with Creamy Mashed Potatoes
Kale and Black Bean Quesadillas with Fresh Tomato Salsa and Crema
Loaded Veggie Penne with Olives and Bocconcini
Mediterranean Falafel Sandwich with Tzatziki and Side Salad
Mediterranean Gnocchi with Bocconcini and Oregano
Not Noona's Chicken Cacciatore with Cavatappi and Basil
One Pot Italian Sausage Soup with Cream and Potatoes
One-Pot Mexican-Style Quinoa and Black Beans with Lime Crema
Rigatoni and Chorizo in Rose Sauce with Roasted Peppers and Spinach
Sausage and Broccolini Pasta with Fresh Penne
Shrimp Chow Mein with Bok Choy
Shrimp Diavolo Linguine with DIY Chili Oil
Spanish Chorizo and Chickpea Stew with Kale, Peppers, and Spiced Croutons
Spicy Kung Pao Chicken with Peanuts and Ginger Rice
Spicy Lamb Noodles with Honey Chili Drizzle
Squash Ravioli and Roasted Red Peppers with Spinach Salad
Summer Turkey Bolognese with Basil and Zucchini

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Bowls with Green Onion Rice
Sweet 'n' Sour Chicken with Veggie Fried Rice
Tomato Garlic Beef Spaghetti with Sweet Pepper and Zucchini
Tomato Garlic Beef Spaghetti with Sweet Peppers
Tuscan Sausage Linguine with Sweet Bell Pepper, Chili, and Parmesan
Veggie Bulgogi Bowls with Meatless Farm and Gochujang Fried Rice
Veggie Black Bean Curry with Lime-Coconut Quinoa
Veggie Chilli with Tortilla Chips and Sour Cream
Vietnamese-Inspired Basil Beef with Peppers and Garlic-Lime Rice
Zucchini and Lemon Linguini with Basil Pesto and Goat Cheese

Week 11 of HelloFresh

HelloFresh is back in our home this week. We skipped last week because of the lack of exciting recipes.

Gochujang Sugar-Glazed Shrimp
Sticky, sweet and succulent shrimp are the stars of this lip-smacking stir-fry. We've paired them with crisp, sesame veggies to make this delicious dish one to remember!

I have a confession. I didn't add sugar to this meal because I just don't like adding sugar to any dish (unless I'm baking). Thankfully, the food came out delicious. The rice can absorb the sauce, and the shrimp were perfectly cooked.

Veggie Black Bean Curry with Lime-Coconut Quinoa
This delightful black bean curry lightly sweetened with veggies on a bed of coconut quinoa will hit all the right spots for those with a hankering for a South Asian-inspired veggie dish!

PRO Tip: Squeezing lime on top gives the dish that's extra oomph in flavour.

Ground Lamb Turkey Navarin Stew with Creamy Mashed Potatoes
This French-inspired turkey stew is packed with the aromatic trifecta of onions, celery, and carrots. Minced turkey and creamy mashed potatoes make it the perfect dish to satisfy your comfort food craving.

The navarin stew was too salty, but hubby said I should mix it with mashed potatoes and it works better that way.

Carb Smart Stir-Fried Beef with Green Beans and Peppers
This one-pan wonder brings dinner together in a flash! Ginger adds zesty zip to this stir-fry of hearty beef and plentiful veggies, with no starch in sight.

The simplest and easiest to cook among the ingredients today. It's also the only one we ate for one meal instead of splitting between  two meals. It's delicious too and will work well with rice. However, the description mentioned ginger but there's no ginger in the ingredients list or instructions. Not sure what's that about.

Week 10 of HelloFresh: Six Meals

You can (finally!) order six different meals in HelloFresh, which means dinner (and lunch) for twelve out of the 21 meals in a week.

Cal Smart Caper-Dill Dressed Salmon with Couscous, Tomatoes, and Spinach
HelloFresh Description: Capers add a briny flavour pop to salmon draped in a creamy Dijon-dill sauce. Underneath, theres a bed of lemony couscous to catch all those lovely flavours. Calorie Smart is based on a per-serving calculation of the recipe's kilocalorie amount.

Kale and Black Bean Quesadillas with Fresh Tomato Salsa and Crema
HelloFresh Description: Forget all meaty Tex-Mex quesadillas of the past! This veggie beauty is jam-packed with hearty kale and filling beans. The secret to this memorable Tex-Mex feast is the refreshing salsa made with tomatoes, cilantro and lime. Simple, yet so satisfying! 

Sweet 'n' Sour Chicken with Veggie Fried Rice
HelloFresh Description: Riffing on classic Chinese-Canadian dishes, for tonight's dinner we've simplified familiar favourites like fried rice and sweet and tangy chicken so you don't have to wait for takeout anymore!

Sweet and Spicy Chicken Bowls with Green Onion Rice
These bowls are bursting with flavour! Chicken is seasoned and pan-fried, then tossed with veggies in an utterly irresistible sweet chili-teriyaki sauce, all on a bed of fluffy basmati rice. Happy eating!

Spiced Lamb Noodles with Honey-Chili Drizzle
These spiced lamb noodles will have you dreaming 'Take me to Queens, NY!' Inspired by the iconic Xi’an Famous Foods' lamb and hand-pulled noodle dish, full of aromatic spice and fresh herbs. In place of handmade noodles, we've added easy-to-cook linguine. To add a final flourish, drizzle the spicy honey sauce over top!

Butternut Squash Ravioli Whole Wheat Spaghetti with Toasted Pine Nuts and Baby Tomatoes
HelloFresh Description: We love tomatoes all year long here at HelloFresh and this dish combines some of our favourite pairings. Creamy Parmesan, sweet baby tomatoes and bright basil pesto make it feel like summer. A little squeeze of lemon at the end brings the whole dish together!

HelloFresh forgot the squash ravioli for the Butternut Squash Ravioli dish. I had to use the whole wheat spaghetti we already have at home.

I am skipping HelloFresh next week, because most of the meals that doesn't require an oven has a calorie count of more than 900 per serving.

Week 9 of HelloFresh: Mostly Rice Bowls

It's the 9th week this year that we ordered our meals from HelloFresh instead of going to the grocery. This week I picked mostly rice bowls.

Chorizo Taco Bowls with Lentil Red Rice and Lime Crema
HelloFresh Description: This hearty bowl is filled to the brim with the help of lentils! Topped with chorizo and peppers, fresh tomatoes, cheese and a lime crema this bowl hits all the spots!

Vietnamese-Inspired Basil Beef with Peppers and Garlic-Lime Rice
HelloFresh Description: Spicy, bold, fresh and herbal, this stir-fry bowl hits the spot! Lime zest and garlic add a bold boost to fluffy white rice.

Golden Thai-Style Chicken Curry with Chow Mein
HelloFresh Description: Pure comfort in Thai curry form! Based off the famed Thai 'Khao Soi' curry, this warming dish is sure to be a hit. With a delicious coconut-based broth covering unctuous chow mein noodles, every bite will be better than the last.

Veggie Bulgogi Bowls with Meatless Farm and Gochujang Fried Rice
HelloFresh Description: Salty, spicy and sweet; it's easy to understand why this Korean staple is so well loved, which is why we've created a veggie version. The quick gochujang fried rice will take this to the next level of divine!

Tomato Garlic Beef Spaghetti with Sweet Peppers
We've figured out the secret to adding oomph to a simple meat sauce – a splash of soy sauce! The saltiness is a subtle but tasty addition to succulent ground beef, aromatic Italian seasoning and juicy tomatoes. It's a colourful and flavourful dish that's perfect for a night in!

Have you tried HelloFresh? How's your experience?

Week 8 of HelloFresh

It's our 8th week of using HelloFresh. It has totally replaced our weekly grocery trips to every other week.

Cal Smart Harvest Beef Soup with Hearty Vegetables
HelloFresh Description: As the weather gets a little colder, nothing is better than a hearty soup to warm the soul! Packed with seasonal veggies in a savoury, aromatic broth, this soup will be just the thing to hit the spot!

Loaded Veggie Penne with Olives and Bocconcini
HelloFresh Description: The clever addition of olive brine and roasted red pepper juice gives this pasta an extra layer of depth and flavour. Keep this hack in your back pocket for when you need to add an extra oomph to your dish!

One Pot Italian Sausage Soup with Cream and Potatoes
HelloFresh Description: A cheeky copycat of an Italian-American restaurant classic! Cozy up to this satisfying soup... made all in one pot! What more could you want? Garlic-Bread? You've got it!

Cal Smart Stewed Harissa Chicken with Peppers and Feta
HelloFresh Description: Harissa is the hero providing smoky spice notes in this heart-warming stew. Tonight we're switching up the stew game by introducing poached and shredded chicken! Calorie Smart is based on a per serving calculation of the recipe's kilocalorie amount.

I have five HelloFresh meals coming next week.

Week 7 of HelloFresh

I skipped HelloFresh last week but ordered five different dishes this week.

Veggie Chilli with Tortilla Chips and Sour Cream
HelloFresh Description: Simple to prepare, with extraordinary flavours, this delicious chilli will have everyone racing to the table. Your bowls will be filled with beans, bell peppers, and tomatoes. Each bite is tender and comforting. We suggest using tortilla chips to scoop up and enjoy every last bite!

My tip in enjoying this chilli is to reheat the tortilla chips in the oven or air fryer. Then, crush a few on top of your chilli for extra crunch. The heat is minimal, so you can add all the chipotle powder.

Classic Turkey Meatballs with Spaghetti and Parmesan
HelloFresh Description: Our spaghetti and meatballs tastes just like Noona's, but takes a fraction of the time! The secret to these leaner meatballs is swapping ground beef for turkey and pairing with a homemade tomato sauce that keeps the dish flavourful.

I enjoyed the dish more than I should. I love the tender meatballs.

Shrimp Chow Mein with Bok Choy
HelloFresh Description: A quick chow mein recipe that's definitely one for the books! This dish is packed with shrimp and veggies coated in a mouthwatering sauce that will have you wondering how this came together in 25 minutes!

The Chow Mein is delicious and has lots of veggies. Definitely in my top five favourite HelloFresh dishes this year!

Cal Smart Turkey Chilli with Lime Crema
HelloFresh Description: Jam-packed with nutrients to keep you going strong, but still delivering on flavour, this recipe proves you can still satisfy that chilli craving you've been having, but ditch the extra calories! This week's cheat day may not need to happen after all! Calorie Smart is based on a per serving calculation of the recipe's kilocalorie amount.

This is better than Veggie Chilli.

Creamy Gnocchi Alfredo with Spinach and Peppers
Golden pan-fried gnocchi add a fun twist to the restaurant classic, Alfredo! Rich cream, melty cream cheese, zesty garlic and savoury Parmesan make a luscious sauce for this vegetarian supper.

I love this dish, and I wish there was more gnocchi. It's such a simple trick to get a creamy alfredo sauce - whipped cream and cream cheese.

I ordered four HelloFresh dishes next week.

HelloFresh Promo Code!

Save $90 with my code HS-PAL5157JZ!

Week 6 of HelloFresh: Spicy Week

We skipped the HelloFresh delivery last week because I didn't like the available options. This week I ordered three meals because only these three have a reasonable amount of calories and do not require an oven.

Spicy Kung Pao Chicken with Peanuts and Ginger Rice
HelloFresh Description: Speedy, spicy stir-fry! Juicy pieces of chicken get a flavour boost from a quick marinade, while crunchy golden peanuts will remind you of the takeout classic!

This is not my favourite HelloFresh dish and that's because I am familiar with Kung Pao Chicken. It's one dish I almost always get at Chinese restaurants. My favourite one is from Gourmet Wok inside Granville Island Public Market.

I reheated the Spicy Kung Pao Chicken for lunch and it's really one of the worst (if not the worst) dishes we've had from HelloFresh.

Tuscan Sausage Linguine with Sweet Bell Pepper, Chili, and Parmesan
HelloFresh Description: Juicy pork sausage, thyme and garlic create the perfect flavour base for this classic pasta sauce. Built up with sweet peppers, chili and Parmesan cheese, this recipe is so simple and delicious, you'll want it to become a part of your weekly repertoire.

The pasta dish is so delicious! Quite the opposite of Kung Pao Chicken. The pork sausage is juicy and I love the heat from the chili. Plus, it feels healthy because of the zucchini and bell pepper.

Sausage and Broccolini Pasta with Fresh Penne

This is another winner recipe. Hubby's only concern was why is the penne in the picture covered in tomato sauce while ours is not. The answer is I have no idea. Thankfully it was delicious.

Skipping HelloFresh next week

I am skipping HelloFresh next week. I was planning to have a rice bowl week where all four dishes includes rice as the base, unfortunately, the traumatizing rice dish this week (I'm looking at you Kung Pao Chicken!) is making me hesitant to order their rice dish. Thus, no HelloFresh next week and time to look for a Chinese restaurant nearby where we can pick up food that we can reheat for most of the week.

Thanksgiving Dinner at Home from HelloFresh

Last year, my younger sister prepared a delicious Thanksgiving Dinner for our family. However, they had to make multiple trips to the grocery to make sure all the ingredients she needed were complete.

This year I told them I was going to order from HelloFresh and avoid the stress of grocery runs. However, it means we have more side dishes to prepare and cook.

What's included in the HelloFresh Thanksgiving Box?

1. Sage Roasted Rolled Turkey
2. Homemade Cranberry Sauce
3. Savoury Turkey Gravy
4. Slow-Roasted Butternut Squash
5. Garlic and Thyme Infused Mash
6. Green Beans
7. Mushroom and Leek Stuffed Squash (optional)
8. Dinner Rolls
9. Graham Cracker Crust Pumpkin Pie

That's more dishes than what we had last year, but I have faith in HelloFresh that they'll guide us through cooking everything with their foolproof recipe book.

Thanksgiving Dinner from HelloFresh

How much does it cost?

I paid $260 for 10 people, but there are only 8 of us enjoying the meal. Before you get upset that we're having a Thanksgiving dinner, it's 8 people and 4 households.

• Household 1: Me and hubby
• Household 2: My parents, our only brother, and our youngest sister
• Household 3: My younger sister
• Household 4: My younger sister's boyfriend

There's so much leftovers that my younger sister, her boyfriend, and we (hubby and I) have food to bring in our respective homes.

The Result

We plan to have dinner at around 5:00 PM, because the Vancouver Whitecaps FC game is at 6:00 PM and we want to watch it.

We started preparing at 1:00 PM with me and my younger sister as "chef" while my mom helps with cleaning up and with other things.

Graham Cracker Crust Pumpkin Pie

BEFORE we even started, I baked the Graham Cracker Crust Pumpkin Pie in the morning (at around 8:00 AM). We arrived quite early at my parent's place to ensure we have sufficient time for baking and cooling.

The downside is we totally forgot to prepare the whip cream for the pumpkin pie. The upside is it's surprisingly delicious. It's our first time trying Pumpkin Pie and it's perfectly sweet.

Sage Roasted Turkey

My sister worked on the turkey. Adding the pepper and oil while I strip the sage. After 3 hours in the oven and 20 minutes of rest, my dad carved the turkey.

Carved Sage Roasted Turkey from Hello Fresh

The turkey came out perfect. I can't believe how tender and not dry it was. It's perfect with the gravy.

Homemade Cranberry Sauce

My sister started working on the cranberry sauce while I struggle to zest and juice the orange. 🤣 This took maybe 30 minutes and we placed it on the fridge as we continue cooking the rest of the items.

Mushroom and Leek Stuffed Squash

This is the add-on vegetarian dish. This dish took so much team effort. My sister cut the mushroom and everything else that needs chopping. My dad helped us slice the squash and my mom did the removal of seeds and core. I cooked the wild rice. Assembling everything is such a challenge. 

Mushroom and Leek Stuffed Squash

I am uncertain if it's worth all the effort. I will be happy with just the wild rice and vegetable mixture. I am unsure adding it on the squash made a difference. My mom loves it though and that made it all worth it.

Slow-Roasted Butternut Squash

As soon as my sister is done cutting the vegetables for the Mushroom and Leek Stuffed Squash and while I sautee the mixture, she started working on the Slow-Roasted Butternut Squash. It's sweet because of the syrup.

It's surprising how the timing works. After the squash for the Mushroom and Leek dish is done in the oven, we replaced it with the Butternut Squash. 

Garlic and Thyme Infused Mash

Then, my sister started working on the mash. Of course, starting with the time consuming peeling of potatoes. At this point, I am still working on the stuffing for the Stuffed Squash.

Garlic and Thyme Infushed Mash

My younger sister continues with the Mash - boiling the potato and preparing the cream butter mixture. Then, she called our only brother to do the mashing. Team (family) effort!

Green Beans

I asked my mom to wash the green beans while my dad did the trimming. As they do that, I toasted the almonds. Then, proceeded to sautee the green beans in butter.

Green Beans with Almond Butter

We're almost at the end and I think we're all feeling exhaustion at this point. Surprisingly, there's no quarelling or bickering that happens. Everyone is in good mood and teasing each other.

Dinner Rolls

As I finish the green beans and since we couldn't start with the gravy because we're waiting for the turkey juices, sister started working on the chive butter for the dinner rolls. I wish it's more toasted, but that's just me.

Dinner Rolls with Chive Butter

Savoury Turkey Gravy

It's my favourite thing about this dish. Actually, the core of the Thanksgiving Dinner is the turkey, mash, and gravy and they are so well-done with this kit. It's so delicious!

Will I order this again?

Yes! However, I will not add the vegetarian add-on because it's too much effort. Although, for next year, we might just order in to avoid the effort. We'll see!

First Plate from our Thanksgiving Dinner

Today, we're just thankful that our family is complete and healthy. We're grateful for the many blessings we've received it.

Week 5 of HelloFresh: Pasta Week

It's the fifth week that we ordered from HelloFresh. We ordered five different dishes, and four of them were pasta.

Squash Ravioli and Roasted Red Peppers with Spinach Salad
HelloFresh Description: Creamy, dreamy and addictive red pepper flavours a luscious sauce squash ravioli! Wholesome spinach salad brings a bright balance to this rich pasta dish.

This ravioli dish is the most stressful HelloFresh cooking experience I've had. The roasted red pepper came in a small glass bottle that was way too tight. Hubby and I struggled to open it. Crazy! The best thing about the dish was when I finally opened our extra virgin olive oil and used that in our vinaigrette. It's so subtle. 

Carb Smart Chipotle Beef Chilli with Poblano Peppers and Cheddar Cheese
HelloFresh Description: This nourishing low-carb chilli replaces beans with lots of wholesome veggies! We added extra fun... spicy chipotle and melty cheddar cheese are mucho delicioso! Carb Smart is based on a per-serving calculation of the recipe's carbohydrate amount. 

This is almost the same chilli we had last week, but with beef instead of pork.

Rigatoni and Chorizo in Rose Sauce with Roasted Peppers and Spinach
HelloFresh Description: This creamy rose sauce is a game changer to your weeknight meals. Our easy cheat edition uses cream cheese to add richness without making the dish too heavy. The delicious chorizo flavour shines through.

I added about a pinch of chilli flakes for the option heat, and it made the dish better.

Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini with Mushrooms and Sugar Snap Peas Green Peas
HelloFresh Description: Velvety sauce coats tender chicken, savoury cremini mushrooms and sweet snap peas green peas. These comforting casserole flavours are perfect for a cold winter's night.

First, I placed a strikethrough on sugar snap peas because the dish came with green peas. 🤷 I kinda wish the sauce was thicker.

Shrimp Diavolo Linguine with DIY Chili Oil
HelloFresh Description: Chili oil brings restaurant-worthy flavour to this simple, but elevated seafood pasta. Steamy linguine noodles hold onto the golden seared shrimp and rich tomato sauce for a perfect bite every time.

I love the shrimp (and because of this recipe, I now know how long to cook shrimp), but the description is correct. It's pretty simple. I taste the tomato sauce, but that's about it. No other texture except the shrimps. Not my favourite HelloFresh dish. The DIY Chili Oil is not enough to save it.

Meal Planning with HelloFresh

Like I did last week, I will share in this section when we ate each meal. We enjoy eat dish twice because the calories are quite high for a single meal and I am doing my best to lose weight.

1. Sunday Lunch: Squash Ravioli and Roasted Red Peppers
2. Sunday Dinner: Carb Smart Chipotle Beef Chilli
3. Monday Lunch: Squash Ravioli and Roasted Red Peppers
4. Monday Dinner: Rigatoni and Chorizo in Rose Sauce
5. Tuesday Lunch: Carb Smart Chipotle Beef Chilli
6. Tuesday Dinner: Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini
7. Wednesday Lunch: Rigatoni and Chorizo in Rose Sauce
8. Wednesday Dinner: Shrimp Diavolo Linguine
9. Thursday Lunch: Creamy Chicken Tetrazzini
10. Friday Lunch: Shrimp Diavolo Linguine

HelloFresh's "tagline" is Dinner Solved!, but for me it's lunch solved. We are able to enjoy easy to heat lunch from Monday to Friday.

HelloFresh Promo Code!

Save $100 with my code HS-PAL5157JZ!

* This offer entitles you to a total of $100 off HelloFresh: $50 off your first box + free shipping, $20 off second, $20 off third. Upon redemption, you will be enrolled in an auto-renewing subscription which you may cancel at any time, in accordance with our terms & conditions. Delivery fees may apply for subsequent orders. Please check HelloFresh.ca/FAQ for more information.

Week 4 of HelloFresh: Crushed Tomatoes

It's the fourth week that a HelloFresh box arrived at our home. We skipped last week but ordered five different dishes this week. The theme of this week happens to be tomatoes. Four out of the five dishes we ordered included crushed tomatoes.

Carb Smart Moroccan-Style Shrimp Stew with Zucchini, Feta, and Almonds
HelloFresh Description: This savoury bisque is inspired by the flavours of North Africa. A sprinkle of dry-roasted almonds adds a light crunch on top.

It's so easy to burn the toasted almonds. Otherwise, I love the shrimps!

Spanish Chorizo and Chickpea Stew with Kale, Peppers, and Spiced Croutons
HelloFresh Description: This satisfying stew packs lots of protein with smoky chorizo sausage and filling chickpeas. It's a fiesta of flavour!

It's spicy! I went crazy and added lots of chilli flakes. The croutons made of ciabatta roll are so good.

Cal Smart Chipotle Pork Chili with Poblano Peppers and Cheddar Cheese
HelloFresh Description: This nourishing and light chilli replaces beans with lots of wholesome veggies! We added extra fun... spicy chipotle and melty cheddar cheese are mucho delicioso.

PRO Tip: Add all the chipotle powder for all the heat. The sour cream and cheddar cheese definitely tone it down.

Tomato Garlic Beef Spaghetti with Sweet Pepper and Zucchini
HelloFresh Description: We've figured out the secret to adding oomph to a simple meat sauce - a splash of soy sauce! The saltiness is a subtle but tasty addition to the succulent ground beef, aromatic Italian seasoning and juicy tomatoes. It's a colourful and flavourful dish that's perfect for a night in!

This is my favourite dish this week!

Chow Mein-Style Chicken with Mixed Veggies
HelloFresh Description: This riff on the classic dish is quick and packs a satisfying punch! The perfect combination of tender chicken pieces, springy noodles, and crunchy veggies coated in a fragrant soy sauce will satisfy any craving for take-out!

I made a mistake with this dish. I added a bit of too much salt to the chicken. 

Meal Planning with HelloFresh

Like I did in Week 3, I will share with you when we enjoyed each meal. We ate each dish twice because the calories are pretty high for a single meal (since I am on a "diet," LOL). We get our deliveries every Saturday. How do I decide which ones to cook first? By the number of fresh vegetables in the dish. The more there is, the sooner I'll cook it just to ensure the veggies don't die in the fridge.

1. Sunday Lunch: Spanish Chorizo and Chickpea Stew
2. Sunday Dinner: Carb Smart Moroccan Shrimp Stew
3. Monday Lunch: Spanish Chorizo and Chickpea Stew
4. Monday Dinner: Cal Smart Chipotle Pork Chili|
5. Tuesday Lunch: Carb Smart Moroccan Shrimp Stew
6. Tuesday Dinner: Tomato Garlic Beef Spaghetti
7. Wednesday Lunch: Cal Smart Chipotle Pork Chili|
8. Wednesday Dinner: Chow Mein-Style Chicken
9. Thursday Lunch: Tomato Garlic Beef Spaghetti
10. Friday Lunch: Chow Mein-Style Chicken

As you can see from the schedule, HelloFresh takes care of our Monday to Friday lunch, which is a big help because we work from home, and I don't want to worry about what to have for lunch. I just grabbed one of our containers and reheated on the stove. Most of the dishes are actually better when we had it for lunch.

For breakfast, we usually have rice (we're still Filipino) or sandwiches or oatmeal. I am surprised that I am spending about the same with HelloFresh as I did before when we would do our weekly grocery. We don't suffer from eating the same dish over and over again, plus, we're eating more vegetables, It's a win-win.

HelloFresh Promo Code!

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* This offer entitles you to a total of $100 off HelloFresh: $50 off your first box + free shipping, $20 off second, $20 off third. Upon redemption, you will be enrolled in an auto-renewing subscription which you may cancel at any time, in accordance with our terms & conditions. Delivery fees may apply for subsequent orders. Please check HelloFresh.ca/FAQ for more information.