Hoisin-Ginger Turkey from HelloFresh

Cal Smart Hoisin-Ginger Turkey with Savoury Rice and Stir-Fried Veggies is the last HelloFresh meal in our box, and we're preparing it for Friday dinner.

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Cal Smart Hoisin-Ginger Turkey with Savoury Rice and Stir-Fried Veggies

HelloFresh description:

"This classic Southeast Asian-inspired combo of tender poultry, savoury rice and spicy sauce is full of flavour but surprisingly light! Don't forget to drizzle the spicy sauce over every bite. Calorie Smart is based on a per-serving calculation of the recipe's kilocalorie amount."

Cal Smart Hoisin-Ginger Turkey with Savoury Rice and Stir-Fried Veggies

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I love this dish! The jasmine rice is fluffy and soft, which is the perfect vehicle for the saucy turkey. The ground meat is tender, but my favourite thing is the warmth provided by the ginger combined with the heat from the chilli-garlic sauce. To balance everything is the rich and sweet hoisin sauce. The stir-fried vegetables add freshness and nice crispiness to our dinner.

We have another HelloFresh box arriving on Monday and I can't wait!

Sesame-Teriyaki Turkey Bowls with Carrots and Edamame Rice from HelloFresh Canada

Happy Friday! For lunch, we cooked the Speedy Sesame-Teriyaki Turkey Bowls with Carrots and Edamame Rice from our HelloFresh box.

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Speedy Sesame-Teriyaki Turkey Bowls with Carrots and Edamame Rice

HelloFresh description:

"This turkey teriyaki on pillowy jasmine rice hits all the right notes: salty, sweet, filling and as spicy as you like it! But the best part? It all comes together in just 25 minutes!"

Speedy Sesame-Teriyaki Turkey Bowl with Carrots and Edamame Rice

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I love the smell of soft and fluffy jasmine rice cooked in water mixed with butter and salt. The addition of edamame brings a surprising change in texture and a subtle sweet flavour.

Speedy Sesame-Teriyaki Turkey Bowl with Carrots and Edamame Rice

On the other hand, the ground turkey came out tender and juicy coated in umami-packed soy sauce, nutty sesame oil, and rich teriyaki sauce. Lastly, the inclusion of carrots and onions adds a crunch and another subtle sweetness to the dish while the Shanghai bok choy offers a crisp and refreshing element.

A drizzle of Sriracha adds a touch of heat and tanginess adding another layer of flavour to the dish.

Creamy Asparagus and Spinach Orzotto from HelloFresh Canada

Happy Wednesday! It's creamy pasta day when we had leftovers of Mushroom Ravioli and Creamy Pesto Sauce for lunch and the Creamy Asparagus and Spinach Orzotto with Goat Cheese and Almonds for dinner from our HelloFresh box.

Creamy Asparagus and Spinach Orzotto with Goat Cheese and Almonds

What's Orzotto?

It's a dish that takes inspiration from the traditional Italian risotto, but uses orzo pasta instead of Arborio rice. Orzo, also known as risoni, is a small, rice-shaped pasta that resembles grains of barley, hence its name, which means "barley" in Italian. When cooked, orzo becomes tender and absorbs flavors beautifully, making it a wonderful alternative to rice in risotto-style dishes.

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Creamy Asparagus and Spinach Orzotto with Goat Cheese and Almonds

HelloFresh description:

"This orzo is silky and flavourful, like a risotto. Topped with asparagus, creamy goat cheese and bright spinach, this orzotto is just what you've been looking for on a rainy spring day!"

Creamy Asparagus and Spinach Orzotto with Goat Cheese and Almonds

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With its small, rice-like grains, the orzo provides a tender and slightly chewy texture that perfectly absorbs the luscious cream sauce. Fragrant garlic and sweet yellow onion infuse the dish with savoury undertones.

Creamy Asparagus and Spinach Orzotto with Goat Cheese and Almonds

The asparagus offers a delicate crunch and a subtly earthy taste, while the tender baby spinach leaves add a gentle hint of bitterness. These verdant vegetables create a harmonious contrast against the creamy backdrop of the dish.

Creamy Asparagus and Spinach Orzotto with Goat Cheese and Almonds

The goat cheese is sprinkled throughout, adding a delightful tang and creaminess that complements the other ingredients. Finally, the sliced almonds provide a satisfying crunch, offering a textural contrast that completes the culinary journey.

Korean-Inspired Black Bean Noodles from HelloFresh Canada

I'm so grateful to my husband for helping me cook lunch that I told him I'll hand dinner by myself. I chose to prepare the Korean-Inspired Black Bean Noodles with Cucumber-Sesame Salad from our HelloFresh box.

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Korean-Inspired Black Bean Noodles with Cucumber-Sesame Salad

HelloFresh description:

"This black bean sauce is super savoury, to the point of being addictive! Our black bean noodles are inspired by the cheeky late-night takeout you'd enjoy in Korea called jajangmyeon - but you can just call it delicious!"

Korean-Inspired Black Bean Noodles with Cucumber-Sesame Salad

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The star of this dish is the irresistibly rich and savoury black bean sauce, beautifully coating the tender ramen noodles. Each strand of the sesame-coated noodles offers a satisfying chewiness, perfectly complemented by the umami depth of the black beans, zucchini, mushrooms, and aromatic garlic. The vegetarian oyster sauce adds a touch of brininess, while the red Thai chili provides a subtle kick of spice that lingers on the palate. Garnished with vibrant green onions, the dish offers a pop of freshness that balances the robust flavours.

Korean-Inspired Black Bean Noodles with Cucumber-Sesame Salad

The Cucumber-Sesame Salad adds a crisp and cooling element alongside the flavorful noodles. The mini cucumbers, thinly sliced, provide a refreshing crunch that pairs wonderfully with the tangy notes of rice vinegar and garlic. The green onions lend a subtle oniony bite, while the sesame seeds add a delightful nutty texture. This light and invigorating salad is the perfect counterpart to the rich black bean noodles, offering a palate-cleansing experience that keeps each bite exciting and balanced.

Garden Vegetable Soup from HelloFresh Canada

It's rare for me to cook during lunchtime (perks of working from home). However, the Carb Smart Garden Vegetable Soup with Cannellini Beans and Parmesan from our HelloFresh box only takes 25 minutes. My husband will do the chopping and slicing of vegetables. It's worth using 10 minutes of my lunch break to cook.

Carb Smart Garden Vegetable Soup with Cannellini Beans and Parmesan from HelloFresh Canada

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Carb Smart Garden Vegetable Soup with Cannellini Beans and Parmesan

HelloFresh description:

"This comforting, wholesome soup is packed with veggies that offer a natural sweetness when cooked, while herbs from the sun-dried tomato pesto and torn basil heighten the flavour impact even more. Carb Smart is based on a per-serving calculation of the recipe's carbohydrate amount."

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The base of the soup is cannellini beans which provide a creamy and velvety texture and a satisfying protein boost. Meanwhile, the vegetable stock powder adds rich and savoury flavours, complemented by the aromatic notes of garlic, carrots, celery, onions, and the umami-packed sun-dried tomato pesto.

Carb Smart Garden Vegetable Soup with Cannellini Beans and Parmesan from HelloFresh Canada

The medley of fresh garden vegetables, including zucchini and Roma tomato, adds a vibrant and refreshing element to the soup. The baby spinach leaves wilt gently into the soup, contributing a tender and delicate texture. The soup is garnished with shredded parmesan cheese, which melts into the hot broth, ensuring each spoonful has a rich and creamy finish. Lastly, I tear fresh basil leaves, adding a subtle hint of herbaceousness to the soup.

What to cook for dinner?

Meatless Monday: Mushroom Ravioli and Creamy Pesto Sauce from HelloFresh Canada

Our HelloFresh box got delivered this Monday morning. We started with oatmeal for breakfast and salad for lunch. For dinner, I prepared the Mushroom Ravioli and Creamy Pesto Sauce with Burst Tomatoes and Toasted Walnut from our HelloFresh box.

Mushroom Ravioli and Creamy Pesto Sauce with Burst Tomatoes and Toasted Walnuts

The creamy pesto provided velvety smoothness to each mushroom-filled al dente ravioli. While the combination of shredded parmesan cheese and cream cheese adds a rich and creamy element to the dish.

I didn't know that the dish required milk, luckily, we still have soy milk from the Riley Park Farmers Market and I used that which provided a subtle nutty flavour. It was also surprisingly creamy making the sauce have the right consistency.

Mushroom Ravioli and Creamy Pesto Sauce with Burst Tomatoes and Toasted Walnuts

There's also a burst of freshness and juicy sweetness from the baby tomatoes which helps balances the savoury and creamy components of the dish. Lastly, the toasted walnuts bring a delightful crunch adding an extra layer of texture to our dinner.

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Mushroom Ravioli and Creamy Pesto Sauce with Burst Tomatoes and Toasted Walnuts

HelloFresh description:

"Make meal time your 'me' time. This big ol' bowl of mushroom ravioli, smothered in a decadent pesto and Parmesan cream sauce with burst tomatoes and crunchy walnuts is a simple luxury worth savouring."

Mushroom Ravioli and Creamy Pesto Sauce with Burst Tomatoes and Toasted Walnuts

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Food Adventure at Italian Day on The Drive

After joining the RBC Run for the Kids in Queen Elizabeth Park, my husband and I joined the fun at Italian Day on The Drive. It's an annual festival celebrating all things from Italy. It's our first time going this year!

One of the many good things about Vancouver and Canada, in general, is we celebrate diversity. Last week, we were at Proudly Philippines: Philippines Travel and Food Fair. Today it's Italian Day, and we're going to Greek Day on Broadway two weeks from now.

We arrived on Commercial Drive before 12:00 NN and started walking the 14-block stretch filled with booths of food, merchandise, performers, and so many other things to see. I also love the Vespa and Italian cars displayed. Of course, I'm there to eat. My husband and I made a "plan" or conditions in deciding which food stalls to try.

1. Italian Food only - Of course, we only want to buy Italian food (even though the Filipino in me wants the BBQ skewer from Kulinarya Filipino Eatery)
2. No restaurants - If there's a booth extension of a restaurant, we skip it since we can always come back to support their physical store in the future.
3. No food trucks - We will most likely see them again in the many events happening around the city.

With these "rules" in mind, it became easier to navigate and not be overwhelmed by the many available options.

Fried Ravioli from Do or Dine Catering

Our first bite of Italy today is deep-fried ravioli. It's ravioli covered in panko bread crumbs, then deep-fried. It has a salty and crispy exterior, while the inside is filled with spinach and ricotta cheese. Perfect first bite for the day.

Fried Ravioli from Do or Dine Catering

A peek inside the Fried Ravioli from Do or Dine Catering

Meatballs and Bomboloni from Pastaggio

I'll start with an apology. I'm sorry to all the Italians who may read this blog, but this is my first meatball made by an Italian. I have only tried frozen meatballs and the Ikea Swedish meatballs. I regret not trying this sooner, but I am so glad to have enjoyed 3 meatballs in classic Pomodoro.

3 Meatballs from Pastaggio
3 meatballs in Pomodoro with reggiano on sourdough focaccia

I didn't know meatballs could be this good! They're tender and seasoned perfectly. The sourness and sweetness from the fresh tomato sauce cuts through the fatiness. Lastly, I love the sourdough focaccia since it absorbs the sauce so nicely. I didn't want to share with my husband.

Brown Butter Custard Bomboloni from Pastaggio

We have to talk about these Italian doughnuts. I took a bite, and it was heavy and dense. I was sort of disappointed.

Bomboloni from Pastaggio
Italian doughnuts (brown butter custard)

Then, my hubby took a bite, and he reached all the custard in the middle, and each section that touched the custard was terrific.

Look at that oozing Brown Butter Custard inside the Bomboloni from Pastaggio.

Schiarc' or Pizzette Fritte (Fried Bread) from Famiglia Bagnolese Society

We ordered the Sauage in a Bun topped with peppers and onions. I love the toppings and the flavours they provide. However, my absolute favourite food item I had today is called the Shiarc'.

Sausage in a Bun from Famiglia Bagnolese Society

I'm a simple person. Give me fried dough (or doughnut) and sprinkle it with sugar, and I'll be happy. This is what we got. It's soft, slightly oily, and sweet (but not overly sweet).

Schiarc' or Pizzette Fritte (Fried Bread) from Famiglia Bagnolese Society

Margherita Focaccia from Focacciaza

A food cart(?) called Focacciaza sells three focaccia variants: cheese, garden, or Margherita. I went with the last one since we didn't see any pizza not part of a restaurant.

Margherita Focaccia from Focacciaza

The outside of the focaccia is crunchy, while the inside is soft. You can see how airy it is when you look at the side. Flavour-wise, you can taste the tomato-based sauce and cheeses like mozzarella and parmesan. After that, I started to feel full. It was surprisingly satisfying.

Chocolate Almond Biscotti from Focacciaza

This is my first time trying biscotti, and I have so much food regret for not trying this sooner. There are so many delicious Italian sweets! The biscotti was crunchy and soft at the same time. It's so unusual in texture. It's also hard to go wrong with chocolate and almond in flavour. I love every bite!

Chocolate Almond Biscotti from Focacciaza

Double Espresso Gelato from Il Mundo Cafe and Gelato

Gelato. That's the only exception to the rule. My husband requested we have a scoop of gelato because it's so sunny and hot. We spotted three stores selling gelato, all with long lines (and I am not counting ice cream vendors too). We settled on Il Mundo Cafe and Gelato. Hubby chose the Double Espresso Gelato and it was creamy, sweet, with the strong hint of caffeine.

Double Espresso from Il Mondo Cafe and Gelato

Hopefully, we can make the annual visit to Italian Day on The Drive. It's such a fun experience.