Remember when I said I had TWO giveaways for you this week? This one is a little different, but just as fantastic … and also with a Mother’s Day focus.
Oh, and it involves food.
I have been such a slacker with my meal planning lately. First I was following the 21 Day Fix (stay tuned for my thoughts on that next week), then we entered what I call the “Season from Hell,” which many of you may call Spring. But between sports schedules and a plethora of birthdays and anniversaries and special events, I always feel like we run ourselves ragged from April-June each year.
So I jumped at the opportunity to try Just Add Cooking, a new addition to the Boston-area meal delivery service industry.
But this one is a little different. The “meal kits” include local, fresh, pre-measured and high quality ingredients. So rather than having to spend extra money on on one-offs (which are usually expensive) and ingredients that you may only need a teaspoon of, your meal kit includes literally every ingredient in the exact quantity called for in each recipe. This way you have just what you need and not a pinch more.
2 tbsp of peanut butter? 1 tsp of sesame oil? 2 eggs? Check, check, and check.
I mean, seriously, how cute are these little bottles and containers??
More importantly, everything is locally sourced, so Just Add Cooking partners with New England producers and suppliers, from Nashoba Brook Bakery (Mass.) to Green Mountain Creamery (Vt.) to Ward’s Berry Farm (Mass.).
And while they only deliver to the Greater Boston area, this also means that everything is coming fresh (no ingredients spending a night in transit somewhere!) and has been packaged that same day.
Another difference with Just Add Cooking is that each week features a different line up of menu choices, based on what’s in season, etc. Obviously, I went into this zeroing right in on the vegetarian options and it turns out that they always have three vegetarian meals available each week.
The week I selected the following meals:
Rosti and Guacamole
Satay Noodles and Asparagus
Tempeh and Cauliflower Tabbouleh
I started with the rosti (a traditional Swiss dish — who knew?). When I first saw the recipe and the “30 minute prep time,” I laughed out loud. There’s no way that I could do all that in 30 minutes. I am not the best cook. It takes me ages to peel and dice and do all those fancy chef tricks. But you know what? I did finish in 30 minutes!
I admit I’m not a huge watercress fan, but overall I thought it was very tasty and I was very full afterwards.
I had been planning to make my second meal, the satay noodles, last night, but this has been the most insane week between going to the Red Sox game on Tuesday, Buddy’s Little League game on Wednesday, and an evening work event for me last night. But I am planning to whip this up on Friday after baseball.
Here’s one caveat. As a busy working mom, I love the idea and convenience of meal delivery services. But, of course, you do pay for that convenience. Like all meal delivery plans, they’re not inexpensive ($79 for 3 meals for 2 people <which is what I tried>, $89 for 4 meals, etc.) but there are flexible subscription plans, there is no minimum equipment and you can cancel at any time. But I don’t think we could swing it financially for long, as a 4-person box containing 3 meals (just dinner) is $109.
Personally, I think Just Add Cooking would be phenomenal for things like a vacation; I’m already thinking about using them at our beach house in July. Because, really, who wants to either bring or buy condiments on vacation?! With Just Add Cooking, you wouldn’t have to think about that.
I also think this would make for the BEST new mom gift. Just imagine coming home with your new baby, and you’re too pooped to even think about dinner or go grocery shopping, and suddenly this package shows up on your doorstep.
Like I said, Just Add Cooking is Boston-based and so they only deliver in that general area, but I live about 30 miles outside the city and they deliver to my area. To find out if Just Add Cooking will deliver to you, simply click here and enter your ZIP code. (or for you Mass. natives, they basically deliver to to the Greater Boston area, including East of route 495, up to Newburyport/Salisbury and south of Pembroke.)
Okay, so now here’s the fun part. Just Add Cooking has a free one-week trial for a lucky Keeping Mommy Sane reader! The code is good for what I tried: the two-person/three meal plan.
Entering is easy — just use the form below. I’m closing this one on Friday, May 9 at 12:01am ET for those you may want to surprise the mom in their live with this lovely prize. Bon appetit!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Disclaimer: I received a free week of meals from Just Add Cooking to facilitate my review but all thoughts, opinions, words, and images are (as always) my own.
kate says
Pick me please!!!
Jennifer Girard says
I have been tempted to try a service like this – looks yummy !
Christine A. says
I am not a meal planner. It seems like it would make my life easier if I did though but I will try to do it sometime soon.
Nicole says
Would love to try this!
Marisa says
I would like to try this.
Laura m says
Yes, it keeps me from not wasting food and keeping a budget!