FoodFash

Adventure Begins in the Kitchen

Bucatini With Mushrooms & Asparagus

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Runny Egg Pasta

I contemplated a few dishes during my traffic-filled journey to the market this afternoon.  No Recipes’ Parsley Pasta was on my mind.  Eating Well’s Asparagus-Mushroom Mini Lasagnas was printed and tucked in my purse.  And as I walked through the store, somewhere between the produce department and the noodle aisle, I decided to make a hybrid of the two.

Sauteed Mushrooms & Asparagus

I picked up a brown paper bag filled with semolina bucatini {the thickest noodle I had ever seen}, veggies, and parmesan.  And then I rushed through the checkout line, excited to put all of these ingredients together, and even more excited to put an egg on it.

Bucatini with Mushrooms & Asparagus

I haven’t yet mastered how to fully cook the whites of an egg and still keep the yolk extra sunny.  But egg aesthetics aside, I thought it turned out beautifully.  A veggie-filled, protein-topped, totally tasty dinner.

Array

Crab Cakes, Delivered.

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Crab Cakes

A couple weeks ago, Relished Foods contacted me to gauge my interest in reviewing their fresh dinner delivery service.  Knowing I had a busy SXSW week ahead, I accepted their offer and looked forward to receiving a cooler box filled with fun recipes and pre-portioned ingredients.

When the box arrived, there were three brown bags {labeled with each recipe}, vacuum sealed {and still very cold} meat, and colorful step-by-step recipe cards.  I sent my roommate a text asking if he wanted crab cakes, pork tenderloin, or BBQ chicken for dinner {best text ever!}.  He responded with crab cakes and handful of excited emojis.  I instantly opened the appropriately labeled bag and got to work.

Relished Foods Recipe

I loved that all of the ingredients were already portioned.  This recipe bag included three peeled garlic cloves, the perfect amount of parsley, and every non-salt-and-pepper spice called for in the recipe.  All wonderful things considering how much I dislike peeling garlic, wasting leftover herbs {happens every time}, and buying a new spice only to use one teaspoon.  For these reasons alone, I really enjoyed the Relished Foods concept.

Crab Cake Ingredients

I also appreciated the simplicity of the recipe and the quantity of veggies used.  Other than the use of mayonnaise {I prefer using ingredients like avocados as binders}, this is totally a recipe I would have made on my own.  And the taste?  I was impressed.

Crab Cakes 2

Although I really liked a lot about Relished Foods, this isn’t a service that fits my needs on the regular.  For one, I’m particular.  The odds of three pre-chosen recipes appealing to me week after week are pretty slim.  And secondly, it’s a rare, rare thing that my new-ish schedule allows for three nights of real cooking.  I do, however, think this is the perfect service for me to schedule on a Monday after traveling.

If you are looking for an excuse to experiment with new recipes, trying to become more comfortable in the kitchen, or eating at home more often to save money – Relished Foods should definitely be on your radar!

And if you’d like 50% off your first order {$30 for three 2-serving meals!}, take advantage by using coupon code “foodfash” at checkout!

Although I received free product to review Relished Foods, the opinions in this post are completely my own and based on my experience.

Squash With Shallots, Walnuts & Parmesan

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Squash Shallots Walnuts Parmesan

One of the first veggie recipes I remember making as a recent college grad was Nutty Summer Squash with Asiago Cheese.  I loved the texture of the nuts with the squash combined with the saltiness of the cheese.  And I’ve continued to make versions of this recipe {with a twist} ever since.

Chopped Squash

Tonight I mixed things up by caramelizing shallots in a tablespoon of olive oil before adding chopped yellow squash and zucchini.  When the veggies were tender, I added chopped walnuts, salt, and pepper.  And then after a couple minutes of stirring, I served topped with parmesan cheese.

Squash with Walnuts and Shallots

The shallots added a bit of sweetness that paired nicely with the rest of the dish and even better with a hearty peppercorn-crusted steak.

Peppercorn-Crusted Filets

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Peppercorn Crusted Filet 2

When I made a right on to W 5th tonight on my way home from work, I had two choices: CorePower Yoga or Whole Foods.  But as great as a yoga sesh would have been, I knew I’d be happier spending some time in the kitchen. So that’s exactly what I did.

6 oz filet

Me, two 6-ounce filets, and a handful of peppercorns – we got cozy.

Black and Green Peppercorns

I followed this recipe that worked out so perfectly on New Year’s Day.

Peppercorn Crusted Filet

And I ate with a smile, knowing that this steak, my steak, could hold its own against any darn restaurant steak in town.