My boyfriend, Jon, cooked for me once. It was before we even started dating, and on the menu was short ribs with potatoes and spicy vegetables. A cute guy? Cooking for me? I was excited.
That is, until we actually tried the food. He burnt the short rib to a crisp, didn’t boil the potatoes before sautéing, so they were hard as rocks, and overspiced the veggies to the point that they were inedible.
Total disaster, but I appreciated the effort and I love to cook, so it worked out. Recently though, he told me he wanted to try again.
I shot him down (bless his heart) and suggested we cook together. He said that sounded nice, but that I deserve to just relax sometimes, and he swore he could take care of it. How could I argue?
I added the local pizza place’s number to my phone before I got to his place, just in case. When I opened the door, I was struck by the smell – delicious.
He said he was making “Beef Tenderloin with Mushroom Sauce with Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Fingerling Potatoes.” My jaw dropped.
“Don’t forget to boil the potatoes this time,” I joked. He pointed at the recipe he was following – it was a glossy sheet with step-by-step instructions, and then I noticed the big green box behind it.
“You got HelloFresh?!” We’d both mentioned we were curious about it for months, but neither of us had taken the plunge, until now. Jon told me he’d read about how foolproof the instructions were, and he’d tested a Baja Shrimp Taco recipe earlier this week to see.
He said the instructions were super clear, and having all the ingredients pre-measured meant it was impossible to overspice or undersalt.
He set the table and then presented me with a perfect-looking cut of meat, doused in a mushroom sauce alongside excellently browned brussel sprouts, and steaming potatoes. The wisps of heat rose in front of my face, and I dug in with my fork.
It was so good I wanted to cry. And Jon couldn’t stop smiling!
Now that he’s got HelloFresh, I’m realizing how difficult it is to learn the basics of cooking. My mom taught me, but his parents never really cooked growing up. There’s never been a formal way to learn, until now.
The next week, I randomly mentioned I was craving garlic bread, and he made me a delicious Pork Sausage Spaghetti Bolognese with Zucchini Ribbons & Parmesan with a side of garlic bread! HelloFresh has savory and sweet add-ons like garlic bread and brownies.
Once I heard that, I had to get my own subscription, and try out the recipes that Jon wouldn’t pick (he’d never choose vegetarian, but I needed to try the Veggie Bibimbap Rice Bowls with Sweet Sesame Sauce & a Fried Egg).
They have Meat & Veggie, Vegetarian, and Low Calorie plans that start at $7.49 per meal (but there’s also a sale going on!).
Whenever Jon knew I was coming over, he’d order an extra meal for me, just on that day. He said it was super flexible and easy to cancel or change your plan, so I had to sign up, too.
I really like HelloFresh for the convenience, but I love it for how Jon, who could find a way to burn cereal, learned to cook (and cook for me!).
Update: Our friends at HelloFresh are extending a special New Year’s offer to our readers. Follow this link to get 10 meals free including free shipping!