Hello to Hello Fresh

We've been tempted by the likes of Hello Fresh and Gousto before, many a time. Before this lockdown started, we'd get back late after work or after a late gym class and just couldn't be arsed to cook, so we'd buy takeaways or just have avocados on toast because it was quick and didn't take much effort to make.

But after all the (over the top) panic of the lack of dried pasta died down, we thought we would give it a try.

Getting set up is easy. Just enter your address, your card details for payment, etc... then it leads you on to the 'choose your meal' page... and that's where you get stuck.

THERE IS JUST SO MUCH CHOICE!

We went for four, so we had it easier than those people who only have 3, but even choosing ONLY 4 was difficult. And we went for rapid, which shortens down your list of options, but even then there's still many a meal to choose before we ending up repeating ourselves.

Everything looked so delicious, appealing and appetising that my mouth was watering just looking at the pictures, let alone thinking about the food.

But anyway, we finally chose our four and hit order, and waited over a week for it to arrive.

Our four meals were:

- Porky Pappardelle (with spinach)

- Chicken Chow Mein

- Fried Bean and Mushroom Tacos (with Feta and Chipotle Mayo)

- Creamy Feta & Prawn Penner (with Garlicky Courgettes)

When we got the box - the HUGE box - we panicked slightly, thinking how the hell is this is all going to fit in the fridge. But when we opened it, we found it was all split into bags, with any loose meat in a freezer bag, so it was manageable. The fridge was stuffed, but we figured it was worth it.

But what I love about these meals is that it's for two people, and there's no waste. We try not to waste food, as everyone else does, but sometimes you don't realise there's a really old cucumber going bad underneath all your masses of avocados. Or is that just us? Or when we buy a pack of blueberries, eat most of them, and then leave three or four to shrivel up. But now, since having Hello Fresh, we haven't wasted anything.

The portions are sizeable yes, but then if there is anything left over (which there usually is) we just have it for lunch the next day, which is perfect.

But anyway, shall we get onto the picture bit? My mouth is literally watering just thinking about all the food.

Day 1: Monday - PORKY PAPPARDELLE

I didn't know pasta came that big. And I was worried about all the spinach when we put that in, but it really does shrink down. We don't really eat pork (other than bacon and the occasional ham joint) and especially pork mince because it doesn't really have much taste, but boy were we wrong. The mixture of the different flavours and veg you add really brings something to this, and it was a great first try of Hello Fresh, and certainly made us excited Day 2.

So without further ado...

Day 2: Tuesday - CHICKEN CHOW MEIN

I've never made a Chow Mein ever. I have now. And I will be adding this to every order we can that allows it. It was incredible. And I am not lying when I say that both our plates were gone in 5 minutes, or less. It did make me think that we need to order a wok, or at least a bigger pan. When adding the noodles at the end, they kind of clumped together, so had to admit I needed help in not making an absolute mess (of both the hob and the meal, as I am a terrible mess-maker) and Josie managed to get it looking like this.

I'm actually drooling.

Day 3: Wednesday - FRIED BEAN AND MUSHROOM TACOS (WITH FETA AND CHIPOTLE MAYO)

We're a big fan of the fajita and enchilada, so why not choose the third of Mexican flatbreads, THE TACO. We should have had it on Tuesday (Taco Tuesday for all you Lego Movie fans) but these were so so good. And so much better than the chicken ones we've been making before. Once you go bean, you can't go back. Apparently.

Day 4: Thursday - CREAMY FETA & PRAWN PENNE (WITH GARLICKY COURGETTES)

I may have saved more than the recipe said to put on top because Feta is my new favourite cheese. For one thing it was nice to have dried pasta! But the amount of different flavours in this just blew me away. And, of course, because it asked for one garlic clove, I naturally put in 3.

So there we have it. 2 very happy Hello Fresh converts over here. We're on week 2 and we've loved every single meal we've had so far... LOVED.