toss all ingredients, top with goat cheese, toasted walnuts and Parmesan. Get in my belly!

to the veggies, add cooked pasta, butter and mint, toss to combine.

add chard leaves and continue cooking until wilted.

how gorgeous is that? separate with fingers and add to boiling salted water

all ready to go

saute onions and garlic with stems to start, seasoning with salt and pepper.

I just made that gorgeous meal (and inhaled it) in about a half hour, start to finish.

Today began my second week with Blue Apron (honestly I had intended to just try it out for a week, but I forgot to cancel!) Fortunately, this week’s recipes are delicious and pretty healthy, so I’ll happily avoid the grocery store for the next couple of days. While B is away, their 3 meals for 2 people plan means I get delicious dinners AND lunches for the whole week delivered to my door for roughly $60. Blue Apron’s ingredients are super fresh and of very high quality, and I’ve found their portions to be a lot more generous than what I experienced with Plated.

Tonight I made Fresh Beet Linguini with Goat Cheese, Swiss Chard, and Toasted Walnuts and I LOVED it.

This recipe had it all. It was fresh, bright, creamy, it had texture, and it was visually stunning. On this dreary day, I’m loving all the bright colors!

Typically, I cook with spinach or kale, so using swiss chard was a nice change. I’ve also noticed myself trying new techniques, like toasting walnuts, pinenuts, etc. before adding them to dishes since trying Blue Apron. Little touches like this can really take your cooking to the next level. I also love that I’m learning to use new ingredients I’ve never worked with before. Like Beet Linguini, who knew?! I don’t know where I’d purchase again, though. Hopefully I can find it at Trader Joe’s. I’m not one to go to Whole Foods or a specialty grocery store unless I REALLY have to, but I’m at TJ’s all the time. Too much, really. I might have a problem.

The recipe cards Blue Apron sends you are beautiful and give clear, easy to follow, step by step directions with pictures for all your visual learners like me. I pop the recipe card on my ipad stand, throw on a good Spotify playlist and I’m cooking away! I sipped on a yummy Chilean Cab Sauv (Viejo Feo) while cooking which also paired well with the meal.

All in all, I’d give this an 8/10. It was quick, flavorful and pretty to look at.  I’m only detracting points because it was a bit calorie-heavy for me at 700 per serving. But, I’m excited to see what the rest of the week’s meals will be like. If they’re all this good, maybe I’ll intentionally renew next week! 🙂