Life

Nourishment Knocks

Have you thought about trying one of the popular new fresh food deliveries?

My dear friend, Beth, generously recommended me recently for a free trial of Blue Apron. Coming up with family feast ideas have always been challenging for me. It's easy to get stuck in the same old routine. My Mom was one of those cooks that never used a recipe. She always relied on the "pinch of this, a taste of that" method. Me? Not so much. Pinterest and Ina Garten are my go-to inspiration when it's time to cook up something new and it's rare that I ever deviate from the tried-and-true recipe. Having the chance to test out Blue Apron was a welcome change. 

The arrival contained fresh ingredients and easy step-by-step recipe cards. I was giddy at having someone else do all of the leg-work and getting to cook with new ingredients...yu choy and the longest green beans I've ever seen! I found the Seared Salmon & Long Beans with Teriyaki Udon Noodles & Yu Choy portions to be generous, yet a little too light in flavor for my taste. I look forward to testing out the remaining three meals coming my way.

I'm so grateful for the free food. Who wouldn't be!? My eight-year-old ate his entire piece of salmon and one long bean, a small victory! However, my family's likes and dislikes are so varied that it's hard to please everyone at the table. For that reason, I don't see us signing up for the long haul. If you find yourself struggling to get to the grocery store, coming up with meal plans, and are open to sampling new dishes on a regular basis, I definitely encourage you to give Blue Apron a try. I think you'll be giddy too.  

Salt + Sand

I've been yearning for a quiet, yet awe-inspiring get-away. Beach bound, my two boys, friends Lauren, Becky and her son Lucas, departed for the lush island of Hilton Head, South Carolina. 

We began our adventure biking along the dappled lit paths of Sea Pines with its moss-drenched trees and iconic candy-striped Harbour Town lighthouse. Succulent crab and shrimp followed, surrounded by a picturesque yacht-filled marina. Our perspiry undertaking did nothing to damper our spirits as we settled into our small piece of paradise for the next few days.

We played among the salt and sand at Sonesta Resort. After causing everyone to gasp, my eight-year-old had a repeat lesson on why one doesn't pick up a jellyfish. The boys learned how to boogie board (while I got pummeled by the waves). And Becky almost managed to fly a kite before a storm blew us back inside. I may have only gotten to read 7 pages of my beach novel, but there were lots of laughs and lots of wonderful memories created.

(Thanks to Lauren, photo-hobbyist extraordinaire, for contributing the lovely biking, boogie board, family, and sea critter photos.)  

SEA LA VIE!