Get Gorgeous for the Oscars (even if you’re not going)!

Ok, so we didn’t score an invite this year, but we think it’s still ok to prep for the show with a little beauty routine. Our friends at Colavita love food as much as we do, and gave us this great recipe for an olive oil based face mask that will leave you glowing on Sunday. It’s no secret that olive oil is rich with many nutrients and vitamins, including those good for the skin, such as Oleic acid and Vitamins A and E. These vitamins allow it to be a universal skin solution, serving as a cleanser, exfoliant, and moisturizer. Olive oil is easily absorbed by the skin due to the small size of its molecules and does not clog pores, like many other oils do.

Healthy Thanksgiving Cooking Tips

Yes, Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy a big meal together with family and friends. But, it’s also a time when most of our waistlines increase, and we tend to over indulge. We’re not saying you should bring some poached chicken and steamed veggies to the table this year, but we do have some tips to lighten up your plate this year!

vin·e·gar (noun): a condiment with a tart and tangy flavor that is an essential ingredient in every chef’s kitchen

Vinegars are a diluted liquid of acetic acid formed through a fermentation process.  Vinegars can be used in so many different ways when cooking; pickling, deglazing pans, marinating meats, making vinaigrettes or sauces, and even to sweeten certain desserts.  While vinegar is known for its distinct flavor, it also has a long history of being used for its healing properties.  Moreover, vinegars provide a healthy alternative to infusing food with flavor.  It’s no wonder that vinegars are such a staple ingredient in the kitchen!

Thanksgiving Sides Made From This Year’s HelloFresh Meals!

So, Thanksgiving is coming up, and that means planning, planning, and more planning! There are tons of guides out there on how to prep and plan for a stress-free thanksgiving; mostly focused on how to pick out your turkey, and, of course, how to cook it. We love the guide from Food52! Although we LOVE Thanksgiving turkey, we think the sides are what really make the meal, and pull all the flavors together in the end. So, we’ve selected a few recipes from this past year’s menu that can easily be transformed into side dishes, and be shared to feed 6, or doubled to feed a larger crowd for this year’s Thanksgiving menu!

Who Should Eat Beets?

Via lovebeets.com

Since nutrition is important to HelloFresh, having quality suppliers to work with is an important part of achieving our nutrition goals.  “Fresh” is not only part of our name, but also our promise. We work with some of the best suppliers in the country, and right now we are loving Love Beets.  Their beets are not only delicious and healthy – they are extremely convenient.  Love Beets are pre-cooked and are already peeled for you – leaving you to do nothing but enjoy their unique flavors.  This company has brought beets into the mainstream in a hip, modern, and fun way – and they have converted hundreds of people into beet lovers.  So this begs the question, who should eat beets?

Stop by Campania on Week 4 of Taste of Italy Month, and Taste Pizza Margherita with Garlic-Rosemary Oil

Like most Italian recipes, there are deep rooted histories, fantastical stories, and, of course, delicious flavors based on the abundance of fresh produce found in this country.  Campania, towards the south of Italy, is known for its creamy Mozzarella Cheese, and plump tomatoes. Hence, this favorite Italian dish was born.

Meet our Friends at Murray’s Chicken

Murray Bresky has been waking up with the chickens as long as he can remember. By 1993, Murray’s love for chickens was matched only by that for his growing family. Concern over the food his children and grandchildren were eating motivated him to start Murray’s Chickens. Raised without the use of antibiotics, growth drugs or hormones, Murray’s Chickens have plenty of room to stretch their wings and access to fresh air and sunlight.

Ingredient Spotlight: Sweet Potatoes

The humble potato, how we love thee. Today the spotlight is on one of our favorite potatoes, the sweet potato! We love it not only for its vibrant hue and sweetness (duh!), but also for its added health benefits and versatility.

Sweet Potato Coconut Curry

This power carb is loaded with Vitamins A and C  and antioxidants. You’d be hard pressed to find another root vegetable that translates so seamlessly from breakfast, dinner and dessert (sweet potato pie!).

Sweet Potato and Fish Cakes

Our chefs love incorporating sweet potatoes into their recipes in a whole host of ways: as baked fries, as the “meat” in vegetarian curries, or even as a binder in our fish cakes. As we transition into fall, expect to see lots of these orange beauties popping up in your meal boxes!

Beef & Cabbage Wraps with Sweet Potato Fries

A Cut Above: Kitchen Essentials

Welcome back to our column A Cut Above where we share important cooking techniques and tips to help you get the most out of your HelloFresh cooking experience and become a master in the kitchen! Today we’re talking kitchen essentials. You really only need a few staple items to pull together a well crafted meal, so get rid of all that clutter and read on for our must-have kitchen tools!

Chef’s Knife – Your knife is the starting point to nearly every meal you will prepare – from chopping vegetables to slicing meats or carving a turkey, so make sure it’s a good one! And be sure to keep it nice and sharp – a dull knife is a hazard to your fingers!

Paring Knife – The paring knife is key to more detailed cutting work, like peeling fruit or segmenting citrus.

Wooden Spoon – A hearty wooden spoon will become your old friend in the kitchen. They last forever and you’ll use it in everything from sautéing to baking.

Microplane Grater – A Microplane Grater works like magic. Really. It makes zesting citrus, grating cheese, garlic or nutmeg a total breeze. Seriously, it’s a game changer!

Photo credits: Crate & Barrel , Chef’s Catalog, Target, Crate & Barrel 

Spice It Up

Experimenting with new herbs and spices is a delicious and healthy way to add new flavor and flair to recipes. A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes heats up your regular marinara sauce, or a few saffron threads gives a luxurious yellow color to an ordinary pot of rice. The possibilities are endless!

Though playing scientist with spices in your kitchen is exciting, it’s not always cost-effective (those little jars of spices can really add up!) and hoarding a slew of obscure  spices can create quite the clutter in your pantry. Luckily, you’ve got our team of chefs at HelloFresh creating recipes that allow you to try out new flavors without the extra cost or sacrificing your pantry’s precious real estate. Since we send you just the right of amount of spices you need, there’s no wasting money on expensive spices you’ll never use again or a lazy susan overflowing every time you spin it.

This week, our Cardamom Spiked Shrimp Pilau is loaded with wonderful and colorful spices: cardamom, coriander and turmeric give the basmati rice a rich flavor and beautiful golden hue. Ginger and red chili add a spicy kick for a little extra heat. Top it off with some cilantro for a pop of green and a fresh, herby taste. The combination of spices truly elevates this recipe from any other shrimp and rice dish you’ve had. So say goodbye to your lazy susan, and give this recipe a try nice week!