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This comment has been deleted by the original poster.
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@TemperanceBrennan: Ha ha, it probably was - and I still don't know what it is!
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@blackbird: @twist: sorry, I got the name wrong
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@blackbird: it did that to me right after I bought it last night, but worked this morning. I think there must be some lag time for it to show up in your account.
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I just bought it today too, I'm excited to give this a shot and see if I can get my obscene monthly grocery bill down to a more normal amount!
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@blackbird: If you are trying to look at the most recent recipes and they aren't available, it shows up as logged out. Try clicking an older week.
I just signed up. Excited to try this week! I didn't marinate the chicken (DH is stopping by the store on his way home) so I hope it still turns out.
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Weird! Ok thanks!i noticed the four most recent ones were locked out
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@travelgirl1: Ha, they are kinds of like little green tomatoes. It's what they make salsa verde out of. One of the reasons I really like it is that we try vegetables I would never have cooked before. Turns out I love rutabaga and DH loves fennel.
@blackbird: Yesterday I noticed I was locked out of the four most recent archived recipes as well!
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I've been hearing so much about this that I decided to just go ahead and get a plan at the reduced rate- I love to cook, but am terrible about meal planning, and one of DH's biggest pet peeves is the amount of wasted food that we have. I'm hoping that this will help us on both fronts!
We're also expecting our first LO in a few weeks, and I'm hoping that once the freezer meals are done (and the in-laws have gone home and are no longer cooking for us), that this will be one less thing to have to think about.
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@TemperanceBrennan: @Little Misters Mom: I figured out a trick. You log out, then go to the classic archives and click on the recent (previously locked out) archives. It prompts you for your name/password, you enter it, then you have access to it. Do not check the "keep me logged in for two weeks" box. But you have to log out and close your window (the whole browser, actually) and start over to access those four recipes. I have no idea why. But now i have them
Alternatively, you can go up into the http box and change the date manually, type in the new date, and it just pops up.
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Just tried the Asian Nacho's last night and they were AMAZING! Wow! The best part, is that even L has been eating these meals and he was being SO fussy prior when I was doing toast and hummus and plain steamed veggies and plain pasta. He's gobbling this stuff up! SUCCESS!
2 out of the 3 meals we've tried have been amazing, the third meal was only ok, but I think next time I'd do a few things differently and it would make all the difference.
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@blackbird: Nice. Thanks for the tips.
I sent them a support email to let them know and someone got back to me right away with the pdfs of the five weeks attached. -
@.twist.: Yay! I was about to wall you and ask how you liked it. I like that it has so many things we'd otherwise never try.
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Does anyone else on the classic or gluten free plan kind of skip the vegetarian day? I don't mind eating vegetarian, but I find some of the recipes are weird combos.
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@Boheme: Yep! The Asian Nacho's, dare I say it, were some of the best nacho's I think I have ever eaten.
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@.twist.: Are they on the sample week or a week of the plan? I'm looking for them... they sound good!
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@Boheme: They are the Classic Sample week. I think from Spring? Not sure what year. I can send you the week if you want!
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@Boheme: We used to skip the veggie meal a lot more than we do now. It was more because we would end up out eating out on Friday and Saturday and didn't need the 5th meal.
Since we've started eating the first meal on Sunday, we do this less. I usually prefer the meals with meat over the veggie meal, but I appreciate that it helps save money. And I agree, the combos can get pretty unique.
@Boheme: @twist: I think it is the April 18th 2014 meal. (I'm a nerd and have a spreadsheet with all the meal archives, so they are easily searchable)
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@Boheme: We will 100% be skipping veggie meals. I need my protein. I'm not opposed to adding a side of chicken or steak. But, for example, watermelon gazpacho? that is not enough for dinner for us.
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@blackbird: M took one look at that particular meal plan, and was like "Watermelon gazpacho? Fruit soup?! F*** that." hahaha
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@.twist.: @TemperanceBrennan: Yay! I think I'm going to plug those in somewhere this weekend.
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@TemperanceBrennan: @Boheme: I am totally planning to save the archives to my computer all neat and tidy like. Nerd alert!
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I have been doing Fresh20 for about 2 months now, and really love it! I feel like it is a cooking class every week
made so many things I have never heard of with ingredients I have never used before. I have not skipped many meals but I have skipped some weeks to do archive weeks instead (this week, for example, because I don't have a brick or heavy skillet lol). I don't skip the meatless days, they always produce a RIDICULOUS amount of salad on those days! No lie the one time I has a 9x13 baking dish and my largest mixing bowl filled with the salad.. I don't know if maybe the veggies I buy are bigger than the ones they used in the recipe or what but I have been cutting down on some of the salad ingredients because it is only feeding 2 adults and a toddler, haha. But sometimes we will double the meat portions because my husband eats a lot, and if I need to be saving half for another meal, he still wants to eat it all haha. The things I have loved most are that I learn a lot and try lots of new things, and even the things I think my husband and I will hate have been really good! And when my MIL came to visit we didn't have to change anything because the recipes serve 4,and we no longer have to make separate meals for my LO because she can eat whatever we make now that it is healthier. My groceries are always cheaper than their estimate, too, which is really nice. Their recipes have given me a lot of ideas too, like I have tweaked some on off-days such as turning the beef kofta w/ muhammara into burgers.
The only meal I didn't like was an Asian wrap a couple of weeks ago because the fresh ginger was too strong & there was to much of it.
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@Boheme: @blackbird: I'm skipping the vegetarian meals too, or at least adding some protein in addition because I never feel full off just veggies, and DH would never go for that!
I just made my first Fresh20 meal and already a fan. It only took me 40 min from start to finish. I assembled the salad while the chicken was in the oven, and the rest of the time was just waiting for the chicken to finish so we could eat. This takes the guesswork and stress out of meal planning...
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@fairy: @Mrs. High Heels: I am so tempted to try this after reading the positive feedback on this board. I am struggling with meal planning and cooking the same things over and over!
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@Kimberlybee: Do it! I'm not sure if the sale is still going on, but if it's not, try the sample week and see what you think!
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I'm so tempted to try this. A couple questions, and I apologize if these have already been asked!
Do the plans use in-season ingredients? I like to get most of our produce at the farmers market.
How long do meals take to prepare? I'm really struggling with cooking with a toddler who demands a lot of attention.
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@RubyCali: Yes, they focus on in-season ingredients! The meals vary in prep time, but if you follow the Sunday prep guide it minimizes it. I'd say usually 30-ish minutes, but there have been lots of nights where I just had to throw it together and it took maybe 10 minutes of active prep time.
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@Kimberlybee: @RubyCali: tonight's meal was such a hit with the whole family, including the kids. J kept signing more for the chicken, and the first words out of N's mouth was, "mmm this is yummy mommy!" - whaaaat. I felt like someone replaced my kids.
It only took me 30-40 min from start to finish to get food on the table (caveat - I did do the prep ahead of time which probably would've tacked on an additional 20 min, but I think the way they organize it it's as if they expect you to prep ahead of time).
@RubyCali: I can't speak about the in-season since this is only my first week. But I would think if they did it would be something they advertise? Sounds like a lot of things are easily substituted though.
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@RubyCali: Yes, they use in-season ingredients
I get lots of produce from farm stands as well and usually only have to get the more exotic produce from the grocery store (things that agent typically grown around here). The time the meals take varies, but usually Mondays take a little longer because you are making things that will also be used later in the week, and there is a prep list of things to do ahead of time, like in the weekend before, for example. The prep is things like chopping/mincing/peeling,maybe making rice or pasta, perhaps roasting or blanching veggies. If you do the prep ahead (my husband actually decided to take over prep on Sunday because he enjoys it) the meals take 15-40 minutes depending on the day. Thursdays & Fridays are usually pretty quick.
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I wish they gave rewards or something for referrals, at least 3 friends of mine have joined because of my photos of meals on Facebook! Haha
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@RubyCali: They do use in season ingredients, sometimes a bit too much I think, I got pretty sick of cucumbers the other week. Like others have said, the Sunday prep time really helps minimize prep but I still spend 30 mins a night on it, on average.
DH loved tonight's panini
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Those of you who are on the plan, what has been your favorite meal so far? I have a few.
Carne asada rajas pasta
Steak nachos
Steak fries
Buffalo meatballs with bleu cheese mashed potatoes -
@Kimberlybee: Try it! Even just the sample week was FANTASTIC.
@Mrs. High Heels: Spot on! Takes the guesswork and stress right out of meal planning. Even though it takes me a little longer than before to get food out, I don't have to stress about getting all the food groups or something healthy or having the same thing 4 nights in a row!
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@Boheme: The orange carnitas tacos were amazing.
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@Boheme: I loved the Thai chicken thighs and pickled veggies from a few weeks ago. So good with the peanut butter and I never would have attempted Asian food on my own.
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@Boheme: Those Steak Fries & Carne Asada are definitely on there! And the Bacon corn cakes, Asian nachos, nicoise salad, turkey muhammara pitas w/ watermelon feta mint salad, Pork Sliders with mango slaw too. Mmm. I tend to really enjoy the reusing of the meat haha
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@Boheme: @Mrs. High Heels: @fairy: @travelgirl1: Thanks for the feedback! You ladies should get some sort of commission for all the referrals from the bee
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@RubyCali: I finally spent a little more time on the site and got to reading their story....
"The Fresh 20 is a meal planning service, created for busy families and singles who want to eat fresh, healthy meals, and save time and money. Our meal plans rely on simple, healthy, homemade lunches and dinners using just 20 fresh, seasonal ingredients per week. No more grocery lists with 80 items that will eventually go to waste. Our meal plans are carefully created to utilize everything on the list so you can stop throwing money down the drain. The Fresh 20 mixes and matches a small list of ingredients to create 5 balanced meals that play off each other."
I'm so glad you asked the question about seasonal foods because that wasn't even high on my expectation list when I decided to give this a try, so it's a pleasant, happy surprise!
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@Mrs. High Heels: Nice, thanks for checking into that! I can't believe that only 20 ingredients cover 5 meals. I'm always trying to reduce food waste, so I'm really intrigued by this concept. Just got the sample week and I'll give it a go!
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