Tag: southern

Hello Fresh Review – Southern Plate by Gordon Ramsay

Hello Fresh Box


This is not a sponsored post from Hello Fresh.  This review is based on my own experience.

Hello Fresh Box

In this post I’ll answer:

  • How does HelloFresh work?
  • Are the ingredients really fresh?
  • Are the portions generous or skimpy?
  • Are the recipes family friendly?
  • Is this a good service for people who already cook regularly?
  • Do I have to know how to cook?

You may remember a couple months ago I posted a Hello Fresh Louisiana Red Beans and Rice dish that was delicious.  But I just recently found out that I could share a coupon for y’all to get $70.00 towards your first order.  Most times my orders for two people total 45-55.00 for 6 servings (three meals with 2 servings each) but there is an option to order additional servings.

If you cook dinner for yourself or your family this can be a fun way to decrease your time spent at the grocery store and still get some wonderful fresh ingredients to prepare a delicious meal.   

Hello Fresh meal bags

This is an example of how the bags of ingredients look.

I was a bit skeptical…

When I first started, I was curious to see if this subscription service would enhance our lives or just be a drain on the budget. I was surprised to find a very fresh meal experience with several unique aspects that are personally appealing and may help any busy parent.

After opening up the box I really liked how everything is organized into individual meal boxes. I didn’t have to do inventory or try to sort everything according to meal. I can just put these in my refrigerator and grab the box I need when it’s time to cook that particular meal.

Note: The fresh meat is stored in between two solid ice packs underneath these boxes but I am including it with the box ingredients photos below.

Here is a look at all the ingredients inside one of my Hello Fresh ingredient bags for …

hello fresh ginger stir fry

Hello Fresh  Ginger Stir Fry

  • How does Hello Fresh work?

Visit HelloFresh.com, (Click here to get $70 off your first box using my referral code). Create an account and choose your plan. The website walks you through everything else. There is no time commitment or minimum number of deliveries, you can cancel at any time by clicking your name, settings, and then scrolling down and clicking “cancel my subscription”. Simple as that.

Your meal box is delivered at a date you choose, ingredients are separated into different bags, and a full color recipe card is included with photos and instructions of the simple steps and the full recipe.

A photo of one of the meals I made a few weeks ago: juicy pork burgers Juicy Apple Pork Burgers with Rosemary Potatoes and Green Salad

  • Are the ingredients really fresh?

Everything I received was well chilled and as fresh as it could possibly be, actually fresher quality than if I had of picked it up from a local grocery. Just make sure you get it the day that it is sent to avoid it sitting around.   I forgot to pick mine up from the PO Box and it sat in there for almost 2.5 days.  Even considering that, I was still able to use it and it was relatively fresh,  That time I had ordered vegetarian dishes so I didn’t have to worry about any meat sitting out.   To avoid any issue however, go on and grab it as soon as you can.

Whenever I pick my order up the same day it comes in, the salad greens are crisp and perfect, the fruits and veggies are firm and without the slightest blemish, and ingredients like onions looked freshly picked.  When I order meals with it arrives well chilled and vacuum sealed, positioned between two layers of packaged ice.

Are the portions generous or skimpy?

It really depends on your appetite but for my 22 year old son (when he comes to visit his mama) and I and occasionally a guest or two  I have found portions to be just fine.  If you are trying to watch your weight and trying to avoid going for seconds or thirds, this is a good way to keep your portion sizes standard.

Louisiana Red Beans and Rice

The Red Beans and Rice Dish I made in my first order.

  • Are the recipes family friendly?

I have some picky eaters in my house as well and I found these meals to be pretty family friendly, using fresh ingredients with tasty flavor combinations. As a result, I’m delighted to have some new favorite recipes to add to our rotation.

  • Is Hello Fresh a good service for people who already cook regularly?

I cook supper just about every night of the week, and often cook breakfast and lunch as well. I think most home cooks will admit to getting into a rut from time to time and these meal boxes are the perfect way to jazz things up a bit, discover new recipes, and not have to buy larger quantities of ingredients you may not end up using later. Each week there is at least one of the three meals we received in our box.  I plan on adding two exactly as written to the regular rotation and a third I’ve already made with a different cut of meat. 

hello fresh recipe

  • Do I have to know how to cook?

This is an excellent option for cooks of all levels thanks to the clear photos and simple instructions. The recipe cards are well written and fully disclose all measurements and ingredients so you can easily go to your local grocery and duplicate the dish exactly. Steps are simple, straightforward, and in very few steps. I was able to make each meal, start to finish, in about thirty minutes.

In summary: This is an excellent option for eating in and not having to spend so much time in the grocery store.  It’s a great way to try out new recipes and add new found favorites to your family recipe files. The food is fresh. The servings are normal size. The recipes are simple to make and laid out in just a few easy steps.  And I love the recipe cards because they are laid out so that you can easily make them again if you like.

Click here to get $70 off your first box using my referral code

If you choose to take advantage of this 70.00 offer Southern Plate will receive a small affiliate fee.  All of this affiliate fee will be directed to a charity to be determined (and I will post it here) to help those in need of food.  Times are hard for many and Southern Plate wants to help.  If you have any suggestions for a charity that can provide fresh food to families in need please email me at [email protected] to give me details.



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Chocolate Fried Pies – Southern Plate by Gordon Ramsay

chocolate fried pies with powdered sugar


chocolate fried pies with powdered sugar

Chocolate Fried Pies

An old fashioned, made from scratch, chocolate fried pies has no equal. In the fried pie world, I have two favorites: Peach and Chocolate. For an amazing peach pie like my great grandmother made, you have to start with dried peaches. Fresh or canned just can’t pack the wallup of flavor that dried ones do. Click here for the peach fried pie recipe and if you want to watch me make them with Al Roker – just for kicks.

And for fried chocolate pies like I grew up with, you have to make your own chocolate paste out of sugar, butter, and cocoa powder, like my Aunt Sue does and you have to use the recipe that I put in my first cookbook, like I’m sharing with you here.

Can I Use Canned Biscuit Dough?

Note:  You can make these with canned biscuit dough but they won’t be the same. They will still be good in a pinch though. You can also make these simply by sticking a mini chocolate bar inside each one – but it won’t be the same, either. They will still be good in a pinch, though! Just do what you have time to do and put your heart into it. The most important step in cooking isn’t the ingredients you use or  how intricate the preparation, it’s the process of making something yummy for someone because you love them. That makes everything taste better.

Now let’s make some  Chocolate fried pies…

chocolate fried pies ingredients

Ingredients for Chocolate Fried Pie Crust and Filling

For the crust you’ll need: Shortening (like Crisco or coconut oil, I’m using generic), milk, salt, and all purpose flour.

For the chocolate paste filling you’ll need: Sugar, butter, and cocoa powder.

Most of my family’s old recipes don’t use baking chocolate and such, but cocoa powder instead because it was so much more affordable.

Place flour, salt, and shortening in a bowl. Stir together really well and then cut the shortening into the flour with a long tined fork.

Or a pastry cutter if you’re feeling fancy.

 

chocolate fried pies pour milk

Pour milk into flour mixture.

chocolate fried pies mix dough step 4

Stir it up really well.

You may need to add more milk, and that is perfectly okay. Add a tablespoon or so at a time until it forms a ball of dough.

chocolate fried pies roll step 5

Divide that up into ten ball shaped portions.

chocolate fried pie filling

In a medium mixing bowl, place melted butter, sugar, and cocoa powder.

Stir it up really well

It will form a paste. Note: This is a gritty chocolate paste and it is utterly delicious.

chocolate fried pies rolling the dough

Alright now we need to take each of those dough balls and make them into a 6 inch (or so) circle.

chocolate fried pies add filling

Now place about 2 tablespoons of filling in the center of each.

THEN, dip your fingertips in water and run them around the edges to help them stick together.

Fold over and crimp edges lightly with a fork.

Preheat about 1/4 inch of oil in a large skillet on medium high for about five minutes, then turn it down to medium and carefully add your pies a few at a time, careful not to overcrowd.

chocolate fried pies flip the dough

Let them cook until browned on one side, then flip and cook until browned on the other as well. This will just take a few minutes.

Remove to paper towel lined platter.

Let cool slightly before eating.

chocolate fried pies with powdered sugar

Or add some powdered sugar over the top before you enjoy.  Or not, do whatever cranks your tractor!

Share with your friends!

Chocolate Fried Pies (Pie Day Friday!)

Ingredients

  • 2 Cups all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup shortening
  • 1/2 cup milk more if needed
  • vegetable oil for frying

filling

  • 2 cups sugar
  • 6 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
  • 1/2 cup 1 stick butter or margarine, melted

Instructions

  • In a medium bowl, combine the flour and salt. Cut in the shortening with a long tined fork. Add the milk and stir until the dough sticks together.

  • Divide the dough into ten ball shaped portions.

  • In a separate bowl, stir together melted butter, cocoa powder, and sugar until it forms a paste.

  • Pour oil to a depth of 1/4 inch in a large skillet and place over medium high heat to preheat while you assemble pies.

  • On a floured surface, roll or pat each dough ball into a 6 inch circle. Place 2 tablespoons of chocolate paste in center of each. Dip fingertips in water and run around outside edges of crust. Fold over and crimp with fork to seal.

  • After oil has heated for at least five minutes, reduce heat to medium. Carefully add a few pies at a time to hot oil and cook until browned on one side, flip and brown on the other.

  • Remove to paper towel lined plates and repeat until all pies are cooked.

Cool slightly before serving.

Store leftover pies at room temp for up to three days.

Previous Pie Day Friday Posts:

 

 

“Everyone has gifts, they just open them on different occasions.”

~Author unknown. Submitted by Jenny. Click here to submit your own.

 

 

 

 



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No Bake Chocolate Cookies – Southern Plate by Gordon Ramsay

No Bake Chocolate Cookies - Southern Plate


no bake chocolate cookies

We are still watching our sugar at our house and it’s working out beautifully especially when I make me something sweet and don’t have to feel guilty about it. I had a hankering for classic no bake chocolate cookies and decided to try out a low sugar version. These have become a favorite of ours now, and I’m going to show you how to make them along with tips and tricks for adjusting them to your own taste.

I have kept a bag of these little gems in the fridge for the past few months now and have a few a week, just to keep the sweet monster from rising up and attacking. They taste close enough to the good old days but substituting pecans for the oats definitely takes it up a notch for me.

ingredients

Tp make these chocolate cookies, you’ll need much the same ingredients as the traditional ones, with just a few substitutions:

Heavy Cream, Butter, Shredded Coconut (unsweetened), chopped pecans, cocoa powder, vanilla, and a sweetener of your choice. I am choosing Swerve..

I am using Swerve because it has zero net carbs and we go by net.  You can also use Stevia but make sure you adjust the amount added to taste – it may require less. If you love Stevia, just be happy that I’m leaving my share on the grocery store shelves for ya 🙂 You’re welcome. Not all taste buds are the same and we actually taste things differently – I’m one of those people that just can’t handle the taste of Stevia, no matter what brand.

Keep In Mind The Amount of Sweetener Is The Key

Note: These are not going to taste identical to the ones made with sugar but amount of sweetener you use here is going to make or break this. I only use 1/2 of a cup of swerve but I could probably even cut that back to a little over 1/4 of a cup (hint: I have and they are even better). I suggest starting on the lower end and going up.  Also know that the type of sweetener is going to affect how much you need to use as some are sweeter than others. I think the greater chance is of the cookies being too sweet rather than not sweet enough, so keep that in mind. My measurements are using Swerve, which can be purchased on Amazon by clicking here.

ingredients step 1 no bake chocolate cookies

Place butter, cream, and sweetener in a sauce pot

Bring it just to a boil over medium high heat while stirring constantly. Once it comes to a boil, allow to boil for two minutes and then immediately remove from heat

Stir in vanilla

step 4 add cocoa coconut

Add the cocoa, coconut and…

step 4 add nuts no bake chocolate cookies

 

and nuts.

step 6 all mixed no bake chocolate cookies

Stir until well blended.

Plop out by spoonfuls onto parchment paper and allow to cool completely so that they harden. You can put them in the refrigerator or even the freezer to speed up the process.

Enjoy your little treat! Makes about a dozen.  I keep these in a zipper seal bag in my fridge – hidden towards the back so the kids don’t find them. 🙂

no bake chocolate cookies

No Bake Chocolate Cookies

Servings: 12

Calories: 73kcal

Ingredients

  • 1/4-1/2 cup Swerve* Monk Fruit or sweetener of your choice
  • 1/4 cup heavy cream
  • 1/4 cup butter
  • 1/2 cup coconut shredded
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 2 tablespoons cocoa powder

Instructions

  • Mix swerve (sweetener), cream, and butter in pot. bring to boil and once boiling cook for two minutes.

  • Remove from heat and stir in vanilla, cocoa powder, coconut, and pecans. Stir well. Drop tablespoonfuls onto parchment or waxed paper and allow to harden. If mixture appears runny or greasy then let set in fridge for 5-10 mins before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

*Please read post for important notes about this recipe.
 
The Sweetener used will impact the nutritional facts.

Nutrition

Serving: 2oz | Calories: 73kcal | Carbohydrates: 5.5g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Cholesterol: 7mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Iron: 1mg

 

 



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