This post was sponsored by Kroger, but all thoughts and opinions are entirely my own. I only write sponsored posts for products that I would use myself and feel excited about recommending to you!
After talking about it for the past 2 years, I finally moved into a new apartment last weekend! While the whole moving process is not my idea of fun, I am so happy and thankful I found a great little spot with a kitchen TWICE as big as my last tiny galley. The amount of storage space for all of my ingredients and gadgets is off the charts. Is it possible to have too much space? Just an excuse to buy more appliances I suppose and the first one I bought was a slow cooker! 🙂 You can definitely expect to see some crock pot recipes in the future!
Fast forward a couple days to a work day evening and I still had half un-packed boxes scattered around the living room. Unpacking after a long, stressful work day just wasn’t going to happen, but I still needed to go to the grocery store and make dinner.
Luckily I have a Ralph’s grocery store within walking distance to my new place. Front and center of the store entrance was a display for their new line of kit to fork meals called Prep + Pared. With fresh ingredients 100% measured and prepped, this was exactly what I needed. I still couldn’t find my cutting board, so minimal chopping was essential to the success of this meal. I’d also been eating out quite a bit prior to the big move, so fresh and healthy ingredients were what my body was craving!
With a Peruvian Salmon kit in hand, I walked home to cook. The box of ingredients is quite compact and felt like there was less packaging than the popular home delivery meal kits. Definitely a plus!
I did a little quick marinating of the salmon in a flavorful lemon garlic vinaigrette and spices like cumin and chili powder. Since I didn’t have my cutting board, what little I did have to chop, was cut on piece of cardboard from the inside of one of my moving boxes! MacGyver-ing at it’s best! I seared the salmon, mixed the up the quinoa salad and BOOM, dinner was done and on the table in 20 minutes
For someone who can’t follow a recipe to save her life, I only made a couple of changes. I find it awkward biting into whole cherry tomatoes, so I cut those in half, as well as the olives, in order to distribute more pieces throughout the salad.
I really worried that my strong lad of a dining companion wasn’t going to like this meal because it was “healthy” and that it wasn’t going to fill him up. He’s my biggest supporter, yet also my biggest cooking critic and can eat a truckload of food in one sitting. Boy was I wrong! He loved everything about the salmon and quinoa salad and was completely satisfied and full. Success! The kits feed two people and it was plenty for both of us. I even had a little extra quinoa salad I saved for the next day.
The Prep + Pared kits are currently available in Los Angeles area Ralph’s stores, but don’t worry national folks! These kits exclusive to Ralph’s/Kroger will be rolling out soon to stores near you!
I know you’re wondering how much these babies cost. The prices range from $14 for the vegetarian Tofu Tikka Masala option up to $20 for the Peruvian Salmon. You can also find other meals such as Thai Turkey Wraps, Athena’s Lemon Chicken, and Lemongrass Pork. I will definitely be trying other flavors on tired work day nights when I need just a little meal prep help. Chimichurri Steak is next on the list!
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A big kitchen is the best! While the actual moving process is my nightmare, settling into a new place can be fun. This meal sounds really good and easy!
It was super easy! Thanks Brynn!
These are a nice option if you want to splurge on restaurant-quality dinners, but get to eat it at home. Looks delicious!
definitely tasted restaurant quality! thanks Catherine!
These meals look amazing! Definitely want to try them!
Hopefully they’ll be by a Kroger/Ralph’s near you soon!
I can’t wait for these to hit the San Diego Ralph’s-this looks so good! I feel the same way about cherry tomatoes as you do 🙂
lol ! I hate biting into huge tomatoes! You’ll definitely need to check out the meals once they make it to your Ralph’s in SD
What an awesome way to try new flavours without becoming overwhelmed with having to buy all the ingredients separately and recipes!
that’s a great point Nazima! I know so many people who want to try cooking new foods and flavors, but get easily overwhelmed with the recipes!
Congrats on your move to a new apartment. I’ve always wanted to try these Prep & Pared kits – this looks so good!
thanks Lauren! give them a shot!
Looks like you’re having a lot of fun in the kitchen!
It’s so nice having a normal size kitchen now!! 🙂
Those little kits sound amazing! Perfect when in a time crunch but still want homemade!
Exactly! sometimes you just need ways to make life a little easier!
Wish we had these kits in Canada! Looks incredibly easy and super delicious 🙂
Thanks Abbey! So good!