SUN BASKET It was late in the afternoon here in Las Vegas when my doorbell rang unexpectedly. It was our neighbor, and she was asking for help with lifting a box that was delivered to her door. It was brown with the words Sun Basket on the sides. My husband and I walked over to help her with the delivery, and when he picked up the box, she asked us if we would do her a mitzvah. A mitzvah in Jewish culture is when you do a favor for a friend. Of course, we agreed and asked what she needed help with, and she responded that she wanted us to take the box. It was a meal delivery service for healthy eating, and she didn’t think she would have the time to use it and wanted us to take it for her. As an avid cook myself, I’d always been very curious about meal delivery boxes. So, this favor was a happy opportunity that made my neighbor happy. It was a win-win.
You can opt for premade meals that you can pop in the microwave for $3-$6 a pop which for a busy professional makes a lot of sense. But, for those who like to experiment in the kitchen, the meal kits that guide you on a new culinary journey each time are a tempting option. They introduce you to unique spices, new kitchen practices, and new flavors in a very approachable and non-threatening way. Our basket featured a pork tenderloin with Chinese five-spice and stone fruit sauté. I’d never cooked with those five spices, and it brought such a unique and interesting way to cook pork. Other items we got to experiment with were a Thai turkey pad see ew with zucchini noodles and broccoli rabe. Though I wasn’t familiar with cooking, a dish was a pleasant surprise to our palates. Over the next five days, I prepared spicy chicken tinga tacos with a black bean pico de gallo, salmon, and orecchiette with broccoli; bao lettuce wraps with ground pork and top sirloin steak with zucchini and Romanesco sauce. With the cost of such a culinary trip around the globe of around $130 per week, it’s not over the top expensive but a way for your budding chef to explore new flavors and introduce fresh spices and tastes into your cooking routine. Try a basket for yourself and let us know what you think. Now go eat something.