What We're Loving: Blue Apron

With all the little obligations of everyday life — going to work, dragging yourself to the gym, paying the bills — often the last thing you want to do when you get home is open up a cookbook and prepare a gourmet meal for yourself. Takeout seems a lot easier, right?

Well, not anymore. Blue Apron is a delivery company that provides you with all the ingredients you need to make three fresh, healthy meals per week. Delivery is free, and once you subscribe you can cancel any time before the weekly cutoff (so no pressure!). But if you love the service, you can sign up for another three meals the following week.

All of Blue Apron's recipes are designed to be prepared in 35 minutes or less and contain between 500 and 700 calories each for a well-balanced meal (they even have a vegetarian plan as well!). Customers are provided with the ingredients to create recipes such as Pulled Chicken Sliders with Homemade Pickles and Mexican-Style Corn, Grilled Shrimp Cocktail with Asparagus and Eggplant, and Steak and Summer Squash Kabobs with Blue Cheese Potato Salad. Sounds a lot better than a Lean Cuisine and a bag of popcorn...

Blue Apron would be the perfect option for an intimate dinner party as well, as it eliminates all the hassles of going to the store and assembling a menu for party guests.

Named after the tradition of new French chefs wearing blue aprons while they master the art of cooking, the Blue Apron service will give you all the ingredients and directions you need to pull off your very own masterpieces in the kitchen.