Hamptons Lane is a monthly subscription that sends gourmet foods and kitchen tools. They release a new box every month based around a theme, and you can opt out if it isn’t for you.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out the review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
The Subscription Box: Hamptons Lane
The Cost: $47 a month (with the option to skip any month).
ACTIVE DEAL: Save $10 off your first box
CODE: Subscription10
The Products: Artisan food products centered around a new theme each month.
Ships to: U.S. only, with extra shipping costs for Alaska and Hawaii.
Check out all our Hamptons Lane reviews and visit the Food Subscription Box Directory for more food boxes!
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January's theme is "Clean Eating" - a great pick for getting 2017 off to a healthy start.
Hamptons Lane includes a booklet that details all of the items included in the box.
The booklet also contains loads of recipes and cooking tips. This month, they are featuring a few recipes from Missy Chase Lapine, author of the Sneaky Blends cookbook.
This is my first month of Hamptons Lane, and I was happy to see 12 recipes total in the booklet. They range from smoothies and soups to main entrees and snacks, and I'm honestly curious about trying all but a couple!
I also received a card promoting the add-on items for this box.
Now onto the items!
Manitou Trading Co Amaranth (15.5 oz.) - Value $8
I've cooked with farro, freekeh, and quinoa, but I've never tried amaranth before! This is a gluten-free grain similar to quinoa, but it actually has slightly more protein that quinoa does, and the grains are a bit smaller. Although we're not vegetarian, our family only eats meat a few nights a week, so I'm always on the lookout for protein-rich grains and veggies to add into our regular meal rotation.
The recipe booklet includes some ideas, including popping it (like mini popcorn!) and using the resulting puffs in homemade granola bars. They also suggest using it as a hot breakfast cereal, which sounds like a great idea to switch up my current oatmeal routine.
Nuts.com Chia Seeds (Sample Size) - Value $3
This didn't have an actual size listed; it looks like about a cup and a half or maybe two cups? It's a big sample!
Chia seeds are a great source of Omega 3s, and they're easy to incorporate into many meals and snacks for a nutrition and fiber boost. When I'm on an overnight oatmeal kick, I usually add a teaspoon or so to each serving, which helps the mixture "gel" overnight. I also add these into homemade granola, but beware - they can get stuck in your teeth just like poppy seeds.
These seem to be nice and fresh - I soaked some in water for the included hummus recipe, and they gelled nicely!
Soom Tahini (11 oz.) - Value $8.25
I've made hummus at home for years, and tahini is a truly essential ingredient. For the uninitiated, this is a paste made from ground sesame seeds. It's also great in salad dressing (tahini + olive oil + lemon juice = yum!).
Compared to the other brands I've tried, the Soom Tahini is definitely smoother and had no separation, so it was really easy to work with. I will definitely look for this brand again when I need a refill.
Manitou Trading Company Turmeric (1.4 oz)- Value $6.99
Turmeric is a pretty trendy spice these days, particularly for its anti-inflammatory properties. It's often used in Indian cooking: I like adding a bit into lentils and rice for a nice bright yellow color and punch of flavor, but it's great on chicken with coconut milk, too. (I'm also currently addicted to this Ginger Turmeric Herbal Tea from Trader Joe's.)
Compared to the cheaper turmeric I had in my drawer (a store brand), this definitely seems fresher and had a really strong aroma and a brighter color. Tastier, too!
Brentwood 2-Speed Immersion Blender - Value $12.99
Hamptons Lane always includes tools or equipment in every box, and this month I received this immersion blender! My stick blender is one of my favorite kitchen tools, and I've rarely used my food processor since I got one a few years ago. It's handy for the soup and smoothie recipes they included this month, too.
I put it to the test making the Artichoke Kalamata Olive Hummus from the included booklet. Unfortunately, this immersion blender has a smaller blade than the one I already own, and the chickpeas were the perfect size to get stuck between the blade and cover and refuse to blend. I had to revert to my other immersion blender which got the job done in just a minute. The Brentwood blender might work well for soups and softer ingredients, or for quick jobs like scrambling eggs, but it definitely struggled with the chickpeas.
Despite this hiccup, I was glad to see that Hampton's Lane didn't inflate the price of the blender on their own site (it's actually more expensive on Amazon).
I had to supply zucchini, garbanzo beans, artichoke hearts, olives, lemon, and a couple of garlic cloves (not pictured) for this recipe.
This hummus was delicious and oddly refreshing! I served it with a drizzle of olive oil, a few olives, a sprinkle of turmeric, and some lightly toasted flatbread. I'd never considered lightening up my hummus by adding veggies like zucchini and artichoke hearts, but this was a great lunch and I'll definitely make it again!
Verdict: This month's items come to just $39.23 at retail prices, which is a bit shy of the subscription price of $47. The box felt a little light, too - I wish they'd have included just one more item, like a bowl for all those beautiful smoothie bowl recipes! While I ultimately wish Hamptons Lane had included a slightly nicer immersion blender, I do think the included ingredients are all higher quality than I'd normally find in stores and buy for myself. The recipes are a big hit for me personally, and anyone interested in learning some new tricks for incorporating more veggies and healthy foods into their diet would enjoy this box. I hope to see the value improve a bit next month, though.
What do you think of this month’s box from Hamptons Lane?
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