One of the biggest struggles I’m learning to overcome with my new job is balancing work and home. When I was working from a home office just a few short months ago, I could take a little bit of time during the morning or afternoon to prep a few things for dinner. It wasn’t like I presented a six-course meal each night, but I felt as though I was putting new dishes on the dinner table on the regular. I have long felt that one of the best ways to show love is through food. Sharing food with my family is extremely important, and the ability to share a meal with Justin on a weeknight is still just as paramount now that I’m busy in the mornings and afternoons as it was when I had more time to experiment in the kitchen. Even if our days are overloaded, we always take the time to sit down at our table and have dinner together. It’s a time for us to relax, recount the events of the day to one another, and enjoy something delicious on our plates. Both of us were lucky enough to grow up in homes where we sat around the table each night with our families. It’s a tradition I want to continue in the future, even if it takes a bit more effort to do so, it is absolutely worth it in the end! I’ll be completely honest: Ordinarily, the terms “frozen meal” and “Katie” do not go together. I feel like a lot of you might be reading this and wondering why in the world I would be talking about one. I am usually not the biggest proponent of frozen meals; I think back to the days of the TV dinners with the sectioned microwave trays (I know I ate a few when I was a kid). However, frozen food has really come a long way, and bringing some prepared meals into my kitchen on occasion might not be out of the question any longer.
I recently sampled one of Bertolli’s Frozen Single-Serve dishes. There are six varieties of Bertolli’s Rustico Bakes to choose from: Stuffed Shells Alla Vodka, Chicken Parmigiana and Penne, Italian Sausage and Meatball Rigatoni, Chicken Portabella Ravioli, Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni, and Creamy Spinach Rollatini. I thought the Chicken Portabella Ravioli would be a treat for dinner, and I was happy to discover I was correct. The ravioli were generously stuffed, and the pasta was actually al dente, as advertised! There was just enough sauce included with the dish; it was rich and creamy but didn’t overpower the pasta. As I was heating the dish (you can use either the microwave or the oven), Justin began to notice the aroma of mushrooms and sauce wafting from the kitchen and commented on how great it smelled. I served up the pasta on a bed of fresh arugula from our garden to add an extra kick, as well as a side salad for added vegetables. I have to say the meal turned out quite wonderfully, and was prepared quickly to boot! Now, are all of my meals going to turn into this? No, and that’s the truth. However, I am glad to know there is an option available to me for those days when I just don’t think I can put together a meal from start to finish in the amount of time available to me. Everyone has their meal shortcuts. You might keep a bag of frozen mixed vegetables in the freezer for an emergency stir fry; you might keep a box of macaroni and cheese on hand in your pantry for times of weeknight desperation. It happens. Here’s another potential dinnertime savior to add to your list. And it is even easy enough to put together that I can task Justin with getting dinner ready if the need arises. Hey…I can’t say that doesn’t sound tempting at times! The Bertolli Rustico Bakes could certainly serve as a stress reducer for me. Plus, who can resist a little comfort food? Visit Bertolli’s website or Facebook page to see all the new flavors and varieties of meals. Visit your local freezer aisle to bring home restaurant-worthy meals today! And guess what? You can be entered for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card! Comment below and tell me:
Which Bertolli meal is your favorite or which would you most like to try?
~
Sweepstakes Rules:
No duplicate comments.
You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods:
- Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post
- Tweet (public message) about this promotion; including exactly the following unique term in your tweet message: “#SweepstakesEntry”; and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post
- Blog about this promotion, including a disclosure that you are receiving a sweepstakes entry in exchange for writing the blog post, and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post
- For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry.
This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here.
This sweepstakes runs from 11/7/2013-12/4/2013.
Be sure to visit the Bertolli brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ posts!
I’ve tried other Bertolli products that were delicious, but have not yet tried the Rustic Bakes. I look forward to trying the Chicken Parmigiana and Penne!
I’d like to try the Italian Sausage Meatball Rigatoni.
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/398582624714649600
I would like to try the Tortellini Margherita.
I looove chicken parmesan, that’d be my pick.
I’d love to try the Chicken Chardonnay & Penne!
Tweet; https://twitter.com/um_lil_cutie/status/398610392923897856
The Ricotta and Spinach Cannelloni sounds awesome! I’m a sucker for ricotta 🙂
I want to try the lobster ravioli
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/398642519216357377
Italian Sausage Meatball Rigatoni
tweet: https://twitter.com/akronugurl/status/398798078771081217 .
i would like creamy spinach pls!
tweet
https://twitter.com/MeandBells/status/398852393284026368
I would most like to try Bertolli® Chicken Alla Vodka & Farfalle, I have looked at these in the Grocer’s freezer and been tempted to try so I will really have to do so!
mummytotwoboys@yahoo.com
Tweeted
https://twitter.com/mummytotwoboys1/status/398885587890888705
I’d like to try the tortellini margherita or the chicken portobello
I would love to try out the Ricotta and Mozzarella Ravioli.
tweet
https://twitter.com/1amypugmire/status/398962618498441216
I wouldn’t mind a plate of lobster ravioli right about now :+)
I’d like to try the Chicken Chardonnay & Penne
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/399279485440114688
I would like to try the Ricotta & Spinach Cannelloni
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
my tweet- https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/399309221889449984
jslbrown_03 at yahoo dot com
All f them please! I LOVE all things pasta!
The Ricotta and Mozzarella Ravioli sounds good!
chambanachik at gmail dot com
I would like to try Italian Sausage & Meatball Rigatoni
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/399755808117772288
I’d like the chicken florentine.
Mmm…the chicken florentine sounds so good!
I’d like top try Italian Sausage Meatball Rigatoni
The Chicken Portabella Ravioli look delicious — would like to try those!
Comment
The Chicken Alla Vodka sounds yummy.
I’ve never tried them before but the chicken florentine alfredo sounds delicious.
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
https://twitter.com/OneFrugalGirl/status/401011694819749889
onefrugalgirl AT gmail DOT com
My favorite is the stuffed shells bolognese! Had it last night!
oldnavyash@aol.com
Tweeted! https://twitter.com/smash906/status/402258021058752512
oldnavyash@aol.com
i want to try the Manicotti Alla Vodka
https://twitter.com/HappyTina0115/status/403364226258829313
I haven’t tried any of them, but the Bertolli Shrimp Scampi & Linguine sounds yummy!
We like the Stuffed Shells Bolognese
https://twitter.com/myfolly/status/404122176355192832
i get bored with pasta sometime so the
Bertolli® Chicken Marsala & Roasted Redskin Potatoes sound good
https://twitter.com/purplelover04/status/404683950892675072
I’d really like to try the Ricotta and Mozzarella Ravioli
tweeted https://twitter.com/pittsy82/status/405454134586773504
I would like to try the chicken parmigiana and penne.
My favorite is the Bertolli® Shrimp, Asparagus & Penne
Tweet link: https://twitter.com/shala_darkstone/status/405846657423511552
Bertolli Tuscan Style Braised Beef with Gold Potatoes.
The Chicken Portabella Ravioli is the one I want to try.
Bertolli Shrimp Scampi & Linguine sounds delicious!
I love they have meals for 1 or 2. I’d like to try the Rustica Stuffed Shells Bolognese.
I would love to try the Chicken Portabella Ravioli
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 at gmail dot com
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/406762186615164928
i’ve tried the Chicken Parmigiana & Penne and it was very good!
i posted a tweet:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/406803596257132544
My favorite is the Stuffed Shells Bolognese.
I would like to try : Italian Sausage & Meatball Rigatoni
Bertolli® Chicken Florentine & Farfalle is my favorite. but really, I haven’t try any of Bertolli’s meal that I don’t like. They are all really good quality and delicious.
amy [at] utry [dot] it
tweeted:
https://twitter.com/uTry_it/status/407057110363426816
amy [at] utry [dot] it
I really want to try the Tortellini Margherita!
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/407700526864691200
They all sound great but I most want to try the Chicken Portabella Ravioli.
Tweet – https://twitter.com/willitara/status/407803829485174784
I’d love to try the Italian Sausage Meatball Rigatoni. Sounds delicious!
I’ve tried several but would love to try the Creamy Spinach Rollatini
Id like to try the Chicken Florentine Alfredo
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/408293682689740800
I want to try the Italian Sausage and Meatball Rigatoni.
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/408321279314231296
I like the stuffed shells bolognese.
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
Well my favorite Italian dish is lasagna. They don’t have one of those so…Manicotti Alla Vodka it is! LOL
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/408338336852353027
https://twitter.com/LuckyDuckyToo/status/408338798087397377
runningmatey at hotmail dot com
I would love to try the Bertolli® Shrimp Scampi & Linguine
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
tweet https://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/408370314452541440
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com
Chicken Alla Vodka & Farfalle looks yummy!
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/mrsstodgybottom/status/408457721541689345