Disclaimer: Compensation was provided by Bertolli Frozen Meals. The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions of Bertolli Frozen Meals.
When you think of an authentic Italian meal, you think of a big, hearty, festive, family style meal, a table full of delicious pasta and a happy, lively group family and friends taking part. This is what is known as “Mangia” and it’s always pretty much the scene you picture in Italian restaurants or Italian homes. Yes, it’s no secret that Italians devour more pasta than Americans. In fact, in a recent survey, it was discovered that 25% of Italians eat pasta on a daily basis, compared to just 2% of Americans. Italians also state that lunch is their largest meal of the day (as opposed to dinner for Americans), agree that fresh ingredients and homemade dishes are important, and are 3 times more likely to have wine with their meals and more than two times more likely to set the table than Americans. This is why Italians are my people and why I cannot wait til the day I finally get to visit Italy someday!
Fortunately, families can now enjoy these same festive meals and live Mangia like Italians do…right from home. This month, Bertolli is proudly introducing a completely reformulated line of authentic Italian skillet meals. Bertolli meals were already one of my favorite go-to options for a quick and tasty pasta dish. I love the fact that they are crafted for authentic recipes and ingredients, feature Italian sauces made from scratch, and contain cheeses (Pecorino Romano and Parmesan) that are skillfully selected and imported from Italy.
These reformulated meals also meet our need for a convenient meal featuring high-quality, premium ingredients, like crushed tomatoes, authentic Italian cheeses and al dente pasta. Bertolli has also added a see-through window that offers a sneak peak at exactly what’s in the bag, allowing them to be even more transparent with the ingredients you’re getting.
Now that you’ve got the delicious and hearty pasta meals, it’s time to learn how to Mangia like an Italian! Here are some fun tips to try on your next meal:
Make it Big and “Mangia” Style
This is the most important step in Mangia or dining like an Italian. Multiple dishes, sides, and drinks all on the table to share. Over jokes, laughs, and/or stories of course. It’ll feel like a Thanksgiving meal, only with much, much less time and effort thanks to the convenience of Bertolli meals!
We tried this for dinner earlier tonight and I can tell you, it was possibly the BEST family meal we have had in a long time. On the menu was the following:
• Bertolli Chicken Marsala and Roasted Redskin Potatoes
• Bertolli Chicken Florentine and Farfalle
• Garlic Toast
• Caesar Salad
• And some ice cream for dessert
In addition to a meal that was seriously delicious – as in NO leftovers delicious – we also got to enjoy our time together as a family. It was a perfect night of laughter and liveliness we haven’t brought to the dinner table in a long time. In fact, the exact words out of my daughter’s mouth were, “This is like Thanksgiving a whole month early!”
Best of all, the entire meal preparation was less than 15 minutes!!
Take it to the dining room
It might be just us, but most of our meals, even the ones we eat as a family, end up on the regular kitchen table or sometimes even in the den. Take this meal to the dining room, away from any distractions and where you have more space for a big meal.
Preset the table
Yes this includes not only plates, silverware, and cups, but also bring out the salt and pepper shakers, bread dishes, wine glasses and butter dish! All of this. On just a regular weeknight!
My kids were actually really excited about the fancy set up, but here’s one big pro tip: You don’t actually have to use the fancy China. I am such a fan of the plastic faux-China plates because as fancy as they look, I still get to throw it all away when we’re done and move on with my night!
Set the mood
Light some candles, play some music in the background…It’s the biggest meal of the day, why not make it a party? Your kids will certainly get a kick out of it!
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Explore More Ways to Mangia Here and check out the Infographic below! Feel free to share and pin!
These results are from an online survey conducted by YouGov on behalf of Bertolli of over 2,000 nationally representative individuals in the United States and Italy. The U.S. survey with 1,074 completes was conducted between July 28-29, 2016. The Italy survey of 1,013 individuals was conducted from July 29 – August 4, 2016. The margin of error in each country is +/-3.1%.
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You are right! Those are great ways to enjoy a family meal. I’ll try it.
It is definitely more fun to eat with family and friends! Endless chit chat and loads of fun. Plus the food taste better too! Don’t you agree?
Meal times are the best times for family bonding. Having dinner all together as a family gives every one a chance to talk about how their day went, share stories, and enjoy a good meal.