Dinner Must Start With Dessert
This is a sponsored review by BlogHer and Newman’s Own.
It wasn’t long after I started having babies that I learned that if I wanted to place a hot meal on the table by 6:00p.m., I needed to start cooking the meal by 10 a.m. With children around, the “witching hour” rears its ugly head and around 3 in the afternoon, making seemingly “simple tasks” a Herculean effort. Cooking dinner was taxing on my few mental reserves. At 10:00 a.m. the freshness of the morning still had the leftover quietness of the evening, making it a stress-free time to plan the meal and chop the vegetables. It’s no secret here that I like to cook with fresh ingredients, and I rarely rely on canned, processed foods– which would save me time, but cooking things myself gives me that extra edge of trust about ensuring I’m not exposing my kids to extra trans fats. Soon I learned other moms had a whole arsenal of tips and methods to ensure the family meal. was properly cared for and nurtured after. My neighbor said she did the same thing when her kids were little, but with one caveat. “I always started cooking dessert first.” What a paradoxical shift. Why dessert first? Maybe because gelatin was all the rage back then, (the 70s) and she needed the fridge to congeal the mixture to ensure gelatin could be eaten with a spoon, rather than a straw. Still, I there are still days when I don’t have enough time to cook dinner as it is – so adding dessert would ensure one thing: we’d only eat dessert, because that’s all I’d have time to make. Today is one such day. It’s the boy’s first day of school, and I’ve already made an angel food cake (sprinkled with fresh anti-oxidant-rich blueberries) for tonight’s dinner to celebrate. And, guess what else? I’ve run out of time. No chance I’ll have time to cook something wholesome and delicious to match that dessert. In my pursuit of a wholesome meal, I found Newman’s Own Thin & Crispy pizza, made with all-natural ingredients – and a taste that is “picky-eater” approved. Newman’s Own Thin & Crispy pizzas are a convenient way to give the family a quick meal, without breaking the bank or compromising nutrition. NO stands for not only Newman’s Own, but also NO modified food starch, NO sodium nitrate, NO modified cornstarch. 
So pleased to give him this meal, after both of us had such a hard day. Mati Nui is even ready to stand guard over his own slices; no brother would dare steal his own share of this wholesome pizza. So, on those morning when I do get behind the 8-ball, and I can’t get dinner fixed, I know it takes only 10-12 minutes for a Newman’s Own Thin and Crispy frozen pizza to bake to perfection — at about half the cost of take-out pizza. How do you get the meal on the table for your family? Leave a comment below to explain how you do it, “despite the witching hour.” With your comment, I’m giving away a Newman’s Own Gift Basket valued at $75. Contents may vary. Newman’s Own Foundation continues Paul Newman’s commitment to donate all profits to charity. Over $300 million has been given to thousands of charities since 1982.” Your chance to win is open from 9/1—9/30/2010. Click here for the official rules.
When I make something big — like lasagna… I always double it, so that I always have some meal waiting in the freezer. Then, I pull it out in the morning, or the night before, and we’re set. On the nights I forget… we order pizza!
We are victims of carry out!!! But, you are right, If i turn on the crockpot in the morning, I do have dinner ready. I swear by the crockpot.
Soup and salad for dinner… I truly rely on that every night. The kids love chicken soup, so I buy the organic kind.. and throw in some veggies, and we’re set. Effortless and easy.
Dessert! Never thought of that as an incentive for cooking! LOL. I try to keep the meals as simple as possible!!
Would love to win!!! We are always picking up a half-baked pizza at the last minute with all the kid’s sports.
I’m looking for ways! My mom comes over every Sunday and helps me make the meals for the week. It does help me plan my grocery shopping, and ensure that we have something to eat every night..l’m all about pre–planning
Make the meals on Sunday… freeze for the week!
I’m still trying to figure it out… but one thing that does help is planning a menu for the month… Monday is pasta, tuesday is chicken, wednesday is pizza night… etc.
Some nights to get food in my son quick we have cheese or cheese and bean quesadilla with fresh fruit and veggie on the side. I go for super simple when I don’t have the time to cook. I think you can still make it healthy even if it is simple-most of the time.
I haven’t felt comfortable giving my son frozen pizza yet, but I may try Newman’s Own. I do like their business.
Thanks.
My kids like Trader Joe’s frozen pizzas and I’d love to try Newman’s Own – sounds like similar quality!
If my day is crazy and it looks like I’m not going to get more than frozen waffels (TraderJoes multi-grain) or buttered pasta on the table for dinner I try to give them the good stuff right after school when they are starved. I usually put out a bowl of fresh strawberries, fresh veggies and apples and peanut butter.
Since my 2 year old will still eat pureed food I make batches of salmon, chicken, lentils, potatoes, veggies etc. and freeze them in ice cube sized portions. They are easy to reheat and I think they are a quicker and healthier alternative to often greasy and fattening take-out. On other nights fresh pasta with some olive oil and parmesan is also a very good choice since it’s ready minutes after a pot of water boils. That and some some fresh veggies and fruits are my mealtime staples. Please enter me in the give-away! I love Newman’s!
I find having a plan helps a lot, as does having a couple of go-to meals ready when needed. Frozen pizza is one of those and I can’t wait to try Newman’s Own. I’m a fan of several NO products, so I know I won’t be disappointed.
I always have cans of tomatoes, and boxes of pasta, lettuce and homemade salad dressing. Sorry, Newman’s own. Yours may be good, but mine is better. We can have dinner on the table in the time it takes the pasta to cook.
Planning is what works for me – and taking a list to the grocery store. I try to plan simple meals and I’m also lucky to have a husband who offers to help when things get crazy!
I try to cook big meals on weekends(my duty!) and later I just reheat them or add some vegetables.
If I am busy I just fix some soup with meat balls or salad with tuna.
I make sure that during weekly shopping, I have all the ingredients to make a few meals quickly, like baked sausage, mashed potatoes and a veggie.
It’s always hectic and a guessing game getting a meal together, need to get more organized.
During nap time, I prep as much as I can for dinner and future meals. Washing, chopping, marinating, etc. Having prepped ingredients on hand allows you to throw a healthy meal together quickly.
When we have extra time we make large enough portions to have enough left over so we can freeze it for later in the week.
lots of planning, and getting creative
I use the crock pot so I start while I still have energy in the morning and most of it is ready by dinner time when I’m exhausted
Every couple of weekends, my husband and I cook up a storm and freeze a number of meals.
Thanks so much.
rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com
Crockpot, crockpot, crockpot – what a lifesaver!
I try and plan ahead and make a lot of things on Sunday when I have time.
I cook big portions and always have leftovers!
quick pizza on tortillas, or casseroles made the night before
tvollowitz at aol dot com
I try and plan/prepare as much as I can beforehand to make meals speedy. We brown meat and freeze in meal size portions..etc..
I try to make dinner ahead of time, especially if I am not going to be home for some reason. Tonight, I made tomorrow dinner for tomorrow night because I am going to a meeting at school. All my teenagers will have to do is warm it up!
I use a crock pot. I come home on my lunch hour to make sure
everything is cooking okay. My husband helps with dinner some nights.
I sometimes make each food on the weekends and freeze the meals
for dinners.
I live alone but have 9 grands 6 in one family. When they are visiting I do the same as their Mom does, everyone has a responsibility
I keep some easy meals in my freezer for nights when time is short. Things like frozen pizza, ravioli, and hamburgers can be cooked fast and make a filling meal.
WHEN I AM AT MY WIT’S END AND HAVE FORGOTTEN TO DO EVERYTHING….WE EAT CHEERIOS….MY KIDS HAVE NEVER COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS “CHEERIOS MEAL”
I too am a crockpot lover. You put in the ingredients and let it cook all day then when you come home you just bake some bread/rolls and serve the meal. It is quick and easy. You can also use leftovers for the next day lunch.
I’m not that big of a planner and so I play each day by ear.
I love to make soup because I can throw a bunch of different stuff in a pot, have something healthy and my kids think it’s great.
We plan quick easy meals for weeknights so we dont get lazy and stray.
Thanks for the chance!!
mogrill@comcast.net
I like to make big meals and freeze half after it is cooked, or at least save a portion for leftover lunch the next day or two. It makes it super fast to just reheat a yummy and prepared with love meal, as opposed to starting each meal from scratch. Also, I love knowing what goes into the food I feed those I love…and reheating yummy meals is faster and healthier than going to drive-through for junk!
The crockpot is a wonderful invention! I love being able to come home and have dinner ready!
It usually takes me half an hour to get food on the table. Sometimes I will cook in bulk and freeze dinners.
During the summer, it’s big salads w/some type of meat/fish. I precut veggies so they’re quick to get at
i’d like this one
I rely on my Crock pot a lot to make suppertime easy and painless.
I plan my meals and am a crock pot queen!
Crock pot meals are great time savers.
I make 5 meat loaves at a time so I always have a meal
Make the meals for the week on Sunday
I try to plan ahead and have things prepared ahead of time.
Sometimes we don’t make it to the table—just end up hanging over the kitchen counter sharing good food and good times.
I try to plan ahead and maybe make some of the meal ahead of time if possible. Otherwise, I will be too tired at the end of the day and we’ll end up eating sandwiches or ramen noodles for supper!
I have many dishes in my repertoire that can be prepared quickly-I make sure I always have the ingredients on hand!
I start prepping whenever I have a chance throughout the day. That, and I use the crockpot A LOT
I do most of my cooking on the weekends and freeze the meals for use during the week. If I don’t, I always have some purchased frozen meals available as a backup.
I cook more on the weekends, when I have a bit more time/a bit less crazieness, and make big portions. I can then freeze or put into fridge for quick weeknight dinners
I plan for the week ahead of time.
Thanks for the giveaway >^..^<
If I am running behind schedule, I will often make a simple supper of tomato soup and tuna sandwiches-easy cleanup too!
smchester at gmail dot com
When I cook I make large batches to freeze so during the week meals are already made and just need to be heated up.
I’ve taught my husband some easy meals he can make too. So often, he thinks I am the only one who can cook or plan meals. This way, I can ask him to make something – he likes to make sloppy joes – and then he handles it all instead of me! And he’s a good cook!
love the crockpot, and there’s leftovers
At least once a week, I make up a meal in the crock pot. We have several favorites, like Meatball Stew or Pot Roast. It makes for a very easy meal on a rushed night.
I often due some major cooking on Sunday; soup, stew, a roast. Then I portion it out for the week (or put some in the freezer) and change up the side dishes.
During the week, there’s never enough time to really cook a meal…I rely on quick and easy dinners like Sloppy Joes, Frozen Chicken Patty sandwiches and hot dogs. I also use my crockpot a lot.
If hubby is working late and the kids are spending the night with their friends, then it’s cereal for me. If everyone’s here and we have to rush out the door, then it’s pizza and a salad. So yummy
I plan meals that cook fast and use frozen vegtables and rice that you can cook in the microwave
usually have a big meal on the weekends so the night there’s not time to prepare just whip out the leftovers
As much as possible cook in quanity, and freeze some for later.
I do keep frozen pizza in my freezer and I have been known to pick up takeout from a local restaurant, but normally I have frozen supplies of food from doubled recipes when I am cooking dishes that can do that easily.
I have a whole repertoire of 20 minute meals that I can whip up, most take time to simmer or bake, this is when I sit down to get my second wind.
I’m a big fan of two things already mentioned in the comments. I use my crock pot often! I get things ready to throw in it the night before (chop veggies, brown meat, or whatever), then I put all ingredients in the crock pot in the morning. It’s ready for dinner in the evening with little or no effort. Also, when I make things like Mac ‘n cheese, soup, or stew, I make a large batch and freeze some for another meal on a day when I don’t feel like cooking.
Put me in that drawing! I love everything that’s Newman’s own!
My microwave is my friend.
It’s always crazy-but I sometimes don’t serve dinner till 8. PS I love my microwave!!!!!
We love Newman’s Own….we grew up with Paul and Joanne on the little tiny tv screen in black and white, etc. Please put me in the drawing…would love to win good food!!!!
It’s all about the crockpot!
This morning, I was making dinner at 6am. I prefer it hot out of the oven but always better to just get it done. Never know what will be going on around 4 pm.
I make up a menu on grocery day and try my best to stick to it,, usually end up once a week picking up a take out pizza or fast food. Newmans pizzas look wonderful!
When I have time to cook, I cook large batches of food and freeze the remainders to help me out when I don’t have time to cook.
We have pizza quite often. I also try to make double batches of things like lasagna, chicken noodle soup, etc. It’s no harder to made two batches than one, really.
HobartsMama {AT} AOL.COM
We get take-out alot but my next best friend is my Big roaster pan
I try to make at least one meal and freeze it just for a quick meal.
purehrt555(At)yahoo(dot)com
I’m a big crock pot fan, that or I try to make double the amount and freeze some for later!
I try to use my slow cooker as much as possible! THANKS!
My husband gets home at a reasonable hour so usually he makes dinner.
A lot of the meals that I do find time to make I double or triple the recipe when making them. And freeze them in meal size portions.
That way when I know that my day is going to be hectic I can lay a meal out to thaw that morning.
And just heat and eat for dinner.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
Love anything cinnamon after dinner.
I also try to freeze meals for the freezer. If I’m out then I scramble some eggs, add cheese, and wrap them in a tortilla or serve grilled cheese sandwiches with tomato soup.
I try to keep it simple and quick. Lots of time when I cook, I make double and freeze the rest so it can be pulled out on a busy night.
On Saturdays, I make about 3 or 4 meals and freeze them. Then on days that are too busy, I pull one out in the morning and pop it in the oven in the evening for dinner.
we stockpile our freezer when the sales go on, so i always try to have frozen veggies, and grilled chicken in the freezer, so even when i am in a crunch i have sometihng healthy for them!!
I have 3 teens, between me, my husband and the kids –we each have one weeknight that we are in charge of dinner prep. We all help each other–lots of trade offs–my oldest daughter will promise to drive her brother to his girlfriends on Saturday if he helps her make her meal.
I make alot of crockpot meals that I can throw in the pot in the morning and serve to my family when we are done with soccer practice at the end of a long day.
On nights when I get home late and the kids are chomping at the bit, I make it a “breakfast-dinner” night. Scrambled eggs, maybe pancakes, sausages and biscuits. I can usually whip it up in a few minutes!
always trying new and simple recipes,double ones I really like and freeze for another time!
ardelong2(at)gmail(dot)com
I cook ahead, every Sunday I cook my big Sunday dinner and all the other dinners for the week at the same time. I then freeze them and take out the next nights meal the night before, so all I have to do is reheat it, fast, easy and on the table quickly
I like to put dinner in my slow-cooker so when I get home at the end of a long day dinner is just about done!
we try to make enough food on the weekends to have leftovers during the week. We also buy a lot of ready-made food that just needs to be heated up!
Thanks for the giveaway!
I cook up ground beef ahead of time and freeze.It only takes a couple mins to thaw in the microwave.Only take a few minutes to have taco on the table of mix with sauce for a quick spaghetti meal.Thanks!
lstanziani(at)yahoo(dot)com
i cook for my boys,..my chef husband cooks for him and I
I cook in large quantities on the weekend and then freeze for individual days from this amount. So, dinner is easy—toss a salad and defrost the “frozen” dinner.
Slow cooker to the rescue. Dump stuff in and let it cook all day.
Thanks for the contest.
Plan ahead…that way there is no time wasted thinking about what you are making.
We make frozen pizza or frozen bag meals if the day is particularly hectic. Everyone likes them, so it goes over okay.
I opt for food That can cook in less than 15 min preferably out of a bag lol
freebiegoddess03@aol.com
I have a meal plan that I stick to, so dinner usually gets done on time, but when I don’t have time to cook I buy frozen pizza or make soup and salad.
I do as much ahead of time as I can, especially the salad which seems to take more time to make than anything else.
nblexp at gmail dot com
I do a lot of prepping ahead- marinate the meat before freezing so it’s ready to defrost and grill, have tons of salad stuff washed and ready to go, grill extra meat so I can toss on salads or in casseroles for quickie meals.
My go-to quick meal is quesadillas. I spread some refried beans (homemade if I have any) on tortillas, top with shredded cheese and throw in the toaster oven. yum!
It’s either take-out or something quick. I work all-day, and go to school at night.
I keep a bag of frozen stir fry veggies in the freezer for quick and easy meals.
I sometimes pop a pizza in the oven, other times I just make them something easy from the freezer like mini burgers!
Newman’s Own is the only frozen pizza I’ll buy! Doctor it with some spinach, make a big salad and it’s a quick easy meal for those Thursday nights when you just can’t cook.
I always keep a few staples on hand for a quick, last-minute dinner: pasta with canned tomatoes and white beans, or quick black bean burritos. But my usual saving grace is to have my meal planned ahead of time so i know exactly what I should start prepping at 5. (And hopefully have some of it already prepped!)
I make lots of frozen meals on the weekend so I just have to reheat during the week!
I always keep something in the freezer, cooked meat of some sort that can be defrosted quickly that becomes the foundation of our meal. Lefotver shredded chicken, beef or pork frozen in stock or sauce becomes wraps, tacos or sandwiches.
What a time saver when “there is nothing for dinner”!
I always have to have a menu plan, other wise I am going crazy at 5 every night!!!!
I DON’T always get dinner on the table! Sometimes we just have to have a “cereal party”. But making double and freezing, doing quick meals like tacos or salmon patties, or lots of times, a frozen or bread machine pizza is what I usually do.