Date Night– So important, so hard to actually carry out. At least for us-with two that are only 7 and 4 getting time to ourselves is almost nonexistent. There is the arranging a sitter, making plans, and then getting out the door. It can also cost an arm and a leg to finance after you pay your sitter and have dinner and a movie out. We have tried to cut costs, time, and frustrations by enjoying many of our date nights at home. I found that even after a long day of work Bertolli Meals for 2 make for a delicious and easy dinner, pair that with a few other items you can pick up at the grocery store and you have the makings for a great date night. I have been selected by Find Your Influence to be a spokesperson for Bertolli. While I have been compensated for my time, my opinions are my own.
Date nights CAN be fun and simple! I was already running behind on our last date night and knew I needed to get a special dinner on the table in record time. I grabbed a bag of Bertolli Frozen Meals for two, I chose my favorite-Chicken Alla Vodka & Farfalle. What else could I grab that required little work but brought that “Mangia!” moment to the table? A bag salad with cherry tomatoes, a loaf of crusty garlic bread, and of course cannoli for dessert ( a quick stop by the bakery made that happen for me!). Once I got home I poured my Bertolli Meal into a covered saucepan over medium. Then I set to work creating a mood – Ithrew a pretty fall table cloth on the table to dress it up a bit.
I added a burlap runner for texture,and I also grabbed a scented votive candle right at the grocery store that needed to be a little more special than just plopped on the table. I filled a small jar halfway with corn kernels and set my candle down inside- perfect.
Poured bag salad into a bowl, set dessert on a pretty plate (definitely take it out of the plastic for date night!) , and wrap up place settings. If you don’t have fancy napkins, no worries- I wrapped mine in white paper towels.
Guess what? While I threw together this quick tablescape dinner was cooking, so I did all this in about 15 minutes, just the giving the pan a few stirs while I was doing table setup. Done- just in time for him to walk through the door to this…
I was pretty happy with how easy it all came together with the help of Bertolli Frozen Meals for 2. Since I did not have to fret and worry over cooking a full meal, the pressure was off and I was relaxed. We steered MOSTLY away from talk of the kids and bills while enjoying a delicious and romantic meal.
Date night was a success!
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rajee says
We dine Italian every other week
Trisha McKee says
I dine like an Italian by making pasta and having friends over for a great night of laughter, food and conversation.
tiffany lane says
We dine like italians by using olive oil for bread dip and having pasta
Sherrie T says
Homemade Garlic Rolls and Lasagna!
tina reynolds says
We dine like italians by often having pasta week like this week spagetti manicotti lasagna mmm so so good
Stephanie Davis says
We love to get the whole family together and eat, drink, and be merry!
Stephanie Larison says
We dine like italians by eating pasta 2-3 times a week. The whole family loves spaghetti and meatballs!
Gina Ferrell says
I dine like an Italian with my homemade lasagna, homemade garlic rolls along with some red wine.
Bridgett Wilbur says
I dine like an Italian with lots of pasta and lots of pastrys with all my family and friends and a great bottle of wine.
Shari Klyn says
We like to pass the food around the table and talk until we can’t talk anymore.
dawn0124 says
sharing great food, conversation, and laughter
Betty C says
A big pan of lasagna, crusty garlic bread and a glass of wine makes me remember my days in Rome eating like an Italian.
patricia delgado says
I make wayyyyyyy too much food and encourage people to keep eating!
Candie L says
I would love to learn how to make Manicotti. Thank you
Kathy Hanley says
We have great food, great conversation and best of all laughter!
SweepyD says
Well my wifes family is Italian so I basically just eat with them! lol
Peter G says
I would make an spaghetti dinner and I guess they way my family loves this, not much left over.
Robin says
I make my baked spaghetti.
Karen Drake says
We love to make a spaghetti dinner to dine like an Italian.
Leslie Stanziani says
My husband is Italian so I have learned to cook lots of different dishes for him.He loves my lasagna and my fettuccine alfredo.
joni says
I make one of the best lasagna’s ever.
Donna Kellogg says
I Dine like a italian by eating my delicious Spaghetti
Susan Smith says
We dine Italian by eating Italian foods like spaghetti and lasagna twice a week or so.
laurie murley says
we eat like Italian by having family and friends over
Laurie Emerson says
I dine like an Italian as we eat Italian style meals as much as 4 times a week. I love making Italian meals from scratch.
jules m. says
we eat like an italian by having a large pot of pasta every week!
Lori Clark says
We dine Italian by making homemade spaghetti, lasagna, you name it. Fresh- no frozen!
nannypanpan says
we eat like an Italian by serving it family style
Miz Vickik says
I like to use really good quality pasta where you can taste the grain!
Carolyn Daley says
We eat Italian food at least twice a week whether it is spaghetti, chicken parmesan, meatball subs, pizza, stuffed shells, or lasagna. Sometimes we make sauce from scratch. #MangiaMoments
Joshua Johnson says
I ONLY use fresh ingredients!!! No non fresh/organic food here!
Jammie says
We dine like Italians by eating pasta with a fork and spoon
Angela Nichols says
I eat like an Italian by involving the whole family! We cook big, we eat big. The whole nine yards. Get the homemade sauces going and the whole house has the best aroma!
kim keithline says
I would dine like an italian with lots of food, wine and family!
Susan Christy says
I eat like an Italian by sharing great food, conversation and laughter.
nickie says
I dine like an Italian by having pasta with homemade sauce.
Seyma Shabbir says
We love to dine like an italian by making full course meal with laughter, family and bread!
Karla R. says
I sometimes dine like an Italian by eating meatballs.
Hesper Fry says
I dine like an Italian because we eat pasta a few times a week and have good conversation.
Madonna says
I dine like an Italian by focusing on who I have the meal with. We love big family meals where everyone is talking and laughing.
Jennifer Reed says
I visited the #MangiaMoment microsite and I dine ‘like an Italian’ by having great food, like Bertolli Rustico Bakes Manicotti Alla Vodka, and good conversation with my family.
Amy Z. says
I dine like an Italian by having pasta with homemade sauce for dinner.
susan smoaks says
i dine like an italian by eating good savory food and enjoying every bite
Trisha Burgess says
We dine like an Italian by eating pasta and garlic bread while enjoying family time together!!
Shirley Sewell says
Spending time with family and friends. We take turns cooking whatever Italian meal we choose. Have alitle wine some dancing and telling family stories.
Shelley Johnson says
I drink wine with my pasta dinners!
Aaron says
I eat like an Italian by being in the moment at every meal and with each bite.
Candice says
I dine like an Italian by dining and having a few drinks with good friends often.
sandra davis says
We are always dining like an Italian because we eat pasta a couple of times a week. We always have plenty of yummy garlic bread to go with it too.
Birdiebee says
I dine with friends with a glass of wine, garlic bread and great conversation.
Amanda Alvarado says
We like having Italian food with fresh garlic bread on the side with lots of talking and laughing while eating!
Kyl Neusch says
have some wine
Audra O'Hara says
We like to gather around the table and talk about our day while we enjoy good food. Nothing better than enjoying a meal as a family and having the house smell of a sauce that’s been simmering all day.
Lorena Keech says
We make a point of turning off the TV, and we slow down, having glass of wine or sparkling water before dinner.
Erica B. says
I have wine with dinner.
Jackie says
We like to dine like italians by having crusty bread and olive oil for dipping it in when we have pasta.
Thank you!
Lisa V. says
I always like to have garlic bread on the side.
Michelle Hi says
I love pasta with a fresh tomato and basil sauce, crusty bread and wine by candlelight.
Lori says
We eat pasta atleast once a week. Spaghetti is our 5 year olds favorite meal!
deana says
I dine like an Italian with a nice glass of red wine
lissa crane says
I would dine like an Italian by making my family favorite, super cheesy lasagna! I try to make it at least once a month, since my kiddo’s love it so much! If I’m really feeling hungry, I will make homemade meatballs to go with it!
janetfaye says
I dine like an Italian with fresh crusty bread, olives and antipasto at my table.
Brandy c says
I like to have breadsticks and good wine with my pasta.
Julie Lundstrom says
I just grab some wine to go with dinner and listen to some good music.
June S. says
I make my own homemade meatballs for our italian night-
Katherine says
favorite family meal of all times is Lasagna
Tina W says
I love to make a good Italian meal from scratch, but right now my elderly Dad is living with us while he recovers from surgery. He’s on a special cardiac diet and wants nothing but some version of meat and potatoes every single day.
I have fallen in love with the Chicken Alla Vodka variety – it’s a quick way for me to have a more flavorful meal that I can share with my sweetie ( and have a glass of wine. or two!)
Gail ormsbee says
I cook a lot of pasta casseroles and love them
Mary Cloud says
We cook Italian dishes all the time. I love Pasta and could eat it every night cooked in various different ways and never get tired of it.
Ty says
We dine Italian by having a huge italian meal each month with pasta, bread and wine. We laugh and even play board games too.
Kelsea Nixon says
I have pasta twice a week!
Priscilla S. says
We dine “like an Italian” by having pasta at least once a week and we love to make our own pizza for movie nights.
Danielle says
With Bertolli meals I can dine like an Italian every week in my home.
carol clark says
we have pasta night once a week
Tanya White says
Being Italian I simply dine like a Italian all the time. I use fresh produce, make my own pasta and have a glass of wine with my meal.
natasha lamoreux says
make my own pasta
Tara says
I like to have wine with my dinner!
Jeffrey says
When we have family and friends over I make my favorite meal, PIZZA! We serve it with veal Parmigiana, meatballs and pasta.
Renee says
We have regular pizza and pasta nights.
John says
We love our pasta and eat it several times a week.
Laurie Nykaza says
We dine like an Italian when we eat pasta many times a week we just cant get enough of it.
beth shepherd says
We dine like Italians by having pasta and loving our family and friends over a great meal! Thank you
shelly peterson says
We dine “like an Italian” by serving great pasta, garlic bread and salad and enjoy conversation and laughter.
elizabeth p says
We dine like Italians by enjoying evey meal. Mangia!
Stephanie Phelps says
I dine like an Italian with lots f pasta and wine and my wonderful husband bistro style!
Brittney House says
We dine like an Italian by having big elaborate dinners with many dishes sometimes.
Paol Trenny says
Our family dined like Italian every Sundays – we have family style meals with three generations at the table.
Deb Ford says
We don’t say sauce….we say gravy like the true Italians!
Leigh Anne Borders says
We dine like Italians nearly ever night. We love to cook Italians foods and share them with friends and family. it is hard not to do this when your hubby is Italian;)
carolyn g says
I dine like an Italian by having lots of friends and family over
Richard Hicks says
We dine like Italians because we eat so much lasagna!
Tabathia B says
By providing and eating lots of breadsticks with dinner
Kelly D says
I dine like an Italian by making the pasta sauce the way I want it, with lots of garlic.
Gina M says
We dine like Italians because we eat family style and love to share and savor our food.
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Ally G. says
We dine like Italians by making our pizza from scratch! Mangia Mangia!
latanya says
big family dinners on sunday
Bo Simms says
We dine like italians by making our own fresh pasta with a pasta machine, and drinking italian wine! Bellisimo!
LynneMarie says
I dine like an Italian by having pasta and gravy on Sundays.
Tina J says
I eat pasta 3x a week and my my sauces from scratch! Once a month I’ll make my pasta from scratch. Very Italian of me.
Lori Walker says
We dine like an Italian by having family style serving.
chadro says
I like to dine like an Italian by preparing some nice Linguine with meat sauce and eating with my husband. I also like to be like Francesco Bertolli in the way of sharing great food, conversation, and laughter while chowing down.
McKim says
We dine “Italian” by having spaghetti or lasagna, salad and garlic bread.
Debbi Wellenstein says
I dine like an Italian by making a great Italian dish like lasagna, and serving it with a good loaf of bread and a great bottle of wine!
tracy davis says
I dine like an italian by having pasta dishes on the weekends.
Suzanne K says
I eat Italian by getting Bertolli Shrimp Scampi – yum!
Ashley C says
I dine like an italian by having pasta dishes super frequently! Its something that everyone will eat and not complain about!
sue14625 says
i think i dine like an Italian i make pasta with sausage and mushrooms and crusty bread
Sandra S says
Mangia! Lots of pasta, lots of breadsticks, good company and some fine wine..
Kimberly Hilbert says
I went to the site but didn’t really understand what they meant by Mangia. I guess we’d eat like an Italian by speaking very loudly at the table. This was one of their suggestions, no indoor voices.
Joan Kubes says
I love to make spaghetti with home made meat balls and of course some red wine to go with it.
Amanda Sakovitz says
I have pasta at least twice a week.
Will G says
I dine like an italian with Lasagna!
Stephanie Liske says
We eat like Italians by making our food by scratch.
harold says
I dine like an Italian by eating Bertolli as much as I can!!
Cynthia R says
I dine like an italian when I make a big dish of lasagna complete with salad, breadsticks, and some wine.
Estelle S. says
We eat Italian by focusing on our food & each other. We forget about the outside world for a little bit.
ron schnell says
Share a bottle, not a status!
Clair B. says
Sometimes the only way we get to enjoy date night is at home after the kids are in bed. It’s so much more low key and less stress of finding a sitter. I like that you kept the meal so simple and easy to make, yet delicious.
Debi- Lifestyle Blogger says
Maybe I should subtly leave this post for my boyfriend and he can plan a date night at home for us. I think he could pull this off, seems like an easy date idea.
Crystal says
We haven’t a date night at home in forever. I’m thinking I need to whip up some Bertolli’s and get a great movie.
Oanh H. says
I dine like an Italian with Bernoulli’s stuffed shells bolognese and tiramisu cups.
steve weber says
I love a good date night – it’s hard to come by but when they do we make the most of it –
Lauren says
I like to eat pasta, salad, and garlic bread.
Jessica To says
I like the Dance for Dinner video and making memories. I love a good Italian pasta night with stuffed shells.
valmg @ From Val's Kitchen says
Date nights can be great! We don’t have them very often. The food looks yummy. I’m curious, was the popcorn in the jar just to give the candle some height?
Aubrey says
Date night is very important. Getting there is difficult though for sure. Great idea.
Julie Wood says
I dine like an Italian by making some dishes that really are authentic and I love using Bertolli sauces to help me create the perfect meal.
Elena says
I eat like Italian by having pasta every day for lunch or dinner