Plan a Special Weeknight Date Night with #Bertolli

Valentine’s Day is next week–the day you are forced to be romantic, or else.

I think of V-Day as something for school kids, new couples and rose growers. After almost fifteen years of marriage, it’s amateur night. My husband and I don’t wait for Valentine’s Day to have special time together.

The topic of “Date Night” has come up in a group of my mom-friends recently. Many ladies are disappointed in the absence of dates with their husbands because of having little kids, a lack of wiggle room in the budget, or not having a dependable babysitter.

May I suggest a date night in? Feed the kids early, set them up with a movie and snacks upstairs, threaten them sufficiently, and enjoy a private meal in your own kitchen with your number one person.

I planned a special dinner with my husband using Bertolli meal soup and a few special touches.

I found the soup in the frozen food section with the other Bertolli bagged meal. The frozen food manager didn’t even realize they had it. I’d searched in the frozen soup section first and couldn’t find it there, so check both places at your grocery store.

I chose the Tuscan-style beef soup. It had tender chunks of beef, bowtie pasta and vegetables in a thick and savory beef broth. It pairs well with a loaf of Italian bread and a glass of Shiraz and is a complete meal with little else added.Keep it simple, but do a few little extras. Use a tablecloth and cloth napkins. Break out the good china. Light a few candles on the table. Play some romantic music. Slow dance by the stove while the soup cooks.

I recommend making a simple, comforting dessert to finish the meal. Something chocolate is always good. I like to make a quick stovetop chocolate pudding. I use the basic Hershey pudding and pie filling recipe. It cooks up in ten minutes and can cool in the fridge while you eat. 

The Bertolli soup was a tasty meal. It was hearty and easy to prepare. We’ve also tried the Chicken Minestrone, and it was so easy that my younger kids were able to prepare it perfectly. The bag says it contains two servings, but we were able to serve four people from the 32 ounces of soup when we added grilled cheese sandwiches to the meal.

The other varieties are Roasted Chicken and Rotini Pasta, Tomato Florentine, and Tortellini with Chicken. They are all flash frozen so the vegetables and herbs are at the peak of flavor. I was surprised at how good the pasta was.

I really liked this product and would buy it again. I thought it was tasty and wholesome. Show Bertolli some love and check them out on Facebook, Twitter, and on their website.

And remember not to wait for Valentine’s Day to have special time alone with the one you love. Enjoy!

I was compensated by Bertolli to participate in the Weeknight Meal Special Challenge. All opinions are my own.