So many times our lives are busy and we take advantage of the fact that our kids are there. We don’t realize that they grow too fast and with our busy lives, we tend to miss a lot. I know that I get busy with cleaning and cooking, running the kids to here and there. My husband is the same way, except he is busy with work. It gets depressing if you stop to think about it.
I have discovered if we actually sit down, face to face, at a dinner table, we are forced to talk to each other each day. It’s not always easy to do this, especially during the busy holiday season. But, Michael Angelo’s Italian-Style meals have made it much easier. Micheal Angelo’s meals are free of additives and there are so many to choose from. As an added bonus, they are super easy to prepare! With this in mind, I decided to plan a special holiday Italian dinner party for the family! It would be a fun night with great food and good conversation where we could connect in the midst of the busy holiday season.
To make our Italian night easier, I headed to the frozen section of the store to choose a couple of the meals. By choosing two of the meals we would have a little variety and be assured of enough to go around.
I chose their Chicken Parmesan and Chicken Piccata. The Chicken Parmesan was a ready to eat meal, just heat and serve. The Chicken Piccata was a meal starter. You add your own pasta, rice, or quinoa.
Micheal Angelo’s meals are super easy to prepare. Just throw in the microwave or you can bake them in an oven. They come in their own trays, no preparation needed. When they come out of the oven (or microwave), peal the top off and serve right from the container. No need for TONS of dishes. Of course, you can plate them up too for a little extra flare!
Michael Angelo’s Chicken Parmesan
The chicken in the Michael Angelo’s Chicken Parmesan was all white meat, tender and we were able to cut it with our forks. The noodles were soft and soaked in the red sauce. It wasn’t hard like some oven baked, pre-made meals.
Michael Angelo’s Chicken Piccata Meal Starters
I made spaghetti noodles to go with the Chicken Piccata meal starter and since there was already spaghetti with the Chicken Parmesan, it went with it perfectly.
I made both of them together because my kids are getting bigger and my husband likes to take his lunch to work. I needed to make sure we had enough to eat and have some leftovers for his lunch.
Add a couple of sides for well rounded meal!
Along with the meals, I made a couple of vegetable dishes. Even though you could serve them without the sides, the side dishes rounded out the meal quite well. I made stuffed mushrooms and asparagus.
Now, I don’t personally eat either side dishes, however, my husband (a classically trained chef) was amazed that I made these things and they “TASTED GREAT!” (His words, not mine.)
Stuffed Baby Bella Mushrooms with Sausage
I made Sauted and Stuffed Baby Bella Mushrooms with Sausage. These are so easy to make and for someone who doesn’t cook anything ‘out of the norm’, that’s saying a lot.
To start these mushrooms, I took a package of mushrooms and trimmed the stems off. I also wiped them off (and anyone who watches the cooking network knows that you don’t submerge mushrooms in water).
I then took four (4) cloves of garlic and chopped it as fine as I could. I melted four (4) tablespoons of butter and in the microwave. Combined the butter and garlic and set aside.
Add the butter and garlic into a large non-stick pan. Add in the mushrooms in and saute about about 3-5 minutes. Allow them to cool, so you don’t burn your fingers. You’re going to place them in the oven after stuffing, so don’t worry about them being cold.
Brown 3/4 of a roll of sausage. It doesn’t matter what flavor you use. I like the country mild sausage, but whatever you like, works.
Mix the sausage with 4 oz of cream cheese, 1/4 cup of mozzarella, and a 1/4 cup of (shredded) parmesan cheese. I used a stand mixer because it mixes it thoroughly, but if you want to do it by hand, go ahead.
Stuff the mushrooms with the mixture. I ended up having left over mixture. What better way to use than as an appetizer with pita chips?! My kids loved the stuffing and wanted me to make more!
The oven was on 400 degrees because of the Michael Angelo’s meals, so all I had to do was pop in the mushrooms! They browned up fairly fast (about 5 minutes) so you may want to wait until the meals are closer to being finished before putting them in.
- 1 pkg mushrooms
- 4 cloves garlic
- 4 T butter
- ¾ roll sausage
- 4 oz cream cheese
- ¼ cup mozzarella cheese
- ¼ cup shredded parmesan cheese
- Trim stems from mushrooms and wipe the mushrooms.
- Chop the garlic as fine as you can. Melt the butter in microwave. Combine and set aside.
- Using a large non-stick pan, saute the mushrooms in the butter and garlic mixture for approximately 3-5 minutes. Remove from pan and allow to cool.
- Brown ¾ of a roll of sausage.
- Mix the sausage with 4 oz of cream cheese, ¼ cup of mozzarella, and a ¼ cup of (shredded) parmesan cheese. I used a stand mixer because it mixes it thoroughly, but if you want to do it by hand, go ahead.
- Stuffed the mushrooms with the mixture.
- Bake in 400 degree oven for approximately 5 minutes.
Garlic Buttered Asparagus with Parmesan
I also made Garlic Buttered Asparagus with Parmesan. This too, is simple. Take a pot of boiling water, seasoned with salt, and boil your asparagus. Don’t forget to trim the bottoms so they aren’t tough.
Here’s the thing about asparagus: you can’t boil it too long or it will get mushy. It turns this bright green color and that is when you know its ready to be taken out of it’s hot tub of salty water. Immediately take the asparagus and put it in a pool of ice water. This stops the cooking.
In another non-stick pan, melt four (4) tablespoons of butter and add three (3) cloves of minced garlic. To mince the garlic, I used a garlic press. It wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be! Cook the garlic about five (5) minutes on medium heat. Don’t let the garlic burn.
Toss in the asparagus and saute it for (5) minutes. When you remove the asparagus from the pan, pour the remaining butter garlic mixture over the asparagus. Then, (yes there’s more!), sprinkle shredded parmesan cheese on top. It’s delicious! Even the pup was hoping for a bite to fall!
- asparagus
- 4 T butter
- 3 cloves garlic
- shredded parmesan cheese
- Trim asparagus ends and boil in salty water until bright green in color. Remove and immediately place in pool of ice water.
- Using a non-stick pan, melt four (4) tablespoons of butter and add three (3) cloves of minced garlic.To mince the garlic, I used a garlic press.
- Cook the garlic about five (5) minutes on medium heat. Don’t let the garlic burn.
- Toss in the asparagus and saute it (5) minutes.
- Remove the asparagus from the pan and pour the remaining butter garlic mixture over the asparagus.
- Sprinkle with shredded parmesan cheese.
I plated everything up just as my husband walked in the door from work. He was amazed that I was trying something new. (I’m not big on experimenting.) He sniffed all the pots and watched our kids set the table. He tried to grab food off the plates, but mama stopped him fast!
We sat down and between the kids being kids and all talking at once, we enjoyed the Micheal Angelo’s Italian Style dishes. They were so good and it amazes me that they are pre-made, “easy” meals.
The side dishes were a hit as well. My kids were telling their daddy about how I let them have the filling before dinner with pita chips. I told them that was their appetizer. He was sorry he missed it!
Not only was dinner easy, fun and a nice way to catch up with my family’s day, clean up was simple. No staying in the kitchen all night cleaning after a large, Italian meal. Just throw the containers away and wash the plates.
I recommend Micheal Angelo’s meals and meal starters. They taste great and are simple to prepare. You will also love the extra time you can spend with your family as a result of shorter time in the kitchen. And, during the busy holiday season who doesn’t want simple, easy – and most especially, more time with family?!
You can find Michael Angelo’s Italian Style meals in the freezer section of your local store. To find a location near you, use their handy store locator tool. They even have cooking tips and recipes on their website!
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Want a chance to try a few delicious Michael Angelo’s Italian Meals and Meal Starters with your family?
We thought you might! And, Micheal Angelo’s would love to give you a chance!
One lucky reader will win a
$25 in Michael Angelo’s Italian Style Meal Vouchers!
Sponsored by Michael Angelo’s and Hosted by Southern Krazed
Giveaway ends 12/20/15 at 11:59 pm ET! Open to US residents 18+ and older.
Enter using the Rafflecopter form below.
Good Luck Y’all!
These dinners are so good. Especially the Chicken Parm. I love them for a quick meal.
I woul love to try any of the meal starters. I have not seen them locally here.
I would love to try them all, my tummy is growling after looking at the selections. If I had to choose just one, I think it would be the Manicotti, because it reminds me of my childhood.
I would like to try the club lasagna.
I really would like to try the eggplant parmesan.
I’d like to try their eggplant parmesan.
Their food looks good, not gross looking and hard or dry. Nice for a quick family dinner.
I want to try the lasagna with meat sauce
I absolutely love the Eggplant Parmesan. It is so delicious!
We would love to try the eggplant parmesean. I love eggplant parmesean but it is always just a hassle to make. To many steps and too many pans.
i would love to try all of them
They all look good! Would start with trying out their shrimp scampi.
I love the idea of the meal starters and would love to try the Chicken Piccata.
stephany perry says
Lasagne w/meatsauce looks good.!!!!!!
These look wonderful-I’d love to try them, esp. the chicken piccata.
I’d like to try the eggplant parmesan.
Thanks for the contest.
These meals looks delish. I will have to inquire in my local store to see if they carry this brand.
Thank you.
I would love to try the Four Cheese Lasagne.
I would like to try the Eggplant Parmesan!
Julie wilson says
Looks so delicious
Ida McCarty says
I would love to try the Lasagna with meat sauce. I want to be able to make my parents think that I finally learned how to make lasagna
I already have a favorite, eggplant parmesan. Though I wouldn’t mind trying their organic version.
I’d love to try the Eggplant Parmesan!
I would like to try the Eggplant Parmesan
I use these for quick tasty meal especially when I am busy.
The lasagna sounds good to me.
Looks very healthy!Love asparagus!
I’d like to try the Manicotti with Sauce.
I would love to try the Eggplant Parmesan. Sounds/looks yummy!
I would try the Sausage Lasagna.
Family here would probably like to try the sausage lasagna.
Eggplant Parmesan is what I would like to try. This is one of my favorite meals but I have yet to find a frozen version I like. It is a plus that this is an organic product.
Manicotti with Sauce looks good.
I think we would like to try the Shrimp Scampi and Stuffed Tilapia. My Family LOVES Michael Angelo’s Eggplant Parmesan and Chicken Picatta, so I can’t imagine we wouldn’t love the others as well!
i would like to try the Stuffed Tilapia
Lorisa Pauli says
OH MY! You made me so hungry by reading your recipes. I am craving pasta!!!
The food certainly does look appetizing. I might have to give it a try.
I would love to try the Shrimp Scampi. Looks good.
I would love to try the Chicken Parmesan, it’s one of my favorite dishes
i love to try the Organic Vegetable Lasagna.
I would like to try the Baked Ziti with Meatballs.
I’d love to try the eggplant parmesan!
The vegetable lasagna looks good.
I’d like to try Lasagna with Meat Sauce
I would like the Four Cheese Lasagna.
The four cheese lasagna looks so good!
Ckicken Piccata
Marion Scharf says
I will definitely have to try your recipes for the sides. The mushrooms sound delicious and the asparagus recipe, which are actually one of my sons’ favourite veggies thanks to the song from ALF, looks like a wonderful new way to serve them up. Wish I could enter the giveaway but I will keep my eyes open in the supermarkets where we live in Canada to try these meals.
I would love to try the eggplant parmesan but I know my kids would love the lasagna.
I would love to try the Chicken Alfredo.
Marsha D says
That looks delicious. I will try those recipes!
Have tried this brand.I do like the portion sizes!The taste is very good as well!
This whole meal looks delicious. I especially would like to make the stuffed mushrooms.
I have never heard of these. They certainly look delicious though.
I enjoy fixing their meals like the Chicken Parmesan. We love this as a quick and easy meal.
I’d love to try the Chicken Parmesan but I love the Vegetable lasagna. My 8 year old who eats no meat is in love with it.
I would love to try the CHEESE RAVIOLI. It sounds so good
I’d love to try the organic chicken parmesan!
I am most interested in trying the chicken piccata variety.
I didn’t know they made dry pasta as well, so on top of the frozen, I’d say: Organic Kamut® Pasta
I would like to try the Michael Angelo’s Chicken Alfredo. The ingredients look great. The Asiago Cheese I think would take this recipe over the top from traditional Chicken Alfredo.
I love the Eggplant Parm! Keep them in the freezer when I catch them on sale!
I would love to try the Stuffed Tilapia.
Thank you!
I would love to try the lasagna! It looks amazing!
I really like the eggplant parmesan and would like to try the four cheese lasagna and stuffed tilapia.
I would love to try their Chicken Piccata!
it would have to be the Chicken Alfredo
I think the Sausage Lasagna sounds really good.
I’d like to try the Lasagna with Meat Sauce.
I want to try the chicken parmesan
Their Signature series if meals.