Momma Told Me: How Nestle Meal Solutions Make Me Look Like Wonder Woman #shop

Blog Archive

How Nestle Meal Solutions Make Me Look Like Wonder Woman #shop

***I am a member of the Collective Bias®  Social Fabric® Community.  This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias and their client. #cbias #shop
#BTSIdeas
Momma Told Me: I don't have time to be a chef today!

I have a reputation both on and offline for being a sort of modern Betty Crocker. While my immense modesty forbids me to confirm or deny the validity of such a handle, it is an expectation I try to live up to none-the-less. Believe it or not the parade of tantalizing Instagram shots, and Pin-worthy blog pics do not happen overnight. In most cases I brainstorm various snack or recipe ideas over the course of a month, or longer; often postponing the actual replication due to forgotten ingredients, dead camera batteries, or last minute schedule changes. Most parents can identify with this pressure to delivery tasty and fun meals for their families; and the amplified stress involved with the back to school season. Throwing together easy meals your family will rave about is hard enough on the Summer or weekend, let alone in between recitals, sports practice, homework tutoring, and early bedtimes.
Nestle Baking Kits Cookie BrowniesSo, today, I am here to tell you not everything that hits my table is made 'from scratch.' That's right, I cheat. But the difference between food they simply eat, and a meal they absolutely love is in the key to the right components. Not all pre-made family size entrees are created equal; some have an excess of sodium, others require 16 steps to preparation (including ample flipping, poking, prodding, and the sacrifice of a small animal- okay, I might have made that last part up.) My point is, I am a successful family chef because I make smart buying decisions when it comes to my main course; and this enables me some spare time to create a delicious home-made side, and even whip up a tempting dessert kit (or two). Since my own childhood my family has trusted the Stouffer's brand for hearty family meals that warm the stomach, clear plates, and bring us together.
Carnation Baking Kit
There are dozens of Family Size Stouffer's entrees to choose from at my local Walmart, and the preparation instructions are always minimal; so I can focus on creating a time saving side and rewarding dessert. With a little help from Nestle Carnation Evaporated Milk, Breyer's Slow Churned, and Nestle Baking Kits, I can have a complete meal on the table in less than 30 minutes. Unless I'm thawing freeze-ahead home made meals, this would otherwise be a challenge on a school night. In fact, Nestle has several family favorite brands trusted worldwide to fill seats around the table, even during the busy school season. In addition to the wide range of Stouffer's Family Entrees (from lasagna to enchiladas), Tombstone and Digiorno easy bake pizzas offer me time saving entrees to keep our family out of fast food restaurants and eating dinner at home.
As the Summer winds down I'm already beginning to put together weekly meal plans and #BTSIdeas for the upcoming school year. Recently, between building a lemonade stand and navigating swim lessons, I reached into my bag of tricks for a simple and hearty meal I could fit within the busy schedules. Already a cafeteria favorite for Sabrina (10), Stouffer's family size Salisbury Steaks offered 5 generously portioned roasted beef patties smothered in a thick caramelized onion and mushroom sauce. With 55 minute slow-prep oven instructions, and 16 minute no-fuss microwave instructions, I could easily prepare this entree while whipping up 2 desserts and a side, thanks to Nestle and Carnation Baking Kits. Using some potatoes I had set out to boil earlier that afternoon, I (literally) whipped up some creamy Bacon Cheddar Ranch Mashed Potatoes with a simple Mushroom Sauce (gravy) using Carnation Evaporated Milk and Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup.
#BTSIdeas Simple Meal Solutions with StouffersStouffer's Family Salisbury Steak
With just over 10 minutes, combined, prep-time, the Nestle and Carnation complete baking kits pleased both the chewy and creamy palettes in our house. I'll admit, I don't always serve 2 desserts after dinner, but there was so much debate (Cookie Brownies vs. Chocolate cream Pie), and so little preparation involved, I made both! I'd never used the Nestle baking kits before, but was thrilled to see the 'necessary ingredients' were nominal and primarily consisted of butter and water. The Chocolate Cream Pie Kit even included a can of Carnation Evaporated Milk for a silky finished texture that truly had me feeling like a cheat. When I shared a few leftover slices with the neighbors that evening I was embarrassed by the "You really should be a professional baker" comments I kept hearing. Paired with a fresh scoop of No Sugar Added Dreyer's Slow Churned Vanilla the Cookie Brownies made for tough competition for the title of favorite dessert. Thanks to Walmart's back to school values, and a few minutes of elbow grease, this was one dessert worth raving about!
Nestle Baking Kits
Sometimes I feel guilty, during the school year, that I don't have enough time to devote to my family. I wish I could give them a 'from scratch' meal every night of the week, but it simply is not practical. Thankfully there is a wide range of Nestle meal solutions products to incorporate into my weekly meal plan routine. When I save time substituting these delicious favorites on our table, I have more time to round out the meal and even whip up their favorite mashed potatoes. I know a lot of 'Type A' moms, like me, have a hard time leaning on meal helpers and ready-made entrees; but the simple truth is in the smiles on my family member's faces. I may not have spent 4 hours slaving over a stove, but their stomachs feel loved anyway. And the Nestle baking kits are simple enough the younger aspiring bakers can even help out and feel included! Check out our trip to Walmart for some back to school meal staples, in our Google+ album.

What Daughter Says: Smart meal aids can truly help ease back to school season stress for the entire family.

Continue reading for recipes.....
Bacon cheddar Ranch Mashed Potatoes
Bacon Cheddar Ranch Mashed Potatoes
***click for printable mashed potatoes recipe
***click for printable Mushroom Sauce (Gravy) recipe

Ingredients:

* 6 Medium Potatoes, Peeled, Cubed, and Cooked
* 3/4 C Nestle Evaporated Milk
* 1/4 C (1/2) Stick Butter or Margarine, melted
* 1/4 C Buttermilk Ranch
* 1/2 C Bacon Crumbles
* 1/2 C Shredded Sharp Cheddar Cheese
* Garlic Salt (To Taste)
* Pepper (To Taste)
* 1/4 C Diced Chives (Optional)

Directions:

1.) Return Cooked Potatoes to pot and add evaporated Milk, Butter, and Ranch over medium heat. Mash until all chunks are gone. Beat with handheld mixture until creamy and smooth.

2.) Stir in shredded cheese until fully melted and evenly combined. Fold in bacon crumbles and chives; season with garlic salt and pepper as desired.

72 comments:

  1. Strange...I would've never thought they were Nestle Meal solutions, they totally look homemade!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mouthwatering as usual when I read your posts. I did not realize Nestle has great products for dinners as well as desserts. Can you come cook for me?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Wow that all looks amazing. I had no idea that Nestle offered all that.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love this. It never occurred to me that it would be Nestlé meal solutions . I really need those mashed potatoes.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Oh I love that recipe. Potatoes are the best side dish ever. I love how you took me through the process of how you created the recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  6. I am going to make those mashed potatoes!!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm coming to eat at your house!! Seriously those all look amazing! And I'm reading this as I'm sitting here trying to figure out what to make for dinner....I want this!!

    ReplyDelete
  8. ok i must make those potatoes they look divine! i so need to come live with you i would have the best meals ever all the time!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Yumm!!!! This definitely looks like a meal you did spend hours slaving over--and I need to make those mashed potatoes, I think my family will love them! What a great meal! :D

    ReplyDelete
  10. Wow, that looks so delicious! I love Salisbury Steak and those mashed potatoes look delicious! Actually the dessert looks yummy too. If you lived closer... :-) Those are all great meal solutions, especially with school and activities starting up again.

    ReplyDelete
  11. I have absolutey no problem leaning on meal helpers -- it's still better for my family than going out!

    ReplyDelete
  12. Yummy Yummy and now I want to go back to school just so you'll make this for me. :)

    ReplyDelete
  13. I love how using Nestle products makes cooking delicious meals so easy!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your potatoes are so simple to make but look so good, I will be trying the recipe this weekend :)

    ReplyDelete
  15. ohhhhh the potatoes look so yummy...going to whip them up tomorrow night!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank you so much for the recipes for the potatoes and gravy! I am going to use them tonight as sides for the hamburger steaks I am planning.

    ReplyDelete
  17. I didn't know that Nestle offered all of this! Thank you! I need some new dinner ideas.

    ReplyDelete
  18. WE all wish we could cook from scratch all the time, but sometimes we need shortcuts and Nestle Meal Kits have done it for you. I like all these recipes and will adapt them to my diabetic diet!

    ReplyDelete
  19. The whole dinner looks so good! It has been so many years since I have eaten Stouffer's Salisbury Steak I had forgotten about it!!! I have seen the dessert kits in the store but have never purchased them because I thought they could not possibly turn out great... but after reading your review about how good they are I will most certainly try them.

    ReplyDelete
  20. huuuge fan of this Nestle products. Been using them for a little while now :)

    ReplyDelete
  21. I would love to have that mouth watering brownie dessert! It looks so YUMMY! And it uses Dreyer's Slow Churned which is the ice cream we buy already.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Oh for goodness sakes, I am trying to lose weight right now and just reading this blog post and looking at all these yummy photos are making me hungry wahhhhh lol

    manifestmiracles@live.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. Wow that meal looks yummy, especially the Chocolate Cream Pie!
    Kitty Iecvan

    ReplyDelete
  24. That cookie brownie dessert looks delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  25. The Bacon Cheddar Ranch Mashed Potatoes look delicious! I'd love to try this as a side dish. My family would love it!

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow, I love the ideas and I can't wait to try the mashed potatoes.

    ReplyDelete
  27. Those mashed potatoes look great! Wasn't aware that Nestle owns Stouffers

    ReplyDelete
  28. Oh my gosh - those potatoes sound AMAZING

    ReplyDelete
  29. Oh my heck. Those mashed potatoes look fantastic. I am a real potato lover anyway and who knew Nestle had so much to offer.

    ReplyDelete
  30. I love Nestle products and I shall have to make those mashed potatoes soon.

    ReplyDelete
  31. Everything looks so delicious! Thanks for sharing.

    ReplyDelete
  32. Mmmm... lots of yummy looking foods here. Gonna have to make those mashed potatoes for sure. thanks for the recipes

    ReplyDelete
  33. those mashed potatoes look awesome!!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Everything looks so delicious! Especially the mashed potatoes!

    ReplyDelete
  35. The potatoes look great. I have never made them that way, I think I will, since my husband loves potatoes. The dessert looks fab!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Its so good to have options for all of dinner. My family gets bored with the same old thing. Nestles is a trusted name in my family

    ReplyDelete
  37. I guess we never think to look at other items that we have used for years as dinner options, but they are and I love your mashed potato recipe and will be making that for my family soon. I think Nestle makes great products to help make out life easier..

    ReplyDelete
  38. That gravey with the cream of mushroom soup sounds delicious, will try it with my next round of beef patties and rice. thank you

    ReplyDelete
  39. I think it is perfectly fine to use assistance whether in box, bag or frozen food form as long as you are serving your family a balanced meals and it is great to know other ways of using different products in our house for years, I only used Nestle Carnation milk for baby formulas (in the dark ages) and as ice cream or desert base, Yummy

    ReplyDelete
  40. Going to grocery story in a little bit will get me some Nestles Toll House Brownies, this article has made me hungry. THank you

    ReplyDelete
  41. Yummy! I almost always have Carnation Milk on hand--easy to keep always on hand for cooking. And Stoffer's are some of our favorites. BTW--you mashed potatoes look wonderful! *stealing the recipe*
    bethelderton59 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. Of course not everything can be made from scratch all the time, that's what Nestle is here for.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I have been a fan of Nestle products for more than 50 years! The first thing I saw when I came to this page was the Stouffer's meal--after the first time I tasted Stouffer's Lasagna, I swore I'd never make homemade again. Stouffer's Lasagna is delicious! I serve it to guests ;)

    ReplyDelete
  44. Ok, you've got me - this looks fantastic! Especially the cookie brownies...yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  45. I wasn't aware that Nestle owned all of these brands of products.

    ReplyDelete
  46. Yum, meat and potatoes and a tasty dessert! Nestle owns a lot of foods, even pet food!

    ReplyDelete
  47. Those potatoes look delicious! Everything you cook, seems to turn out looking tasty!

    ReplyDelete
  48. You always make the best stuff! Every time I check out your blog I leave hungry.

    ReplyDelete
  49. The cheddar bacon baked potatoes look DIVINE. Thanks for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  50. I hate cooking but love that homecooked food I love that this makes it easy and quick
    Jessica Cox

    ReplyDelete
  51. These potatoes look so good! I think my family would really like them! I didn't know Nestle had all this! Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  52. The Bacon Cheddar Ranch Mashed Potatoes look so good I want to make them!

    ReplyDelete
  53. isn't always killer when people just LOVE the dessert that comes out of the box but are "meh" about the homemade goodies? lol

    ReplyDelete
  54. Everything looks so delicious!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Wow, those ranch potatoes are heavenly!

    ReplyDelete
  56. I didn't know Stouffers was part of Nestle! How nice!

    ReplyDelete
  57. its my first time to see a wonderful meal all with Nestle!

    ReplyDelete
  58. We use a lot of yhe Nestles products here in our household. Stouffers is a mainstay here. Love the mashed potato recipe.

    ReplyDelete
  59. I am so glad that I read this post. I am adding Evaporated Milk to my grocery list. I can't wait to try these recipes. Thanks !

    ReplyDelete
  60. yummy! and those potatoes look delish, so glad you included the recipe!

    ReplyDelete
  61. Mmm... I am a total potato girl. Those look delicious! Nestle products rock.

    ReplyDelete
  62. I love Nestle and had no idea about the kits.That looked like you were in the kitchen all day!

    ReplyDelete
  63. You make it sound and look so easy. Nestle is one of my favorite brands.

    ReplyDelete
  64. It gives me just a feeling of accomplishment when I cook my family a good meal. Using good products like Nestle helps make each dish special. willis flanaga willisflanagan@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  65. G'day! Love that mum told me I don't have to be a chef today, true!
    Your potatoes look warm and inviting too!
    Cheers! Joanne
    Viewed as part of Rate The Plate Link Party
    @mickeydownunder

    ReplyDelete
  66. This looks yummy. Learning a lot about Nestle usage

    ReplyDelete
  67. Everything looks so delicious! Good for Nestle for the wonderful meals! Thanks for sharing this with us!

    ReplyDelete
  68. Your awesome pictures have kicked off my sweet tooth! i did not know that nestle owned all of those things, thanks

    ReplyDelete
  69. yummy I need to figure out dinner now and you made me hungry.

    ReplyDelete