Marie Callender's Multi-Serve Bakes + Giveaway!

I'm not big on processed or prepared foods as I prefer to plan weekly menus and make our meals myself but I was asked to review Marie Callender's Multi-Serve Bakes and I was curious to see how they compared to other frozen meals I had tried before.

It took a bit of searching but I was able to find two of the six flavors Marie Callender's offers (Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese and Creamy Chicken Alfredo with Sun Dried Tomatoes) that are all in the comfort food category.  Other food options include- Scalloped Potatoes and Ham, Southwestern Style Chipotle Chicken Bake, and Chicken, Spinach and Mushroom Lasagna. Retailing at under $6 at most locations my local grocery store sold it for $6.29.  My free coupon was for up to $5.69 and these meals typically cost under $5 elsewhere. 

Finally having the meals in my possession I served up the Chicken Alfredo with Sun Dried Tomatoes at lunch.  My mother was visiting and I wondered how she would like it.  We both found this dish to be hearty and filling. The pasta was cooked just right- a bit al dente while the carrots, broccoli and sun dried tomato bits were steamed and not mushy.  I was impressed by that factor and how the punch of the tomato was just right.  The cheesy Alfredo sauce had a nice flavor as well.  While my mother wished for more chicken in the dish I thought it was just right.  More vegetables would have been nice in my opinion.

Next, I served the Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese. I was unprepared for how rich this tastes.  As I took it out of the oven I noticed a few reddish looking pieces in it and looked at the ingredients again.  No vegetables in this dish. What was this red part?  Red pepper.  There is a bite to this mac & cheese that has a definite adult flavor to it.  My kids were not impressed deeming it too "spicy" for their consumption but I liked it.  It's creamy with plenty of cheesy sauce that has a nice flavor that rings with more than one note. 

I wish I could have tried other versions of Marie Callender Multi-Serve meals.  They make easy side dishes that heat up quickly in both the oven and microwave, but can also be used for two people as a one dish entree that won't blow your budget to bits.

GIVEAWAY- I'm giving away two coupons for you to try these meals for free yourself. One lucky reader will win them (chosen at random) just by commenting on which Marie Callender meal they would like to eat.  Contest ends November 27, 2010.  Good luck!

MPR Rating: Four Stars.

Disclaimer:  MPR worked with Marie Callender's and TheMotherhood on this sponsored post. I was compensated for my time.  Opinions are MPR's own.

Congratulations to Nancy on winning the Marie Callender's meals!

From the Halls of Musee D'Orsay to the Shores of Cote d'Azur- My Ultimate Family Vacation

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Cheerios® is giving you the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, your ultimate family vacation. As part of a paid promotion for their “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, Cheerios® is sponsoring my post today about what my ultimate family vacation would be. Read mine, Enter the Sweepstakes for a chance to actually win your own fantasy family trip or one of a bunch of other great prizes.

Tip your head over the side of one of the world's most famous bridges stone facade and take in the view that is the Sienne. If you are thinking Paris and what a cliche I am for picking it you get a few points. The truth is, I have already been to Paris with my husband. However, my ultimate family vacation only begins in Paris. This time the trip would include all three of my children and my parents and Paris is just the beginning.

After a few days in the 'City of Light' where my children could explore open air markets and playing with pigeons in the park we would move past the city's inspiring museums and open air cafes to other areas of France to take in the country where our family originated. Provence and Marseille would be our next stop. We could dine on garlic-infused food, take in Roman architecture and get acquainted with the tiny towns dotted along the way. After that it would be the beaches on the Cote d'Azur. The blue waters and golden sands await us all in Antibes. I want to take our time eating our way through this glorious country that boasts 365 cheeses, wines galore and listen to the various dialects in each region. I want to take a family cruise through the canals for a few days, sleeping under the stars and wrap up the whole adventure back in Paris where a morning cafe au lait is followed by an afternoon sitting on the steps of Sacre Coeur and an evening drinking hot chocolate at a small cafe outside Notre Dame while watching the street performers work their night time magic.

It is a lot to ask and not something easily wrapped up in a tidy one or even two week time frame but that trip, with all its history and charm, family togetherness and exploration of our roots, that would be my ultimate family vacation.

Don't forget to enter the “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, for a chance to win your own ultimate family vacation. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.