Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Quick Back to School Dinners with Mezzetta - Giveaway

Disclaimer:  I received an assortment of Mezzetta products to help facilitate this review.  The opinions below are my own.

One of the challenging issues of back to school is all of the constant rushing.  With homework and after school activities and the two jobs I work, I do a lot of balancing.  It's always important to me to have a family dinner on the table, but sometimes it is a scramble to find healthy and quick options.


I have been buying Mezzetta's kalamata olives for years.  They are my favorite kalamata olive, and are a staple in my kitchen.  I often toss them in wraps for lunch for a burst of flavor, and they are wonderful in salads and pastas.  The other night I made a quick and tasty pasta using Mezzetta's chopped kalamata olives and roasted red peppers.

I sautéed a few cloves of chopped garlic in 5 tbsp. butter until tender, then added a cup of sunburst tomatoes from my garden and 1/2 cup white wine.  I cooked until the tomatoes were wilted, then tossed in 12 oz. cooked shrimp, the kalamata olives, the roasted red peppers, and some chopped parsley.  Cook through, then toss with angel hair pasta and top with freshly grated parmesan.
 This meal took me about 20 minutes from start to finish.  The family loved it, and two of the boys asked for seconds (I confess, I had seconds too). 

We also loved sampling the Castelvetrano olives (which were new to us, and had amazing flavor), the Peperoncini (we put these on crackers with beer cheese), and the garlic stuffed olives (which Cort immediately confiscated as his own.  They are quite amazing - and I love that Cort enjoys them, as I know the garlic will help boost his immune system). 
You can find more fantastic, simple recipes and ideas to help you make dinner at Mezzetta.  Take pictures of your creation to share on Instagram with the hashtag #4PMFreakOut. 

Want a chance to win your own sampler from Mezzetta?  Click on the Rafflecopter below to enter.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

82 comments:

Small Kucing said...

Never had these olives before. Must be tasty from your boy's look enjoying the fruit

Monkeywrangler said...

Hi Lisa, that recipe looks good! I goofed on my pinterest login. It's actually the same as my FB one, not the one I listed. Sorry.

I should buy a jar of the mezzetta roasted bell peppers. That would work well in some recipies I use. I already like their pepperoncini, and some of the olives.

Unknown said...

You have put at least 3 of my all time favorites in the pasta dish...olives of any kind, the roasted red peppers and shrimp and cant forget the tomatoes. Thanks for sharing the recipe.

The Cranky said...

Garlic-stuffed olives? Sign me up!

Out on the prairie said...

I like their little yellow hot peppers. I eat a lot of olives, it is fun to try different varieties.

Sally said...

That surely looks mighty good. I've never used their products but will be looking, especially the olives. I love that Cort likes something that's good for him. That's awesome. :)

Anonymous said...

Olives are a big love in our home too.... but they look absolutely nothing like these gorgeous ones!! thanks for the recipe.... will be adding it to my to-try-out list xxxx

An Apel a Day said...

I've had some of their olives, but I've never had Cheese Stuffed Olives. They sound wonderful. I'd love to try them.

Rhonda G said...

I would like to try the cheese stuffed olives! Yum! My husband is a huge olive fan. I know he would love those.

Audra said...

Mmm garlic stuffed olives 2 of my fave things together!

John Going Gently said...

What a bloody lovely blog x

EverythingSarah said...

I always buy the pepperoncinis and the kalamata olives but I would love to try the Castelvetrano Olives.
crazyweirdo33@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

the bleu cheese stuffed olives look fabulous :)

21 Wits said...

It's all very scrumptious!

Ally said...

I've often seen the BRIGHT green castelvetrano olives but never tried them, so they might be first on my list. I think my boyfriend would love the bleu cheese stuffed olives!

Harry Flashman said...

I tried to enter but when I clicked make a blog post comment, nothing happened. So I clicked again. I wasn't trying to cheat! :-O

I love olives. I'm going to look those guys up and see if they sell their products up here anywhere. Once I bought some olives at Ingles from their deli but they weren't very good and just a little cup full was $13.00!

Endah Murniyati said...

Ahhh... olive is a rare stuff here. It should be imported from other countries.

Jenny S said...

I bet the pesto is tasty!

Ashley said...

I want to try the roasted red peppers

Life Is What It's Called said...

I learned that Mezetta has pasta sauce.

mommysap said...

So many things I would like to try!! I'd love to try the pesto and all of the spreads!

Marija said...

I must try the bleu cheese stuffed olives!

Yvie said...

Their pepperocinis look pretty good!

dlhaley said...

I would love to try the Marinara sauce. It looks so delicious.

Meghan said...

I would really like to try the cheese filled olives, great for a snack!

1froglegs said...

I would like to try their hot chili pepper everything spread.

Rob-bear said...

I was thinking about your today, after that dreadful shooting yesterday in your area. And on live tv.

Blessings and Bear hugs from Canada!

Unknown said...

I would absolutely love to try their Pesto sauce!

Kathleen said...

I'd love to try the blue cheese stuffed olives, they look delish!

[Whatever U are, be a good one!] said...

I also would love to try the Kona Coast Sauces & Marinades
Thank You for the chance

Fiona N

Aaron said...

I would like to try the Kona Coast Polynesian Orange Teriyaki!

Unknown said...

I would love to try the Sun-Dried Tomato & Basil Everything Spread.

Unknown said...

I would have to say that I would love to try the kalamata olives - shaunie

Ellie Wright said...

I love olives, but have never tried this brand. I'd love to try the Cheese Stuffed Olives.

Missy Schutz said...

LOVE THEIR PEPPERONCINIS. THE GARLIC STUFFED OLIVES LOOK AWESOME, THE RECIPE YOU MADE TOO.

Unknown said...

Blue cheese stuffed olives sound really interesting. I'd like to sample those.

Anonymous said...

I would love to try the Bleu Cheese Stuffed Olives.

Tweedles -- that's me said...

Moms love every kind of olive that there is!
love
tweedles

jerseygirl137 said...

I would love to try the Garlic Stuffed Olives

Connie Hill said...

I think that I would like to try the pizza sauce. Thanks for the chance.

Four Paw Savings said...

I love olives, so I would love to try any of those! That, or the banana peppers

noreen said...

I love their peppers but I haven't tried any of their olives so I would try them all if I could

Cass said...

I would bet their pizza sauce is pretty awesome !

Arik Issan said...

I would prefer the giardiera pickles ... I am not one for olives.

Shawn said...

I really would love to try the Mezzetta Marinara.

Maureen said...

I would love to try the banana peppers! Perfect for salads or snacks.

Elena said...

I want to try the garlic stuffed olives

Lauryn R said...

I have had their banana peppers before and they are so good, it's the only brand I buy now. I would love to try the olives!

Unknown said...

roasted red peppers

latanya t said...

Jalapeno Stuffed Olives

Niclan80 said...

I would like to try the Chicago Style Giardiniera from Mezzetta.

Angie B said...

I had no idea they made pizza sauce. My hubby and kids love my homemade pizza so I'd love to give that a try

eclairre said...

I want to try the roasted red peppers

Jackie said...

I would like to try the Castelvetrano Olives.
Thank you!

Anonymous said...

I'd love to try the pizza sauce!

Jessica Hager said...

I would like to try the Napa Valley Homemade Pasta Sauce

Jessica Hager said...

I would like to try the Napa Valley Homemade Pasta Sauce

Anonymous said...

I'd love to try the Cheese Stuffed Olives! Yum!!
nikilsend(at)outlook(dot)com

Carrie Smith said...

I didn't know that the Mezzetta company has been around for over 75 years! Thanks so much for the chance to win!

janetfaye said...

I would like to try Napa Valley Homemade Pasta Sauce.

BethElderton said...

I found a wonderful, simple recipe for Tomato Bread Soup with Chili and Garlic. What a delicious way to use day old bread!
Mary Beth Elderton

Tina W said...

Garlic stuffed olives! Anyone else thinking Dirty Martini???

rachel0 said...

id love to try the Kona Coast Spicy Teriyaki Marinade & Grilling Sauces--I didn't even know they had these products! Looks ono!

Unknown said...

Coincidentally, I had a dish like this last night!

ani hearts japan said...

I'd like to try kona coast spicy teriyaki

Unknown said...

I'd love to try the cheese stuffed olives. They all look yummy!

DistractedMommy said...

I love the tips and pairings section on their website! I could learn a lot!

slehan said...

I'd like to try their Kalamata olives.
Thanks for the contest.

slehan at juno dot com

laurie nykaza said...

I just love the kalamata-olives so I would love to try them .

laurie nykaza said...

i have never eaten these castelvetrano-olives. I love all their products will have to do some home cooking with them soon.

Sharon Schoepe said...

I would love to try their Giardiniera. It looks delicious

MzBeeBee said...

I would like to try out the tip for Tomato Pesto or Basil Pesto and stir them into mash potatoes. This idea sounds a great new way to serve my mash potatoes.

Birdhouse Books said...

I love olives! The Castelvetrano Olives look good.

glindathegood@bellsouth.net

Cathy Coibion said...

I love the hot peppers!

KayeDean said...

Family owned since 1935, and I would like to try the Jalapeno peppers

Maryann D. said...

I would like to try the Olive, Parmesan & Garlic Everything Spread
twinkle at optonline dot net

Ronalee said...

I would like to try their Pesto

Emi said...

I would like to try the garlic stuffed olives.

blew415 said...

Garlic stuffed olive

Katie said...

The Garlic and Parmesan Everything Spread sound the yummiest to me - I can just envision myself making delicious breadsticks! Or making family movie night AMAZING with the best tasting popcorn in the world!

HS said...

I want to try spicy marinara sauce.

Nancy said...

I'd like to try their CHeese Stuffed Olives and Artichoke Hearts.

Nancy
allibrary (at) aol (dot) com