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    “When Dinner Gets Tough” with Ragu (& $20 Visa GC Giveaway Ends 8/26)

    By 870 Comments

    With a newborn at home along with my two little monsters, dinnertime is rough.  I dread 4 o’clock because the kids have just woken up from their naps and I have to start thinking of dinnertime.  I know I should use my crockpot more but I am just not that organized (yet) and I am more of a last minute cooker.

    Ragu has come up with a Facebook Community called “Mom’s The Word on Dinner.”  One video called “When Dinner Gets Tough” hosted by Audrey McCleeland really embodies dinnertime at my house and has some great tips on how to get through dinner with different ages of kids, meals, and schedules.  One mom has the kids play games at the table and another one tells her kids to put ketchup on everything in order for them to eat it!  There are videos, discussions, dinner ideas and more.  There is even a Facebook discussion going on where Ragu wants moms to leave their comments on what they do when dinnertime gets tough in their households!

    VISIT:  Make sure to drop in at Facebook.com/ragusauce to share your stories and questions!

    WIN IT:  (1) US winner will receive a $20 Visa Gift Card to get dinnertime moving at home!

    TO ENTER:  Leave a comment below on what you do when dinnertime gets tough at home!

    (Design of card will vary)

    Extra Entries (Only valid after you answer Main Entry above and Please leave a comment for each):
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    #GIVEAWAY: Win a $20 Visa Gift Card! @mamasmoney (Ends 8/26) http://bit.ly/pTDEcp
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    ~ Enter any of my other giveaways or tell me how you heard about this giveaway!

    Please leave me a comment for EACH entry. This contest ends August 26, 2011. Thanks everyone and good luck! Also, if you just put a generic comment like “I want to Win” then I will have to disqualify you. Once per household/ip adress please.

    Mom and More Disclosure: I participated in a MomSelect campaign with Ragu and received products and a gift card in exchange for posting my review and opinion. Please see my Disclosure Policy.

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    Comments

    1. Yeary says

      Pizza Hut has a deals part on their site. Inspect back frequently as they are regularly putting up new coupons and bargains that could be used both forthcoming and when ordering online.

      Reply

    13. brian e. says

      Thanks for the giveaway…when dinnertime gets tough we turn on some soothing classical music to calm down the kids, then dig into the freezer or pantry to find something to make for dinner.

      senorpiero [at] yahoo [dot] com

      Reply

    45. Joanne Schultz says

      When things get too busy and life interferes with dinner, we usually go out to eat or get take-out.
      Thanks for the giveaway!

      Reply

    51. Nancy says

      When dinnertime gets tough at home, I rely on items I have cooked ahead of time (” planned overs”) or rely on basics like pasta and sauce or a main course salad.

      Reply

    53. ewhatley says

      When dinner gets tough I always have an old faithful ready. A jar of sauce, noodles and garlic bread (frozen).

      Reply

    65. Samantha says

      When the time gets tough, I ask my boyfriend if he can help out. It’s a great bonding time for us to cook together.

      Reply

    128. Diana Russell says

      About once a month I’ll make a few meals and freeze them – then when I don’t feel like making anything – its so easy to pull them out and heat and serve!

      e-mail: lucky02130 (at) gmail (dot) com

      Reply

    153. Kelly says

      I like to have things planned so when something interrupts my dinner plans, I always have the frozen sausage & pancake batter which whips up in less than one minute. good old fasjion dinner!!

      Reply

    169. Katharina says

      When dinnertime gets tough, I pull out some of my favorite “under 30 minute” dishes and know that everything will soon be better. 🙂
      Katharina angelsandmusic[at]gmail[dot]com

      Reply

    171. Jennifer Miller says

      When it comes down to it I have a quick meal that the whole family loves! I take some boneless skinless chicken breasts and hot italian sausage saute them in a pan throw in some minced garlic, chopped onion and chopped green bell peppers and a jar of Ragu Homestyle let it simmer for 10 minutes and then pour it over cooked white rice and serve! I like to top it off with some feta cheese. Delicious!

      Reply

    173. Jenn S. says

      I always keep frozen meatballs and pasta sauce on hand to make something quick like spaghetti and meatballs or my kids favorite- meatball subs.

      Reply

    190. Jill Myrick says

      When dinner gets tough we have either spaghetti , stirfry or breakfast for dinner.

      jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com

      Reply

    217. MelissaO says

      I revert to any one of my old stand by dishes. Always have those staples in the house.

      wolverina401 at gmail dot com

      Reply

    218. Leah Walker says

      Dinner is quite difficult around here frequently because I have a super busy oilfield working hubby and a teenage daughter who has friends and sports to keep her busy. If no one is home, I stop cooking for a while. It makes them realize they haven’t been home enough and ask me to cook. They get tired of eating fast food too. Lol.

      lewalk(at)hotmail(dot)com

      Reply

    219. Mir says

      Always have spaghetti on hand, whip up a sauce using whatever I have (sometimes it is tomato sauce in a jar and sometimes it’s pesto in a jar).

      Reply

    226. Jennifer T. says

      I use Ragu sauce and a premade pizza crust with fresh basil from my garden to make pizza at home.
      jtmagmom73(at)gmail(dot)com

      Reply

    227. Erica C. says

      When I have to work late or we have a lot of errands, we normally have spaghetti. It’s easy to make, cheap, and can feed a lot of people if wee need too!

      Reply

    228. Niko O. says

      When dinner gets tough, we throw a mix together of the random things in our fridge and just have fun with it!

      Reply

    249. Gayle C says

      When dinnertime gets tough, the phone becomes a lifeline. You use it to order pizza!

      chrisdeglen(at)gmail(dot)com

      Reply

    290. Cindy Merrill says

      When dinner gets “tough”, doesn’t go over as well as I hoped, I pop some dessert in the microwave- brownie melts, usually. Then goodwill is restored.

      Reply

    327. Peter S says

      Depends on how tough – out of food tough or only have a little time to make something tough. If we’re out of anything we can prep in a reasonable time, we tend to do take out. If we have something we can throw together quickly it generally involves eggs – breakfast tacos, sandwiches, or even a fritatta.

      Reply

    335. Crystal F says

      We will go with either sandwhiches or cereal on those hard days. Easy meals and not too bad for you. thank you!

      Reply

    371. Cynthia C says

      My go-to meal is usually pasta because it’s so versatile. I can either use Ragu or veggies sauteed in olive oil for a quick, delicious meal.

      Reply

    380. Heather says

      Give everyone a chance to pick an item for the weekly menu. That way everyone is involved in the decision making and will eat what is cooked

      Reply

    391. Suzanne K says

      When dinner gets tough, I cross my fingers and hope that I’ve got something from when I cooked a double batch and froze the second batch… just for nights like this!

      Reply

    405. arista r. says

      When dinner gets tough, the tough get going! Dinner must always be made for my family. Whether its chicken parm, spaghetti and meatballs, hot dogs with marinara pasta, Ragu sauce is a must!

      Reply

    419. Geoff K says

      When dinner gets tough, I go to an old stand-by and everyone’s favorite: breakfast for dinner. For some reason, no one in the family likes a big breakfast, but when I make eggs, bacon, ham, and French Toast for dinner, it’s a huge crowd pleaser. Thanks!

      gkaufmanss at yahoo dot com

      Reply

    421. Kimberly says

      when dinner gets tough at home I usually resort to making spaghetti marinara… it’s so convenient and easy… LOVE RAGU!!!

      Reply

    433. momznite says

      I usually have something in the freezer that can be quickly prepared if getting dinner ready is a problem. Turning off all the electronics helps make dinner time more peaceful.
      momznite_at_yahoo_daught_com

      Reply

    453. Mya Murphy says

      When dinners get tough, I usually just let people choose what they want…lol at the ages of 7 and 8, if my kids don’t like it, they can grab what they want…

      Reply

    457. Lim says

      Depends on my mood. I might do soup/sandwiches or maybe eggs and toast for dinner, or I may just ignore everyone else, cook something I want and just LET everyone complain.

      Reply

    458. Lynda E. says

      I keep Progresso soup stocked up in the pantry. Add a salad and some crusty bread and you have a great dinner.

      Reply

    478. Margaret Smith says

      If time is short, we either do frozen pizza or open cheese sandwiches.
      Thanks so much.
      rickpeggysmith(at)aol(dot)com

      Reply

    479. T. Lawson says

      When dinner gets tough, I turn to one of my quick standby recipes, usually gnocchi with crab in an oil and butter sauce.

      Reply

    484. LAMusing says

      Although I follow your site, I actually found this particular giveaway when I did a search for “Ragu”!

      Reply

    488. SANDY says

      dinner time gets rough with unexpected things..the emergencies or when I get sick- put we do survive its just rough

      Reply

    494. Marie B. says

      I fall back on the basics: sandwiches, scrambled eggs, angel hair pasta, cereal. Whatever is quick and easy that the kids will actually eat.

      Reply

    495. Lindsey M says

      I just try and get as many things prepared in advance as possible so when we’re in a rush we have some quick things to make

      Reply

    511. Amber says

      When dinner gets tough, I enlist the kids to help – they’re my little helpers and usually they do a pretty good job!

      Reply

    513. Rochelle says

      When dinner time gets tough, I either grab a jar of spaghetti sauce and make a dinner of it or order a pizza for delivery :). Thanks!

      Reply

    514. K says

      When dinner gets tough at my house, I don’t give up… I make it work!!! Apologize later if it just can’t be consume.. then get take-out..LOL

      Reply

    515. Amanda says

      I take a few deep breaths and continue. If it still doesn’t go right, I order out.
      magickalblessings26{at}yahoo.com

      Reply

    534. Kitty says

      When things get tough or I’m short on time I will make either Sloppy Joes or Turkey Chili. For the Sloppy Joes I do use a recipe w/Ragu and serve with whole wheat buns.

      Reply

    539. Allison says

      When things get tough at dinnertime, I admit that I pull something out of the freezer that I can quickly heat up without much effort!

      Reply

    551. Alice says

      I always have backups! Tomato sauce, curry bullions, frozen cuisines, ramen noodles. Sometimes it’s just one of those nights..

      yuukiimi(at)gmail(dot)com

      Reply

    565. Annmarie W. says

      When dinnertime gets tough at home, I give each child a chore to do…and I have my hubby pick up my daughter from swim practice so I can get the food on the table. Once we’re all sitting together, we don’t seem to have tough times.

      Reply

    594. nichelle clemons says

      Pizzamania, is the solution for dinner in haste. Carryout, frozen, homemade just depend on how much time and patience I have remaining.

      Reply

    596. nichelle clemons says

      Pizzamania, is the solution. Carryout, frozen, homemade just depend on how much time and patience I have remaining.

      Reply

    624. Katie Morris Crider says

      I turn to fast food if I know dinner time is approaching too quickly and I don’t have the time or energy to cook a meal.

      Reply

    679. Kathy Rambousek says

      When dinner gets tough, I turn to quick and family favorite recipes. Spaghetti and tacos are two of my favorites

      Reply

    690. Tamara B. says

      When dinner gets tuff I can always count on a pasta night. I will make spagetti and meatballs, salad and garlic bread. One meal for sure the whole family will eat and love.
      tamben7996(at)aol(dot)com

      Reply

    706. Linda Stewart says

      Dinner at our house can be utterly ridiculious sometimes. Three little ones ages 4, 2 & 1. They have more energy than any one human should be allowed to have and getting them to sit still for dinner is a nightmare. We have tried several things. Most recently we have started removing their plates from the table when they decide to get up and run around. We then refuse them dessert or a snack later. If they tell us they are hungry after dinner is past then we discuss why they are hungry and offer them a healthy snack such as raisins, bananas, or raw veggies rather than the cookie, brownie, or cupcake they are asking for.

      Reply

    718. Tara F. says

      I enlist the help of my husband, keep easier and quicker but still semi homemade meals on hand, or sometimes we end up ordering out unfortunately.

      Reply

    734. Janet F says

      When dinnertime gets tough I make an easy egg omelet and sliced tomatoe with onion salad.

      janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

      Reply

    740. Raven In A Blue Room says

      following you on twitter @left_the_stars
      I tweeted your giveaway

      pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com

      Reply

    743. Raven In A Blue Room says

      the tip with the ketchup for everything works wonder for me too, when it gets really rough I sometimes bribe them with an extra treat when they ate up

      Thank you for hosting this giveaway

      Louis
      pumuckler {at} gmail {dot} com

      Reply

    762. Mandy says

      In my house, everybody has different schedules, so if you aren’t available to eat when dinner is ready, you can expect your food to be found in the microwave for you to eat later.

      aandj8804[at]gmail.com

      Reply

    793. sus says

      Usually order a pizza or actually make spaghetti (plus enough for left overs the next day)
      tnxns09 at gmail dot com

      Reply

    814. Velvet says

      When dinner gets tough I always make spaghetti with ragu my favorite sauce simple and easy and tastes great!!

      Reply

    819. vickie couturier says

      i try to keep something in the freezer for a quick meal when things get tough,,,I thaw it quick in the microwave,an then in the oven,,an within 30 min dinner is served

      VLBELK(AT)HOTMAIL.COM

      Reply

    829. Selene says

      I’ll quickly defrost some cooked chicken cubes, and throw together defrosted broccoli, topped with chicken, covered with mix of cream soup, 1/3 cup milk,& dash of hot sauce. Top this with 1/2 cup of cheese and bake at 450 degrees for 15 minutes. While baking, put a salad together of veggies or fruit and open a can of some vegetable.

      Reply

    840. Margie says

      When we fire up the grill, we do several meats at the same time. When dinner time is short or busy, I just take some of this cooked meat from the freezer and add sides.

      Reply

    856. Susan Bryant says

      When the going gets tough at dinnertime, I whip up something quick for dinner or get creative with leftovers!

      Reply

    857. Jessica says

      Honestly? Right now when things get tough…I order in…but that’s only because we’re expecting our first this February…I’m sure once the bean arrives, things will change.

      Reply

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