Recently they asked me to have a small dinner party with some of the phenomenal women in my life, where we could sample Lean Cuisine and just plain have fun together. So I invited my mother, my mother-in-law, and two of my best friends over to my house for dinner on Saturday. We started with veggies and dip and some homemade salsa and tortilla chips, and we just started chatting.
As usual when women are all together, the topic of conversation became “what is wrong with the world and how we could all solve it if everybody else would ask for our advice.” And together we solved a lot of problems in the world! Unfortunately no one asked for our advice. Darn.
But what all of these women have in common is that we all have dedicated a lot of our lives to helping others who need help. We’re all caregivers.
My mother-in-law cares for her 90-year-old neighbour who is without family. She has spent countless hours in emergency rooms, in doctors’ offices, arguing with community health to get her more help, arguing with the hearing aid people, the housekeepers, and the pharmacies. She’s been an advocate for this poor woman, and it’s exhausting.
My mother has spent countless hours and days and weeks and months collecting items to be donated to a children’s home we support in Kenya–and she’s been there herself 8 times. She’s sacrificed the majority of her house as a depot for collecting stuff.
Another friend has been deeply involved in caring for children that desperately need help, and having some in her home, suffice it to say that she has gone above and beyond, and sacrificed so much it astounds me. And she does make a difference, even if she doesn’t always see it. And then another friend has carried the load of caring for her kids as her husband has spent a lot of his career working out of town during the week. She has helped many down and out find jobs, and has counseled people to be able to keep those jobs. And she is the first person that I would go to if I were in a jam. She’s one of the most generous people I know.
So there we all were, talking and laughing and solving the world’s problems. And what struck me is how much all of us want to make the world a better place.
Sometimes, though, that wanting to make the world a better place means that you’re forever running here and there on a moment’s notice. An emergency doctor’s appointment. A meeting you have to speak at. A friend needs help. And that’s where frozen meals can actually be a godsend.
I love cooking. Making dinner is one of my favourite activities. That time from 5-6 p.m. when I chop garlic and sauté veggies and scour cookbooks is one of the most peaceful and grounding hours of my day. It’s sacred to me. When my kids were younger, they knew to leave me alone then because I needed that time.
But even so, I always have a collection of meals in my freezer for those nights when I just don’t have time to cook, even if I wanted to, and I don’t want to resort to phoning for pizza. My friend Lisa and my mom both talked about how they often used Lean Cuisine when they were working and didn’t have time to make a lunch.
And then we sampled all five!
Lean Cuisine has four different lines of products:
- Marketplace – For times when women seek modern foods and chef-inspired offerings
- Craveables – Includes indulgent, casual food you would find at a neighborhood bar, such as pizza and sandwiches, and features many items that are high in protein
- Comfort – Perfect when only comforting, home-cooked flavors will satisfy
- Favorites – Includes enduring “favorite recipes” such as Spaghetti with Meatballs and other popular, existing recipes
We were asked to sample four specifically from the Marketplace collection:
- Pomegranate Chicken
- This dish is high-protein, gluten free and includes no preservatives – it also includes 15% daily value of vitamin C
- Vermont White Cheddar Mac & Cheese
- This dish is made with pasta, organic butter and no GMOs
- Sweet and Spicy Korean-Style Beef
- This dish is high protein, gluten free and includes no preservatives – it also packs 15g of protein for lots of energy
- Spicy Beef and Bean Enchilada
- This dish is made using ingredients that are naturally gluten-free and no preservatives
And then I added another one just for fun, so we had five dishes! We threw in a Sweet & Sour Chicken, too. Many of Lean Cuisine’s new products are gluten free, and they’re really focusing on people’s unique eating challenges while still trying to make food that’s tasty.
We all decided that the beef dish was our favourite, although we liked all of them. I preferred the chicken dishes; others preferred the pasta. But they really were all quite yummy.
We got them all ready in the kitchen and then moved into the dining room to keep talking.
It was honestly the easiest dinner party I ever had–I just cut up veggies, made some dip, and then heated up Lean Cuisine! And everyone agreed it was super fun. Of course, the chocolate cake and tea for dessert didn’t hurt either.
One of the best parts: I didn’t even clean up before they all came over. I mean, they’re all practically family (and some are family!). They know what my house looks like normally anyway. So just come over and we’ll chat and eat food! Super fun.
It reminded me of three things:
- All of us are busy and are carrying so many concerns on our shoulders. We really need to pray for each other and make time just to chat more and keep up with each other’s lives. We all need the support.
- We women have a lot of fun when we get together. We should do it more often!
- Having people over doesn’t have to be a lot of work.
Here is the Lean Cuisine product locator so that you can see where exactly they sell these specific dishes in your area!
You can also connect with Lean Cuisine on Facebook and Twitter.
So tell me: Who are the phenomenal women in your life? Leave a comment for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card from Lean Cuisine, thanks to SheKnows!
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The phenomenal women in my life include my Mom and Mother In Law, along with 4 great prayer friends. I love the wisdom and laughter we share together. It is great to be known and to know others!
My godmother was a phenomenal lady (she has since passed away). She was a wonderful mother, grandmother, wife, and friend.
tweet–https://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/658639326910291968
My best friend our pastor’s wife and other church friends are always so encouraging.
You all look like you are having such a good time together. Your food looks amazing! I love the new Lean Cuisines! They are so delicious! My phenomenal women in my life is my 3 sisters! We do everything together and have so much fun when we are together! They are my best friends for helping me get through so many tough things.
tweet-https://twitter.com/JewelWood/status/658643882238849025
2 Phenomenal women in my life: Carmen Streete and Barbara King; these 2 come to mind immediately because when I speak with them I feel like the most important person in the world. But I’m also bless to have a host of others in my life.
My mom and two of my best friends, Julie and Tiffany.
Tweeted about it: https://twitter.com/LindseyMBell/status/658697684027645952
My mom, my two sisters, and several co-workers… their ability to persevere and demonstrate faith and love despite their circumstances is inspiring to me. This post is timely… I’m so busy finishing up the garden harvest, canning/freezing/dehydrating that sometimes I don’t make time to cook – too busy outside taking advantage of the limited late afternoon light! So, my quest for our family to eat better, healthier foods grown at home…means sometimes DH ends up throwing in a frozen pizza or DD makes boxed mac & cheese, because Mom is outside with her hands dirty, and the rest of the family are *starving*…. Now to convince DH that it’s worth it to buy more expensive ‘convenience foods’… 🙂
Prayer partners and my mom.
My Mom, MIL, SIL, Sister and grandmas 🙂 Of course I have some great friends too 🙂
https://twitter.com/MotherHenx5/status/658705495331467265
My mom is the most phenomenal woman in my life because she has sacrificed so much for me and did an excellent job of raising both me and my brother as a single mom.
https://twitter.com/yarbr012/status/658712892183711744
Phenomenal women in my life include my best friend and another close friend that live 20 minutes away. It would also include a couple ladies of my church who have taken the time to help me with my daughter and blessed my life in amazing ways in the past 9 years. It would be a total blessing to be able to do something for them!
Some of the phenomenal women in my life: my mom. my mother-in-law, Barb, Cheryl, and Lisa. : )
My grandmother and mother are the phenomenal women in my life.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com
tweet-https://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/658865375145148416
My sister mother in law and my own mother !
I have so many wonderful women in my life,but I will name my best friends, Susan and Lisa.
HA HA HA HA HA HA! My friends in the pictures at the dinner were Susan and Lisa, too. 🙂
I would like to say that it is my godmother and mom
tweeted – https://twitter.com/sandyhills25/status/659469564904759296
The phenomenal women in my life include my lifelong friends Amy and Jayne and my life coach Shannon.
Of course, my mom, ? but also my friend Samantha who is stronger than she realizes. ?
My mom is the most amazing woman I know. She has always demonstrated a servant’s heart and even though she now struggles daily with RA, she still goes out of her way to help with several ministries in her church, at a clothing bank on Saturdays, and serves as a “safety net” for any need a member of her family/extended family might have. She drops everything at a moment’s notice to help someone else. She has always been an amazing example of Christian living & giving for myself and my siblings–and continues to do so for the next generation as well.
I adore my momma! She’s so hard-working, loves me deeply, and loves God even more. She’s a strong, phenomenal woman!
My grandmother who passed away at age 91 in 1999, was a widow for over 50 years. She never even went to college, but was savvy about politics, economics, world events, and so much more! She ran her own business into her late 70’s, and, having successfully insured her own future, traveled (alone – with group tours) around the world (including to China, Japan, several countries in Europe, and across the U.S.), making many new friends. She quietly witnessed for her faith just in her daily living. I admire her so much for her strength and her wisdom.
My phenomenal friend is Carol. Love your blog.
My Mother and my sister in law are two fantastic women in my life..I consider them both to be my best friends.
The phenomenal women in my life are my mother and my best friend. They are strong, brave and kind and I admire them very much.
My 96 year old Aunt is so amazing. She was a nurse in WWII, a college professor and traveled all over the world. Thanks so much.
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/peg42/status/662076368591695873
Thanks again
My Aunt and my mo are the phenomenal woman in my life! With my aunt even after a stroke that left her partially paralyzed it did not get her down!
I tweeted
https://twitter.com/my4boysand1/status/662269473756434432
My mom, grandmothers and Great Grandma. My mom and grandmothers work (worked) so hard and my great grandmother had a beautiful spirit. She was the kindest person I know.
the phenomenal women in my life have been some wonderful Christian, Titus 2 women who God has brought into my life over the past 20 years. Right now it is Janine and Bonnie and Juliet. But there have been many others over the years to help me walk through this journey that God has called me on. These women are amazing mentors that have sacrificed much to meet with me. We have laughed and cried together as they have challenged me to become the Woman of God that I am today. I can honestly say that if it were not for these women I would have left my marriage long ago! To God be the Glory!
Carrie
My mom is my phenomenal woman! She’s a breast cancer survivor and loves her family with everything she has!
https://mobile.twitter.com/kytah00/status/662737478948814848
All the ladies that run in our bloodline… My family!
The 3 women in my life… My momma, my sister and my women!
2nd entry https://mobile.twitter.com/Esham4life/status/662771458507210752
The phenomenal woman in my life is my sister-in-law who is a breast cancer survivor.
My mother in law is amazing. We cook together and watch old movies together.
https://mobile.twitter.com/michael64263870/status/663165500025905152
My 93 years old grandma is my phenomenal woman
https://twitter.com/ElenaIstomina/status/664242117074513920
my mom, my mother in law and my daughter are all phenomenal women
My mom is a phenomenal woman in my life. She raise me to be the decent and independent woman that I am today!
Thanks for the chance to win!
wildorchid985 AT gmail DOT com
tweet–https://twitter.com/WildOrchid985/status/664504070888140801
My mom and grandmothers! My grandmothers are no longer living – but they had a phenomenal impact on my life!
tweeted: https://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/664532515944812545
My mom is the phenomenal women in my life, she always thinks of others and is very optimistic.
tweet
https://twitter.com/Kellydpa/status/664629654377115648
I vote for my mom-in-law. She just turned 79 and has survived cancer twice. Pretty phenomenal.
I tweeted here: https://twitter.com/MsTofuFairy/status/664809839193903105
My Mom and Grandmother(who has passed) are the most phenomenal in my life. Both very caring and strong Women.
cshell090869 at aol dot com
tweeted
https://twitter.com/cshell202/status/665097327648993280
cshell090869 at aol dot com
My mother and 2 sisters and my grown daughters are my support system and I am lucky to have them.
One of my best and long time friends is a hospice nurse. The work she does inspires me to appreciate life and not take a single day for granted. She is a phenomenal woman in my life.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/eswright18/status/665360464042311681
My Mom and my MIL are both phenomenal women. They are caring and so supportive.
https://twitter.com/susan1215/status/665372785737265152
My mom is the phenomenal woman in my life
tweet
https://twitter.com/aes529/status/665527625423695872
i posted a tweet here:
https://twitter.com/bellows22/status/665533302871212032
One of the most phenomenal women is a leader in our church. She always tells that she’s “doing phenomenal”. It’s her philosophy!
Tweeted: https://twitter.com/pixel_berry_pie/status/665751887778451456
My sister is the most phenomenal woman in my life. She has gone through so much but has never complained. She has been an inspiration to all of us.
my mother is a great person and friend.
tweet-https://twitter.com/LuLu_Brown24/status/665891183017656321
My mom and my wife are the most phenomenal women in my life.
tweeted https://twitter.com/iamdadtastic/status/665923513350406147
My mom is the phenomenal woman in my life.
tweeted
https://twitter.com/thomasmurphy40/status/665963559654936577
The phenomenal women in my life are my daughter, mom, stepmom, mother-in-law, sisters-in-law and my best girlfriends!
I shared on Twitter: https://twitter.com/seabattle2/status/665973769891106817
My mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, and daughter are the most phenomenal women in my life. I am constantly learning about life from them.
My mom because she always helps me and is awesome
I sent out a tweet: https://twitter.com/electricstar/status/666075883615092737
Tweeted-https://twitter.com/birdiebee52/status/666142934224474112
All of the women in my family are phenomenal as they are very strong, independent women.