Unilever Serves Up ‘The Family Dish’

As a way to help families relate to each other better in an increasingly depersonalized technological society, Unilever food brands has developed “The Family Dish…A Recipe for Fun,” an initiative inviting moms to round up family members and get cooking.

The program links inexpensive but tasty recipes using easily available pantry staples; the knowledge and experience of Unilever Consumer Kitchens’ experts; and stories and videos of mom bloggers to encourage families to experience the joys of creating meals together.

Lauren DellaBella and Anna Marie Cesario, co-managers of the Unilever Consumer Test Kitchens, suggest that aspiring family chefs only use computers or smartphones to find recipes and other cooking-related information. “This is [their] chance to simply cook, connect and spend quality time together,” explained DellaBella.

Families who need a hand getting started can visit www.TheFamilyDish.com, which features an exclusive cookbook with simple, family-friendly recipes from the Unilever Consumer Test Kitchens, as well as helpful hints from Englewood Cliffs, N.J.-based Unilever’s famous brands that are supporting the program: Ragu Pasta Sauce, Hellmann’s/Best Foods Mayonnaise, Knorr Pasta and Rice Sides, Skippy Peanut Butter, and Lipton Recipe Secrets.

The initiative’s participating mom bloggers -- Linda Sellers (Short Pump Preppy), Jennifer Leet (The Dirty Shirt), Beth Davis (Plus Size Mommy), Tracy Reinhardt (Crazy Suburban Mom), Liz Latham (Hoosier Homemade), Carol Cain (NYCity Mama), April Atwater (Sweet Life in the Valley), Cheryl Sousan (Tidy Mom), Jennifer Schmidt (Beauty and Bedlam), Jill Ann Berry (Musings from Me), Lisa Douglas (Crazy Adventures in Parenting), and Heather Durdil (Domestic Extraordinaire) -- will contribute video diaries and written posts to The Family Dish Web site.

Additionally, Mom, Dad and the kids could win a Family Culinary Vacation to Orlando, Fla., by entering The Family Dish Contest. Through Aug. 30, entrants can upload a video detailing their own family cooking adventures. The public will vote on 20 semi-finalists’ videos from Sept. 15 through Sept. 30 to choose a winner.

“The Family Dish combines quality products and ingredients with quality time in a way that is fun and affordable for the whole family and, most of all, meaningful,” noted Unilever senior marketing director, center of store Donna Barker. "As people look to do more with less, a well-stocked refrigerator and pantry that include versatile and easy-to-prepare ingredients can help make meals that stretch the family budget without sacrificing taste.”

For more quick tips, recipe ideas and the latest news from the Unilever Consumer Test Kitchens, consumers can follow DellaBella, Cesario and their team on Twitter @KitchenDishin’.