Food Archives - Page 10 of 31 - mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents

Keep Rolllin’ with Easy Lunch Box Sushi

July 27, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 6 Comments

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Weave Made Media®, and Hillshire Farm®, but all my opinions are my own. #weavemade #HillshireNaturals http://my-disclosur.es/RgFrEH.

I’d like to say that there was a time in the day where things slowed down, but they don’t.

The morning is a mad dash to the first of many destinations. Lunch often doesn’t even get a moment to be recognized except when you hear my stomach. And dinner is the brief moment between getting home, homework and getting back to unfinished work.

So any meal that doesn’t require more than five minutes and is healthy to eat, is a win-win in my book – whether it’s for the kids or for me!

Thankfully, Hillshire Farm is taking time for the important things like choosing the best farms and the best cuts of meat, to make natural lunch meats that are 100% natural and even better, 100% guaranteed you’re gonna like ’em!

We can take down a container of Hillshire Farm in just one sitting at any meal of the day, but I don’t feel bad because it’s it’s free of artificial ingredients, colors, preservatives, gluten and 97% fat free.

Save $0.75 on any ONE (1) Hillshire Farm Naturals® Black Forest Ham or Honey Roasted Ham with this digital coupon available through the Just4U online portal. *** Expires 8/9/15. (While Supplies Last)

However, wanting to change it up a bit, we made a way to make a quick, fun, easy and “creative” way to put a few vegetables into the mix with this lunch box sushi made with Hillshire Farm Naturals Ham I found at Tom Thumb.

By taking items always found in the fridge, like our favorite Hillshire Farm Honey Roasted Ham, carrots, spinach, string cheese and white bread, I made up a meal that’s paired perfect with fresh fruit or a snack that can be eaten with my fingers while still working on the hustle and bustle of the day like in the car or on the computer!

Finally you have something that keeps you rollin’ all day and even mix up with other items like eggs, Hillshire Farm ham and cheese for breakfast! And finally there’s also a lunch meat that taste good, is good for you and best of all is good for your budget!

Don’t you ❤️ it when you find your favorite healthy go-to AND its on sale? #HillshireNaturals #WeaveMade #ad

A photo posted by MamaChallenge.com | Autumn Reo (@autumnreo) on Jul 19, 2015 at 4:48pm PDT

And Hillshire Farm® goes one step further with a “Love It or We’ll Eat It” Guarantee to try the new Hillshire Farm Naturals. If you love it, they’ll donate a meal to someone in need and if you don’t, you get your money back! It’s that easy!

If you want another idea for a great way to enjoy Hillshire Farm Naturals for dinner, check out this easy Chicken Cordon Bleu recipe the whole family will love and you’ll love that it’s on the table in under 30 minutes!

Go Burgers, Go BBQ, Go Hickory

July 2, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 16 Comments

Without a doubt, when people come to visit Dallas, I am always asked “where do you go for good BBQ?”

In Texas, that’s a loaded question. There are many options, but if you throw in an Iron Chef, you know it’s gonna be good. But when you stack on a pile of burgers, craft cocktails and a cool patio at an upscale Texas roadhouse, then you got the ideal recipe for a killer BBQ joint. And did I mention a plate of pork done three ways? Yes, that just made it even better.

Appropriately coined Hickory, Chef Kent Rathbun has created the perfect pairing of burgers and bbq in a 6,500 square foot space on the Tollway in Plano. For those who can’t make up their mind what they are in the mood for (much like myself), I recently enjoyed the opportunity to sample several items from the menu at Hickory with Chef. Having him give the back story on the backbone of each dish gave a new level to each bite as well as the chance to try dishes I would have never ordered on my own.

Sides were pretty dang tasty too with comfort favorites with that funky twist you come to expect from any of Chef Rathbun’s concepts. With Granny Smith apple coleslaw, burnt end baked beans, salted baked potato salad, buttermilk onion rings, and waffle-cut Maytag blue cheese fries. And don’t worry, there’s a big plate of mac n cheese for you made in the skillet, so you know it’s good and hot. While I don’t care much for pickles, don’t miss your chance to crunch into any of the bread and butter or spicy dills…After snacking on these crispy-made cucumbers gone ripe, I may rethink my pickle problems.

As much as I enjoyed the meal, the real stand out for me as a beet and goat cheese salad. That’s right…until tonight I didn’t eat beets either, but when I took that first bite, the combination of beets and basil with the tanginess of goat cheese is exactly what summer is supposed to taste like. (And lucky for us, Chef Rathbun shares his recipe for this summer salad!)

Hickory’s Beet and Goat Cheese Salad by Chef Kent Rathbun

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

FOR THE DRESSING

½ cup buttermilk
½ cup sour cream
1 each lemon, juiced and zested
2 teaspoons cracked black pepper

FOR THE BEET OIL

2 ounces red beets, peeled
4 ounces olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt

FOR THE BASIL OIL

8 each basil leaves
8 each spinach leaves, washed
4 ounces olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt

FOR THE SALAD

4 pounds assorted baby beets, washed, roasted,
peeled and quartered
4 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon kosher salt
6 ounces lemon buttermilk dressing , see recipe
12 ounces creamy goat cheese, crumbled
2 tablespoons purple micro basil,
4 ounces watercress, washed and dried
2 ounces beet oil, see recipe
2 ounces basil oil, see recipe

Instructions

FOR THE DRESSING:

In a mixing bowl mix buttermilk, sour cream, lemon juice, lemon zest and cracked black pepper. Set aside.

FOR THE BEET OIL:

In a blender, blend together beets, olive oil and kosher salt until smooth. Store in squeeze bottle.

FOR THE BASIL OIL:

In a blender, blend together basil leaves, spinach leaves, olive oil and kosher salt until smooth.

FOR THE SALAD:

In a mixing bowl mix assorted beets with olive oil and kosher salt and set aside.
Arrange the beets evenly on 8 salad plates. Using a spoon, drizzle the buttermilk dressing over the beets and around the plate.
Cut 1 1 1/2 ounce wheel of the herbed goat cheese log. Place in the center of the plate and garnish with purple micro basil.
In a small mixing bowl dress the watercress with a small amount of beet oil and basil oil.
Sprinkle the top of the salad with the watercress.
Finish the salad by garnishing the plates with small drops of beet and basil oil around the salad on the plate.
Serve.

While you won’t have room for dessert, but if you insist on finishing your meal with a sweet treat, you’ll have several unique options to let your taste buds roll in like the banana lemon tart and skillet cobbler. And white you enjoy every last morsel, you can all discuss how what you’ll eat the next time you need Hickory.

Hickory
8100 Dallas Parkway
Plano, Texas
website

Perfect Recipes for Summer Sandwiches

June 22, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 30 Comments

Sandwiches were meant for summers.

While everyone has their favorite, the recipe for a perfect sandwich isn’t complicated. You just don’t need to have tons of ingredients or complicated processes…unless you want to.

What it really comes down to make the perfect summer sandwiches is the breads, the spreads and whatever stuff you want in between!

Breads

I love sandwiches because they give bread the opportunity to show off. But not all breads are made the same and choosing the right bread for your sandwich is imperative to create the perfect summer sandwich. If you have a sandwich with lots of heavy ingredients or ones with lots of produce (and moisture), you need a bread that is very crusty, meaty and can stand up to a BIG sandwich like a sourdough. However, sometimes you need more of bun than a loaf to handle the job, so you’ll want a kaiser roll. But sometimes it’s not the bread at all, but actually a wrap or flatbread that makes the best way to get that mass of goodness between your fingers into your mouth. I’m a huge fan of the bagel things, English muffins and even tortillas roll it up all the best.

Best breads for sandwiches:

Ciabatta
Sourdough
Foccacia
Baguettes
Whole Grains
Flatbreads

Spreads

My grandpa (Lord bless him) made the best sandwiches ever. What made them so amazing? I will never know especially since his ingredients weren’t anything different than turkey, wheat bread, cheese, lettuce, and tomato. However, what he did do was to make sure the mayonnaise or mustard always made it to the edges of the bread. This technique ensured each was as good as the rest.

And that’s what you want to do for your sandwich. Whether it’s a condiment out of a squeezable bottle or something a little fancier, you want to use just the right amount for the perfect summer sandwich and spread it just right. For me and for many, pesto makes everything better. Using a few fresh ingredients including the very seasonal basil, you can make a sandwich go from whoa to WOW with a small slather. While there are all kinds of different pesto varieties you can make (I’m a huge fan of cilantro pesto), all you really need is a little food processor to make a spread to use on your sandwich and later to spread on anything from poultry to produce (and everything in between.)

My go-to-recipe for pesto can be prepared in just a few minutes!

Perfect Basil Pesto

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups fresh basil, packed
4 cups pine nuts
2 garlic cloves
4 cups grated parmesan
1/8 cup
kosher salt and pepper

Instructions

Combine all the ingredients except the EVOO in a blender, mixer, etc. and blend on low until combined.
Slowly add the EVOO and blend until fully mixed.
Pesto will last one week in the fridge or 4-5 months in the fridge (use in ice cube trays for easy and quick use!)
Also great as gifts!

Here are some of the best pesto-perfect recipes!

Follow Autumn {mamachallenge.com}’s board Perfect Pesto Recipes on Pinterest.

The Stuff in Between

Anything can go into a sandwich. The summer provides ideal sandwich ingredients like tomatoes, several varieties of lettuce, and cherries? Well you probably haven’t had too many cherries in your sandwich, but the idea is that you need to rethink your sandwich ingredients. While I love a turkey sandwich, sometimes thinking outside of the bread for some really great ways to enjoy some of the season’s best bounty in a whole new way. For me a dessert sandwich was an innovative pairing especially with tart cherries, thinly sliced ham, creamy muenster cheese and the crunch of this rosemary garlic bread crusty bread. Sometimes I’ve even added a little-grilled romaine for another layer of crunch and earthy greens.

While I love simmering cherries with bourbon for a sweet (and southern-like) treat, sometimes you just don’t have the time. So use preserves from the fridge or in my case, I put those gifted jams to work that didn’t seem like the right fit for toast, but uniquely curated with the right bread, cheese and other goodies, make a sandwich that’s out of this world. I used this sour cherry jam (affiliate) from Stonewall Kitchen and it tasted good on this sandwich as well as these gluten-free black forest brownies.

So what do you think makes the best sandwich?

Corner Bakery Cafe is rolling out new breakfast, lunch, and dinner flatbread sandwiches, bursting with fresh ingredients and available nationwide. Designed to power guests through the morning, Breakfast Power Flats include options such as the Avocado & Spinach, Applewood Smoked Bacon and the new Ham & Spinach. New to the lunch and dinner menu are Grilled Flats: Southwest Chicken, Chicken Caesar, Caprese with fresh mozzarella and BBQ Pork – all under 330 calories.

Get excited! Corner Bakery Cafe unveils new flatbreads under 350 calories! #unflatevent

Posted by Mama Challenge on Thursday, June 18, 2015

More sandwich ideas? Check out what Chef Tim Love and I made with bagels!

Summer Perfect Grilled Peach and Prosciutto Salad

May 25, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 27 Comments

Bite into the perfect summer salad with this grilled peach and prosciutto salad.

An avid grocery store fan, I probably go 3-5 times a week. Not just because I don’t always meal plan well and have to pick up a few last-minute items, but because I simply enjoy it – at least most the time.

However, Market Street is one my favorites. I even drive about 15 minutes out of my way because the experience itself is so enjoyable. From the moment you enter the doors, you receive smiles from the staff, opportunities to enjoy the food, you casually fill your cart and then when you finally resolve it’s time to leave, there’s never a long wait to check out AND someone insists to take out your bags. That’s the way it’s always been when it started as United many years ago in West Texas. When I was growing up that was the only grocery store we knew of and that’s what they did then and now. That’s sweet, right?

Just like summer time.

And you know what else is sweet?

Sugar Tree by Kingsburg Orchards at Market Street. The fruits are the exclusive, non-GMO plant breeding program that offers the most unique and exciting fruits available through cross-pollination using bees. From peaches, nectarines, and more, Sugar Tree got me thinking about all kinds of ways to taste summer… through the flesh of a juicy fruit.

I knew that I wanted to try the succulent peach in a recipe that allows it to shine – as the entrée. However, after an incidental run-in with a friend that also owns a few restaurants, I remembered a recipe she used to make on TV that always made me thirst for summertime with grilled peaches. But with my own twist that’s always a crowd pleaser…bacon.

Well, actually better than bacon…prosciutto.

Taking inspiration from my Italian vacation a few years ago, I wrapped the sweet fruit in prosciutto and then paired with spice of red onion, creamy bleu cheese and a little champagne balsamic for a summer dish you’ll crave on the hottest summer days for this grilled peach and prosciutto salad

Grilled Peach and Prosciutto Salad

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

2 cups of Arugula or mixed greens
1 Sugar Tree peach, sliced
3–5 slices prosciutto
1–2 ounces bleu cheese, crumbled (I prefer to crumble my own)
1/4 red onion, sliced thinly
1 tablespoon balsamic dressing

Instructions

First, over high heat on a grill or a stove-top grill (this is what I use), cook peaches until you see grill marks (2 minutes.)
After peaches are slightly cooled, wrap peaches with prosciutto.
Next place greens over a bowl/plate, next a few red onion rings and then crumble bleu cheese.
Then place wrapped peaches over greens.
Lastly, add balsamic dressing or glaze to taste.

Celebrate Mother’s Day with a Night Out

May 7, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 16 Comments

I participated in an Influencer Activation on behalf of Influence Central for Calvin Klein. I received product samples to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation. #IC #euphoria4moms

I don’t intentionally mean not to make time for date night, it just happens. We’ll it actually doesn’t happen and that’s the problem.

We both know that it’s important to spend time together away from the kids to concentrate on celebrating parts of our marriage. But it seems so counterintuitive that the thing that is supposed to be a treat – something to look forward to that doesn’t require me to cook, clean or work, but instead have a good time, shouldn’t be so much work to make it happen. Finding the time, a babysitter, what to wear, what to do, where to go, and making sure things are good for the kids, etc. is a lot to coordinate and that’s just to get out the door. But I made a commitment that this time we wouldn’t let it just pass by on the calendar, we would go, experience something new, put on some and do it when we never go out – a weekday.

With Mother’s Day just around the corner, we would celebrate with a night on the town to FINALLY go to one of the “bucket list” restaurants we had been eyeing, Clark Food & Wood Co. And I would make it a point to dress up, wear something new, instead of something I had owned for years, and feel good about myself – you know, like you would have done when you first started dating and a date was a really big deal.

Ironically, when I went to look for a dress at, I was surrounded by young girls, having their makeup done, their hair done and beautiful dresses…it was prom season and I was smack dab in the middle of the beauty portion. However, it kinda added to my preparation period to and now I also wanted to make our night memorable, too. While our evening didn’t call for sequins, I wanted something when I slipped it on it made me feel alluring, sexy and make my husband drool – just a little. A few sprays of euphoria Calvin Klein, with its exotic florals and hints of mahogany wood, was exactly the right touch to make this day the “every day special occasion.”

The night at Clark Food and Wine Co. on Lower Greenville was ideal with the perfect patio temperature to enjoy eating outdoors and taking our time to exploring the menu that’s designed for sharing. Starting with craft cocktails including roasted bone marrow with truffle, grilled Texas Bobwhite quail, and a mind-blowing charcuterie with a rabbit and pork pate that I couldn’t stop eating and a buttermilk bleu cheese with honeycomb combo that could be dessert within itself.

We tried things we don’t normally eat and best of all, there were even options for those are gluten-sensitive so we didn’t have to make big exceptions to the dining experience. Kinda like a song, the evening was right, the food was right and the delicious Sangiovese we enjoyed down to the last drop made the night one for the books. While we bit into the bites of housemade picked and caper berries, we actually had the opportunity to talk about things that weren’t work or kid related, but us – the ones we met when we first met and decided to create a family together.

[Tweet “Celebrate #MothersDay w/ a Night Out! @Dillards, @clarkfoodwineco & #euphoria4moms #IC #ad”]

While I’ll love the Mother’s Day cards the kids will give me on Sunday with the breakfast of Pop Tarts they’ll make, this Mother’s Day it was nice to celebrate a night out with the other part of me that made me a mother…my husband.

Make your Mother’s Day mean more when euphoria Calvin Klein. Now through Mother’s Day, purchase a large spray from the euphoria Calvin Klein fragrance collection at and receive a complimentary live orchid.

Mother’s Day Gift Ideas for Foodies

May 4, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 26 Comments

Have you ever gotten something for Mother’s Day that was a nice gift, but didn’t exactly make you jump for joy when it came as a gift that supposed to show love and appreciate for all you do? Although a vacuum or a new washer and dryer are items you might need, sometimes you just want something you like, right?

For a foodie mama, I have a few ideas for you to send to your husband with an email that says “I want this” or buy for yourself and let your family know “this is my Mother’s Day gift.”

Personalized Wine Glasses and Cutting Board Set
I love this gift set I actually got this gift for MY mama (shh!) This beautiful set includes four personalized wine glasses and a beautiful bamboo cutting board, also personalized. With several design options for the cutting board and wine glass design, you can create a classy set she’ll be happy to use!

Dinner and a Movie of the Month Club
Every month Mom gets a gourmet pasta dinner you can prepare for her in just minutes along with a Redbox movie card so you can have family movie night!

Breakfast of the Month Club
Make Mom smile each month with breakfast in bed! She’ll get a different gourmet breakfast you can prepare in no time!

Variety of the Month Club
Can’t figure out which one works best for mom? Combine any of the 38 different gourmet gift of the month clubs into one that’s customized just for Mom! Wine, Cheese, Olive Oil, Chocolate, BACON- the possibilities are endless.

Still looking for the perfect gift for Mother’s Day?

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Elotes from R Bar & Grill

May 4, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo Leave a Comment

Margaritas make the short list from one of my favoritest things EVER.

Second to that is tacos.

But what else makes up the perfect Mexican meal?

Besides rice and beans, most people don’t think Mexican food has any other side options. However, if you’ve eaten corn in a cup or more fondly referred to elotes, you know that corn added with a couple of key ingredients makes the closest thing to a pot of gold that I know of. Golden goodness.

I recently discovered R Bar & Grill just around the corner from my house and can’t believe what I’ve been missing. While my experience found so many new favorites, the elotes had me reeling. So much so that I asked to meet the Chef Marcelo Vasquez to tell him how good they were. And then he said “these are so easy that anyone can do it.”

Then he gave me the recipe. And I’m giving it to you. That’s what you get when you talk to a blogger, right?

Elotes from R Bar & Grill

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

6 ounces fresh chared corn
2 ounces heavy cream
1.5 ounces cotija cheese
salt and pepper to taste
1/2 fresh lime

Instructions

In a sauteed pan place the corn and heavy cream over medium flame and let it heat well.
Add the cotija cheese and melted the cheese slowly.
Put the half of fresh lime and grilled both sides. Place all the corn mix in a serving bowl and place the lime on top as garnish..

R Bar is also hosting a Mother’s Day four-course special! Celebrate the special woman in your life by treating her to an unforgettable meal at R Bar & Grill on Mother’s Day. R Bar & Grill offers guests a set menu including an appetizer, choice of soup or salad, two entrée options and a decadent amaretto crepe for dessert to top off this special day.

Mother’s Day Menu

Appetizer
Scallops Tamales with Corn & Basil Puree, Chili Oil
Salad or Soup
Garden Mix Greens with Pickle Onions, Blue Cheese Crostini
Roasted Sweet Potatoes
Honey & whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette

Parmesan & Lentil with Jimmy’s Sausage & Fried Croutons

Entrees
Texas Surf & Turf
Slow Braised Short Rib and Roasted Lobster Tail
Wild Mushroom Beer Sauce & Garlic Clarified Butter
Jalapeno Cheddar Au Gratin & Green Beans with Fried Shallots

Grilled Beef Tenderloin and Shrimp
Red Wine Vegetable Glaze & Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
Jalapeno Cheddar Au Gratin & Green Bean with Fried Shallots

Dessert
Amaretto Crepes Filled with Caramel and Wild Berries with Vanilla Ice Cream

This four-Course Dinner option is available for $48.00 per person and will be served from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Reservations to dine are recommended and can be made by calling the restaurant at 817.640.4711.

About R Bar & Grill

Located at Hilton Arlington at 2401 E Lamar Blvd, R Bar is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. – 2a.m. on Friday and Saturday. For reservations and more information, please call 817-640-3322 or visit www.rbarandgrilltx.com.

Lunch Box Inspiration: Kid Friendly Dinner Ideas You Want to Eat

April 28, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 28 Comments

While there’s nothing wrong with chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese, after about the third night in a row I’m over it, way over it.

We’ve all had that moment when you can’t stomach the idea of eating junk food and the kids won’t even consider anything beyond the three food groups of french fries, noodles and sugar, but I’ve learned there is a compromise.

So take out the lunch box, we’re making dinner.

That’s right, we’re using the same items you use to make your child’s lunch box to inspire you to make kid friendly dinner ideas you’ll not only like, but will actually elevate your kids’ palate and make yours pretty happy, too. And you gotta love that you’re being frugal by using ingredients you already have in your house.

Yep, I’m showing you how to make dinner with items from your kids lunch box. It’s dual-use foods they already love recreated in a whole new way and they can even help you make them.

Use Pretzels to create Pretzel Crusted Tilapia (or chicken):

This recipe is a keeper because it only uses two ingredients AND you can really use it on any fish or chicken.

2-4 fish filets
1/2 cup mayonnaise (or you could use 1/2 cup greek yogurt)
1 cup pretzels, crushed

Spread mayonnaise on each filet, covering both sides. Then dredge the fish with the crushed pretzels. Lay in a greased or foil-lined pan and cook at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Use Ham and Cheese to create Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu:

One of my favorites is chicken cordon bleu, however, don’t tell your kids that’s what you’re making and you’ll probably get them to eat it more than using the fancy name. “Chicken Roll ups” are made almost once a week at our house.

2-3 chicken breast, pounded thinly (what a great way to get some stress out from your day as well)
9 slices of thinly sliced ham
6 slices of cheese (swiss or havarti work best)
Parmesan cheese or bread crumbs

Use Applesauce to create a Dressing for Salad (or pork chops):

Put your GoGo squeeZ to work for you. I love using applesauce for many things including this delicious and easy apple dijon dressing that tastes good on your greens for a great salad OR using as as sauce for grilled pork chops or even with those Chicken Cordon Bleus.

Click for this easy recipe from MamaChallenge.com.

Use Juice for a Delicious Stir-fry:

Take that apple juice to a whole new level by using it to marinate your chicken, steak or shrimp for a delicious stir-fry that’s also filled with veggies. Here’s a recipe I love and is gluten free, too.

Use Peanut Butter, Raisins and M&Ms to make Trailmix:

While this might not be a dinner recipe, use this idea of combining leftover snacks into one new recipe for trailmix and eat this as your healthy snack when they get home or as you’re getting ready for dinner. There’s no real recipe for this one – just take a little of this and that and you’ve got a new fun snack they can make and you don’t feel bad that they’re ruining dinner.

Don’t forget dessert: Use Bananas to Make a Quick and Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie:

After a long day who has time to make dinner and much less a dessert? You do. With just four ingredients, you have a cookie you can feel as good making as you do eating it.

Get this recipe.

Make sure you check out my other fun ideas on MamaChallenge TV!

I also need to thank the gracious folks at Viridian in Arlington for providing an amazing kitchen set!

This development is everything you want in a home and much, much more. From the beautiful home selection from top-notch builders like M. Christopher Homes to the excellent elementary school, you’ve so many options for socializing, exercising and more – and that’s all at your doorstep.

Just take a look at this home we used as our set (and you can’t miss this “drive-through” shower.)

Learn more about Viridian at http://www.viridiandfw.com.

Cheer Up with Cherries: Gluten-Free Black Forest Brownies

April 24, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 25 Comments

If life is a bowl full of cherries then I know why I’m so giddy to share these next two dishes featured the sweet-red fruit.

Yes, it’s cherry time and Market Street has delicious cherries in store ripe for the picking.

But other than the beautiful color and stems make for hours of fun, what do you really know about cherries?

Did you know?

Potassium: Cherries are a good source of potassium. 1 cup = approx. 270 mg. Potassium plays an important role in muscle, heart, kidney and nerve cell function. It also helps counterbalance sodium, which helps maintain water levels throughout the body.
Antioxidants: Cherries contain Beta Carotene, Vitamin C and Quercetin. Combined, this trio can help prevent cancer, heart disease and can also help slow the signs of aging.. Also cherries have heart-health benefits because Anthocyanins (antioxidants) give cherries their red color. Those antioxidants may help reduce inflammation and cholesterol.
Melatonin: Cherries contain melatonin (which helps regulate sleep cycles) and may be helpful for getting a better night of sleep and fighting jet lag.

And cherries aren’t just good for you to eat….they also keep you full longer with high fiber and lots of water content.

[Tweet “1 cup of cherries contains 90 cal., 3 gr. fiber + can prevent overeating. #MarketStreetDFW #Ad “]

All this talk about cherries stirred up a severe craving for black forest cake. Unfortunately, since we’re trying to be a gluten-free, black forest cake seemed a little out of the picture (and way more work than I was willing to give that day.) However, a recent find at Market Street, my go-to resource for tons of GF sweets and pastas, I found a great mix from Namaste. Using the mix as the base, I cooked up the cherries with a little sugar and covered the top of the dough with the cherry concoction followed by some large dark chocolate chunks for good measure.

After about 30 minutes in the oven, I almost couldn’t take the aroma of the chocolate and cherries any longer. The smell was intoxicating so I could only hope the taste was at least half as good. Too bad I had to let ’em cool just enough to sink my teeth into…

HEAVEN. Chocolatey, cherry fabulousness. Like really. That good. And only a few ingredients until you have one of the best desserts I’ve eaten in a long time.

Gluten-Free Black Forest Brownies

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale

2–3 cups fresh pitted cherries
1/4 cup water
1 tablespoons fresh lime juice
1/2 cup sugar
2 tablespoons cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon almond extract or vanilla

Brownie Mix:

1/2 package of Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Brownie Mix
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips or chunks

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a saucepan over medium heat, combine cherries, water, juice, sugar and cornstarch.
Bring to a boil; reduce heat and cook about 10 minutes, stirring frequently.
Stir in almond extract.
Allow to cool slightly before using.
Meanwhile, prepare brownie mix as instructed.
Fill mix in a pan.
Drop tablespoons of cherry filling across the top (12-16 piles across the top.)
Using a knife, swirl cherries across the top in a swirl pattern.
Sprinkle chocolate chips across the top.
Cook for 35-38 minutes in the oven.
Allow to cool slightly before serving.

That’s not the only thing that got the cherry juices flowing…just check out the Cherries Jubilee Grilled Cheese I made for the 2015 Grilled Cheese Recipe Showdown, now until May 12.

With a $15,000 grand prize it’s worth an afternoon of cheese, bread and whatever else you think will make an award-winning grilled cheese. If you don’t do it for the contest, then at least make sure you don’t let Grilled Cheese Month get away from you without a little celebration (although a grilled cheese never needs a reason to be celebrated!)

And if you are still craving cherries, Market Street has many cheery cherry recipes on Pinterest.

Follow Market Street’s board Cherry Season on Pinterest.

Fight Hunger Spark Change to Donate 75 Million Meals with Walmart

April 20, 2015 By Autumn Rose Reo 20 Comments

In Arlington, Texas, we are all about teams…

AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys

Make a difference with the #FightHungerSparkChange campaign at Walmart, now until May 3. Learn more at http://wm8.walmart.com/Hunger

Globe Life Park, Home of the Texas Rangers

Walmart, Home to the Fight Hunger Spark Change campaign

Our local Walmart is planted directly in between Globelife Park, home of the Texas Rangers and AT&T Stadium, home of the Dallas Cowboys. However, this time our team is setting out to fight hunger with the Fight Hunger Spark Change campaign.

When you look around you, wherever you are, at the store, at work, at school it’s hard to think that 1 in 6 of those people you are looking at, talking to or passing in the hallway or in the aisle is struggling with hunger.

With such astronomical proportions, it’s really hard to even begin to think how you can help.

However, now until May 3, by just buying specially marked items you already buy regularly at Walmart, snap a shot of six friends or by just making a donation at your local Walmart, you can make a difference to FIGHT HUNGER SPARK CHANGE to have 75,000,000 meal donations to local food banks with Feeding America.

Yes, it’s that easy to make a difference!

1) For each participating product purchased at Walmart now May 3, suppliers will make a donation to help secure one meal* on behalf of local Feeding America food banks. Together with Campbell’s, ConAgra Foods, General Mills, Kellogg Company, Kraft and Unilever, Walmart hopes to secure 75 million meals* by the end of the campaign. For more information and a list of participating products, please visit walmart.com/fighthunger.

2) Walmart customers can donate to their local Feeding America food bank at the registers of any participating Walmart.

3) Share the movement on your social media channels to generate a donation.

Here’s how it works:

Take a picture of six people who commit to solving hunger
Post your picture on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and connect it to the hashtag #WeSparkChange—make sure your post is public so it can be seen and counted
Share your post
Walmart will donate $10 for every qualifying post, up to $1.5 million**

We’re only half way there today and only a few weeks left to help make it to 75,000, o00. I know you’ll be doing some grocery shopping in the next three weeks – just make sure to grab the boxes with the sticker “FIGHT HUNGER SPARK CHANGE” and your item = one meal.

If you don’t think hunger is a problem for you or those people are around you, you might want to think twice.

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FOR THE DRESSING

FOR THE BEET OIL

FOR THE BASIL OIL

FOR THE SALAD

Instructions

FOR THE DRESSING:

FOR THE BEET OIL:

FOR THE BASIL OIL:

FOR THE SALAD:

Ingredients

Instructions

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