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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Texas Rangers Score a Home Run with Limited Offering of S’mores Chocolate Pie

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Let’s be honest: this hasn’t be the best season for the Texas Rangers. (no more discussion, please.)

However, as a gal who lives in the hometown of the team AND lives so close to Globe Life Park she can hear the fireworks go off on Friday nights in the summer after each game, I still have faith that this year was just a time for them to rest from the last two winning seasons we’ve had. Or perhaps it’s because they’ve been eating this pie  and they’d rather be enjoying the gooey awesomeness of this S’mores Chocolate Pie while basking in some A/C.

TexasRangersS'moresChocolatePie


Who knows, but thankfully, we don’t have to make the choice between a game or pie. We get to eat pie while we watch the game!  In honor of National S’mores Day on August 10 (of course, there’s a day for s’mores!), Globe Life Park will be offering the pie at concessions for $8.50 at the Captain Morgan Club. Unfortunately, our boys are away on Sunday, but they are still nice enough to not let this delicious pie opportunity go to waste. We’ll all be able to get it  all week when they host the Rays (Monday-Thursday) and the Angels (Friday-Sunday.) 

Smore_Globe-Like-Park

Now don’t say you don’t have a reason to excited about the game!

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S’mores Chocolate Pie (From Globe Life Park, Home of the Texas Rangers)

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Description

In honor of National S’mores Day on August 10 Globe Life Park, Home of the Texas Rangers, offers this pie to fans to celebrate. Or you can make this winning recipe at home for your own team!

Ingredients

Scale

Graham Cracker Crust:

  • 8 ounces graham cracker crumbs
  • 2 ounces melted butter
  • 2 ounces brown sugar
  • ½ tablespoon ground cinnamon

Chocolate Brownie Cake:

  • 1 quart heavy cream
  • 2 cups milk
  • 2.5 lbs. melted chocolate chips
  • ¼ cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • 8 eggs

Marshmallow Foam:

  • ½ cup egg whites
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 4 cups marshmallow foam/fluff
  • 1 tsp meringue powder
  • ½ cup powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Graham Cracker Crust
  2. To make the crust, mix all ingredients and press into one thin layer across the bottom of a sheet pan.
  3. Chocolate Brownie Cake
  4. Combine milk and heavy cream in a sauce pan and heat.
  5. Melt the chocolate chips in a Bain Marie (water bath), and then add the milk and cream mixture to the melted chocolate.
  6. Mix until smooth.
  7. Remove from heat, then add the salt and the eggs.
  8. Beat lightly, then pour the batter on top of the graham cracker shell.
  9. Bake for 22-30 minutes until firm.
  10. Let chill, then cut into 2×2 inch squares.
  11. Marshmallow Foam
  12. Beat the egg whites until they form stiff peaks.
  13. Add all additional ingredients and mix for a few seconds.
  14. Assemble
  15. Put the marshmallow foam into a piping bag and pipe a generous layer on each brownie pie square.
  16. Using a blowtorch, torch the marshmallow topping until golden brown.
  17. Serve warm.

Messina Hof Grows to Grapevine with New Urban Winery in Fall 2014

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Feet

My French manicure may still have a purple hue, but a return to the salon is completely worth the trade for my incredible evening trek to Messina Hof for the Moonlight Harvest kickoff 2014 on Friday, Aug. 1.

Wineglass


While I have enjoyed sipping wine in Napa Valley, Tuscany, and recently around Grapevine, I had never been to Messina Hof. Unfortunately I also had never had the privilege of stomping grapes, part of the evening’s agenda, as well as several other surprises in store for the media and special guests from Austin, Houston and DFW that met at the Bryan winery.

MessinaHofGrapes

I was in for more than a memorable evening, but actually history in the making for the winery that released its first vintage in 1983.

MHGrapevine

The Harvest Festival celebrated its 37th year with its traditional picking, blessing and stomping of the grapes, but this year with a very big announcement made by the family and Grapevine Mayor William D. Tate (seen below): Messina Hof is set to open its third location with an urban winery at the Wallis Hotel in historic Grapevine, Texas.

IMG_0029

The idea of unity flowed throughout the evening just like the relationship between the award-winning winery and a community dedicated to the future of Texas wines. With the rich wine heritage of Winemaker Paul Bonarrigo (see the adorable gentlemen with the undeniable style below) dating back six generations to Messina, Sicily and Merrill Bonarrigo’s family originating from Hof, Germany, together the couple has pioneered the Texas wine industry in creating premium wines of distinction and a landmark wine country destination.

PaulB

Enjoying a wine tasting on the way to the winery, upon arrival, we learned a little about the history of the vineyard and how to properly eye the “Big Kahuna” and select the right grapes for cutting from the vine.  Then all the guests took their turn stomping the cold, juicy fruit between their toes before being “breaking bread” for a delicious feast featuring wine, cheese, and some of the best mushroom soup rich with Messina Hof wine.

MessinaHof Vines

While we all have to wait for Messina Hof to come to town, you still have the rest of August to experience the Annual Harvest Festival at the Bryan winery each weekend in August and followed by the 2nd Annual Harvest Festival at the Fredericksburg winery the last weekend of August.

Grapes

The annual event celebrates the bounty of the vineyard, in a public harvest setting similar to European harvesting practices of centuries past. Patrons, friends and family near and far congregate in the pursuit of grape picking, stomping and wine tasting/dining. Eight specialty dinners punctuate these four weeks on the grounds of the winery and the only Four-Diamond resort in the Brazos Valley, the Villa Bed and Breakfast.

MHof

Get your tickets now for the Harvest Festival at Messina Hof and view the schedule here.

 

Pizza Party in a Box with NEW DiGiorno Design a Pizza Kit

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Disclaimer: I was given free product for purposes of this review from DiGiorno Pizza and you can too with a little giveaway! 

DiGiornoPizzaNighttext

Friday is normally pizza night at our house. Sometimes we order it, sometimes we make it. Either way, someone normally has to compromise on what we get. The kids want meat, Dad wants to add jalapenos  (to everything) and I want veggie and something fun like goat cheese or fig. But DiGiorno has made it easy for everyone to get what they want with their new DESIGN A PIZZA KIT. While I wondered how this could be any different than our normal DIY pizza night, I realized pretty quick that I didn’t have to do any prep.


MakingDiGiornoPizza

Well…I had to get it, open it and let them go. Then put it in the oven and then take it out. Hard work, but someone has to do it…(hard work meaning to be so smart to make it this easy on me.)

DiGiorno has launched new DESIGN A PIZZA kits – pizza that gives everyone the opportunity to customize their own DiGiorno pizza down to the individual slice regardless of your pizza-eating personality – hold the veggies, pile on the meat or kick up the spice.

DiGiornoPizza

Each kit includes a full-size DIGIORNO cheese pizza with individually wrapped premium meats, veggies, shredded cheese and a seasoning packet.

  • Pepperoni and Sausage with Peppers & Onions: features pepperoni, sausage, red and green peppers and onion strips
  • Spinach, Tomato & Red Onion with Pepperoni: features pepperoni, chopped spinach, diced Roma tomato and red onion
  • Chicken, Green Peppers & Red Onions with Pepperoni: features herb-seasoned chicken, pepperoni, green pepper and red onion

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Visit www.DiGiorno.com to create your own masterpiece using the DESIGN A PIZZA app. You can virtually design and name your masterpiece to get a $1.50-off coupon. The new DESIGN A PIZZA kits are available nationwide in your grocer’s freezer and retail for $6.79 – $8.99.

Ready to start creating your master PIECE of pizza.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Best Watermelon Recipes, Done Three Ways

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That’s right, I bet you thought watermelon was just made to eat as a messy summer snack. Here’s three awesome watermelon recipes to make your summer even sweeter!

So to get us ready for cooking magic, I’ve a little music to get us in the mood. Remember this one? (If you can do the dance, give yourself two points.)

WatermelonLead

Now on with the show…here’s the clip from the segment with Chef Jackson and myself on Good Morning Texas showing a lot more than just watermelon recipes.


The most important step in cooking with watermelon is finding the right one. There’s nothing worse than a tough, underrippened or overrippened watermelon. So there’s a quick test.

1. It’s pretty. If it looks funny, it probably didn’t grow the right way and may have areas that aren’t ripe.
2. Its weight. A good watermelon is going to be full with water so therefore it should be heavy. If it’s not, then put it back.
2. Its dark spot. If there isn’t a nice dark brown spot where the watermelon rested on the ground, then you don’t want this watermelon.
3. Thump it. If it makes a thud or sound thick, then you don’t want it. You want it to sound hollow.

Now that we found the perfect watermelon, let’s get to it!

Grilled Watermelon

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Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Prosciutto

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Ingredients

Scale
  • 3 (1/2-inch-thick) watermelon rounds, quartered
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • Kosher salt
  • Freshly ground pepper
  • 4 ounces thinly sliced prosciutto
  • 4 ounces blue cheese, crumbled
  • Fresh basil leaves
  • 2 teaspoons bottled balsamic glaze

Instructions

  1. Preheat grill to 350° to 400° (medium-high) heat.
  2. Brush both sides of each watermelon quarter with olive oil, and season with desired amount of salt and pepper. Cut prosciutto into thin strips.
  3. Grill watermelon quarters, without grill lid, 1 minute on each side or until grill marks appear.
  4. Transfer watermelon to a serving plate; top with blue cheese, prosciutto strips, and fresh basil.
  5. Drizzle watermelon with balsamic glaze.
  6. Serve immediately.

Don't miss

Watermelongoatcheese

Watermelon Goat Cheese Bites

WatermelonAguaFresca

Watermelon Agua Fresca

Watermelon-Blue-Cheese

Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Proscuitto 

Of course, there’s a lot more to do than just eat watermelon and apparently crawl either. That’s right, there are festivals and events you can attend this weekend and next to pay homage to the humble, all-American watermelon.

Donald Johnson Seedless Watermelon Festival in Knox City
The festival began more than 30 years ago as a point of communal pride. By official decree of the Texas Legislature, Knox City was the Seedless Watermelon Capital of Texas, thanks to the crops of the late Donald Johnson.
Parade, Pageant, Arts & Crafts and more!

The Melon Dash 5K & Fun Run
http://www.runproject.org/race/melon-dash-5k

What’s your favorite way to enjoy watermelon? 

 

Summer’s Sipper: Watermelon Agua Fresca

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WatermelonAguaFresca

 

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Watermelon Agua Fresca

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Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups cubed seeded watermelon
  • 1/2 cup water
  • 1/2 cup sugar, or to taste
  • Ice

Instructions

  1. Puree the watermelon and water in a blender until smooth. Add sugar to taste.

For  more of the recipes from Good Morning Texas:

Watermelon Goat Cheese Bites

Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Prosciutto

 

 

Watermelon Goat Cheese Bites

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Watermelongoatcheese

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Watermelon Goat Cheese Bites

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Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 small watermelon
  • 1 (4-oz.) goat cheese log, softened
  • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
  • Garnishes: fresh basil and freshly ground pepper

Instructions

  1. Cut half of watermelon into 1-inch-thick slices. Cut slices into 25 rounds, using a 2-inch round cutter. Scoop just enough melon from tops to form indentations, using a melon baller. Stir together goat cheese, 2 Tbsp. chopped fresh basil, salt, and 1/4 tsp. freshly ground pepper. Spoon into indentations. Chill 1 to 2 hours. Garnish, if desired.

For other watermelon recipes, see MamaChallenge on Good Morning Texas! 

Grilled Watermelon with Blue Cheese and Proscuitto

Watermelon Agua Fresca

 

Brio Celebrates National Lasagna Day

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When I think of comfort food, I think of Lasagna. 

There’s something so perfect about the delicious combination of meat, pasta and cheese layered together for the ideal bite each and everytime. Apparently I love lasagna A LOT since I’ve shared many recipes on mamachallenge.com including my Christmas Eve Lasagna and Spinach Lasagna Rollups. 


To celebrate National Lasagna Day on July 29, BRIO Tuscan Grille at Watters Creek in Allen will offer dishes of their famous Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno recipe at half-price.

Lasagna Bolognese Al Forno is a classic Northern Italian, oven-baked dish, layered with a three-cheese blend of Alfredo, Ricotta and Mozzarella, along with Bolognese meat sauce.


BRIO will offer a generously full-sized portion of lasagna for $9.08 at both lunch and dinner on July 29

And to celebrate National Lasagna Day in a BIG WAY, you can win a $200 Gift Card to Brio Tuscan Grille (DFW locations only!) (Winner will be announced on July 29!) 

P.F. Chang’s Rolls Out New Menu – Only in Dallas

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This delicious post is sponsored by P.F. Chang’s, but my opinions are all my own.

The destination for Asian flavors in a beautiful, yet homestyle atmosphere, P.F. Chang’s is rolling out their new menu with hand-rolled sushi  as well as inventive small plates and handcrafted cocktails. First and only in Dallas!

The original home of the lettuce wraps, I’ve always been a fan of P.F. Chang’s. However, it had been a long time since I had eaten there. I mean a LONG time. But with a new menu full of hand-rolled sushi, several shareable small plates and craft cocktails, what a great reason to see what we’ve been missing!

While choosing what we were going to enjoy for dinner we ordered two of the NEW premiere specialty craft cocktails: the Red Sangria with Absolut Mandarin Vodka and merlot mixed with fresh fruit (like strawberries, oranges, and a cherry) and a Twisted Whiskey Sour with Woodford Reserve Bourbon, Cointreau, orange juice, honey with blood orange bitters. As we sipped, we pondered our dining selections. 

Their new P.F. Chang’s Sushi and Maki offerings included: 
  • Tempura Shrimp Hand Roll: A sesame-soy wrap, hand-rolled with crisp tempura shrimp, avocado, cucumber and Japanese rice
  • Dynamite Scallop Roll: P.F. Chang’s signature California Roll topped with lightly seared scallops, finished with a creamy sriracha sauce
  • Spicy Tuna Roll: Rolled-to-order Sushi-grade Ahi with cucumber, daikon sprouts, sesame-seasoned rice and a dash of sriracha
  • Cucumber Rolled Kappa Maki: Fresh sushi-grade Ahi tuna, salmon and kani kama rolled with avocado and mango, wrapped in cucumber served with sweet and spicy glaze
  • California Roll: Rolled-to-order with kani kama, crisp cucumber, avocado, sesame-chive rice and sweet soy sauce

Always up for trying a little bit of everything especially an Asian take on tacos, I had to experience the Jicama Pork Tacos with lemongrass seared pork, topped with a refreshing tropical pepper slaw served in jicama “shells”. A little spicy for the kids, I cleaned house on these three hand “tacos” that gave you the same crunch of a tortilla but made with jicama.

However, the superstar on the menu was the Ahi Tartare with Avocado! Every bite of the diced sushi-grade tuna was perfect with cucumbers, scallions, citrus soy sauce and sesame seeds over sliced avocado with crispy wontons and the creamy, spicy sauce that dotted the plate. (We actually discussed ordering another plate!)

Other yummy new small plates featured on the new P.F. Chang’s menu: 

  • Edamame Hummus: P.F. Chang’s twist on hummus is a signature blend of fresh edamame, sesame seeds, ginger and a hint of chili. Served with house-made crisp plantains
  • Saigon Summer Rolls: Lemongrass chicken, julienne carrots, celery root, cilantro, peanuts, Thai basil and mint wrapped in cool rice paper with a sweet chili dipping sauce
  • Asian Carnitas Bao: Carnitas with an Asian twist. Seared chili marinated pork stuffed in soft steamed pillow bao buns, served with a fresh pineapple salsa
And while we couldn’t squeeze in anything else, I definitely know we will be back to P.F. Chang’s when they launch their new Wine & Food Pairings on Wednesdays starting next week, July 23!

 

 

Give Me Some S’more, Please {S’mores Recipes}

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Disclaimer: I was provided a Camper’s S’mores Grill from Coghlans for purposes of this review. However, all the comments and photos are my own. 

 Yesterday I was reminded of the fun my son and I had on our recent vacation at the JW Marriott San Antonio making smores together. There’s just something so wholesome and sweet about it. And of course, there’s the whole chocolate and marshmallow thing that just makes it good. So we we decided it was time to make them at home (and by that I mean not in the microwave like normal.) 


 However, I’m lazy and hoped we could just make these babies in one step. And that’s exactly what the Camper’s S’mores Grill does. Able to make three smores at a time, this paddle-shaped, chrome-plated steel grill let’s your put together your component pieces, take it straight to campfire or fireplace and then in no time, have a perfecly cooked s’more – in one step!

 While a little Hershey’s, Honeymaid and Jetpuff s’more cannot be replaced, every once in a while you want to change it up a little. So here are a couple of ideas to changes up your recipe for s’mores. 

 PB& J S’mores
Graham Crackers
Berry Jam (your favorite) 
Chocolate squares or Nutella spread
Peanut Butter

 Elvis S’mores
Graham Crackers
Sliced Bananas
Chocolate squares 
Peanut Butter

Rocky Road S’mores
Graham Crackers
Thinly sliced almonds
Chocolate squares 
Peanut Butter


Do you have a favorite way you make your s’mores? 






BJ’s New Mobile App Makes Happy Family Dinners Out POSSIBLE

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This shop is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and BJ’s Restaurants, but all my opinions are my own. #DineInOrderAhead #pmedia http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

Before kids, my husband and I enjoyed dining out often. We loved celebrating with friends and family as well as trying out new hot spots.



After kids, our dining out moments as a family are few and far between. Not because we don’t have life moments to celebrate, but more out of the whole chaos that comes with going out to eat – keeping the kids patience while we wait in line, taming the hoodlums while we get something ordered and to the table and by the time we actually get the entrees to the table, my hubs and I are so ready to pack it in that we get our food to go, while holding on to whatever we have left to keep the kids maintained until the check comes to the table and we can rush out the door.

Not really worth all the effort, right?

However, after four LONG years of law school, my hubs FINALLY received his graduation ring, the moment needed to be celebrated. But was the effort going to be worth it and would my honey wish we’d just stay home when it was all over with?

I was determined to make it a nice evening; it would just need a little preplanning.

Enter: BJ’s Restaurants New Mobile App! Available on both iPhone and Android. This new app did everything I’ve always wanted a restaurant to do and didn’t even know it! By opening the app and using the Dine in Order Ahead feature, I was able to not only order our food in advance, but as soon as we checked in and seated at BJs Restaurant, they would already start our food! 


Our reservation even let me include it was a special night, so they seated us in a big booth for fun! In less than 15 minutes, we had drinks and appetizers. The kids didn’t even have time to complain or ask for mom’s reserve snack stash (I always have to bring something when we go out to eat just in case, but with the BJ’s Restaurant Mobile app, I didn’t need it!) 

In less 25 minutes, dinner was served just as ordered! I couldn’t believe it! Normally at a restaurant we would be hitting that moment where the kids are starting to get fidgety, but everyone was happy and just enjoying the moment. AHA moment, really. I took a breath at this moment to appreciate a happy dinner out! 

And no experience at BJ’s Restaurant would be complete without a Pizookie, right? The perfect gooeyness, warmth, sweetness and chocolate, we all scooped up our bites and somehow mustered up the strength (or lack of willpower) to finish almost every bite. 

After around 40 minutes and close to bedtime, we didn’t want to let a good thing go bad, so as we finished up what we could (with the generous portions that BJ’s Restaurant gives, we had leftovers), we were ready to go. However, we didn’t have to wait for our ticket or our waiter/waitress to come over, take the card and return with the final receipt. I just went to my now favorite Bj’s Mobile App, opened up Mobile Pay and, viola! our ticket was already waiting for me to type in my payment! And even better – they already calculated several levels of gratuity so I could tip our waiter! One, two, click and done! 

Don’t think there won’t be more nights with the BJ’s Restaurant Mobile App to create a great family dinner out with no regrets! 

Now why didn’t I think of that?


Get yours now for Free! BJ’s Restaurants New Mobile App! 
Available on both iPhone and Android




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