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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Get On the SOUL TRAIN to Buttons – June is National Soul Food Month

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Food Fridays: 

 Disclaimer: I was invited to a media event to sample and photograph dishes from Buttons for purposes of this review. No other compensation was received. 

There’s nothing better then delicious food…unless of course, it’s great food accompanied by great friends and some great story-telling. 

 Then you know it’s GOOD.


 So when I had the chance to sit down to eat a little soul food during “National Soul Food Month” with Mr. Soul Food himself – Chef Keith “Buttons” Hicks of the award-winning Buttons, I brought my appetite and prepared myself to learn a little something about about soul food (something I know very little about.)

 “As a kid, I would watch my grandmothers’ cook by simply adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that and often just making something real good out of nothing,” said Hicks. “They would have the entire house filled with great soul food aromas that would have you anxiously waiting for the food to hurry up and be ready. I knew back then that I wanted to be able to do the exact same thing.”

 Can you dig it? (Which is also one of Hicks’ token phrases.) 

 His southern inspired menu includes: 

  • Signature Buttons’ Chicken and Waffles
  • oxtails
  • shrimp-fish-and-grits
  • chicken fried chicken
  • as well as tasty sides that include braised cabbage, collard greens, jalapeno cheese grits, sweet potatoes, corn cakes and garlic mashed potatoes.  

However, some of things I was able to get my hands on included the new wedgeburg salad, Josh’s pasta, fire grilled chicken & plants, fried green tomatoes and sweet potato mini pie.

Fire-grilled chicken & plants

“Soul food has a deeply-rooted history that will continue to be told and experienced for as long as people continue to enjoy and appreciate great tasting food,” said Hicks. “I’m grateful to be able to continuously spread that history through each of my southern recipes, while also building upon the legacy of soul food.”

Fried green tomatoes with an egg (to die for)

Derived from the expression of “soul” music, soul food was a culinary movement spawned in the 1960s. Prior to that time, soul-style cooking was simply known as comfort food or southern comfort food, which originated with African slaves in the United States who were given food parts that their owners did not want to eat (i.e. pig’s feet, beef tongue, ham hocks, chitterlings, pig ears, and tripe as main delicacies of soul food.) Included are also many foods that came from the African homeland such as okra, black eye peas, watermelon, yams, and many leafy green vegetables. 

Sweet potato mini pie

And because there was a scarcity of meat, the people during this time learned to trap their own wild game and created meals such as shrimp, fish and grits. Meat was primarily consumed on Sundays because it was considered to be a special day.  Post slavery, many African-Americans in the South would enjoy hearty meals like chicken and waffles on Sundays to keep them full and satisfied throughout the day because church and many other related activities often would consume most all of their time.

 Now that’s food that is good for the soul. 

 So go give your soul a little love and get you some soul food this National Soul Food Month at Buttons.

Chef Hicks and the restaurant have also been featured on several television programs including The Food Network’s Heat Seekers and Mystery Diners. 

Buttons Food & Music for the Soul
Website

Enjoy the Sweet Life with Quick Almond Joy Brownies #WhatsYourID

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Want-It Wednesday:

 This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.


The summer time brings a much-needed slower pace for moms. Well, not really, with all the activities and events planned from the moment the kids are out of school until the day they get back. However, it does give you a reason to enjoy some of the sweet things in life like brownies. 

One of our family favorites, I was looking to jazz up the baked chocolate concoction with something a little more fun, flavorful AND QUICK. But it’s too hot to sit in the kitchen for hours, so with the help of a brownie mix, some cupboard staples and my International Delight Almond Joy Creamer, I was able to whip up a dessert like our family favorite 7-Layered Bars, but this time was even better with Almond Joy Brownies. 

 QUICK ALMOND JOY BROWNIES

 Ingredients:
1 Box of Fudge Brownie Mix (I used Betty Crocker)
1 cup almonds (I used slivered, but you can use chopped)
1 cup chocolate chips 
1 cup flaked coconut 
1 cup of International Delight Almond Joy Creamer

Directions: 
Make brownies as instructed on the box, but opt for the cake-like brownie recipe.) 
Bake for about 15-18 minutes until the brownies are set, but not necessarily cooked. 
Take the brownies out of the oven and begin layering. First with the coconut and then the chocolate chips. 
Next add the creamer over the brownie mixture. 
Last add the almonds. 
Bake the brownies for 20-25 minutes at the same temperature or until the toppings look browned. 
Take out of the oven and allow to cool before cutting. 



TIP: 
Unlike chocolate chip cookies, these brownies get even better after some time out of the oven. We ended up putting these in the refrigerator for a day and when they came out again, I couldn’t get everyone to stop eating them. The added coolness gave it a little crunch and with the heat of summer, it was nice to bite into a cool brownie. Trust me, it’s worth the wait! 

 What’s Your ID? International Delight is looking for their most passionate flavor fans. Put your ID on the map to enter to win a Magical Trip, play games and discover more unexpected delight. Share your ID flavor at http://whatsyourid.com. 

 This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of International Delight. The opinions and text are all mine.


Holy Banana Grahams! IHOP Launches Jelly Donut, Tiramisu and Banana Graham Nut Pancakes for 55th Anniversary

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Food Fridays:

It’s no secret I have thing for pancakes.  

Enough so I went on TV and whipped up several different kinds of them including Apple Pie Pancakes using my daughter’s GoGo Squeez from her lunchbox. They were quick and delish, but unfortunately even with my quick shortcuts I still don’t always have the time or the want to make those pancakes that make your mouth water. That’s why I was so excited to hear about these three new pancakes from IHOP!

IHOP® restaurants will be marking its 55th year of bringing guests “everything they love about breakfast” with an exciting new trio of signature pancakes: Jelly Donut, Tiramisu and Banana Graham. These tasty new treats will be available in participating IHOP restaurants beginning June 3 for a limited time through July 21. IHOP officially marks its 55th anniversary on July 7.

Jelly Donut Pancakes – Fluffy buttermilk pancakes filled with layers of luscious raspberry jelly then topped with glaze, more raspberry jelly and powdered sugar.



Tiramisu Pancakes – Buttermilk pancakes and sweet mocha cream topped with a drizzle of chocolate, whipped topping and a dusting of cocoa powder.




Banana Graham Nut Pancakes – Sliced fresh bananas grilled inside buttermilk pancakes layered with marshmallow cream, graham cracker crumbs and crushed honey-roasted pecans then topped with cinnamon cream cheese.

These three new delicious flavors are available starting at $4.99. Guests can purchase these flavors as yummy treats alone or as part of an IHOP Combo, which can include two eggs, done the way they like them, optional choice of crispy bacon, pork sausage links or a grilled ham slice, along with IHOP restaurants’ signature golden hash browns.

For more information or to find an IHOP restaurant near you, please visit www.IHOP.com.

Which one are you ready to bite into? 



Toast to Summer with Free Car Show for Dad, Acting Camp for Kids and White Wine for Moms

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To-Do Thursdays:

I can’t believe the summer is already in gear and it’s just June 6. Half our summer is scheduled and I’m still writing March on my documents! 

So rather than resist the change, embrace it with a little bit of something that everyone will love this season starting off with Dad!

Remember Father’s Day is near, so send him (or join him) on Saturday, June 8 for the Glory Days Classic Car Show in Fort Worth on Camp Bowie.

While school is out, the kids must play (and give mom a break!) So consider some a unique  day camp like this one for your budding actor or actresses in Addison. (Watch out Selena Gomez!) 

Mommy needs a little time to celebrate the summer too, so round up the girls or make a date for the Summer White Wine Festival at FnG Eats in Keller. Chef Bob Stephenson, whom I have the pleasure of working to promote his creative cuisine is offering a big deal for only $40 to sample six wines and several noshes sure to tickle your taste buds!) 

Salud to Summer!


Get Your Wellbeing in a Bottle with Rooibee Red Tea

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Food Fridays:

I received product for the purposes of this review. However, all the comments and information here are mine. 

I’m always on the hunt for something good to drink.

While I enjoy my wines and cocktails, sometimes I prefer a great recipe for healthy juice for my kids, a fun water alternative or tea.

Oh, yes – me and my tea fixation. I chalk it all up to be southern and the fact that I worked at a Chicken Express in high school and they have delicious sweet tea (and yes, I still eat there.)

Anyhow, as I get older I can’t go through four glasses of sweet tea a day. Besides the fact it isn’t healthy, I just don’t want that amount of sweetness. I want something with a hint, but not like a whole bag of cane sugar got dumped into my glass. So I was stoked to find some new BOTTLED teas that were just the right amount of sweet and healthy.

Now before we get into all the coolness of why you should try this tea, I have to preface this with: I don’t like bottled tea. At all. Like I send it back at restaurants if it’s not freshly brewed, so I’m a total snob about the taste of my tea. And now that I have kids, I am becoming a snob about the things I put in my body and theirs.

Enter Rooibee Red Tea, a family-friendly USDA-certified organic bottled rooibos tea. This tea is made with pure waters, organic ingredients and is available in five flavors including Watermelon Mint, Peach, Unsweetened, Cranberry Pomegranate and Vanilla Chai.



If you’re not familiar with rooibos, it is a bush that grows only in South Africa. Tea made from rooibos has been enjoyed by South Africans for generations and has recently gained popularity in other parts of the world, including the US, because of its health benefits and inherently sweet character. All Rooibee Red Tea varieties are USDA organic, high in antioxidants, naturally caffeine free, gluten free and low in calories.

Thanks, Wikipedia for this lovely shot of Rooibos. 


Best thing about Rooibee Red Tea? Those behind the company are moms and dads, sons and daughters, sisters and brothers who want to live right and take care of their families, community and the planet. They created this family-friendly, caffeine free tea as a healthy alternative to high-sugar juices and sodas that rejuvenates without stimulants and refreshes without anything artificial.

Gotta love that.

Rooibee Red Tea is available at local DFW Whole Foods Market.

For more information about Rooibee Red Tea, check their website and Facebook.



Tasty Treats from my iPhone {Food Porn}

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Food Fridays:

One of the great parts of my job is working with food – a lot. 

And once a year I’m privileged to promote one of the best Dallas food events – Taste Addison. So as I gear up for a 3-day weekend of more than 70 restaurants making more than 300 entrees for more than 75,000 people in Addison Circle Park, I thought I’d share what the last couple of days worth of Iphone photos revealed as I revved up for Taste Addison. 

I’m a lucky girl, right? If spending some up-close-and-personal food space with the likes of Kent Rathbun, Tre Wilcox, Lan Nickens, Bob Stephenson and some of the most educated folks on BBQ across the country from Dickeys, then consider me your golden girl! 

A little disclaimer: a few of these photos are also from the other-food minded things I’ve been up to this week including Keller’s FnG Eats new menu items, a get -together with my blogging buddies, a case of tea delivered for a review AND a coping mechanism for one of my more stressful days.

Yes, I like food. And apparently drinks too. And if you do, you should come out to Taste Addison. (A PR girl’s work is never done.) 


Do you like food ? Then make sure to follow me on Instagram and Pinterest. I take lots of foodporn. I mean a lot. 

And come see me this weekend. Come hungry.

Taste Addison 
May 17-19, 2013
Addison Circle Park


Mad Men Moms: 50 Shades of Don {Recipe}

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Mad Men Monday:

It’s time for another Mad Men Moms roundup of last night’s Mad Men.

While it may have been Mother’s Day, the show definitely went to a new whole new level of whoa. See what we had to say about an even deeper level of Don. (Oh, my!)

But before you settle into our chair, make sure you get your Mad Men cocktail ready…this time we are making up a Vodka Gimlet (aka vodka and limes in a cup.)

Vodka Gimlet

1½ oz vodka
¾ oz lime juice
3-4 lime slices

Pour vodka and lime juice into mixing glass. Shake and strain into martini glass. Add 3 to 4 slices of lime.

Recipe and photo from AMC’s official Mad Men.


Now settle in and let us know what you think of this episode of Mad Men!

And if you missed other episodes of Mad Men Moms, make sure you get the whole scoop: 

Pizza Can Make You Skinny? {Recipe + Offer}

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Try-it Tuesdays:

Sometimes this girl discovers the newest fitness routine, sometimes she eats the newest dish, either way she’s still trying it out for the sake of her readers, right? At least that’s what I keep telling myself. 

This time I was able to try out one of the coolest things to hit the fast-food scene in a while – Sbarro’s Skinny Slice™. 


I love that restaurants are now offering healthier options that aren’t just salads, but the things you actually want to indulge in (and pizza is ALWAYS at the top of my list.) And the”skinny” slice didn’t taste like anything was missing at all, especially with roasted red and green bell peppers, portobello mushrooms and sweet, caramelized onions topped with a sprinkling of mozzarella and pecorino romano cheeses. Did I mention that it was only 270 calories? That’s AMORE! 



Back in March I got to get my hands on a piece for a special sampling at Blissdom. I mean LITERALLY I got to put my hands on the crust and throw it in the air like real Italian style (well maybe it was a reproduction of pizza crust, but I tried.) Don’t believe me? I have the photos to prove it. 

But don’t just take my word for it, go ahead and try it yourself with this special offer from Sbarro for a free slice of the Sbarro Skinny Slice™. 
Download the coupon!

Too hungry to wait until the next time you go to Sbarro? Don’t worry, they even shared a recipe for an at-home version of the Sbarro Skinny Slice™. 

Sbarro Skinny Slice Pizza at Home
Prep Time:  20 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Servings: 8

1          yellow onion, thinly sliced
1          tablespoon olive oil
1          package prepared pizza dough or crust
1/2       jar tomato pizza sauce (approximately 10-12 ounces)
2 1/2    cups fresh portobello mushrooms, sliced
1/4       cup roasted green bell peppers (packed in water), drain and julienne
1/4       cup red bell peppers (packed in water), drain and julienne
1          cup shredded mozzarella cheese
1          tablespoon grated Pecorino Romano cheese
To caramelize onions, sauté in a pan with olive oil over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes until slightly browned.  Do not burn.
Preheat oven to 425°F.
Roll out pizza dough on a 17-inch round pizza stone.
Spread tomato sauce evenly across the dough. Sprinkle mushroom pieces over the dough, and then evenly spread onions, green and red peppers. Top with cheeses.
Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, or until crust is golden brown and crispy and cheese is melted. Cool for 1 minute. Cut into 8 slices and serve.
To skip the work and find a Sbarro eatery near you, visit www.sbarro.com. 


5 Things to Do with Your Strawberries Before You Throw Them Out {Recipes}

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Are you one of those people that starts off every grocery trip with putting a pint of strawberries in your basket then only to find you throwing them out (AGAIN) because you never ate them before they went bad? 


 Yes, me too. Our family LOVES strawberries and in the spring time I love to buy them. But unfortunately sometimes good ideas don’t always get executed and I can tell you from personal experience brown strawberries don’t make them taste sweeter. 🙂 However, I really hate throwing those strawberries away because no one took the time to cut them up and enjoy them. At least with bananas when they get old you can throw those babies in the freezer and whip up banana bread, banana shakes and anything else banana you want.

 So it got me thinking – why can’t you do the same thing for strawberries? Why can’t you just have a few recipes that you know you can use those strawberries before you send them to the bottom of your trash can?

 Dang Good Strawberry Cake 
This cake doesn’t just take lots of strawberries, but everything else you have in your refrigerator. I can’t believe how easy it was and it was THAT good. I made this for my Mother-in-Law for her birthday cake last year, but I’m pretty sure we didn’t send it home with her. We kept it and ate every bite.

 

 

Here’s also a couple I found on Pinterest as well!

 Canned Strawberries

 No Cook Strawberry Freezer Jam

 Strawberry Salsa with Cinnamon Chips

 Hippie Juice

 Hope you find some great alternative ways to enjoy those strawberries! 

 
 
 
 

Get Your Sweet Tea Fix with with Half the Calories!

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Try-it Tuesdays:

 I received samples of Pure Via Stevia for the purposes of this review. However, all the comments here are my own. 

My family are proud southerners. We fall to our knees at the south of Paula Deen’s name, we LOVE some fried chicken and we relish in every gulp of sweet tea. I mean it IS the official drink of the south. 

Unfortunately, to make the perfect sweet tea, it takes a “wee bit of sugar” (imagine the sound of high-pitched exaggeration in my voice) to make it just right. And while I do appreciate staying to tradition, a little less sugar – especially in my children’s diet – wouldn’t hurt us at all. (Hey, even Paula has made some changes in her recipes, right?) 

So when a lovely box of Pure Via Stevia landed at my door, I’ll be honest, I wanted to put it in the pantry to rot with all the other “sweeteners” that were moments of good intentions that never really made the cut – simply because they didn’t taste good. But since it was being launched exclusively in Dallas, I thought hey, can’t hurt to give it a three-second try.  Especially since Pure Via Stevia actually has half the calories AND also offers it in raw turbinado sugar (that’s what they put in mojitos, people), so maybe you wouldn’t know the difference. 

Maybe it was possible this stuff could be really good. 

So I called in my biggest judge, my son. My four-year old has sniffed me out for every healthy move I’ve tried to make. When I made winter squash and blended into his mac and cheese, I thought I was a genius. Unfortunately he wouldn’t touch it – or any other mac and cheese – for three weeks. And any switch out for lowfat versions of his full-fat food items have been a total disaster, so I was ready to see his twinge, groan and ask what mama had done to his sweet tea. 


So I whipped up a pitcher of sweet tea and let him have it. 

Waiting…

Waiting…

“It’s good mama,” he said. “Can I have some more?” 

As far as I’m concerned, it doesn’t get any better than that. You heard it from the mouth of babes! 

If you need the perfect recipe for sweet tea, then here’s Paula’s recipe. Just use the Pure Via Stevia instead of sugar! 

More About Pure Via Stevia
With only five calories per serving, Pure Via® Turbinado Raw Cane Sugar and Stevia Blend offers a lower calorie alternative for those with a sweet tooth to make foods and beverages taste naturally delicious. The blend is made from the pure sweet extract of the stevia plant and turbinado raw cane sugar, which comes from the first press of raw cane sugar.  

Pure Via® is an all-natural, zero-calorie sweetener this is made from Rebaudioside A (Reb A), the sweetest, best-tasting part of the stevia leaf. Reb A is generally recognized as safe (GRAS) according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Handcrafted for coffee and tea, Pure Via® is available in 40- and 80ct. boxes and a 4-oz. jar for a suggested retail price of $2.49, $4.29 and $4.99 Pure Via® Turbinado Raw Cane Sugar and Stevia Blend is availableexclusively in Dallas, Texas, in 100-ct boxes for a suggested retail price of $2.98. Retail prices may vary. Each packet (100 per box) sweetens like one teaspoon of sugar. 

Discover more at www.purevia.com or facebook.com/PureViaUS


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