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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Hop on Over to IHOP for a Taste of the French with New Brioche French Toast

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Food Fridays:

 I received a gift card for the purposes of this review. However, all the opinions expressed here are my own. 

This Food Friday may actually be better titled as a “Food Saturday” morning as we’re talking breakfast. However, my family loves to eat breakfast anytime, so when the temperatures got cold this last week, we headed to one of our good ‘ole standby: IHOP! 


Oh how times have changed. When I used to go to IHOP it was late nights for studying or from hanging out with my friends. I’d drink on that endless coffee pot for hours and enjoy the comfort of my IHOP close to my dorm room. 

 Fast-forward a decade and a husband and kiddo later and I find myself again at IHOP. Except it’s 5 PM not 5 AM, the studying happening at the table is my son’s ABCs and the issues discussed involve birthday parties, school and other kiddo-centric topics. One thing does remain the same: me and the endless coffee pot. (Thanks for that IHOP.) 



However, there was another change on the menu this trip – a new offering for Brioche French Toast. Being that my son is obsessed with french toast and sausage (his request for breakfast every morning), I was sure that this was going to be a French-filled meal for him. Instead dad and I ordered it up the french toasts + add ons and he ordered his normal chocolate funny face (kids can’t resist a little chocolate chips and whip cream faces.)

These thick-cut slices of round brioche bread are soaked in a lightly-sweetened vanilla batter, grilled to a crispiness then topped with three toppings:

  • Bananas Foster Brioche French Toast comes with a New Orleans Foster’s sauce made with sliced bananas, caramelized in a buttery brown sugar glaze, and whipped topping.
  • Berry Berry Brioche French Toast layers blueberries and strawberry topping with a luscious dusting of powdered sugar and whipped topping.
  • Peaches & Cream Brioche French Toast combines sweetened sliced peaches, honey-roasted pecans and vanilla cream drizzle with a dollop of whipped topping.


 And of course, there’s the add-ons if you need a little more for breakfast. You can order the Brioche French Toast alone or with an IHOP Combo including two eggs, optional choice of crispy bacon, pork sausage links or a grilled ham slice, along with hash browns. (I mean that’s why you go to IHOP, right? All the other stuff you get?) 

 I will say that the Bananas Foster Brioche French Toast was really delicious and we all fought to finish the last bite. The Peaches and Cream was good and was a much lighter dish even with the pecans. Suprisingly, my peaches were served cold so I figured this will be a great dish on a really warm day rather than when I’m hankering for something rich and cozy. While we didn’t have a chance to try the Berry Berry version this go-around, it totally would be a great try next time we come in.

 I mean we’ve been coming for decades (really.) 


Don’t forget you can share your Brioche French Toast experience and win a IHOP for a year! Here’s how!

For more information or to find an IHOP restaurant near you, please visit www.ihop.com.  Follow IHOP on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ihop.



Get Your Pass: How to Be a Chick-Fil-A VIP

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Food Fridays:

After THIS week, I wanted to share something that just made me smile. Food often does, so that’s why I write about it, take photos of it, talk about it and eat it often. 

This little adventure though was a little different than our normal trip to Chick-Fil-A. I wasn’t just a customer; I was a VIP. And best of all, you can be too! Here’s how: 
A girlfriend of mine handed me these “backstage” passes for an All-Access Tour of the local Chick-Fil-A. She said that her kiddos loved it and it was cool to see what CFA does  behind the “magic curtain.” So of course, I had to go. 

On our way out of town, we stopped at the Chick-Fil-A in Grapevine for lunch and our “tour.” Since my kids would eat CFA for every meal of the day, I knew they would love it too. We ordered our normal meal and showed them the pass. With a smile they told us to enjoy our meal and when we were done, they would be happy to escort us. 

Of course, that got me thinking about why I cared out the tour. Would I be as excited at just any fast-food joint. Not at all. But it was Chick-Fil-A and “I Love Chick-Fil-A.” And after my tour I was going to find out exactly why. 

First it was impertative we start with a little history lesson about how CFA became CFA. Then as we approached the kitchen door, we were asked to put on shoe covers so we wouldn’t spread germs and also slip on the floor in the kitchen. Unfortunately I was told is that I couldn’t take any shots of my backstage tour, so I don’t have any photos to share. But I will tell you that the 15-minute tour was worth it just to see the CFA logo drawn in sugar and to learn that CFA is the biggest customer of Sunkist Lemons. (It would have made the cutest photo!)

Then we took a gander at their side items, ingredients and what products they used to make many of their customer favorites, especially the kids meal items (which we purchase at least once a week) and score a free cookie coupon (the best chocolate chip cookies ever.) Next we were able to see the feature presentation, the cooking of that amazing chicken with the family recipe that has made CFA one of the most successful quick-service restaurants. As a finale, my son was able to create his own family-recipe ice cream cone from the machine (it’s not ice milk, people) and go to the play area to enjoy his dessert and a little play time with his sister. (Remember, when you’re four, this is all a pretty big deal.)


After our experience I just thought about how cool the experience was. And even more so, how it really made us even more fans of the food. So much so, I decided I needed to highlight just a few of the reasons 

WHY I LOVE CHICK-FIL-A 

1.  That chicken. OMG. My first CFA was not until college and only then did I understand why people stood in line for just a chicken sandwich.
2.  Chick-Fil-A sauce is the stuff that dreams are made out of (I only wish they sold it in a bottle!) 
3.  Drive through service that is friendly, quick and done with a smile – no matter which one I go to!
4.  Huge condiment spread. The Reos are condiment people so the fact that there is a station that’s neat and tidy and anticipates all my needs, I love. 
5.  Sticky placemats for the kids to keep them from eating off the table. (Had to be a mom that made that suggestion.) 
6.  Hello, another condiment!?! And ketchup reigns supreme for my husband. Plus, dip-accessible containers. (Why does anyone use those packets anymore?)
7.  My son’s favorite place to eat. I can always ensure I have a perfectly behaved son if I so much as dangle the idea of the “Cowplace” as a treat. (I’m not above incentive programs or bribery:) 
8.  Playground Sneaker Keeper to keep all the kids organized and hopefully, from coming home with the wrong ones. 
9.  Everyone loves the cow. I mean come on. That’s a gimme. 
10. Anything that makes my husband smile like this makes my “I Love List…” In this case, it was the ice cream. (Perfect to go with that cookie!)
11. Playground equipment that is INSIDE and allows for toddlers to play. Part of the reason CFA won me over is that I could take my 18-month old and she could play without falling down in the dirt or going beyond her means.
12. Those cookies are THAT good. So good that I ordered them for my son’s birthday party…too bad the kids didn’t eat them because the adults had already snagged them all. 

So you want to be a Chick-Fil-A VIP? Then all you have to do is ASK! Just give a call to your local CFA and see if they are doing the “All-Access Backstage Tour.” I know the Grapevine location said they invite everyone to be a VIP! And if you are a real CFA fan, they even do a 90-minute tour of the corporate office in Atlanta! 

They’ll leave the fryer on for you. 

Disclaimer: This was a nice family trip to Chick-Fil-A. It has nothing to do with any political, religious or other views, but just that my family likes to eat CFA. A lot. And that the Chick-Fil-A Sauce must have something addictive in it because I can’t get enough of that stuff. Ever. And I totally paid for every bit of what we ate and Chick-Fil-A had no idea I was going to blog about it either. So how’s that for honesty and transparency? 



Date Night: Party for Two at BJs Restaurant

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Want-it Wednesdays:


Something I’ve wanted for a long time and don’t get near enough of are meals with JUST the two of us. Between our busy schedules and two kids under 5, dinner is normally at home, in a rush and only about 15 minutes long or when the 18-month old rises from her seat and begins to touch her dirty hands all over the kitchen. So when we had the chance to score a DATE NIGHT with just the two of us at a local BJs Brewhouse in Arlington, I was thrilled (even if that meant “date night” was an early dinner before the kids got from school!) 

Since we felt like we were sneaking off during a school night, we wanted to go somewhere casual and could suit both of our taste AND our budget, so BJs was a great fit. We hadn’t been there in ages, so we figured it was time to try it out. We were greeted by a friendly staff and a warm atmosphere, helping us to relax and enjoy this special moment even if it was only going to be about an hour. After springing for two handcrafted beers (I couldn’t resist the sound of the Brewmaster’s Reserve Blonde Lager), we took on the huge menu to figure out “What’s for dinner?” 

Being that we were on a “date,” we figured we’d go all out and try the Party for Two, an appropriate choice for this party of two – complete with two soups or salads, any medium signature pizza and a “pizookie.” Sounded like a plan that could make us both happy!


To start, my husband opted for Clam Chowder and I ordered the Tomato Mozarella Salad. Both were delicious and made me crave the next course even more. But we were going to have to agree on a pizza – at least we thought. While our helpful waiter let us know we could choose to order our pizza half and half, we both eyed one of the new flavors, the Spicy Meatball – complete with meatballs, jalapenos and Italian sausage. I knew he was really craving it, so I conceeded (or at least I let him think I took one for the team.) 


Mama Mia! The Spicy Meatball did not disapoint at all and I even ate one more slice them him. We would have eaten it all, but decided to box it up for later if there was anyway we were going to eat this PIZOOKIE thing. I had heard about it, but to be honest, it just seemed like a warm chocolate chip cookie and ice cream (a relatively normal desert), so why did people rave about it? 

I was about to find out why. 

There were actually like seven different Pizookies to choose from, but since this was our first one, we went for the original Bj’s Famous Pizookie. A few minutes later when it arrived at the table, we dove in like two kids on the playground. 


…And we finished that baby up in no time flat. It was honestly one of the best desserts I had devoured in a long time. It was just simple goodness without too much of the “other’ stuff. I mean when something is perfectly good, you don’t need anything else to make it better (although I will be back for the Pizookie Trio so I can decide that statement is true this time for myself!) 

When the check came (after we let a button out on our pants), the look on my husband’s face was priceless. “Wow, did they forget something on here?” 

Curious I took a look and everything we had ordered was there – it was just that for for the Party for Two and our two beers we had ordered (as well as the handcrafted rootbeer I had to take home), was just around $30. Now THAT is budget-friendly. And to think, if we hadn’t splurged for beers, we would have spent around $20 for a delicious three-course meal, great service and somewhere we look forward to frequenting again – soon. 

Maybe this time we will bring the kids…maybe. 


Remember, the PARTY FOR TWO for only $19.95 is available NATIONWIDE now until April 29, so you need to make plans now to visit your local BJs Restaurant to score this great deal!

Find your closest BJs Restaurant location, menu options and more here: 




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. #pmedia #Bjsrestaurants http://cmp.ly/3/8vNxcO. 

Out of Ketchup? Healthy Homemade Recipes When you Run Out {Recipe}

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“We’re out of ketchup!” Isn’t that worse thing to hear when you’re making a hot dog or french fries? Don’t worry we have healthy homemade recipes for you to make when you find out you’re out at home!

Do-it-yourself condiments are a simple trick to having the added tasty flavors without ingesting preservatives, additives and wasted calories. And best of all, when you run out of the store-bought stuff you actually can make a quick substitution rather than make a last-minute run to the store OR just going without (FYI – my family doesn’t’ go without ketchup EVER.) 


 
ketchup
 
Rachel Berman, Director of Nutrition for CalorieCount.com, a free health and wellness site that provides diet and nutrition information to 5 million members worldwide has put together recipes that help reduce the amount of saturated fat, sodium, added sugar, and calories you typically get with the usual condiments. These recipes will help you take small steps towards your health and weight loss goals plus help you when you run out of the stuff you need.
 
Recipe (makes about 4 cups):
1 large onion, quartered
2 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 teaspoons salt
30 oz. canned tomato paste/puree
½ cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon honey (or molasses)
¾ cup red wine vinegar
1 teaspoon paprika
 
Wrapped in cheesecloth:
 
1 stick of cinnamon
½ teaspoon whole black pepper
½ teaspoon coriander seeds
3-4 whole cloves
6-7 sprigs fresh thyme (can break sprig into pieces)
 
Directions:
  1.  In a blender, blend the onion and garlic into a puree.
  2. Heat up the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and add the puree. Add the salt and stir the mixture until very slightly browned. (2-3 minutes)
  3. To the pot, add the canned tomato paste, brown sugar, honey, and red wine vinegar. Let simmer on low heat for 20 minutes, uncovered, stirring every 5 minutes.
  4. After 15 minutes, throw in the cheesecloth filled with spices. Let simmer for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until there is about half the original volume remaining.
  5. After volume is reduced, stir in 1 teaspoon paprika and let the mixture cool.
  6. Spoon out the cheesecloth pack and place ketchup in jars.
You can store DIY ketchup in containers or mason jars in the refrigerator for 2-3 weeks.
 
 
Recipe (makes about 4 cups):
1 large onion, quartered
3 cloves garlic
1 tablespoon olive oil
30 oz. canned tomato paste/puree
½ cup molasses
3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
 
Directions: 
  1. In a blender, blend the onion and garlic into a puree.
  2. Heat up the olive oil in a large pot over medium heat and add the puree. Stir the mixture until very slightly browned (2-3 minutes).
  3. Add the tomatoes, molasses, apple cider vinegar, Worcestershire sauce. Stir well and let simmer for about 10 minutes.
  4. Stir in the spices and let simmer for another 30 minutes, or until the mixture is reduces by about a half. Stir occasionally.
  5. Let the mixture cool and then transfer to jars.
Notes: 
  • Keep in containers or mason jars in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.
  • DIY BBQ sauce cuts sodium in half from typical store-bought brands.
 
Recipe (makes about 1 cup)
 
½ cup buttermilk
½ cup plain non-fat yogurt
1 garlic clove, minced
1 teaspoon white wine vinegar
¼ teaspoon pepper
½ tablespoon parsley leaves, finely chopped
½ teaspoon dill, finely chopped
1 tablespoon chives, finely chopped
 
Directions:

Mix all the ingredients together and then refrigerate 1-2 hours before use
 
Notes:
  • Yogurt replaces mayonnaise to help drastically reduce the amount of fat and calories found in store-bought brands.
  • The home cook can play around with spices: dill, oregano, basil are all good options.
  • There’s no added sugar!
  • Buttermilk can be made at home too, by using 1 tablespoon white vinegar/lemon juice and adding enough milk to make 1 cup.
  • Store this in a jar in the refrigerator for up to one week.
 

Healthy Apple Pie Pancakes with Go Go squeeZ

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Hopefully today you’ve found me because you saw me on Good Morning Texas on WFAA 8 Dallas. If you came to me because you always visit here, then welcome back for this Me Monday!

On mamachallenge.com, I like to find solutions to the challenges that moms face everyday that are healthy, inexpensive, easy and fun.  

ApplePiePancakes Go Go SqueeZ

One that’s near and dear to me is: breakfast! I love breakfast but with two kids I don’t have the patience, time or the money to spend going out for a two-hour brunch experience. 


 
Of course, one of everyone’s favorite breakfast items is pancakes – but nowadays these aren’t your grandma’s pancakes. These babies are all different flavors and toppings.
 
So inspired by the pie trend, today we are going to Apple Pie Pancakes with Cinnamon Butter that will taste like you’ve spent hours cooking them up, but actually took about 10 minutes to put them together!

Apple Pie Pancakes
 
1 envelope pancake mix 
1 c. water
1 c applesauce (I use 1-2 packages of Gogo squeez)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
¼ nutmeg

Stir together the ingredients and cook.

Heat your griddle or pan to 375 degrees.  (To test griddle, sprinkle with a few drops of water.  If bubbles jump around, heat is just right.)  Grease griddle with butter or cooking spray.  For each pancake, use slightly less than 1/4 cup batter.Cook pancakes until bubbly on top and dry around the edges.  Turn to cook other sides until golden brown.

Apple Topping

 
1-2 bags of kids apples – the browner the better/peeled or unpeeled
2 tablespoons butter
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
2 teaspoons corn starch
¼ c. water
 

In a large bowl mix together chopped apples with all dry ingredients.Melt butter in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add apples, stirring frequently. When a sauce starts to form (about 3 minutes) add some water, about 1/4 cup at a time until you have the amount and consistency of sauce desired. Cook for about 10 minutes. Serve warm.


Cinnamon Butter
1/4 pound unsalted butter, at room temperature
3 tablespoons good honey
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
 
Combine everything in a bowl and whip with an electric mixer until smooth. Enjoy!

Looking for more delicious food ideas? Then follow me on Twitter and Pinterest.

 Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:
 
Apple-Pinterest

Food Fridays: Celebrate St. Pat’s with Irish Street Tacos {Recipe}

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Food Fridays: 

Today’s Food Friday is actually from one of my favorite places to eat (and drink) in Dallas, the BBC! I’ve been working with them for a couple of months and they truly have a great team and know how to have fun – especially on St. Pat’s. So since this weekend is St. Patrick’s Day, I’m sharing this great and SUPER EASY dish for Irish Street Tacos shown today on today’s D: Living! 



IRISH STREET TACOS

This dish is easy to make and has a southern twist, it consists of corned beef, sauerkraut, Russian dressing and tortillas.

For the Meat you will need:
Corned beef 3#
Water 3 Quarts
Spice packet 1 Each
In a medium stock pot add your corned beef and water. If the corned beef comes with a spice packet add it to the water. Bring to simmer and let cook until meat is tender but not falling apart, (about 2 hours) you want to be able to cut it into strips. If your corned beef doesn’t come with a spice packet, you can add your own spices. I recommend: 6 peppercorns, 3 bay leaves, and about 2 tablespoons of salt.

For the Russian dressing you will need:
Mayo 2 Cups
Ketchup 1 Cup
Dill relish ½ Cup
Hard boiled eggs 3 Each
In a mixing bowl add all ingredients and mix well, and then chill before serving.

For the Sauerkraut you will need:
Sauerkraut 2 cans (about 16oz)
Bacon 6 strips
Yellow Onion (Medium Size) 1 Each
Oil 2 Tablespoons

To start open the sauerkraut and drain off juice, set aside. Next cut the bacon into about ½ inch chunks, set aside. Next dice the onion (small to medium dice), set aside. In a medium sauce pot add the oil (medium high heat), when oil is hot add the bacon to the pan and let render till it is almost crispy, then add the onion and cook till translucent. Turn down heat to a simmer so not to burn the bacon. Once the onions are translucent, add the sauerkraut and stir till well incorporated. Turn off the heat, and cover.

To serve:
4” corn Tortillas 24 ea
When the beef is tender, place on a cutting board and slice into 4 inch long strips, if the meat is really thick, cut the strip in half. Lay out the tortillas and place the corned beef down the middle and then top with sauerkraut (as much as you like, me personally I like a lot). Then top with a dollop of Russian dressing and serve. You may serve this with some chopped cilantro and diced raw yellow onion, just for some extra flavor. Serve with Green beer. Delicious!

Garnish with swiss cheese.

Looking for something fun today in DFW for St. Pat’s Day? Make sure you check out all the fun they are having at the BBC — with a bagpiper, green beer, brunch, balloon drop and whole bunch more! 


Food Friday: Texas Turkey Club Burger {Recipe} and {Giveaway}

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Food Fridays:

On Fridays our family normally likes to go out to eat together to celebrate the end of the week and the start of the weekend. Unfortunately, going out with a 4-year-old and an 18-month-old to a restaurant can sometimes be more work than I’m willing to take on, especially if it’s been a LONG week. So mama has opted a few Fridays to bring the “going out” experience home with quick and tasty meals that my kids love and still feel like they are “Friday night dinner appropriate!” 

 Since burgers are a win-win at my house, this tasty recipe I put together seemed to marry all the favorite ingredients in the family together and all with a little kick from Jennie-O! 


Jennie-O Texas Turkey Club Burger


Serving Note: A package of Jennie-O Turkey Store Jalapeno Jack Burgers contains six patties, so choose your serving size based on your family size! For our family, we do 4 patties. Also, the only place you can purchase these burgers is WalMart until the end of March!

 1 package of Jennie-O Turkey Store Jalapeno Jack Burgers 
1 package of Jennie-O Turkey Bacon
1 package of Wholly Guacamole Classic 100 calorie Snack Pack Dip
4 tablespoons of mayonnaise (optional)
4 slices of cheese: provolone or swiss 
8 slices of Texas Toast 
3 tablespoons butter
Optional: sliced tomatoes and lettuce

 Fry turkey bacon according to package directions. 

 Cook turkey patties according to package directions by cooking well done, 165 degrees F (takes around 5-6 minutes on both sides.) 

Spread butter on bread and use skillet to toast until golden brown. 

 Spread mayo/mustard on slices of toast. Add turkey pattie, 3 slices of bacon, cheese and then add guacamole on the top to taste (I like a lot!) Also in complete club style, you can add tomotoes and lettuce if you choose. Even without the vegetables, this is a very tasty and healthy “burger.” 


Want more Jennie-O and Wholly Guacamole fun with me?  Check out these posts: 

Wholly Moly! Making Healthy & Quick Dinners Possible with Dips?


Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2012/11/27/4443121/stuff-dads-stocking-with-this.html#storylink=
Connect: 
Find Wholly Guacamole and Jennie-O on Facebook or follow Twitter at @EatWholly and @SwitchToTurkey. Also find recipes on the Wholly Guacamole and Jennie-O website! 

GIVEAWAY ALERT!
Want to win a Wholly Guacamole and Jennie-O giveaway prize pack? 
You can win: 
Wholly Guacamole FREE coupons (valued at $24)
Jennie-O FREE coupons (valued up to $10)
Turkey meat thermometer and other fun promotional items 

*ENTER NOW*


The opinions expressed above are 100% my own. I received product in exchange for this review and post. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Food Fridays: Wiener Power at Hoffman Hots {Review}

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Food Fridays:

First of all, I’m not a wiener-kind of girl…

WAIT – Let me rephrase – I don’t really like hot dogs. I’ll score one at a Rangers game about once a year and then I’m good until next season. However, when I asked my son lately where he’d like to eat BESIDES Chick-Fil-A, he responded with “hot dogs.” Since he loves going over “The Big D Bridge” (Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge) and I couldn’t bare the thought of hitting up the Sonic, we made the best of both worlds work and hit up Hoffman Hots.

I’ll tell you I wasn’t quite sure what to expect since I had done no research except what Google had done to get me there, we parked in the dirt parking lot of the up-and-coming (still very much coming) Trinity Groves and made our way in.


Wow – it was crowded and only on a Tuesday at this kitchy,  little diner spot. But we bellied up to the line and made our way through to make our first order for a Oreo Milk Shake (we decided if we were going to enjoy this experience, it was going to include the whole enchilada.) We then checked out the creatively concise menu and chose to get a little of it all:

  • Asian dog
  • Sweet and smokey dog
  • good ‘ole plain
  • mac n cheese
  • tator tots
  • asian slaw 
  • Triple XXX rootbeers
  • Totalling around $40 (these better be good dogs!)
Seating did not come easy and thankfully, I had only the four-year old who could sit on the stool booths along the wall we’d claimed (babies in carried or boosters, this might not be the place for you). It didn’t take too long and we had our food. Let the fun begin. 

All in all, it was good. My son was excited to eat the mac, which tasted like a run-of-the-mill Velveta kind of stuff, classic tator tots and an ok Asian slaw. The dogs were the standouts in the lineup and they should be – with the Sweet and Smokey claiming the prize for the reason I’ll go back to this place #1. Made with a kielbasa, their proprietary bun like you’ve never had, a sweet glaze and a gouda-pimento cheese with bacon, it was really good stuff. Like the kind of stuff you drive to when you want to be really bad and eat a good hot dog. 

When we return I can’t wait to try out the outdoor benches and perhaps a real beer and maybe just the big kids next time. It’s fun and worth the drive to see and taste where Dallas is going in the future!

Hoffman Hots
340 Singleton
Dallas, Texas 75212

(214) 760-9977
http://www.hofmannhotdogs.com

I Want Some More Please: 4 Super Soups to Satisfy and Minimize

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Food Fridays:

I have a confession. 

I’m slightly obsessed with soup. I mean really. 

Getting the soup monkey off my back with Corn Chowder at East Hampton Sandwich Co. 

While some women will go in the middle of the night for a preggo food fit, I’ll drive hours away to score the perfect bowl of soup. And compound that with my pregnancy there’s nothing stopping a good soup stop. At my OB/GYNO, there was this little cafe called Alonti and they served the most amazing “Italian Wedding Soup.” While not a traditional recipe, but one with chicken, cream and wonderful goodness. So much so, that when I was pregnant with my second, it continued to be a part of my routine: first go to the appointment and then followup up with a big cup of the soup. 

And then one day, I went and it was gone. Closed down. Finito. (Good for my waistline, bad for my craving.)

So I went to the internet to scour for the recipe, but I quickly discovered this was going to be like trying to find the formula for Coca-Cola. I did get close with the photo below from a blog called “Cookinginflipflops.com,” but unfortunately, the website doesn’t work anymore. I was able to find a photo and filed it on Pinterest in hopes to at least remember what it tasted like and maybe one day get a recipe. 

Oh woe is me as tears of chicken broth come down my cheek. But then Pinterest came and brought me a kleenex and a recipe for it. While it was a close second, it still doesn’t cure the sickness that ailed me (but it’ll work in fix.)

While this photo is from cookinginflipflops.com, the site seems to have bit the dust, but has the most hits and photo links back to the soup. Coincidence? I think not. Alonti’s not sharing.
While that soup will continue to be on my list of must-find must-haves, there’s another “Italian” soup that makes me happy, especially when it’s cold and gloomy (like the best day ever for soup): Olive Garden’s Zuppa Toscano. With the ideal combination of greens, italian sausage, cream and spiciness, this soup is what makes their soup and salad lunch the best deal ever (for me, not them.) Again, through the magic of Pinterest, I also found a recipe for this stuff. Can’t wait to make it soon to see how close it is.
Unfortunately, just because soup is liquid doesn’t always make it lowfat. (Have you checked out the fat count for the Tomato Basil Soup at La Madeleine?  – don’t.) However, there are some soups that can help you do exactly that – lose weight. Which is particularly good when you’ve been eating either of the soups I’ve covered, you’ll need something to help you knock off that extra few pounds you’ll gain after bowl #10. 

And since it IS February, I’ve actually been divulging more HEALTHY soups.One of those you must look at is the Fat-Flush soup. It’s a whole diet plan, but even if you don’t care about the fat flush part, it is a great winter soup recipe!

Source: fatflush.com via Desiree on Pinterest

And I don’t think talk about lowfat soups without including one of the biggest soup fads, the Cabbage Soup Diet. Again, I’m a little hesistant to eat anything consistently for 1 week, no matter how good it is. But you have to admit, it’s a keeper. 


After making up gallons of soup like the Cabbage Soup, you’ll be eating on it for days. So I was uber excited to find the ideal accessory for a soup-obsessed fan like myself: The Lunch Pot by Black+Blum. 

It’s multifunctional and travel-handy with two bowls that come adjoined with its own little spoon. Also, if you  just want to use one of the bowls, it can fit inside each other. It’s looks kinda like something IKEA would make and it sure is conveneient and works really well. And like all their stuff at Black & Blum, everything looks as though it belongs in an art gallery. 

Of course, with all this talk about soup, I’d be remissed to not bring up my favorite spring event, Empty Bowls, a soup fundraiser in Dallas and Fort Worth for the local food banks. It’s a must go, so learn why here!

DISCLAIMER:
I received one or more of the mentioned products for the sole purpose of this review. No other compensating was given and all opinions expressed are 100 percent my own. (Accordance with FTC’s 16 CFR Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)




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