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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Everything’s Better with (Twisted) Butter

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Food Fridays:

One of my favorite trends is gourmet butters. I just love the Cabernet Goat Cheese Butter you can add to your burger at Chop House Burgers in Arlington or the sweet honey butter you get delivered with your bread at Saltgrass Steak House. It’s that extra buttery touch that takes it to the next level. And like my kids say, “it makes it taste GOOOD!”

And while I’d love to cook it up Paula Deen style, I don’t have the time or the calorie count. Thankfully, I’ve got a shortcut now for making those fancy butters without the time with Twister Butter. Available in savory and sweet flavors, these cute little tubs are filled with natural ingredients and come in six delicious flavors: Blueberry, Honey & Lemon Zest; Cinnamon, Honey & Brown Sugar; Cilantro & Lime; Chives & Parsley; Portobello Mushroom with Boursin-Garlic & Fine Herb Cheese; Bacon, Dijon Mustard & Green Onion.  For now you can get them at DFW Albertsonsstores, so with Thanksgiving around the corner, I’d stock up on these now…especially before EveryDay with Rachael Ray Magazine’s November 2012 issue hits the stands featuring Twisted Butter as one of her top picks for best butters (which including some 60 sticks and tubs of butter).

Rachel Ray says this Twisted Butter is one of the best butters available!

Of course, I couldn’t just choose one flavor to try, so I decided to take one for the team and taste four of them (the mushroom and cilantro didn’t make it to the testing.) And to be fair, I enlisted a few panelists (my son, daughter, husband and bestie) to help me. To be fair, I decided the only way to really “try” them was to have something simple in which to taste them with (butter on a spoon just isn’t appetizing), so I purchased plain bagels as to not taint our taste buds.

What did the results say of our “official butter tasting?” While I thought the Blueberry, Honey & Lemon Zest would reign supreme, it was the Cinnamon, Honey & Brown Sugar and Bacon, Dijon Mustard & Green Onion that took top honors. The bacon one just screamed baked potato heaven and the blueberry seemed like a great topping on top of French toast. However, when we were done, I really wondered on the different ways I could use these butters to look like I had worked really hard at dinner and didn’t.

Thankfully, the good folks at Twisted Butter already went there for me! Their site was filled with recipes that made me look (almost) Paula Deen worthy. And of course with the holiday cooking season about to go into full gear, these little guys might be just the perfect pairing for a holiday gift to the neighbors with homemade bread. Just remember it’s always homemade if you wrapped it up at home. You don’t necessarily have to make it from scratch. 

It’s the thought that counted, right?

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.”)

Making dinner taste (REALLY) good – Jack’s Southern Comfort Food

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Food Fridays

While Jack’s Southern Comfort Food opened only last Friday, as soon as you walk in the doors at 1905 Greenville Avenue and take a seat, you feel like you are already home…at least a part of  longtime Dallas/Fort Worth restaurateur Scott Jones’. His latest comfort food eatery pays homage to this culinarian’s humble roots – Louisiana Cajun creole from his Mother’s side with the big bold downhome Texas cooking of his dad (for which the place is named.)  


Another perfect example of his southern hospitality can be tasted right at the counter with chocolate chip cookies, just like you would at home, giving you that I’m-home-kind-of-feeling.


Upside down pot pie, mac and cheese, real-deal gumbo, watermelon lemonade and deviled eggs served in vintage deviled-egg holders were just part of the warm and fuzzy afternoon spent at Jack’s. I love that the dishes were all served with mismatched plates all collected from sales and old cabinets to put together the spots plateware.


A perfect mix of bright colors among photos of retro toasters, deviled eggs and other fun finds (like Ross Perot’s smug mug) is a perfect example of Jones’ concept for the place.  Just make sure you show respect to his mom (she’s the beautiful woman in the center.)


I’m obsessed with aprons, so I love this one that seemed so perfect for the Jack’s staff. The hand-made aprons are made from old jean shorts, skirts and more! Best of all, they offer the“It’s All Relative” aprons and tea towels for purchase, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Bridge Breast Network, a non-profit that saves lives by linking low income, uninsured individuals to diagnostic and treatment services for breast cancer.


Chow-chow, onion relish and something I’ve never heard of called Mayhaw jelly makes eating at Jack’s like a Sunday supper at my Grandma’s. The centerpieces used on the tables also include fresh cut green onions in small mason jars (giving the feeling that they just came from the garden.)


The best part of Jack’s isn’t even at the restaurant – it’s at home. There are several options for casseroles, ready-made salads and of course, desserts and sticky biscuits that you can take home. And for me, not only is that option awesome, but the fact they’ll serve my kids complimentary after-school snacks like pimento cheese roll-ups and fruit salad (to die for) while I pick out our take-home dinner for the night, makes it a new S.O.S (save our supper) kind-of-place. For our custom casserole choice, we mixed a little bit of everything that our family liked (corn, chicken, pasta and more) into a dish and then popped it in the oven for 30 minutes to create Tuesday night’s dinner. (If I hadn’t brought in a sack,  no one would have know the difference…we’ll that and that it tasted good.)

While I can tell you the biscuits are reason enough to come on in for a spell, I know I’ll be back come the holidays with a special catering menu to make you look like a rockstar. Deep fried turkey, honey backed ham, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole and of course, dessert and rolls will be packaged up to take straight from their kitchen to your dining room table. Just make sure you throw away the sacks before everyone comes in, so when you tell them it’s homemade, your family will believe you.

Jack’s Southern Comfort Food
1905 Greenville Avenue
BYOB
Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Saturday from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; and Sunday from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
www.jackssoutherncomfortfood.com
214.821.0900
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This story also appeared on DallasFoodNerd.com on October 9, 2012.

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.”)

Get Your Pumpkin Fix with Café Brazil’s Holiday Menu – Starts 10/2/12

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Food Fridays


The taste of pumpkin is in the air. 

If the Snickerdoo coffee blend wasn’t enough reason to go daily, Cafe Brazil’s holiday menu debuts October 2 at all 10 locations for a limited time. So until you get your hands on those Cinnamon Pumpkin Pancakes on Tuesday, start plotting what else you’ll be ordering with a sneak peek at the menu!

**HOLIDAY ENTREES**

Cinnamon Pumpkin Pancakes
Three delicious Buttermilk Pancakes loaded with Cinnamon and Pumpkin and topped with Cinnamon Butter and Powdered Sugar



Banana Bread French Toast
Moist, delicious Banana Bread drenched in Egg Batter and lightly grilled. Topped with fresh Bananas and Berries, drizzled with our famous Crème Anglaise and our new Homemade Sweet Orange Sauce and dusted with Powdered Sugar and Walnuts



Chai Oatmeal
Skillet Oatmeal made with a blend of Milk and our delicious Chai Tea makes for a perfectly seasoned breakfast.  Served with a Fruit Cup and choice of Pastry

Pumpkin Cheesecake with Brownie Crust
Our unique Homemade Pumpkin Cheesecake with our delicious Brownie Walnut Crust, garnished with Chocolate Sauce



**SPECIALTY BEVERAGES**

S’Mores Latte or S’Mores Hot Cocoa
Blended with Steamed Milk and Toasted Marshmallow Syrup and topped with Whipped Topping, Chocolate Sauce, Marshmallows and Graham Cracker Crumbs


Caramel Apple Cider
Steamed Apple Cider flavored with Caramel Syrup and topped with Whipped Topping, Cinnamon and Caramel Sauce



**COFFEE FLAVORS**

Holiday Blend (available in decaf.)
A delightful combination of Cinnamon, Caramel, French Vanilla and Hazelnut

This story also appeared on DallasFoodNerd.com on Sept. 30, 2012.

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.”)

Get Your Pumpkin Fix: Celebrate Fall with Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

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Food Fridays

I love autumn in Texas (yes, I did make a funny there). It only lasts for two weeks with our crazy weather, so I intend to suck the life of every second of it. That means breaking out the fall wreath, painting my pumpkin (carving is way too messy), burning tons of candles with a baked something smell and baking up these perfect pumpkin chocolate chip cookies. They’re easy to make, which is why my friend who gave me the recipe makes them. That and they taste delish!


Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
(Makes 3 dozens)
Ingredients
1 cup pumpkin
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 egg
2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tbsp vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (can use 1/2 cup chopped nuts instead of 1/2 cup chocolate chips if desired)
Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Beat in egg, pumpkin and vanilla.
Mix and sift flour, baking powder, soda, salt, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Add chocolate chips (and nuts if desired.)
Mix thoroughly but don’t over mix.
Drop by teaspoons onto well-greased cooking sheet.
Bake for 15 minutes until lightly browned.
Remove from cookie sheet while still warm.
Cook on rack.
Enjoy the perfect taste of pumpkin and chocolate.

Butter Dreams Come True: Meet and Eat with Paula Deen and Bobby Flay

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While cooking might not be one of my strongest talents, eating and watching all things food is. My Pinterest board is full of all the things I’ll make in my next life and when the TV’s on…it’s Food Network that makes my heart (and my stomach) skip a beat. 

So when I heard that THE Paula Deen was going to be in Dallas for MetroCooking Dallas…I quickly jumped to see her Southern Highness whip up something and utter her magic twang that could make scrambled eggs sound like the best thing EVER. Speaking of the best thing ever (another Food Network reference), Paula’s not coming empty handed! She’s bringing Iron Chef, Boy Meets Grill, Food Network Star host – we’ll I could go on forever on his list of shows…Bobby Flay. And that’s just for starters.
Photo courtesy of MetrocookingDallas.com.
I do love me some Paula and Bobby, but some of the biggest stars scheduled for this food-lovers bonanza, are specialty food purveyors whose roots are already planted here in the Lone Star State. While food products from all over the U.S. will be on parade, being a proud Texas girl, I can’t help but spotlight these tasty treats that “reign supreme” in Texas.
If you have not heard of these companies, you should put them on your must-haves and must-tastes at this weekend’s MetroCooking Dallas.
Keller – Smokin’ Texas Gourmet
http://www.smokintexasgourmet.com
Inspired by Chef Peter Mollet, this Go Texan-approved product line of salsas, seasonings, sauces and more are all gluten-free, vegan and vegetarian friendly. Best sellers include Peach Salsa and Jalapeno Honey Mustard.
Dallas – The Kessler Cookie Company 
http://www.kesslercookies.com
Haven’t had the chance to bite into a Chocolate Chip Coconut Pecan cookie?  Then get in line. Or better yet, get scheduled for Clyde Greenhouse and Michal Taylor’s Club Kessler and they will send you a monthly supply.
Dallas – Canyon Specialty Foods
http://www.canyonfoods.com
Anne Connaly’s special touch can be found in her pestos, tapenades, soups, and anything else that one can think of to make something taste good. A testament to its goodness, Dallas’ favorite chefs, Dean Fearing, has teamed up for a custom collection featuring his recipe’s for Texas Mop Sauce, Silky Orange Blossom Sauce and his famed Tortilla Soup.
Richardson – Custom Cafe Foods 
http://www.customcafefoods.net
Quick and easy are two words that are key in the kitchen nowadays. But with these dry mixes of gourmet soups, quick breads, and specialty dips can make anyone seem like they’ve been slavin’ away for hours with only a few minutes, especially when the aroma of the Cheddar & Chive Quick Bread hits the air.
Anna – Luscombe Farm Specialty Foods
http://www.luscombefarm.com
Leslie Luscombe’s jellies make biscuits swoon when they enter the room. Toasted Pecan butter, Confetti Jelly and Jalapeno Peach have won awards at the State Fair and can dress up a cream cheese and cracker like nobody’s business.
Austin – Lammes Candies
https://lammes.com
WilliamWirt Lamme made his family name a legend more than 100 years ago with the Texas Chewie Pecan Pralines in 1892. Now the appropriately named Austin-based candy “Longhorns,” along with other homemade candy treats, make them a must-have for any real Texan.
Brenham – Del Sol Food Company
http://www.briannassaladdressing.com
Family-owned and operated for more than 30 years, this small-batch dressing maker already has long had a home on many dinner tables. Rich Poppy Seed, Chipotle Cheddar and Champagne Caper Vinaigrette flavors makes one almost forget the bed of greens underneath it.
Fredericksburg – Quintessential Chocolates Co.
http://www.chocolat-tx.us
Hand-rolled by Lecia Duke, these chocolates are as delicious to drink as they are to eat by filling them with liquors, cognacs and wines like Garrison Brothers Straight Shooter Texas Bourbon and Australian Tawny Port. Other treats come sans spirits, but the Tequila D’ Almendrado, their signature piece, is worth a shot.
Heath – Texas Toffee Queen
http://www.texastoffeequeen.com
Nancy Lalumia recreates her Sicilian family recipe of toffee into new flavors like White Chocolate Mango Chili, Dark Chocolate Salted Blood Orange and Dark Chocolate Salted Jalapeno. While you can find this one in your local grocery store, she’s happy to personalize these just for gift-giving with coordinated boxes and ribbon.
Houston – Fat Sister Southern Specialty Foods
http://www.fatsisterfoods.com
Anything called Fat Sister has got to be good and with pancake flavors like Pumpkin Spice, Butter Pecan and best-selling Peanut Butter, then Fat Sister can come over anytime. Making Nana and Paw-Paw proud, this still family-owned business has created an alter-ego, Skinny Sister, for those hankering for organic and gluten-free choices.
Spicewood – The Spicewood Food Company
http://spicewoodfood.com
David Lewis knows how to make any salad or sandwich mind-blowing with a great line of gourmet balsamic vinegars, infused olive oils and white truffle oil. Favorites include White Truffle Mustard, Blue Cheese Pecan Dipping Oil and Strawberry Balsamic Vinegar.

Photo courtesy of the Salado Wine Festival.  http://saladowinefestival.com 

I know I couldn’t think of something more flavor fully of fun than or more southern than a day smothered and covered with rich butter, spicy pepper and Texas food charm. Can’t you just smell the fun?
MetroCooking Dallas
September 22 & 23
Dallas Convention Center

Always Know Where “Kids Can Eat Free” with Free New App

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I try to always give readers a heads up on where they can score free food — especially when you are paying for kids to eat, too. Worst off, when you are trying to eat healthy it can go to the wayside if you have to take out the whole family. (I mean how can you compete with a Little Ceasar’s Pizza at $5 for a large pepperoni!) That’s why one of the most heavily downloaded lists is that of all the “kids eat free” restaurants in DFW. But keeping up that list and printing it out to put on the refrigerator may be a thing of the past with a new free website and app.

Jennifer Bilbro, a busy mom tired of overpaying for kids’ meals, founded Out to Eat With Kids, an online database featuring local restaurants with economical and healthy kids’ meals. At OuttoEatWithKids.com, parents can search by zip code and day of the week to find a selection of FREE or reduced-price kids’ meals at local restaurants. Parents can also access this incredible resource for meals on-the-go by using its free mobile app. (This is what I use.)
Out to Eat With Kids features more than 15,000 restaurants nationwide and is constantly being updated with new deals. Plus, Out to Eat With Kids is working with the National Restaurant Association to promote healthy children’s menu options that meet nutritional standards through its Kids LiveWell program and features a special logo next to qualifying restaurants.

I found around 15 Kids Eat Free specials in DFW on the app, so it’s off to a great start. And hopefully so are we to saving a little money!  

Win a little bit of (healthy) heaven with Arctic Zero!

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This month is all about trying to be healthy and take care of #1. I can tell you that I can enjoy my healthy quest a little bit easier with ARCTIC ZERO! The World’s First Super Dessert and only 150 Calories Per Pint! Arctic Zero is All Natural, Fat Free, Gluten Free, Lactose Intolerant Friendly and a whole lot more good stuff. And with flavors like Mint Chocolate Chip and Cookies and Cream, I don’t feel like I’m missing out and neither will my kids! And now you can get your hands on this good stuff too!

Arctic Zero is giving away 8 pints of ice creams with different flavors, 2 boxes of bars, 1 box of mixed vanilla/chocolate and 1 box of mixed strawberry/orange cream to one lucky winner (for US only.)

This giveaway will start September 7 until September 30. To enter the giveaway you just fill up the rafflecopter below. The mechanics of the giveaway is very simple just follow the FB pages, twitter, tweet, and leave a comment. Good luck everyone! a Rafflecopter giveaway. 

If in case the rafflecopter did not work here is the link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/sharecode/YTIwN2ZlOGYwZWI2ODE4YmNiYTcwMjlmYzM5MjU5OjEw

Get Out with Girlfriends: Fort Worth’s Brownstone

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With two kids, a full-time job and a husband in college, free time with my girlfriends is not something I enjoy very often. That’s why it’s important occasionally to make lunch dates (and even little movie dates) with my girlfriends during “working hours.” While normally not near long enough, an hour here and there is good enough to remember that there’s something else besides diapers, dinner and kiddo dilemmas. So the other day when I have a chance to eat at one of my bucket-list restaurants for lunch, the Brownstone in Fort Worth, I was ecstatic.
Nested in Fort Worth’s upscale West 7thdistrict, the Brownstone is an open-space concept designed for everyone including the white-collar worker to a gals’ night out. My friend and I fell somewhere in between with only an hour for lunch, we quickly tried perused the menu. That was the hard choice to make since it was full of many great appetizers, salads and desserts. And with diver scallops, creamy mac n cheese and crawfish, the choice for lunch was going to be a hard one…except when we came across the Executive Menu option. Designed with the lunch hour in mind, it promises a delicious lunch featuring comfort classics like meatloaf and shrimp n grits in addition to the soup, salad and sandwich combos you expect. And best of all, they’ll get your meal and your included drink to you in 30 minutes or less for only $10.
While the Pimento Grilled Cheese, Tomato Bisque and Greens combo made my taste buds happy, it was The Stone Select that made intrigued me, so my girlfriend order the grilled cheese and I ordered the “little bit of everything.” While we waited for our meal, I broke down ordered the Brownstone white sangria, ensemble white wine. Full of summer berries, a light fruity flavor, and just a little tad of bubbly, I could see why this house favorite could be one of mine as well.

Only a few sips down, our meal arrived right on time. Indecisive as I am with food, The Stone Select was an ideal option. The perfectly portioned dish featured Brownstone’s Buffalo Blue Cheese Hummus, Asian Chicken Salad with almond, bacon, spinach, and artichoke dip, salad, crudités and other dippables. I  was was happy to dive in and share all my tasty choices with my girlfriend who also was returning the favor with her grilled cheese/soup combo. Although I don’t know the calorie count, it was a good, shareable meal. The Asian salad spotlighted a tangy and sweet dressing, almonds and bite-size pieces of chicken. The dips were great to share with my friend and the veggies on my plate made me feel better when I indulged with my sangria. My experience ended on a high note when the check came…less than $20 for a meal, apps and a drink and in less than an hour.

In addition to its Executive Lunch, I’d recommend Thursdays for Girls Night at the Brownstone. With $1 bubbly and free appetizers for tables of four or more, it’s sure to become the go-to destination for girls 21-41, looking for a great place to catch up with the girls. And July 18 from 5 p.m. – 7 p.m. , the Brownstone becomes the headquarters for our Mom2Mom readers for our Moms Meet & Tweet. Part of a night of West 7th’s Ladies Night Out, not only will you drink bubbly at $1 a pop, get a personal chef demo of crab cakes from the Brownstone’s Christian Lehrmann and tons and tons of prizes, discounts, giveaways and more.
So bring your girlfriends and start your night off with us on July 18 at the Brownstone for a night of fun!
Brownstone
840 Currie Street
Fort Worth, TX
817-332-1555

Last-Minute Daddy’s Day Ideas + Giveaway!

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Like Mother’s Day this year, this Father’s Day couldn’t have come at a worse time. Really. Heavy planning is already underway for the four-year old’s birthday bonanza (much more to come), family begins arriving Friday and then it’s the big day. Since I’d already used the Pinterest Father’s Day candy card idea for his birthday last month, I was going to have to expand my horizons. Luckily a few good emails came across that not only saved me some time, money and even made me look like a superstar.
 

FOODIE DAD: 
“Peanut-butter-and-chocolate-everything bouquet” from Edible Arrangements 
Actually called the Peanut Butter Chocolate Daisy®, this little-bit-of-heaven made everyone in the family happy – including Dad.  With a little bit of everything, this yummy treat featured fresh banana slices hand dipped in peanut butter and rich chocolate, crisp Granny Smith apple wedges, some dipped in smooth peanut butter and some in rich chocolate, grapes, juicy pineapple stars, fresh strawberries and chocolate dipped strawberries and retails for around $49 for the regular size. (If you’ve never had chocolate-covered bananas from Edible Arrangements, you don’t know what you’re missing.)



While one of my go-to baby arrival gifts, normally, I wouldn’t think of dad + Edible Arrangements.  However, after digging online I found out there’s a whole sports collection, perfect for those sports fans with a hankering for chocolate (and in our case PB, too!) And right now there’s even a special on their NASCAR collection for 15% off, but only until the end of the month (or supplies last). Best of all, starting June 14 they are mobile, so you can make your delivery from your mobile phone! (While this may not be the ideal way to get my family to eat their fruit, it did make me feel better than a plate of chocolate chip cookies.) 


See below for a special giveaway from Edible Arrangements! 


TECHNO DAD:
Label Interactive’s Game Table FREE App 
Probably already one of your favorite apps on your Iphone, Game Table is excited to announce that this Father’s Day they will debut their free #1 ITunes downloadable app Game Table Free now for Ipad. If FREE didn’t grab you, then the fact that for every 10,000 downloads, Label Interactive will donate $1,000 to the Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation, up to $10,000 should. Children of Fallen Patriots Foundation provides college scholarships and educational counseling to military children who have lost a parent in combat or accident. So give dad a few hours to himself to play  the app in peace and quiet. That means this little gift doesn’t cost you anything but a smile and few clicks on the Apple. 



ADVENTURE DAD: 
Flight Lessons by Let’sGoFlying.com
While time is not on our side for royal treatment this weekend, I’d still like to give Dad something special to remember. Since my hubby is a big historical nut, I’ve found all kinds of interactive battle experiences he could do…out of state. However, I know there has to be something he could do close to home and for only a few hours at a time…and there is! The Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association’s Let’sGoFlying.com  is an online resource for learning how to fly and a database of flight schools. Best of all, they offer really affordable introductory flights for only $99. So Dad get’s the equivalent of what it costs for me to get a massage and turns into Tom Cruise for an afternoon…Seems like a win-win for all of us (as long as I can find the flight suit and the Ray-Bans.) 



Hopefully this gives you a few ideas for Dad’s Day without banging your head or breaking the bank. And to all you Dads out there, especially mine – HAPPY FATHER’S DAY! 


And to make it even sweeter, we have a great giveaway from EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS ($69 value)!




a Rafflecopter giveawayDisclaimer: I was provided an Edible Arrangement for purposes of this review, however, all the views included here are my own.

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

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If you’ve spent anytime following me, you know I like to eat.

Unfortunately, while cooking sounds like it could be fun, time seems to get in the way for my battle to make a meal that’s healthy, quick (like 20 minutes quick) and of course, tasty. So when I got an invitation to attend a cooking class hosted by Wholly Guacamole to get some tips on “dinner dilemmas,” I was quick to RSVP since I need all the help I can get. However, while I am a fan of all things made with guacamole or salsa, I was intrigued to learn how I could make that spread for a week’s worth of dinner hearing the complaints of empty stomachs.


The 20-count mom class seemed to be ready to learn any new ideas about getting healthy and  quick meals on the table for their family. And after an afternoon of learning basic cooking skills, a few test recipes for appetizers, entrees and even a few cocktails, I was quite surprised on all the different uses of “salsa.” I mean, really, a drink? Yes, we actually made two including a cocovado using Wholly Guacamole and coconuts and placing a dollop of Mango Wholly Salsa before pouring champagne. (At this point I became a believer since cooking started with a cocktail!)



Throughout the afternoon, I learned other great recipes including apps like Island Mango Shrimp and my personal favorite, roasted tomato, goat cheese and feta bruschetta. Besides being fun to say 10 times, the combo of goat cheese, feta and a little balsamic glaze made it hard to just eat one (so I ate like three.) We also gave dinner staples like chicken breast and meatloaf a makeover with a few new ingredients. However, it was the vanilla ice cream topped with warm Pineapple Wholly Salsa that really sank the deal…it was so good I ate it before I ate my lunch!

After the cooking class, I was full, happy and empowered to take this “mama challenge” and try it on my most cynical critics – my family.  So equipped with one of each of the products, I went home to make dinner for my family. Ready to make something new and not to be wasteful, I was going to incorporate my salsas into as many meals as possible.  

The first night: The most obvious use would be Mexican food and since I already had fajitas thawed, there wasn’t much I could do. However, I used the pico and guacamole mix to create cute little appetizer cups that included a perfect bite of everything you eat in a fajita all in a baked chip. While not that original, it was very tasty. When my husband asked for a little more heat, we pulled out the Hot Salsa. Good Dinner. Happy Family.

The next night I worked to expand the menu and decided to conquer pork tenderloin paired with the Pineapple Wholly Salsa, mashed potatoes and broccoli. It took about 10 minutes to prepare everything and about an hour to cook. My husband even complimented me on the presentation on this one. Again, Good Dinner. Happy Family.


While I could go through a list of all the great things I made, I think it’s obvious that Wholly Guacamole and Salsa line is a lot more than just dip. Don’t believe me, then take your own challenge. Go to their Facebook or webpage for a good coupon you can use today and get cooking.

While there’s another reason why they call it “Wholly,” after this challenge I know why I call it “Holy Wholly Guacamole.” And hopefully your family will too. 

Disclaimer: I was a special guest of Wholly Guacamole and received products to sample these recipes. However, the comments here are all my own. 



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