mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents | Dallas Blog

Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

The Magic of The Wand: Wine Without the Hangover

By 3 Comments

Ever regretted the next day after a few glasses of celebratory wine? Cinderella, it’s not a dream…The Wand is your key to wine without the hangover. 

I could tell you some stories about wine… 
 
I could tell you a lot of stories of good wine I’ve enjoyed, bad wines I’ve still enjoyed, and several mornings I regretted every part of enjoyment from the night before. #hangover
 
WineWithoutHangover 
 Actually one of my favorite stories is one where I *may* have consumed more than my share of muscat on an empty stomach at an etiquette dinner I was hosting in college and proceeded to spend the next 48 hours rolled up next to the toilet. #classy
 
With a pounding headache, I vowed the morning, on the cold, vinyl floor of that one-bedroom, beat-down condo I would NEVER EVER EVER do that again. 
 
Napa-Wine-Before
 
Thankfully, over the years, I’ve come to appreciate wine much more. I’ve invested in classes, read books, and done my homework. From trips to Napa, Temecula, and Texas Hill Country, I’ve been able to understand about how it’s grown, how it’s made, and even pick up the little nuisances between certain blends, varieties, etc. 
 
WineWithouttheHangover 
But even in all my Wine U education doesn’t mean I haven’t avoided some next-day aftermath. 
 
WineWithoutHangover
 
So this time when I headed to Texas Hill Country, recently called “The New or Next Napa” and the second most-visited wine region in the country, I took a new magic friend with me…The Wand™ by PureWine. 

 

Around three inches long and flat like a bookmark, The Wand absorbs the histamines and sulfite preservatives from your glass of wine just before you drink it, helping to alleviate the unfavorable reactions many wine lovers suffer from, like headaches, congestion and skin rashes. The process also rapidly aerates your wine, maximizing its full flavor potential.
 
So at each winery I visited I slid out my new friend and waved The Wand: 
 
WineWithoutHangover
 
How it works
Place The Wand™ in one glass of red or white wine (6oz.)
• Swirl and soak at least 3 minutes
• Remove The Wand and discard
• Savor every sip!
 
Winewithouthangover
 
Now of course you want to know – did it work? 
 
I had a really, really good time in Fredericksburg, but the only issues I had was being really tired from my lack of sleep the next day.   
 
…No redness, no hangover, and no Benadryl. 

And because its made by a DFW local, designed by long-time health wildcatter and engineer David Meadows, I love it even more. 

So with the holidays around the corner and so many opportunities to appreciate wine, why would you risk the aftermath of what can happen the next morning when you have work, taking the kids to school, and so many other obligations – so put The Wand to work. 
 WineWandLogo

Now if we can just learn how to make that pumpkin a Tesla…

You can buy The Wand online in 8-packs or a box of 24.  
 

Easy Italian: Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse

By 11 Comments

Think the drive-through is the only way you’re going to put food on the table? Healthy and quick meals are possible with help from Michael Angelo’s. Paired with this Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse and this pairing will soon be your new go-to every day that ends in Y.

All ideas, recipes, & opinions are entirely my own however, this is a sponsored post on behalf of Michael Angelo’s™.

Perfect-Italian-Dinner

Want to know the last time I made dinner for my family from scratch?

Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I spent hours slaving away in the kitchen, but last night I was able to serve a made-from-scratch meal made with real ingredients with no preservatives or artificial ingredients. All with a little help from Michael Angelo’s Signature Line.

Eggplant-Parm2

With our busy work schedules, kids’ practices, and the other stuff that comes up, it doesn’t matter how planned out I was hoping dinner was going to be, it just doesn’t happen. So I always pick up a Michael Angelo’s meal (find yours here) and have it ready for those days it just “ain’t gonna happen.” And with choices like eggplant parmesan, shrimp scampi, and lasagna, everyone looks forward to mama’s “Italian night” even if the mama they’re really talking to is Michael Angelo’s mama, Sara. All I do is put it in the oven and get ready for everyone to say “smells good, mama,” and viola.

Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse

When I do have a few minutes to spare while the Michael Angelo’s cooks, I go the extra mile and make this creamy hazelnut chocolate mousse. It’s the kids’ favorite, but during the week I never have time to make it. But when all I have to do is wait for the timer to go off, I grab just five ingredients to create this rich, smooth and sinful dolce that no one can resist and pairs perfectly with any of Michael Angelo’s selection including:

  • Michael Angelo’s Eggplant Parmesan with eggplant, tomato sauce and lots of cheese: mozzarella, parmigiano reggiano and recorino romano.
  • Michael Angelo’s Shrimp Scampi with plump, tender shrimp with lemon butter, garlic, tomatoes and parsley.
  • Michael Angelo’s Lasagna layered with beef, robust tomatoes, herbs and cheese – oh glorious cheese

Eggplant-Parmesan-Dinner

Like the Michael Angelo’s meals, the hazelnut chocolate mousse is super easy and oh so good. Just like Italy, the desserts are actually not complicated, but totally full of flavor. The twist of hazelnut (another Italian staple) tastes just makes you think it took a long time to make and when you really want to seal the deal, you throw in a little whipped cream and shaved chocolate to make the ooohs and ahhhs even longer.

Italian-Chocolate-Hazelnut-Mousse

Chocolate-Hazelnut-Mousse

Print

clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse

  • Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com
Print Recipe

Description

Think the drive-through is the only way you’re going to put food on the table? Healthy and quick meals are possible with help from Michael Angelo’s. Paired with this Hazelnut Chocolate Mousse and this pairing will soon be your new go-to every day that ends in Y.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 large eggs yolks
  • 4 tablespoons sugar
  • 2 cups heavy cream
  • ¼ cup hazelnut spread
  • 2 cups bittersweet chocolate, melted
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions

  1. In a saucepan, whisk together eggs, ½ the sugar, and ¾ cup heavy cream.
  2. Cook over a medium-low heat, stirring approximately 3-4 minutes, but don’t allow to boil.
  3. Remove from heat, whisk in melted chocolate, hazelnut spread, and vanilla,
  4. Strain into bowl and chill.
  5. With an electric mixer, beat remaining 1 ¼ cups heavy cream and the remaining sugar.
  6. Whip until still peaks form.
  7. Stir in 1/3 of whipped chocolate into cooled custard mixture, then fold in the rest with a rubber spatula.
  8. Spoon into dishes, chill, covered for at least one hour.

Notes

  • Optional: Add whipped cream and shaved chocolate, but it’s totally good just the way it is.

This is a no fuss, no mess, no time dessert that everyone will love served with your favorite Michael Angelo’s Signature Line dish.

Chocolate Hazelnut Mousse Recipe

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Michael Angelo’s. The opinions and text are all mine.

No Trouble Trifle Recipes

By 1 Comment

Need a dessert that’s impressive, but takes only minutes to put together? Try these no trouble trifle recipes for the win. 

What’s not to love about a trifle? A dessert that has been around since the 1500s, the trifle has stood the test of time for many reasons.

I personally believe it’s because it makes everyone look like hostess with the mostest when all you did was dump things in a bowl and out comes a beautiful and creamy confection. 

I know that’s why I’m a fan and apparently, Pinterest is too since the site is filled to the brim with trifles of every combination imaginable. 

While most of them are “technically’ not a trifle, but more of a stackable dessert by English standards, the trifle in any form is the treat that everyone can love, whether you’re making it or you’re eating it. 

So let’s get ready to TRIFLE! 

 

Summer Sangria Trifle 

Trifle
A true trifle is created with fruit, sponge cake or lady fingers  soaked with Sherry or a fortified wine, and custard stacked in thin layers. Viola. 

This type of trifles are so good to make especially in the summer so you don’t have to spend your time in a hot kitchen using your favorite fruit combinations. 

Since I’m a girl that loves Sangria, this traditional type of trifle is ideal for a light and easy dessert that you can make at the last minute and still look like you spent hours to make a dessert that even Martha can put her stamp on. 

For this Summer Sangria Trifle, we’re using a mixing blueberries, peaches, raspberries, and strawberries with a moscato. After one bite, you’ll have problems deciding whether you want to drink or eat your Sangria. 

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Summer Sangria Trifle

  • Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com
Print Recipe

Description

An impressive presentation without much work and all the flavor! You’ll wonder if drinking or eating your wine tastes better.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound cake loaf, cubed (or you can use Twinkies if you are in a fix!)
  • 2 peaches, peeled and sliced
  • 1 cup berries (any mix)
  • 2 cups moscato, sweet wine
  • 1 container, whipped cream

Instructions

  1. Marinate peaches in a cup of moscato for 2 hours. Once the peaches are ready, start layering your trifle with cake, then fruit, and then whipped cream. Repeat with whipped cream on top. Cover in fruit and allow to sit in the refrigerator for an hour to cool. Keep cool until ready to serve.

Notes

  • Use whatever fresh fruit is in season for the perfect trifle.

S’mores Trifle

Smores Trfile

Want to make a kid-friendly dessert that is as much fun to make as it is to eat? A s’mores trifle is the way to go – especially in mason jars. They’re so much fun to make as well, so ask the little people to help! 

Ingredients

Graham crackers, crushed 

chocolate pudding (I have one with Nutella that’s out of this world or you can use snack cups from the pantry!) 

Oreo cookies, crumbled 

whipped cream 

marshmallows, minis work best 

Directions

Layer the ingredients starting with graham crackers, pudding, crumbled cookies and then whipped cream. Cover the top in marshmallow and torch for the final effect! I love to add a little chocolate square to add to the final presentation! 

Pumpkin Spice Trifle 

Pumpkin-Trifle

This one is my favorite (well, except for the s’mores and sangria ones:) but it’s so perfect for fall when you are craving everything with pumpkin and cinnamon. I love making these in singles so you can eat one now, later, and tomorrow. Plus they are ideal for an alternative to making pie (and who needs all that work!) 

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Pumpkin Spice Trifle

  • Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com
Print Recipe

Description

Get your pumpkin fix with this easy to make, so good to taste, you’ll make it again and again!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12–15 Gingerbread or molasses cookies, crushed
  • 8 ounces cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup pumpkin puree
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup sugar
  • 2 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice (like this)
  • 1 container of whipped topping, thawed

Instructions

  1. To make custard, beat cream cheese in a bowl until smooth with mixer.
  2. Next add the pumpkin, vanilla, sugar, and pie spice until well blended. Now fold in around a cup of whipped cream and combined.
  3. To assemble trifle, layer crumbled cookies into bottom of container. Next layer pumpkin, followed by whipped cream. Repeat if possible, ending with the whipped cream as the top layer.
  4. Store in the refrigerator until ready to serve. Add crumbled cookies or 1 single cookie to garnish and serve.

 

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment

Easter-Dinner-Cake-MamChallenge.com

 

Going Old School: Best Ever Sloppy Joes

By 17 Comments

Sloppy Joes have long been a staple of the school lunch line. Bring the recipe home with a special twist inspired by your kid’s lunchbox to make it the best-ever sloppy joes using no-added sugar apple juice.

Thanks to Juicy Juice for bringing this kids in the kitchen moment home to our house just in time for back to school with this collaboration. 

“Hey mom…what are sloppy joes?” 

Best-Ever-Sloppy-Joes

When I heard my son asked the other night, I immediately flashed back to grade school and rolling through the lunch line on Fridays to snag a sloppy joe. Good and messy, I never minded sloppy joe day. However as much as I enjoyed them, I’d never made them for my family. Actually, I was pretty sure it had been at least 10 years since I’d had one. 

So rather than to tell him what it was, we made ’em. It was going to be sloppy joe Wednesday at our house. 

Scrambling through the kitchen, I went looking for the few items needed to make sloppy joes and realized man, I have been missing out on making a meal that was so EASY to make! AND the kids could learn, too. 
Juicy-Juice-Back-To-School

Lucky for us, there were buns in the freezer, already cut up onions in the freezer, and a pound of lean meat too, so we were off to create dinner and have a teachable moment, too. 

Kids-in-the-Kitchen

To be honest, I had made sloppy joes from a can before, but never from scratch. So this learning lesson was going to be just as much for me as it was for him. 

Using a little ketchup, brown sugar and salt and pepper, I had almost everything I needed for the perfect sloppy joe…except that sweet flavor that makes a sloppy joe well, a sloppy joe. 

Best-Ever-Sloppy-Joe

Apple juice. 

That’s right, taking a little lunchbox inspiration: I borrowed a Juicy Juice 100% Fruit Juice from my kid’s juice inventory.  One box of apple proved to be the perfect amount of sweet, yet savory flavor that our sloppy joes needed.

 

Best-Ever-Sloppy-Joe-Back-to-School

Now my Juicy Juice had dual purpose – an easy kids lunch staple by day and an easy dinner helper by night! Don’t like sloppy joes? Then try one of the other kid-friendly recipes that you can make with Juicy Juice. 

Best-Sloppy-Joes

Basically with only six ingredients and 20 minutes, we had dinner on the table. And man, he ate it up! Gold star for me. 

Sloppy-Joe-Recipe

If you’re looking to twist up your normal apple juice routine, try one of the new four flavors of Juicy Juice Splashers with 50% less sugar than that of other leading juice brands, no artificial sweeteners or colors, no high fructose corn syrup! 

And just in time for school, Juicy Juice has teamed up with Macy’s for the Perfect Fit Sweepstakes. Submit a funny picture of your kids in clothes they’ve outgrown or describe a funny time they outgrew their clothes for the chance to win a shopping spree, gift cards, and of course, Juicy Juice!

Enter now for your chance to win!

What’s your favorite meal memory from grade school?

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Best-Ever Sloppy Joes

  • Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 35 minutes
  • Yield: 4 1x
Print Recipe

Description

An easy dinner that’s perfect for teaching kids cooking skills and using a little inspiration from their lunchbox!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb ground lean beef (you can use turkey, chicken, etc.)
  • 1/4 cup onions, chopped fine
  • 1/2 cup ketchup
  • 1/4 cup light brown sugar
  • 3/4 cup dijon mustard
  • 1 box of Juicy Juice 100% apple juice (or 1 cup of apple juice)
  • salt and pepper
  • 4 buns (we use gluten free hamburger buns)

Instructions

  1. Brown ground meat in skillet with onions and salt and pepper.
  2. Stir in ketchup, sugar, mustard and any additional salt and pepper on medium heat for 10 minutes.
  3. Pour in apple juice and combine. Cook for another 10-15 minutes until juice has reduced by half. Season with salt and pepper if necessary.
  4. Serve by placing 1/4 cup meat mixture between a bun.
  5. Enjoy!

Notes

  • This is a perfect recipe for back to school!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 4
  • Calories: 474
  • Sugar: 30
  • Sodium: 1178
  • Fat: 17
  • Saturated Fat: 6
  • Unsaturated Fat: 9
  • Trans Fat: 1
  • Carbohydrates: 53
  • Protein: 27
  • Cholesterol: 70

 

5 Real Tips for Back to School Bento Box Lunches

By 3 Comments

Want to create yummy lunches that your kids will love? We have 5 real tips for making back-to-school Bento Box Lunches, inspired by this summer’s hottest movie, Finding Dory. Thanks to Tum-E Yummies for collaborating for this sponsored post just in time for back-to-school.

Back-to-school isn’t just for kids.

Sure, you can check out Pinterest for some ideas, but most of those lunches are quite complicated to make. These real tips for back to school Bento Box lunches feature food your kids will want to eat featuring one of our kids’ new favorite Finding Dory. However, you can use these ideas for any under the sea fan (like for The Little Mermaid or Finding Nemo.)

Tips for Back to School Bento Box Lunches13

Real Tips for Back to School Bento Box Lunches

1. Colorful and creative mixes are the name of the game.

2. Think outside the bread box

3. Cookie cutters make everything more fun.

4. Lunch will stick with them with shish kabobs

5. Multitask making lunch colorful and creative mixes are the name of the game.

Keep it simple! Kids don’t want complicated recipes and fancy presentations. They want food they can eat with their hands that tastes good. My kids love raw vegetables and hummus.

Try using the top of the bell pepper and lay it in a bed of hummus. We made “Hank,” the octopus from Finding Dory. Of course, the eyes make it more fun so I always have candy eyes around to add that special touch!

Another way to get creative is to mix it up!

To make this Bento the colors of Finding Dory, I used cantaloupe and blueberries for a unique fruit salad. There are lots of ways to make your lunches more exciting by getting creative with different items.

Tips for Back to School Bento Box Lunches4

5 Real Tips for Back to School Bento Box Lunches11

Think outside the bread box.

I started making these years ago for my kids and they LOVE them. I use a combination of meat, cheese, veggies, and soft white sandwich bread. The softer the bread the better since you’re actually flattening out the bread with a rolling pin, layering on your extras, and then rolling it up like sushi.

Back to School Bento Box Lunches8

The secret to making successful “sandwich sushi” is in the direction you roll it. If you roll it down top to bottom, the bread doesn’t stay together. But, If you roll the sandwich from left to right (vertically), the bread seems hold tighter like sushi. You can see what I mean from the photo below. The first one is done with top roll and the second one is the side to side roll.

Back to School Bento Box Lunches9

Tortillas, flatbreads, and crackers add a great twist to lunch meat, cheese and veggie combinations. Shop the deli section and try out something different from time to time to keep things fun.

Cookie cutters make everything cuter!

Variety is the spice of life but that doesn’t mean you have to constantly reinvent the wheel. Just using a cookie cutter on your sandwiches or fruit can change things up and make them a lot more interesting. Cookie cutters make everything look cuter and are and easy way to change up your daily lunches.

5 Real Tips for Back to School Bento Box Lunches13

As a rule of thumb, I purchase cookie cutters throughout the year, when we visit somewhere special, and right after the holidays when they go on sale. After my kids saw Finding Dory, I ordered all kinds of sea-like creatures for their back to school lunches.

My favorite cutters are the stars I have in several sizes. We use them for princesses, Star Wars, and for this Under the Sea themed Bento Box, we used them to make starfish sandwiches. Voila! 

Back to School Bento Box Lunches2

Back to School Bento Box Lunches7

Lunch will stick with them with shish kabobs

Presentation is everything. For instance, bits of meat, vegetables, and fruit are always more fun when it’s on a shish kabob. If you have younger kids and don’t want to have pointed ends, you can use a straw.

This Bento Box includes fruit shish kabobs, lunchmeat, tomato and cheese rounds; dried kale chips, and a special combo of white cheddar popped chips with fish-shaped cheddar crackers.

Multitask your lunches

To make sure they stay hydrated add a Tum-E Yummies to their lunchbox. Instead of buying a freezer pack, place your Tum-E Yummies in the freezer overnight and throw it in their lunchbox before they leave for school. The Tum-E Yummies thaws in the lunchbox, keeping everything cool, until it’s time to eat!

Back to School Bento Box Lunches5

Back to School Bento Box Lunches

Real Tips for Back to School Bento Box Lunches12

Tum-E Yummies is a fruit flavored water beverage for kids made in five flavors: Very Berry Blue, Greentastic Apple, Fruitabulous Punch, Orange-arific, and Sour-sational Raspberry. My kids also really love the limited time flavor, Berry-Licious Watermelon. All Tum-E Yummies flavors have 100% daily value vitamin C, B6, B12 and only 50 calories and 13g of sugar. They also have no sodium and a spill-proof sport cap.

However, the best tip for Back to School Bento Box Lunches is to have your kids help! Just putting together the box teaches them nutrition, invites them to be responsible for themselves, and it’s a fun way for you all to spend time together…and of course, helps you to get it done!

And best of all, it’s a great way for you and your kids to spend time together!

For more back-to-school tips, follow Tum-E Yummies on Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram.

 

 

Cauliflower Recipes You Must Make

By 9 Comments

Move over kale, cauliflower is the new star of produce! This vegetable is so versatile and full of health benefits! Try cauliflower as a great side, entree or even pizza crust with these cauliflower recipes you must make that your kids will love as much as you! *Affiliate links may be included to products used here.

I cannot begin to profess my love of cauliflower. It’s been a long road that we’ve been down together…covered in cheese, butter, or both. However, this cruciferous vegetable also plays the part not just as glutenous goodness, but also as healthy lead in many recipes – as entree, side, or both. So if you’re feeling a little kale or quinoa-ed 0ut, then open your eyes and your mouth for these cauliflower recipes you must make now. 

Cauliflower-Recipes-You-Must-Make

A little note: Now before you get started, I highly suggest using steam bags to make your life that much easier. Since many times you’ll be using steamed cauliflower as your base, using steam bags will cut down dramatically on your time (and dishes) when making successful cauliflower recipes! I’ve used several brands, but these cheaper ones work pretty good.

Cauliflower “Mashed Potatoes” or Taylor’s Taters

My daughter hates vegetables of any kind – except for potatoes, which in reality we all know aren’t veggies at all. However, I had to find a way to increase the selection of foods in her diet before my pediatrician (and her health) completely hit the wall, so one day my mom made her “Gigi Potatoes,” which she proceeded to eat the entire bowl. What she didn’t know is that my mother had made her cauliflower mashed potatoes or what she now calls “Taylor Taters.” It’s the easiest recipe in the world and around a decade ago most of us were eating due to the South Beach Diet (affiliate link) craze. However, for my little girl they were the most amazing stuff ever and she was eating healthy! 

Cauliflower Recipes to Eat Now

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Cauliflower Mashed Potatoes “Taylor’s Taters”

  • Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com
Print Recipe

Description

Healthy and so good, you’ll never know it was cauliflower! Perfect for kids who don’t love veggies!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 2–4 tablespoons butter, optional
  • 12 cup Manchego cheese, grated
  • salt and pepper

Instructions

  1. Steam cauliflower in the microwave until soft, but not mushy (I use steam bags!)
  2. Transfer to bowl.
  3. Add butter and blend with handheld blender or emulsifier until your preferred “mashed potato” consistency.
  4. Mix in Manchego cheese
  5. Season with salt and pepper.
  6. Serve!

Notes

  • The nuttiness of the Manchego cheese and cauliflower pair perfectly for this nutritious and delicious side dish that will have them all wanting more!

Roasted Cauliflower

In a fix to get dinner on the table or want to make something else besides potatoes? Then go for the roasted cauliflower. This dish can actually be your main entree when you want to eat light on calories and not on flavor or just prefer a “veggie kind-of-night.” Paired with a Chimichurri sauce (a blend of garlic, parsley, cilantro and spices with an olive oil/vinegar), roasted cauliflower is my go-to must have for hot summer nights! And because it only takes a few steps, throw it in the oven and in minutes, you’ll come back with an impressive recipe that will have you call for triples!

And did I mention that cauliflower is full of Vitamin C, potassium, folic acid, fiber and whole lotta other good stuff? So bottom line: you should be eating this and this recipe is a good way to enjoy it, too!

Cauliflower-Recipes-You-Must-Make

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Roasted Cauliflower

  • Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com
  • Prep Time: 5
  • Cook Time: 30
  • Total Time: 35
Print Recipe

Description

Make it as your entree or your side, eat it once and you’ll want it all the time!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 head cauliflower, sliced vertically like a steak
  • 1/4 cup olive oil
  • salt and pepper
  • cooking spray

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Cut the cauliflower into steaks, vertically (remove the stump.)
  3. Spray a cooking sheet with cooking spray.
  4. Lay “steaks” on sheet and drizzle with olive oil.
  5. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
  6. Place in oven and allow to get browned (25 minutes.) In a hurry – broil on low until brown.
  7. Remove from heat and serve.
  8. Optional: add a chimichurri sauce for a nice kick!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 2
  • Calories: 316
  • Sugar: 6
  • Sodium: 167
  • Fat: 28
  • Saturated Fat: 4
  • Unsaturated Fat: 23
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 15
  • Protein: 6
  • Cholesterol: 0

Best-Ever Cauliflower Pizza Crust

I was working on this cauliflower pizza crust recipe one day and the finished product was sitting on the table. My son, who had no idea what I was making, so the pizza and asked if he could PLEASE have a bite. “Mama, you know I love pizza!”

The words almost came out my mouth to tell him, “hey baby that’s not what you think it is”…but instead, I let him bite into it and give me his honest opinion.

Of course, kids are the pickiest eaters (especially mine I’m afraid to admit), so I was waiting for that grimace he makes when he tries something new.

Instead he said, “that’s SO good!” he shouted. “Can I have slice? We need to make more of this since I’m gonna eat it all!”

His reaction signaled this recipe was a WINNER and it would become a staple in our menu. With two gluten-free diets and a corn allergy to now add to the list, I needed more recipes to start circulating. And this recipe for Cauliflower Pizza Crust can be made with any of your own toppings. You just have to get the whole “wringing out the cauliflower part” down. It’s not a hugely quick process, but after a few times, you’ll get it even quicker than making traditional crust that still needs time to rise. Instead, you’ll already have yours out of the oven and ready to serve with this no carb, no gluten, and good cauliflower pizza recipe.

Cauliflower Pizza

Print

clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Best Ever Cauliflower Pizza

  • Author: Autumn Reo of mamachallenge.com
Print Recipe

Description

A pizza crust recipe that tastes better than the original – and no gluten, no carbs!

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 head cauliflower
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon basil, dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano, dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese, powdered
  • 1/4 cup mozzarella/pizza cheese, shredded
  • 1 egg
  • red pepper
  • Cooking spray

Instructions

To make crust

  1. Wash and dry the cauliflower.
  2. Cut off the florets, remove the stem.
  3. Using a food processor, pulse cauliflower until it’s the consistency of snow.
  4. Place the cauliflower in a microwave safe bowl and cover (I prefer a steam bag.) Cook for 3-4 minutes.
  5. Allow cauliflower to cool slightly.
  6. In a strainer or over another bowl draped with a tea towel, place cooked cauliflower into the towel.
  7. Using the towel (the thinnest is best), and wring the cauliflower until there is no more water and it’s “dry.” (You’ll need to do this several times as there will be lots of water (more than a cup is normal.)
  8. Next place cauliflower into a dry bowl, add cheeses and seasonings and mix.
  9. Now add egg and mix until it resembles dough.
  10. Place dough on an parchment paper sprayed with cooking spray.
  11. Now roll out dough into a thin crust (be careful to not be too thin.)
  12. Once complete, place crust on cooking stone/pan and place into preheated oven at 450 degrees for 10 minutes until golden brown and remove from the oven.
  13. Now add your toppings as normal for pizza.
  14. Return pizza to the oven and cook 6-8 minutes until cheese is golden.
  15. Remove from oven, cut, cool, and eat!

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:
Brussel Sprouts

Fruit and Veggie Recipes to Make NOW

By 9 Comments

No doubt that it’s always a good time to eat more veggies and fruit, but the summer time is just RIPE for enjoying these 4 Fruit and Veggie Recipes. Mamachallenge is excited to partner with Dole to launch the 2016 Get up and Grow Together! Tour kick-off in Dallas. Compensation for time and product was provided by Dole, but all opinions shared here are those of mamachallenge.com.

No matter what type of diet plan or nutrition program you follow, one thing remains consistent: eating your vegetables and fruit helps create a healthy lifestyle. As parents we’re always trying to find ways to get our kids eating more veggies and fruit (just check out my segment on apples), but it’s just as important for us to get ours, too!

10994276_10152592192661761_6208249770654668457_o

Did you know bananas are North America’s most popular produce?

That’s just part of the reason for the Dole 2016 Get up and Grow Together! Tour. Started last year as a way to get us all by adopting a diet rich in fruits and veggies, the 42-stop tour launches in Dallas on May 26 on “National Eat More Fruit and Vegetables Day.”

Studies have shown that broccoli helps to decrease the risk of diabetes.

The tour stops at supermarkets and public events throughout Dallas-Fort Worth, offering free produce-filled recipe samples, recipe booklets and other giveaways, an interactive Kid’s Corner, and fruit and veggie-themed photo-sharing opportunities – all to showcase the fun, flavor and health benefits of a plant-based diet.

GUAG-East- 7.18 AM-9

Here’s a sneak peek at some of the recipes you’ll be able to sample at the Get up and Grow! Together stops (and now make at home, too!)

Dole-mamachallenge1

Brussels Sprouts and Grilled Pineapple Salad

Strawberry Toasts

Café Banana Frappé

SaladSipper

Salad Sipper

Brussels sprouts help beat the bloat and have shown to aid in weight loss.

Go to www.dole.com/GetUpAndGrow for a complete schedule.

Plane-01

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

Watermelon-Blue-Cheese

 

Baking Up Family Memories: Gluten-Free Breakfast Bars

By 19 Comments

Sometimes in life, it’s not about what you’re making, but about the time you spent making it together. We’re excited to be Baking Up Family Memories to make Gluten-Free Breakfast Bars with Big G Cereal’s Honey Nut Cheerios, Walmart and a little help from Que Rica Vida (quericavida.com.)

Food has always been the conversation of my life. Actually, it’s my love language.

Growing up, sitting at the table eating dinner, my family would talk about what we we’re going to make for dinner tomorrow. 

For fun, we’d thumb through magazines and cookbooks looking for new recipes ideas like it was a graphic novel. And the television is always turned on to something food-related whether it’s traveling to a new country to try new cuisines or tips for making beloved dishes better from our favorite chefs. 

So it was no doubt, my kids would follow in my footsteps of food. 

HNCheerios

They have their own aprons, pans, and for fun, they like to create their own cooking shows.

And I love spending time with them cooking, learning and sharing tips and moments that I hope they’ll remember years with their kids, well after I’m gone. 

However, with my 7-year old getting more mature and his little sister wanting so much to be a big girl, it was time to let them try their hand in the kitchen – without mom. Well, mom was there, but I wanted to let them read the instructions, measure the ingredients and feel good about themselves for creating a recipe they had made together. 

Cheerios7

So even though the control-obsessed mama who didn’t want to deal with the aftermath, I let them go with a recipe we found on quericavida.com, a bilingual resource of thousands of recipes for every occasion featuring a world of flavor to delight the whole family.  Since we are now a gluten-free family (due to my hubby and children’s allergies), finding a recipe that’s easy enough for my kids to make AND GF, is like hitting the lottery. Featuring one of our favorite cereals, Honey Nut Cheerios (hooray for being GF) and just four base ingredients to make No-Bake Honey-Nut Cereal Bars, I even had the kids add a few things to make it really seem like they were “cookin’.” 

Cheerios5

Of course, they selected peanut butter chocolate chips:) 

Before they started, I did have them read the recipe to me and pull all the items they would need to make their “Gluden Free Breakfast Bars” (that was the 4-year old’s name for their dish.)

Cheerios3

From there on, it was up to them. I now was just the observer and by request, also the camera man. They had decided they also wanted to make a “Cooking Show.” 

Oh, no! But that’s half the fun, right?!?

cooking

Actually watching them behind the lens gave me a chance to really watch them together. It was adorable how he took on showing his sister how to do things like spray the pan with cooking spray and he watching her study his actions, so she knew what to do and how to do it. 

Cheerios6

#ProudMamaMoment. 

Of course, we did have to enlist dad for just a moment to help microwave our mixture (on cue as you’ll see.) Other than that, they made their first dish without mom and almost no fights!

GF-Cheerios

While they may have learned a recipe, mom learned that not everything has to be perfect, clean and Pinterest perfect. Sometimes the best dishes are those that are baked up with family memories (and a little bit of Honey Cheerios.) 

GFCheerios

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Gluten-Free Breakfast Bars

  • Author: Autumn of @mamachallenge.com
  • Prep Time: 15
  • Cook Time: 3
  • Total Time: 78
  • Yield: 16 1x
Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale
  • 4 cups Honey Nut Cheerios™ cereal
  • 1 cup chopped nuts
  • 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup honey
  • 1 tablespoon butter
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter chips

Instructions

  1. Line bottom and sides of 8-inch square pan with foil or parchment paper. Spray foil with cooking spray. In large bowl, mix cereal, mixed nuts, and peanut butter chips; set aside.
  2. In large microwavable bowl, microwave brown sugar, honey and butter uncovered on High 2 to 3 minutes, stirring every 30 seconds, until mixture is boiling. Microwave an additional 1 minute allowing mixture to boil and thicken slightly.
  3. Pour over cereal mixture in bowl; stir until evenly coated. Using buttered back of spoon, press mixture very firmly in pan. Refrigerate about 1 hour or until firm enough to cut.
  4. For bars, cut into 4 rows by 4 rows. Store covered at room temperature up to 1 week.

Notes

  • You can add ingredients to this dish like cranberries, raisins and more for the perfect cereal bar – good for breakfast or snack all day long!

Nutrition

  • Serving Size: 16
  • Calories: 347
  • Sugar: 11
  • Sodium: 41
  • Fat: 27
  • Saturated Fat: 4
  • Unsaturated Fat: 21
  • Trans Fat: 0
  • Carbohydrates: 23
  • Protein: 10
  • Cholesterol: 2

Celebrate family cooking fun and seach for Dia de los Ninos recipes.

 

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

applesauce

Best Recipes Using Applesauce

By 2 Comments

Applesauce is like magic; it’s great to eat by itself, but cooking with it, is even better! Here’s some of the Best Recipes Using Applesauce for everything from healthy snacks to hotcakes. 

For the first three years of my daughter’s life, if she consumed anything healthy, it was in a squeezable green pouch. 

She thought it was candy so she thought she was getting away with something. I knew it was Gogo squeeZ and completely natural applesauce, so there was no need to tell her differently (at least at the time.) 

applesauce

Now I can at least get a few more fruits and veggies down her, but using applesauce has become one of my favorite ingredients to cook with. As a natural sweetener, it’s ideal to use in baking and adding a little more health value to a dish. 

apples

Have a big jar of applesauce you need to do something with or just looking to make a healthier breakfast or snack, applesauce is your answer. 

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Healthy Cookie Dough Bites

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale
  • 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
  • 1 cup oats
  • 1/2 cup natural peanut butter
  • 1/3 cup maple syrup
  • 1/4 cup Gogo squeeZ
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 1/4 cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

  1. Directions
  2. Line a pan with wax paper.
  3. Whisk together flour and oats in a medium bowl and set aside
  4. Beat together all of the wet ingredients until combined.
  5. Stir in flour mixture until combined.
  6. Then add chocolate chips.
  7. Scoop two tablespoons of dough; roll dough into a ball with hands. Repeat.
  8. Refrigerate until firm. 

Click on the photo for the rest of the recipes!

FruitRollup

 

Best-Ever-Carrot-Cake

 

ApplePiePancakes Go Go SqueeZ

 

Don’t Miss this #mamachallenge Moment:

BabyShowerTrends

Healthy 2 Ingredient Fruit Leather Rolls

By 1 Comment

Tired of buying snacks that you know are full of extra ingredients your family doesn’t need? Then try these Healthy 2 Ingredient Fruit Leather rolls using only applesauce, cinnamon and just a little bit of wait time. 

Between afterschool snack, after homework snack, before dinner snack, and whatever in between snack, are you kids always eating a snack? Mine too. 

However, reading the ingredient list doesn’t always make me happy or neither does looking at my grocery receipt. 

So we took matters in to our own hands to figure out what snacks my kids loved could be made a little bit easier and a little bit healthier. 

Fox4apples

This recipes was featured on Fox Good Day in Dallas.

After many recipes, modifications and more mess ups, I found out one of my kids favorite snacks,  fruit leather, was nothing but two ingredients and a lot of time in the oven. But when they were done, I could actually package them up so they could package them up to be easy pack and go with a little wax paper. 

All you need to make is a little time at the house so you can make sure to be around after 8-10 hours in the oven. 

I know – crazy right? If you have food dehydrator you can make this recipe there or the good ole fashioned way, in the oven. 

FruitRollup

Print
clock clock iconcutlery cutlery iconflag flag iconfolder folder iconinstagram instagram iconpinterest pinterest iconfacebook facebook iconprint print iconsquares squares iconheart heart iconheart solid heart solid icon

Healthy 2 Ingredient Fruit Leather Rolls

Print Recipe

Ingredients

Scale
  • 24 ounces organic applesauce
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Set the oven to 150-170 degrees (mine only went to 170F.)
  2. Lay a silicone baking mat or parchment paper onto a cookie sheet.
  3. Measure 1 cup of applesauce and mix with cinnamon in a bowl, set aside.
  4. Pour the rest of the applesauce onto the set pan and spread thinly across pan. (Use a rubber spatula to help spread.)
  5. Next, use your cinnamon mixture, thinly layer lines of cinnamon applesauce onto the pan. (Looks a little like a tiger design now.)
  6. Next tap the pan gently on the counter to make everything is even.
  7. Play tray in oven and cook for 8-9 hours or until the applesauce is dried completely and the color has lost any sheen to it.)
  8. Remove from oven and let cool.
  9. Using a knife to cut into strips and roll up.
  10. Store fruit leathers in an airtight container.

 

Don't miss

applesauce-pinterest

 

Pin This!

Visit Mama Challenge's profile on Pinterest.

Pictures Say a 1000 Words

Follow Along!