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Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Best Recipes Using Applesauce

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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. 

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Healthy Cookie Dough Bites

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Ingredients

  • 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

 

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Healthy 2 Ingredient Fruit Leather Rolls

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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

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Healthy 2 Ingredient Fruit Leather Rolls

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • 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.

 

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Top 10 Healthiest Restaurants for Kids

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Disclaimer

Going out to eat with the kids isn’t always easy, especially when you’re trying to watch what they are putting in their bodies.  Here is a quick list to the Top 10 healthiest restaurants for kids (and hopefully for you, too!) All of these also have gluten-free options so make sure to ask your server! 

Dining out is sometimes for fun, sometimes out of necessity. Unfortunately for me, it’s normally, out of the fact that I didn’t listen to any of my own advice to plan in advance or cook something in the slow cooker. Mostly it’s just out of my total disdain for dishes.  


However, when you have kids, it takes on a whole new platter of concerns including behavior, budget and belly (well what they are putting in it them that is.) 

Healthiest Restaurants for Kids

Zoe’s Kitchen, locations in 11 states 
It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Zoe’s Kitchen. And not because it’s healthy, but because it’s fresh…and so good. While there is a kids’ menu available that includes grilled chicken fingers, cheese quesadilla and fruit, it’s the fact that my kids prefer to just eat off the menu. And instead of my go-to rotisserie chicken, I can make one call for a family meal complete with chicken, steak and veggie kabobs, 2 sides (and believe me I could subsist on the white beans and pasta salad alone), salad, and hummus with pita. With gluten, vegan and several under 500-calorie options, Zoe’s gives you much more than the same ole, same ole. 

Healthiest Restaurants for Kids

El Fenix, 22 locations 
A Dallas institution, El Fenix is a family concept that has been sharing their family favorite recipes since 1911 and has been going strong ever since. 

Late last year, El Fenix stepped up to the table to offer not just your favorite Tex-Mex options, but healthy ones for your kids! Developed by a local high school culinary student in partnership with Medical City Children’s Hospital in Dallas, El Fenix’s Kids Fit Menu allows kids to build their own meals by choosing 2 veggies and fruits from an array of delicious, low-fat/calorie entrées and sides, along with a glass of apple juice. The kids won’t feel like they’re missing out with these picks especially the sweet nachoes with apple slices sprinkled with cinnamon, raisins and a little whip cream. 

And best of all (for your budget), you can try the new El Fenix Kids Fit Menu (kids 12 and under) now until Feb. 7 for just $1.99 instead of the normal $4.99 when you use this coupon.

Vitality Bowls, 4 states with 20+ locations 
While this new hot spot only has one Texas location, the West Coast has long embraced this uber-healthy joint that doesn’t just feed your hunger, but gives you body the things it needs to work at its best. Vitality Bowls® superfood café is looking to revolutionize the new idea of its Açaí Bowls®. Made from a thick blend of the Amazon’s antioxidant-rich açaí berry, the bowls are choc full of fruits, veggies, granola, and nuts for every palate. But the menu also includes smoothies, juices, wraps/paninis and salads served all day. While the idea sounds good to pile a lot of healthy things in one bowl, I wondered if the kids would dig in. 

Much to my doubts, my daughter who is often the hardest to convince, said it was tasty and pretty, too. Just remember the bowl is cold, so this ain’t an oatmeal alternative. This is different than what you’ve had before, but change is good. And this change is real good for both of you. Plus they serve a chocolate covered banana too, so there’s always room for chocolate – as long as there’s fruit, too 🙂 


Jamba Juice, 26 states with 800 locations
It’s easy to want to roll into happy hour after school to get the kids a little something before dinner along with a 44 oz. slushie. You might be getting it half off, but that starts to mount up – and I’m not just talking about your pocket book. Consider what could happen if you took all the veggies and fruits we all could use more of and put it in a cup with a straw…happy and healthier kids. Sure, you can make some poor decisions at a smoothie bar, but the kind folks at Jamba Juice can lead you into the right direction for exactly what you want and need. Asking to lighten it up (halving the calorie count) and ordering the almond-milk smoothies can give your kids the sweet kick they want without all the sugar, grease or sodium found in many fast-casual eateries. And Tuesdays after 3 kids can get a free smoothie when you order one. SCORE! 

Healthiest Restaurants for Kids

Chick-Fil-A, 1850 locations 
Oh, yes, one of our favorites! Between the cows, Mom Valet and diet lemonade, we’ll be lifetime friends with this family-focused establishment. While Chick-Fil-A is home to the beloved fried chicken sandwich (among the waffle fries, chicken minis, etc.), they are making a huge effort to give parents options for their kids when it comes to healthier eating. Launched last year, the grilled chicken nuggets kids’ meal is full of protein, low in fat and calories. And if mom and dad are looking to cut their calories, too, a grilled chicken sandwich or grilled nuggets with the new kale salad can rock your world and not your waistline. 

Healthiest Restaurant for Kids

Photo: CFA Facebook

 

Pei Wei, 200 locations
Pei-Wei makes us happy in so many ways. From knowing who we are and what our order is when they pick up the phone to giving us a freebie with My Wei Rewards, when we need a little Asian flavor in our life, it’s our way to go Pei Wei (cute, right?) While you can go big with a big bowl of noodles, go with the Lighten Up menu, choose smaller plates to keep your portions in check or ask them to “Stock Velvet” your meal. Basically, the protein is steamed in broth instead of stir-fried in oil. It works best for chicken, shrimp and tofu, but no beef unless you like rubber.  And of course, with the kids’ meal, you can add or take out what you need to make a meal your kid will actually eat and ask for again. 

Subway, 25,000+ locations in the U.S. 
For some reason, when restaurants go healthy, they also decide to take out one of the biggest things that kids love…the toys. While secretly I’ll be throwing it away when they aren’t looking, teaching the value of healthy eating is higher on my list. And it works. Thankfully, Subway has been able to combine the two by offering fun lunchbox options with their kids’ meal. Try selling a sandwich, glass of milk and yogurt for dinner at home and you’ll mostly be met with moans and groans. Tell your kids that you’re heading to get your Star Wars dinner with a mini-light saber (a recent offering), your kids will call you Yoda. 

Subway

From Subway.com

Applebee’s, 2000 locations
Applebee’s has long-been heralded as many things, but the destination for healthy kids’ meals wasn’t one of them. Until now. Working with the KidsWell program, the neighborhood grill offers  a two-tiered menu with entrée options for older kids with bigger appetites and younger kids with smaller appetites. Options include chicken, steak and pasta as well as  11 total side choices like all-natural GoGo squeeZ Applesauce (double whoo-hoo from us) and steamed broccoli, apple slices, all-natural yogurt, all-natural yogurt and strawberries, white rice, salads and carrots or celery with ranch dressing (a little fat isn’t always bad.) 

Healthiest Restaurants for Kids

Red Lobster, 700+ locations
Fond memories of garlic cheddar biscuits and strong drinks make up a lot of my college memories, but like me, Red Lobster also now has a little more responsible side with healthier options for the whole family. Red Lobster gives kids just as many fresh seafood options as the “big kids” with their Lighthouse Menu.  Healthy options include Garlic-Grilled Shrimp with just 60 calories and 1 gram of fat, Broil/ed Fish and the Popcorn Shrimp for 140 calories each. And there’s always snow crab legs! All of the kids’ meals come with 1% milk and the choice of orange wedges or broccoli. Red Lobster even provides the small ones with some fun, colorful drink options like a sunset strawberry smoothie or a cherry wave slushy. And no one will ever know that mama’s drink has a little bit of extra love in it. 

Joe’s Crab Shack
The nice shark from Finding Nemo was wrong; fish can be friends and food. Joe’s has an entire menu dedicated to gluten-free entrees from steampots to buckets of crab. And if you order crab, that means fun plastic bibs are coming your table’s way. The kids will rejoice. Steampots, shrimps, and buckets are the perfect, light dinner – full of protein and easy on the belly. For the kids’ menu, you can find the usual suspects – mac & cheese, chicken dippers, fish fries, pizza, mini burgers and fish sticks – not the healthiest of options, but they also offer grilled shrimp as a “Kids Live Well” alternative. Make sure you check your local Joe’s for daily specials. Some locations have a special day where kids can eat for free! 

Where is your favorite healthy go-to spot? 

Lunch Box Inspiration: Kid Friendly Dinner Ideas You Want to Eat

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While there’s nothing wrong with chicken nuggets and macaroni and cheese, after about the third night in a row I’m over it, way over it.

We’ve all had that moment when  you can’t stomach the idea of eating junk food and the kids won’t even consider anything beyond the three food groups of french fries, noodles and sugar, but I’ve learned there is a compromise.

So take out the lunch box, we’re making dinner.


Lunchbox

That’s right, we’re using the same items you use to make your child’s lunch box to inspire you to make kid friendly dinner ideas you’ll not only like, but will actually elevate your kids’ palate and make yours pretty happy, too. And you gotta love that you’re being frugal by using ingredients you already have in your house.

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Yep, I’m showing you how to make dinner with items from your kids lunch box. It’s dual-use foods they already love recreated in a whole new way and they can even help you make them.

















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Use Pretzels to create Pretzel Crusted Tilapia (or chicken): 

This recipe is a keeper because it only uses two ingredients AND you can really use it on any fish or chicken.

2-4 fish filets
1/2 cup mayonnaise (or you could use 1/2 cup greek yogurt)
1 cup pretzels, crushed

Spread mayonnaise on each filet, covering both sides. Then dredge the fish with the crushed pretzels. Lay in a greased or foil-lined pan and cook at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Pretzel-Covered-Tilapia-MamaChallenge

Use Ham and  Cheese to create Easy Chicken Cordon Bleu:

One of my favorites is chicken cordon bleu, however, don’t tell your kids that’s what you’re making and you’ll probably get them to eat it more than using the fancy name. “Chicken Roll ups” are made almost once a week at our house.

2-3 chicken breast, pounded thinly (what a great way to get some stress out from your day as well)
9 slices of thinly sliced ham
6 slices of cheese (swiss or havarti work best)
Parmesan cheese or bread crumbs

Use Applesauce to create a Dressing for Salad (or pork chops):

Put your GoGo squeeZ to work for you. I love using applesauce for many things including this delicious and easy apple dijon dressing that tastes good on your greens for a great salad OR using as as sauce for grilled pork chops or even with those Chicken Cordon Bleus.

Use Juice for a Delicious Stir-fry:

Take that apple juice to a whole new level by using it to marinate your chicken, steak or shrimp for a delicious stir-fry that’s also filled with veggies. Here’s a recipe I love and is gluten free, too.

Gluten-Free-Sweet-and-Sour-Chicken-sponsored

Use Peanut Butter, Raisins and M&Ms to make Trailmix: 

While this might not be a dinner recipe, use this idea of combining leftover snacks into one new recipe for trailmix and eat this as your healthy snack when they get home or as you’re getting ready for dinner. There’s no real recipe for this one – just take a little of this and that and you’ve got a new fun snack they can make and you don’t feel bad that they’re ruining dinner.

Don’t forget dessert: Use Bananas to Make a Quick and Healthy Chocolate Chip Cookie:

After a long day who has time to make dinner and much less a dessert? You do. With just four ingredients, you have a cookie you can feel as good making as you do eating it.

healthy-cookies-mamachallenge

Get this recipe.

Make sure you check out my other fun ideas on MamaChallenge TV!

I also need to thank the gracious folks at Viridian in Arlington for providing an amazing kitchen set!

Viridian-Kitchen

This development is everything you want in a home and much, much more. From the beautiful home selection from top-notch builders like M. Christopher Homes to the excellent elementary school, you’ve so many options for socializing, exercising and more – and that’s all at your doorstep.

Just take a look at this home we used as our set (and you can’t miss this “drive-through” shower.)

Bathroom-Viridian

Learn more about Viridian at http://www.viridiandfw.com.

 

 

Best Carrot Cake Ever

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Best-Ever-Carrot-Cake

 

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Best Carrot Cake Ever

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Ingredients

  • 1¼ cup applesauce
  • 2 cup sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • 1/2 teaspoon chile powder or chipotle powder (trust me!)
  • 2 cups grated carrots
  • 1 cup coconut
  • 1 cup chopped nuts (optional) + 1 cup for garnish
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 cup crushed pineapple in juice, not drained

Frosting

  • ½ cup butter, softened
  • 8 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1 lb powdered sugar

Instructions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Combine first three ingredients into a bowl.
  3. In another bowl mix all dry ingredients together and then add to applesauce mixture.
  4. Next combine carrots, coconut, nuts, vanilla and pineapple together. Then add to the applesauce mixture until well blended.
  5. Pour into two greased 8 or 9-inch pans.
  6. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Let cakes cool completely before frosting.

For the frosting:

  1. Beat the butter and cream cheese until nice and fluffy. Add vanilla and powdered sugar and beat until smooth.
  2. Frost the cake until complete and serve! Add chopped pecans or walnuts for garnish.

Apple Dijon Vinaigrette {Recipe}

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While Hidden Valley Ranch makes a bottle of creamy bliss that gets my kids excited to eat any vegetable, I prefer something a little simplier, healthier, tastier and fresher.

I’ve discovered if you make a delicious dressing for your greens, you actually MIGHT like eating your salad without a hundred other ingredients. And since it doesn’t require much more than about 1 minute and five ingredients in your pantry to create this Apple Dijon Vinaigrette, after one bite you’ll have this on your salad, your roasted veggies and even your grilled chicken. Just don’t let your kids see you swipe their applesauce since that’s the main ingredient!

Apple-Dijon-Dressing-MamaChallenge24


 

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Apple Dijon Vinaigrette

Print Recipe

Ingredients

  • ¼ cup unsweetened applesauce (1 pouch of squeezable sauce)
  • 2 tablespoons of water
  • 2 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil
  • 4 teaspoons dijon mustard
  • 1 tablespoon honey (option)
  • ½ teaspoon of salt, or to taste
  • ½ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste

Instructions

  1. Mix all the ingredients in a blender, food processor, or emulsifier for 30 seconds – 1 minute or until smooth. Chill for at least 30 minutes. Serve with greens or over roasted vegetables.

Did you make this recipe?

Tag @mamachallenge on Instagram and hashtag it #mamachallenge

Nothing pairs better than fresh vegetables and you can get them straight to your door! Check out this TV segment on Good Morning Texas I did about fresh food delivery.

Apple-Dijon-Dressing-MamaChallenge23a

 

Hello Fresh! Fresh Food Delivery

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While people are more busy than ever, we are also much more cognizant of what we are putting in their bodies AND our children’s.

Thankfully, there’s been a resurgence in the concept of farmer’s markets; consumers demanding for fresh and organic groceries. However, with a little help from technology we now can have our veggies and eat ’em, too with fresh food delivery.


Hello Fresh, Plated and others have made it so easy to create delicious  meals with fresh ingredients by not only setting your menu, preparing all the ingredients and then sending it straight to your door.  All you have left to do is to put it in a pan and in about 20 minutes, dinner is served.

Hello-Fresh

But here in DFW, an organization called the Cold Springs Farm isn’t just sending it to your door, but are bringing the farmer’s market directly to you – giving you the choice to purchase exactly what you want by picking your fruits and veggies right off their mobile market.

Fresh-Veggies-Cold-Springs-CSA

Photo: Cold Springs Farm

The Veggie Van (#TheFarmacy) offers organic, SEASONAL, local veggies and fruits! Delivery is included in the price. You can order one time, or you can set up automatic weekly, bi-weekly or monthly delivery.  In order to shop from the Veggie Van you must be at home, however the Veggie Van driver will also select produce and leave it for you if you’re not available for delivery. The Veggie Van happily delivers to your office if that is better for you…

Veggie-Van

If someone wants to “shop” the Veggie Van, they place an order using this link: https://squareup.com/market/cold-springs-farm and then they’ll coordinate a delivery location!

No membership is required to shop the Veggie Van, it is a completely different entity than the farm’s CSA. The farm’s CSA is the best value, and membership is required. Cost is $335 for an 8-week session which meets in the cultural district of Fort Worth.

And soon they’ll also allow you to add Heritage poultry and pork from Cold Springs Farm, Grass-fed Natural beef from Grassy Ridge Natural Beef, and grass-fed lamb from Sterling Lamb to your order.

Now that you have all that delicious produce, you have tons of options for meals! I have a super easy and incredibly delicious dressing recipe that will pair well with your salad and roasted vegetables!

Apple-Dijon-Dressing-MamaChallenge23a

 

 

Valentine’s Day Crafts for the Kids

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Valentine’s Day is supposed to be about love, not money or spending countless hours finding the perfect “thing.” Instead spend time together making these Valentine’s Day Crafts for the Kids something that you’ll enjoy creating as much as you will enjoying eating them! 

Valentines-Day-MamaChallenge

I featured these make-and-dos on Fox Good Day Saturday.

Heart-Shaped Cake


Using two cake mixes and a cookie cutter, make a cake or bread that gets to the “heart” of the matter with a secret heart! What a great way to celebrate the holiday or to give as a gift.

Valentines-Day-Treats

Valentine’s Day Lunch Box

Making a healthy lunch together makes it fun to prepare for the next day’s meal OR you can make it a surprise when they open their lunch box. Best of all it only takes a few minutes to pack this V-day lunch box. Using strawberries, cheese sticks and toothpicks, we’ve created these Cupid’s heart and arrows.

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An added bonus: Healthy Valentine’s Day pouches that double as a healthy Valentines for your kids!

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Red Velvet Oreo Cake Balls

Red Velvet anything is a win, but when paired with an Oreo cookie, it’s downright heavenly. I may have lost some pounds with Jenny Craig, but these cookies I found at Market Street better find a new home because they aren’t going to last more than a day at the rate they are going right now. With only three ingredients and almost no cooking, your kids will love making these Oreo Cookie Balls with their hands. The most important thing to remember: Buy at least two bags of Red Velvet Oreos – one to make the cake balls and another bag to eat. (Just saying…)

Valentines-themed-art-mamachallenge

Get the Recipe Here

Love-themed Art

I love any time you can take a memory or personalized moment like using your kid’s hand and foot prints. We’ve used them for all kinds of adorable crafts, but this time we’ve made artwork that you might actually put on your wall all year long using just canvas, paint and a little patience!

Valentines-Photo-Frame-Michaels-Mamachallenge

Coffee-Filter Flowers

A beautiful bouquet of flowers are normally a #1 choice at Valentine’s Day, but let’s be honest, they die after only a week. Using some left-over coffee filters (remember those things you have in the back of the cabinet after you got your Keurig) and some tape, you can make your own custom-made flowers and they last forever! Add a little food coloring and you can even change colors!

Coffee-Filters-Flowers

For more Valentine’s Day make and do including BACON ROSES, check out these treats including a free printable!

Or if you’re really out of time, but want to show you love them, you can always pick up a heart-shaped Papa Murphy’s HeartBaker Pizza (now until Feb. 14), stick it in the oven and claim it as your own.

The pizza is made from scratch with fresh dough in the shape of a heart and is topped with traditional red sauce, generous portions of 100 percent whole milk mozzarella cheese and premium pepperoni slices. It’s perfect for busy moms and those who want to celebrate the occasion without a lot of work, but with that ‘extra something’ that’s quick, easy and served fresh to your family. Priced at $7-$8 depending on your Papa Murphy’s location, it’s a steal. Many locations are also offering a ‘Sweetheart Deal’ for $11 which includes the HeartBaker and a S’Mores dessert pizza.

Papa-Muphy's-Heart-Pizza
Don’t worry, we won’t tell anyone.

Whatever you do, just remember to love it! After all, it’s Valentine’s Day!

Don’t miss this #mamachallenge moment:

FruitRollup

 

Brinner Time? Perfect Pancake Recipes {Giveaway}

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Disclaimer

When breakfast is your favorite meal of the day, you don’t really need a reason to enjoy it any time of the day. However, pancakes, bacon, and all the really great parts of a big breakfast aren’t always possible on Monday mornings with only 20 minutes to get kids get dressed, fed, teeth brushed and out the door.

But when it’s chilly outside and you just want to bundle up in blanket, breakfast, brinner or whatever you want to call it for breakfast at dinner is ideal – especially when you need to get a meal on the table stat.


[Tweet “Did You Know: 91%+ of Americans eat breakfast for dinner. @Krusteaz #BreakfastNight”]

Coinciding with “National Hot Breakfast Month” in February, Krusteaz has officially named every Wednesday night in February as #BreakfastNight.Never one to not celebrate a “holiday,” I embraced the concept and put together a quick and fun breakfast that we don’t get to have very often – pancakes.

BreakfastNight-Pancakes-Krusteaz-MamaChallenge

PERFECT CHOCOLATE CHIP PANCAKES
Using Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake mix, water and a squirt bottle, I was armed to create perfect pancakes. However, my little short-order cooks (my son and daughter) really wanted chocolate chip pancakes. Rather than to mix in the chips, I waited until the batter had hit the pan and then sprinkled the chips lightly onto the pancakes. This way the chocolate wasn’t too melted, making a chocolaty, gooey mess, but just right that when you bit into them you got a pop of chocolate like a cookie!

Pancake-Tip-Krusteaz-MamaChallenge

[Tweet “Perfect Pancakes? Use a squirt or ketchup bottle to create easy pour perfect-sized pancakes every time. @Krusteaz #BreakfastNight #Wednesdays”]

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BACON MAPLE PANCAKES
The kids may have been happy with chocolate chips, but daddy wanted something less sweet and more savory. You can never go wrong with a little bacon (or a lot) and the flavor of maple – so I combined them all into one pancake package! Following the Krusteauz directions, I added my batter to the pan and quickly added a little swirl (straight from the bottle of maple syrup) and sprinkled a pinch of chopped bacon. Quickly I turned them over to complete cooking. When the cakes were ready, I moved them to a plate, added butter, warm syrup and a little more crumbled bacon. I couldn’t help but immediately take a bite…there was just something amazing about having almost all the best flavors of breakfast in one bite.  (I’m a #1 egg fan, but I couldn’t squeeze in another bite of anything after these perfect pancakes!)

Bacon-Maple-Pancakes-Krusteaz-MamaChallenge

For other great pancake recipes, check out these recipes for rainbow pancakes and healthy Apple Pie Pancakes made with applesauce I shared on Good Morning Texas in 2013.

Giveaway

To give your Wednesday night dinners a little update, Krusteaz is giving you a special #BreakfastNight Package!

  • Krusteaz mixes Buttermilk Pancakes, Blueberry Belgian Waffles, Chocolate Chunk Muffins and Honey Wheat Pancakes
  • Pancake spatula, one squeeze bottle for pancake art, and a Krusteaz-branded oven mitt.
  • Breakfast Night inspiration including sample Breakfast Night recipes

Giveaway-Krusteaz-BreakfastNight-MamaChallenge

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Six Tips for Families at The Marvel Experience

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Disclaimer

Last week my super mama (AKA Gigi) flew into town for her birthday and to spend such much-needed time with the kiddos (and me.) We normally try to take the kids on some type of adventure so it was only fitting this time it was a REAL ADVENTURE at The Marvel Experience at Fair Park in Dallas.

Marvel-force


I wasn’t sure what to expect at the traveling interactive show in Dallas, but images of Superman, Iron Man, The Green Hornet and the rest of the gang were a promise of a pretty good time!

Marvel

From the moment we parked. there was excitement as you approach the domes that interconnected right up to the ticket area!

The Marvel Experience is an indoor event that occurs in several interactive, techno-enhanced domes linked together for separate activities you encounter as you complete your S.H.I.E.L.D. training.

Shield-ID-Marvel

After inputting our data to creating our credentials (they sent them by email) and putting on our arm bands, we were ready to go!

The first of the experience sets the stage like a comic book; what’s happening, who’s involved and what’s our mission as we go through The Marvel Experience. While there’s a lot happening with voices, lights, games and more, for younger kids they either will love the excitement or be a little timid as they assess what is going on.

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Even if you don’t have any Marvel character background, you’ll still have a great time. And if you’re a comic-book junkie, you don’t want to miss this new-age way to enjoy your favorite superheroes. I’ll admit, my favorite time was the last dome – where you are part of a uber-cool interactive movie experience complete with moving chairs and motion so you are a part of the action!

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 Six Tips for Families at The Marvel Experience 

  1. Bring the following with you: $10 parking  gives you close access to the entrance, so it’s worth it.
  2. Make sure you’ve full tummies before you go or have money to purchase snacks. However, these are snacks – not a meal and nothing makes anything anything a poor time than when you are hungry!
  3. To ensure crowd control, you will need to choose a specific entry time to purchase your tickets (if in advance.)  I suggest the earlier the better if you have kids because even a streamlined experience getting through The Marvel Experience is at least 2.5 – 3 hour experience. Also, be strategic with your timing and don’t let nap time fall right in the middle of waiting-in-line times. (More than likely you’ll have lines for some of the more interactive games like climbing Spider Man’s Wall or Flying like Iron Man.)
  4. Try not to bring any extras with you like a big bag, stroller, etc. It will make things easier for you to get around the rooms. Make sure to read the FAQs for more info on what to bring and what not to bring!
  5. Grab a map/program. It will help you plan out what makes more sense for you and your family.
  6. Be ready to have fun. This isn’t something you are just bringing the kids to do and you watch. It’s about getting into the fun yourself and seeing how technology is changing how we interact with the world and our favorite superheroes.

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 Now until Jan. 31. Visit The Marvel Experience for ticket info and more. 

 

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