mamachallenge | Real Solutions for Real Parents | Dallas Blog

Real Solutions for Real Parents by Autumn Rose Reo

Healthy Summer Crock Pot Recipes To Keep You Out of the Kitchen

By 5 Comments

TV Tuesday:

 This morning I made a visit over to Dallas’ WFAA 8 Good Morning Texas to cook up some of our favorite take out recipes – done healthy! And best of all making them in the slow cooker, you aren’t slaving away in the hot kitchen! So bust out that crock pot and let’s get cookin’!

 Check out my healthy crock pot recipe redos for Carnitas Tacos, General Tso’s Chicken, and Chicken Parm!




I have lots more healthy slow cooker recipes where those came from on my Pinterest!

Do you have any healthy recipes you’d like to share? I’d love to test them out! 



Mad Men Season 6 Finale

By Leave a Comment

Mad Men Moms Monday:

Oh wow. 

 The finale of Mad Men Season 6 definitely was one for the record books. 

 I couldn’t even think up some of the things that happened and if you haven’t seen it yet, then I almost don’t want to spoil it for you…ALMOST. 

 So round out our weekly recaps of the show, Shannon from MilkandCuddles.com and I couldn’t help but resist watching the last one together. (I’m glad we did because I needed someone to talk to after that!) 

 Also, in true Mad Men Moms fashion, we also celebrated with a cocktail. Shannon surprised me with a fun chocolate-flavored concotion with cream, black cherry vodka and Kahlua (think White Russian meets Yoohoo!) Little did we know how much the topic of chocolate would become a part of our evening’s adventure. 


What did you think? 

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

By Leave a Comment

Food Fridays:

It’s no secret I have thing for pancakes.  

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

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

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



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




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

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

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

Which one are you ready to bite into? 



Mad Men Moms: Say WHOA and Mojitos

By Leave a Comment

Mad Men Monday:

It’s another episode of Mad Men Moms and we definitely needed a drink (or two) to make it through this one! 

So get out some mint to mix up for the mojitos will be drinking tonight and get ready for a good one! (You’ll get the recipe over on milkandcuddles.com! )


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

Raise Your Glass: ‘Mad Men’ Moms Debuts with Season 6 Recap

By 4 Comments

Mad Men Monday:

Oh, Christina Hendricks! Last night was a biggie!

After the long wait and lots of cocktail making practice, Mad Men Season 6 took over the TV world last night with a two-hour bang. And it was worth the wait. 

Meet the new girls at Mad Men Moms!

Apparently I wasn’t the only one who felt that way. The twittersphere was blown up with #MadMen (the officially sponsored hashtag by AMC), and tons of people commenting on everything from what Betty was wearing, what was happening with Roger and of course, and who I mean, what Don was doing. 

If you missed the show or like me could talk about Don Draper all the time, I’m inviting you to the debut of the best show ever, ‘Mad Men Moms,’ to give your the lowdown on the opener. Joined by one of of best friends and blogger buddies, Shannon at milkandcuddles, we spill the beans on our thoughts on this episode and what we hope to see in the coming episodes! 




And that’s not all folks! 

It wouldn’t be a show about Mad Men if we didn’t have a drink and little bit of fun…so we’ve included that, too!

Dirty Don Draper Martini

2 oz gin
1 tbsp gin
2 tbsp olive juice (or more!)
3-4 olives (good olives too!)

Fill a mixer with all the ingredients including garnish. Cover and shake 3-4 times. Pour contents into a cold glass. Enjoy! (And then make another!)

And that lovely little Mad Men illustration? You can make one too like we did for Mad Men Moms! Check out how you can at milkandcuddles.com! 



Make sure you join us for all the fun each week when we recap the show on Google Hangouts!

Let’s Get Mad, Baby with Mad Men Cocktails {Recipes}

By 2 Comments

Food Fridays:


This weekend is a BIG weekend for me.

I’ve been waiting for this day for a long time…the moment when my second love emerges after more than a year of silence and total abandonment…

Thank you to Urban Moms/Pinterest for this one of the dashing Don Draper. 


It’s when Jon Hamm…I mean Don Draper and the whole Mad Men cast come back to my television on Sundays and take me back to a time when drinking at the office was the norm, big hair was all the rage and the gal with the boobs in the office was the hottie. (I could have been so cool back then, maybe.)

Anyhow, season 6 of Mad Men returns to AMC this weekend for a two-hour opener on Sunday. I’m a little sad since after season 7 this show will come to a close, but for now I relish the time I have left to bask at Jon Hamm…(can you tell I have a small obsession with Jon Hamm? Check out my Pinterest for a nice little place I go when I need to put a smile on my face.)

And of course, what goes better with viewing a show that spends a lot of time drinking than to raise a glass of spirits. Last month when Downton Abbey concluded the season my friend and I enjoyed one “upstairs” drink with a little bubbly and one “downstairs” drink with a half/half British beer combo. It was so much fun to get a little into character, so I would be remiss not to toast to MM6 with a cocktail in hand.

Pink Squirrel 

Thankfully, AMC has made sure everyone can enjoy the whole show with recipes for several drinks from the times. So let’s celebrate with a few of my favorite sexy cocktails I found and will be sipping on Sunday.

Did I mention that these have like two ingredients too, so you can’t mess than up? Or you could just get a bottle and do it like the rest of the guys did. (But that wouldn’t be as fun, right?)

{Since these recipes aren’t mine, click on your drink to get to the recipe and you can go to the website for many, many more.}

Sloe Gin Fizz


Dirty Martini


Let’s Get Mad with Mad Men this Sunday!


Healthy Apple Pie Pancakes with Go Go squeeZ

By 3 Comments

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

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

ApplePiePancakes Go Go SqueeZ

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


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

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

Stir together the ingredients and cook.

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

Apple Topping

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

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


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

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

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

Me Mondays: Save Time with a Whole Meal in the Microwave {Recipes}

By Leave a Comment

Every Monday I bring you things on mamachallenge.com that really matter to mom (at least to me!) This morning “Me Monday” took on a whole new meaning because this Monday I (me) was on WFAA’s Good Morning Texas making a whole meal in the microwave – and in only 4:30 minutes! Not only was it easy and healthy, but it also was quick so you can spend more time with your family and spend less time cooking in your kitchen!

 Check out my debut: 


Are you ready to take on this challenge yourself at home? Then here are the recipes!
Ham & Swiss Stuffed Chicken
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 – 8 ounces each)
Salt and pepper
1 slice of Swiss cheese (about 1 ounce) or use Provolone
1 slice of deli ham (about 1/2 ounce each)
1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
Steam bags (Ziplock, Glad, etc.)
Mustard Sauce
2 tablespoons regular or light mayonnaise
2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard
1 teaspoon honey
Pinch of salt (about 1/16 teaspoon)
1. Cut 2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves (6 – 8 ounces each) in half horizontally almost all the way through leaving far edge intact and open up like a book. Cover with plastic wrap and pound opened breasts gently to even thickness (about 1/4 inch), being careful not to tear chicken. Sprinkle open (cut-side) of chicken with salt and pepper to taste.
2. Cut 1 slice of Swiss cheese (about 1 ounce) in half. Wrap each half of cheese in 1 slice of deli ham (about 1/2 ounce each), folding ham over cheese on all sides to fully surround cheese. Place one ham and cheese bundle on each chicken breast.
4. Put stuffed chicken breasts into steam bag with thickest part of chicken breasts toward outer edge of bag.
5. Seal bag and place in microwave. Cook on full power for 5 – 5 1/2 minutes, until chicken is cooked through, with no trace of pink. If needed, continue microwaving at 30-second intervals until chicken is done.
6. Allow bag to stand 1 minute before handling. Carefully open bag. Use spatula to remove chicken from bag. Serve with mustard sauce.

Glazed Carrots
1 pound baby-cut carrots
1 Tablespoon brown sugar
1 Tablespoon butter
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
Steam bag

1. Combine baby-cut carrots, brown sugar, butter, cornstarch and salt in a steam bag.
2. Seal bag and shake gently to combine ingredients. Pat carrots into a single layer. Place bag in microwave.
3. Cook on full power for 6 minutes for crisp-tender carrots. If needed, continue microwaving at 30-second intervals until carrots have reached desired level of tenderness.
4. Allow bag to stand for 1 minute before handling. Shake gently to coat carrots with glaze. Carefully open bag.
5. Garnish with 1 Tablespoon chopped fresh parsley, if desired, and serve.

Herbed New Potatoes
1 1/2 pounds small red boiling potatoes, cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 teaspoon dried Italian seasoning blend
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon black pepper
Steam bag

1. Combine all ingredients in a steam bag.
2. Seal bag and shake gently to distribute seasonings. Place bag in microwave
3. Cook on full power for 7 minutes or until potatoes are fork tender. If needed, continue microwaving at 30-second intervals until all potatoes are done.
4. Allow bag to stand 1 minute before handling. Carefully open bag and pour out potatoes.

Chocolate Mug Cake
Recipe: Makes 1 mug cake (adapted from www.babble.com)
Mug!
4 tablespoons all purpose flour
4 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 egg – beaten
3 tablespoons skim milk
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
2 salted caramels, chocolate chips, or anything else you want to throw in there!

1. Into a small bowl add: flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, salt, egg, milk, and vegetable oil. Mix to combine.
2. Pour mixture into a regular sized coffee mug. Drop caramels/candies into center of mixture one at a time.
3. Microwave on high for one minute and 30 seconds. If needed (if cake batter is still gooey), microwave on high for up to an additional 30 seconds. 

What did you think? 

Pin This!

Visit Mama Challenge's profile on Pinterest.

Pictures Say a 1000 Words

Follow Along!