Let The Good Times Roll at Galveston Mardi Gras

Happy Fat Tuesday!  According to Wikipedia, Mardi Gras is French for "Fat Tuesday", reflecting the practice of the last night of eating richer, fatty foods before the ritual fasting of the Lenten season. 

This past weekend, we headed South to Galveston to check out the children's parades on Sunday.  We did not have to go too far.  My kids had never been to a Mardi Gras parade.  When I was younger, I participated in the parades with our high school marching band.  It was always so much fun to perform.  The music gets the people going.  Believe it or not, it had been over 20 years since I had been to Mardi Gras in Galveston. 

If you did not know, there is a children's parade that is very kid friendly.  I did not know there was also a pet parade.  On Sunday, there were three parades that were perfect for the kids.  There was plenty of parking and we got a perfect spot right at the front.  We did arrive early.  There was people throwing beads from a second story building even before the parade started.

My favorite parts from this parade were:

Clowns-Very friendly

Animals-There were so many animals that you could pet during the parade.  From little dogs to cats, ferrets to a big snake, and of course, my daughter pet them all.

Parade De Ja Vu-We thought the first parade was over but it was not.  It came around twice.

Beads Galore-The best of all was collecting all the beads.  One warning, when the beads are getting tossed they could hurt.  Even though it is fun for the kiddos to catch them, be careful they could get hit by falling beads.

Now what to do with all those beads?

Easy Chicken Salad Recipe Featuring Keystone Meats

I am always looking for quick and easy recipes.  Simple meals that we all can enjoy.  Dinner time sometimes can feel so rushed.  It does not have to be that way all the time.  We can plan ahead and find quick meals that can be easily prepared during the week for dinner.

Thanks to Keystone Meats for sending samples for review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

I found a dish that we all like.  Something that is easy to make and you can it eat any way you like.

Chicken Salad

Ingredients-

1 can of Keystone Chicken

1 tbsp Mayo (I use Olive Oil Mayo, but you can leave this out)

1 tbsp Mustard

1 cup Shredded Carrots

1/2 cup diced Pickles

Normally I do not use measuring cups or spoons, I play it by ear.  Do you do the same.  I like using the carrots for a crunch.  I have used the pickled carrots before too.  You can choose to use cooked carrots if you have little ones.  Basically, you just mix all the ingredients together.  Anyone of you family members could make this recipe.

The rest is really up to you.  How do you want to serve it?  For dinner, I served it on BFree Gluten-Free sandwich bread with veggies on the side.  And the left overs, I packed up and ate with crackers the next day. 

The Keystone Chicken Salad made enough for 4, plus bonus left overs for me.  You cannot go wrong with this all natural chicken as the ingredients are chicken and sea salt.

For more information, go to keystonemeats.com.

BFree Gluten-Free Breads

Do you suffer from a bloated stomach after eating?  Have you had that checked?  I was having serious problems with my stomach and I really did not know why.  I tried no soda, no eggs, and nothing really helped.  I got allergy tested and it turns out some of the food I was eating was making my stomach swell.  Ever heard of gluten-free?

Thanks to BFree for sending sample product to review.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

You really need to listen to your body when it gives you warning signs.  The warning signs can be flagging some serious issues.  Many people now suffer from a lot of allergies, one being food allergy to dairy, egg, wheat, gluten, etc.  This is not a new craze people are doing.  This is how people have to learn to eat in order to stay healthy.

BFree products are not only high fiber and low fat, and completely vegan.  They carry a variety of products:

-Wraps (multi-grain/sweet potato/quinoa and chia seed)

-Pita bread

-Hot Dog buns (plain/seeded)

-rolls (white/brown seeded)

-sandwich bread (white/brown seeded)

-bagel (multi-seeded/plain)

I was pretty skeptical about how this bread was going to taste but I was ready to try it.  We were really impressed by the taste.  We really did some sampling, trying it with different dishes.  I did not tell the family the ingredients of the bread.  No one complained.  Everyone ate their food.  They did not notice any difference.  That is really good because my daughter is allergic to eggs and I have to always be careful with what she eats too.  I don't have to worry about the ingredients because they are Non-GMO.  This bread did not crack or crumble either.  I am also glad that this bread is available at our local H-E-B.

For more information, go to bfreefoods.com.

The Health Museum Presents Body Worlds RX

This year I am on a journey of self discovery and renew.  I am guilty of self neglect.  It is so easy to forget about yourself when you are running around taking care of everyone else.  Life should not get in the way of self preservation, self care, or self love.

Thanks to the Health Museum for a preview invitation.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal opinion.

How well do you take care of your one body?  Have you ever wondered what your heart looks like?

How big is your heart?  And I don't mean, how nice are you?  Do you suffer from an enlarged heart?  Do you know your family history?  All of these questions ran through my head.  A real reality check to face and see how our organs are affected.  Seeing them from the inside out.

Body Worlds RX was created by anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens.  She is the inventor of Plastination science.  The exhibit features Plastination, a complex technique that removes the fluids from the body and replaces them with plastics that harden.

This exhibit really woke me up.  I need to take better care of my body.  I need to learn more about my family history and make better choices.  This exhibit was like a fun Science class that showed you how the body really works. 

Prescriptions for Healthy Living on exhibit now until April 23, 2017.

Body Worlds RX is included in the cost of your general admission ticket purchase.

For more information, go to the healthmuseum.org/exhibit/body-worlds-rx.

Finger Lucking Good Sticky Bun Recipe

Did you know that today is National Sticky Bun Day?  No, you did not.  Shame on you. 

Thanks to Grand Lux Cafe for hosting our dinner.  All opinions stated are my own based on my personal experience.

In celebration of National Sticky Bun Day, Grand Lux Cafe is sharing their Warm Sticky Bun Bread Pudding recipe with you, my readers.  You can create this finger licking dish at home.

Warm Sticky Bun Bread Pudding-
Served with Whiskey Sauce, Sugared Pecans and Whipped Cream

Ingredients

1 lb.	Brioche or Challah
8 oz.(2 Sticks) 1/3 Cup, packed 1/3 Cup 1 tsp. ¼ tsp. ¼ tsp.	Melted Butter Brown Sugar Sugar Cinnamon Nutmeg Salt
2 Cups 2 Cups 4 ea. 4 ea. ½ C. 1 tsp.	Milk Heavy Cream Eggs Egg Yolks Sugar Vanilla Extract

Directions

1.       Cut the bread into 1” cubes. 2.       Place the bread cubes into a large mixing bowl.

3.       Combine the butter, sugars and spices in a mixing bowl, whisking to combine completely. 4.       Pour the mixture over the bread, tossing to fully coat the bread cubes with the mixture. 5.       Spread out into a 9x13 baking dish. 6.       Bake at 350° for 15 minutes, or until golden brown.  Be sure to stir the bread cubes once or twice while toasting.

7.       While the bread is toasting, make the custard.

8.       Whisk all ingredients together until evenly combined. 9.       Once the bread has toasted, remove the pan from the oven. 10.   Pour the custard over the bread cubes. 11.   Allow the mixture to sit for 10-15 minutes before cooking.

12.   Cover the pan with aluminum foil and place into a 300° oven. 13.   Bake for 20 minutes. 14.   Remove foil from pan and continue to bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until light golden brown and the custard has set.  You can test this by inserting a paring knife into the center of the pudding. If the knife comes away clean, or with very little pudding clinging to it, the pudding is ready.

15.   Allow the pudding to cool for at least 30 minutes before serving.

16.   To serve: Top the pudding with toasted pecans and warm caramel sauce. Serve with either vanilla ice cream or crème anglaise.

If you try this at home and fail, you could always just head to your nearest Grand Lux Cafe like we did.  I am not the Betty Crocker when it comes to following recipes.  My husband will agree with me on that.  He has had to suffer through lots of my Pinterest fail dinners. 

Here are a few recommendations if you do not know what to order:

Appetizers-

Empanadas -   Flaky Pastry Filled with Beef, Chorizo, Peppers, Onions, Herbs and Spices

These are great tapas.  Also if you are not that hungry, this is a good, tasty choice.

Edamame -   Soybeans in Their Pods Stir Fried with Spicy Szechuan Sauce

I enjoy Edamame.  This is a great option to the steamed and it has a nice kick to it too.

 Entrée-

Spicy Ginger Beef-A Stir Fry of Beef Tenderloin, Shiitake Mushrooms, Sugar Snap Peas, Bok Choy, Red Onion, Sesame Seeds and Spicy Soy-Ginger Sauce. Served with Steamed White Rice

The perfect amount of spice.  This was a recommendation from our waitress.  It was exactly what I what wanted. 

Cedar Planked B.B.Q. Salmon- Roasted on a Cedar Plank and Glazed with Sweet and Spicy B.B.Q. Sauce. Served with Mashed Potatoes, Corn Succatash and Crispy Onion Rings

My hubby substituted the Corn Succatash for Brussel Sprouts.  These were very crispy and sweet.

Dessert-

Of course, the Warm Sticky Bun Bread Pudding makes the list.

Warm Rustic Apple Pie- Baked when you order it! Flaky Sugared Crust Filled with Fresh Apples and Topped with Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel

My husband devoured this dessert.  Not your traditional Apple Pie.  It is a must try as well.

For more information, go to www.grandluxcafe.com.  No reservation is ever needed.  This is always a great option is you get your bum into a sticky situation at home, wink, wink. 

Let Grand Lux Cafe do the cooking for you!

Motivational Monday-Steps For Students 2017

January flew by me this year.  I seriously have not been able to get a grip on things.  Here we are in February, to our first race of the year for our family. 

Steps for Students is an annual race we have started to take a part in to support our friends who have children in the surrounding Catholic schools.  It is a family fun run that is always fun to participate in and of course, contribute to the cause.  This year, it happens to be the first race we do as a family.

My son just turned eighteen this month and will be graduating in May.  Education has always been important to me.  I am trying to make sure my kids understand how important education should be for them.  As he becomes a young adult, I hope moments like this will keep him grounded.  I always enjoy running side by side with him, even if he does beat me by a whole 10 minutes. 

-Teaching them to start and finish things in life.
-You may not be the winner every time but you can continue to improve.
-Community can be, do, and overcome anything.
-In life you have choices, to watch life (the race) from the sidelines or to be a part of something.

We laugh.  We compete against each other.  We motivate each other to do better.  We do it together.

After each race, I always reflect about the struggle.  Because let me tell you, the struggle was real.  I have not competed in a race in a very long time.  Like I said, life has had me busy.  I set goals and then life happens.  When I started the race, I started side by side with my son.  Daddy pushed the Princess on the stroller because her struggle was real too this day.  She decided she was not running.  She wanted to be a part of the race but not actually participate.  I feel her pain.  That morning I thought, why did I do this to us?  Anyways, I told my son good luck as he took off right after we crossed the start line.  I then focused on not stopping.  It was hard.  I knew the faster I went, the faster I would finish.  My body started to play tricks on me.  Soon enough the water station was in the distance and I took my jog to a walk.  Passing the last trash can, my body knew it was time to start jogging again.  This happened a second time at the second water station.  I saw little kids, older people, and even nuns pass me.  Yes, nuns.  When I came around the corner, I could see the finish line and I knew what I had to do.  Run, Forrest, Run.  And just like that, it was over.  I did it. 

The journey along the way will make you think twice about your final destination but you must never forget what your goal is.  Mine was to start and finish this 5K.

Now, to start recovering for the next one.