Food Archives - Page 2 of 8 - Baton Rouge Family Fun

Blueberry picking near Baton Rouge & Beyond – Blueberry Farms, Orchards and U-Picks Guide

June 6, 2018 by Tiany Davis

Berry picking can be a fun, delicious and educational outing with kids. Nothing compares to picking ones own food and seeing where our food comes from. In Louisiana, the picking season usually starts earlier than other parts of the country, we’re blessed to have a number of options for blueberry picking near Baton Rouge. Berry picking is a great way to get outdoors while supporting our local farms!

We’ve listed a number of fruit picking farms below, while some of these Berry Farms are not close they are within an hour or two and would make a fun day trip with a new city to explore. Time to get some dirt on your hands and fresh fruit in your buckets!

Good to Know Before You Go: Please be sure to call the farm before heading out, so many variables can effect your outing. Berry ripening, Weather, Berry availability, etc.

What to Bring: Prepare for a trip to the farm like you would a day at the park. With very little shade in the berry patches, you’ll want to bring hats and sunscreen. Wear full feet covering shoes, no flip-flops or the sort, those pesky Louisiana ants will get you every time! Bring baby wipes and a change of clothes for the littles, you never know what blueberry shenanigans the kids will get into.

Photo Credit: Patty Mcgrath @ Blueberry Ridge Orchard

Blueberry picking near Baton Rouge & Beyond – Blueberry Farms, Orchards and U-Pick Guide

Blueberry Ridge Orchard: The orchard will be open for u-pick beginning on June 3rd, 2016. $1.50/pound. Cash only. Hours are: Sunrise to sunset. Please bring your own containers to carry berries home. We will have belts and milk jugs to pick with. Please leave them when you are finished.
Jackson, LA
Connect: Online | Facebook |(225) 629-5311

Berry Sweet Orchards: the first organic “you-pick” blueberry orchard to be certified by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry as an organic producer under the standards of the National Organic Program (NOP). Since 2015, we follow all NOP standards but are not certified by them anymore. Only NOP certified all-natural fertilizers and soil builders are used on our blueberry crop. No synthetic pesticides or herbicides have been used on or near our blueberries or in the orchard.
5110 Brown Road, Ethel, Louisiana 70730
Connect: Online | Facebook | (225) 683-1001

Hillcrest Blueberry Farm: Hillcrest Blueberry Farm is the largest blueberry farm in all of Louisiana! Located in DeSoto Parish just a mile south of Gloster, we are a family owned farm specializing in fresh fruit sales. We have 139 acres of blueberries and two acres of blackberries.
634 Ferguson Road, Gloster, LA 71030
Connect: Online | Facebook | (318) 617-7497

Blue Harvest Farms: Blue Harvest Farms is the largest U-Pick Blueberry Farm in St. Tammany parish, located on the Covington/Bush border (Waldheim)
78495 HWY 21, Bush, LA 70431
Connect: Online | Facebook | blueharvestfarms@gmail.com

EquiTerra Farm: EquiTerra Farm is a certified organic horse powered farm. We have a goal here on the farm to provide the highest quality food possible to our customers. We believe that a healthy body starts with healthy food. We are currently going through the new LA organic application process; but, we have been organic since we began farming. We provide organic blueberries, figs, blackberries, muscadines, and vegetables. We also have wonderful big brown free-range eggs and free-range broilers.
12798 Muse Lane, Clinton, LA 70722
Connect: 225-683-8406 | pldavidson@aol.com

Loblolly Ridge Farm: Located in the northern section of Tangipahoa Parish, Amite, Louisiana. Loblolly Ridge Farm is a U-Pick Blueberry farm. The farm consist of 2 acres of blueberries (approximately 1200 bushes consisting of 6 varieties of hybrid blueberries). Picking starts June 2nd and ends July 2nd, depending on weather conditions.
1000 Andrew Bankston Road, Amite, LA 70422
Connect: Online | (985) 748-6843

Ridemore Ranch and Berry Farm: Ridemore Berry Farm is a U-pick berry farm located near Covington, LA. We provide a family environment where you can come out and pick ripe berries right off the bush. You can even taste the berries as you pick them to make sure that they are the best you have ever had.
22154 John T Prats Rd, Covington, LA 70435
Connect: Online | Facebook |( 985) 875-1965

Shuqualak Farms: Shuqualak Farms is small and inviting, with six acres of blueberries and four acres of blackberries. Open from early June to mid July, visitors are provided with a 5-quart bucket and strap for collecting their harvest. Berries are packaged in freezer-safe bags and children are given 1-quart take-home buckets.
232 Shuqualak Farms Rd, Frierson, LA
Connect: Online | Facebook | (318) 797-8273

3D Blueberry Farm: Pick Your Own Blueberry Farm: OPENING: Wed. June 1st 2016 Normal hours are 7am–Noon & 4pm-7pm
41031 Highway 1056 Franklinton, LA
Connect: Online | Facebook | (703) 618-3782

Sunhillow Berry Farm: Locally owned and operated. This farm has been in operation since 1993. We operate on the “honor” system. Come on out and pick your own!
33510 Magee-Mahner Rd Pearl River, LA
Connect: Online | Facebook | (985) 867-9737

Photocred: LucketFarms

Lucket Farms: Not berries but we thought you all would enjoy learning about this amazing local farm too. Luckett Farms is located in Central and Pride Louisiana. They are a local Family Farm working 7 days a week to provide customers in the Greater Baton Rouge area with local, quality, home grown produce for affordable pricing. They currently sell produce direct to the consumer either through our CSA Program or seasonally at the Red Stick Farmer’s Market and at a stand at their home n Central. They are passionate about teaching others how to grow, harvest, and cook healthy foods! This is one of the reasons that Derek, the owner, went back to school to study Horticulture at LSU.
Denhan rd. 1 mile from Greenwell springs. They have signs in the yard.
Connect: Online | Facebook | (225) 939-2998

Caring for Berries

Store unwashed berries in containers or gallon-sized zip-top bags layered with paper towels. Refrigerated berries will last about two days. Frozen blueberries can last from season to season or beyond, do not wash berries for the freezer THEY MUST BE DRY BEFORE FREEZING, you can wash before use. Serve at room temperature after washing with a spray of cool water. Whole berries can be frozen in zip-top freezer bags for jams, smoothies, and homemade ice cream. Add berries to cereal, smoothies, or snacks straight from the refrigerator or freezer. Berries are fat-free, low in calories, and have fiber, vitamin C, and disease- fighting antioxidants.

Lastly, be sure to check out our list of 30 Things To Do in Baton Rouge & Beyond to fill the summer with fun, local adventures! #BRMSummerBucketList

Simple Steps To Pamper Mom This Mother’s Day – Holly Clegg

May 10, 2018 by Guest Contributor

What do you get your mom for Mother’s Day when she deserves the world but you can’t quite afford that? Moms do everything for us since the day we are born and they only get one day a year to be really recognized for that. And on that one-day, they are still the ones who usually end up planning whatever event you do that day! I usually make our favorite make-ahead easy brunch casserole from KITCHEN 101 and serve with Cheese Grits but this year I have a different plan!

This Mother’s Day, I have decided to pamper my mom like the Queen she is, follow these simple steps so that you can too. After you get home from your Mother’s Day brunch, party, or cookout it’s time for your mom to relax. Waiting for her in the refrigerator will be delicious Chocolate Truffles dipped in White Chocolate from Too Hot In the Kitchen along with an Avocado Carrot Cream Mask. Both are homemade by you with all of the love in the world. And, there’s even a Chocolate Mask too-the ultimate pampering chocoholic favorite!

The Chocolate Truffles are extremely easy to make and contain only 3 ingredients. The best part is that you don’t have to tell your mom that. Let her think that you slaved over the stove all day to make her these authentic French truffles because you love her that much.

Although the truffles are very impressive, the most impressive part of the gift will be the facemask. This Avocado Carrot Cream mask is a really “good-for-you” facemask to pamper your mom with. The avocados are rich in vitamin E, which creates the best moisturizer, while the carrots (high in beta-carotene and antioxidants) help to reduce dry, flaky skin. Why go out and buy a facemask when you can make one and know exactly what is in it? This facemask can provide some good quality time between you and your mom, as well as an amazing refreshing feeling when she takes it off.

Both of these recipes can be stored and enjoyed by your mom all week long. The final step to your perfect Mother’s Day present is to buy “Too Hot in the Kitchen.” This cookbook contains more fun, simple spa recipes as well as many more fun and sassy recipes like these to keep your mom’s Mother’s Day going all year long.

Two of my favorite DIY skincare masks!

Simple Steps To Pamper Mom This Mother’s Day

Avocado Carrot Cream Mask from Too Hot in the Kitchen

A really good-for-you mask with avocados rich in Vitamin E (naturally rich moisturizer), carrots (high in beta-carotene and antioxidants-reduces dry, flaky skin) so these ingredients will rebuild skin collagen, improve tone and texture, and fade age spots. Leaves you glowing! Makes a lot!

1 avocado, mashed
1 carrot, cooked and mashed
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 egg, beaten (unclog pores)
3 tablespoons honey (tightens skin)

In bowl, mix all ingredients until smooth. Spread gently over face and neck 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and follow with toner.

Chocolate Mask from Too Hot in the Kitchen

Everyone wanted to eat this mask it smelled so good but then it made you look and feel good too! Especially good for dry skin.

1 tablespoon cocoa powder
4 teaspoons honey
1 tablespoon heavy cream
1 teaspoon oatmeal 1 teaspoon plain yogurt

Mix all ingredients in a blender and smooth onto face. Leave on for 10 minutes then rinse with warm water.

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PEEPs® Slime Recipe – Baton Rouge Moms

March 26, 2018 by Tiany Davis

Easter is here and that means PEEPs® are too!! Whether you’re in the mood for a fun science experiment with major cool factor or you want a fun afternoon project to keep the kids entertained, our homemade PEEPs® slime is sure to do the trick. It’s a perfect Easter activity, especially if you have too many PEEPs® on hand!

PEEPs® Slime

This makes a pliable, sweat, slime kids will love. You will need:

1 2.5 oz package of peeps (8 peeps)

1 teaspoon cooking oil

2 tablespoons cornstarch

Place peeps in a large microwave-safe bowl.

Microwave for 30 seconds allowing peeps to fluff up.

Pour in oil and cornstarch.

Stir until you have a thick slime.

Experiment by adding a little more cornstarch to make the slime less sticky and more dough-like.

That’s it, kids will enjoy this sweet and gooey treat for hours!

Popular New Orleans restaurant Dat Dog is coming to LSU

March 14, 2018 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Dat Dog, the popular hot dog franchise based out of New Orleans, is coming to Baton Rouge just in time for football season! Hot dogs, toppings and more… oh my!

The Advocate reports two franchisees of the immensely popular ‘Dat Dog’ in New Orleans have signed a lease to open the chain’s first Baton Rouge location.

The report says the plan is for the eatery to open in the Arlington Marketplace near LSU, next door to a brand new Rouses, in time for the college football season. The franchisees, two New Orleans attorneys, say they also hope to have a Dat Dog food truck open for tailgates, catering and other events.

Dat Dog Baton Rouge

Dat Dog’s menu spans traditional and unusual franks, like kielbasa, bratwurst, alligator, crawfish, and duck. With 30 toppings and several different sausages, the combinations are endless at Dat Dog. They even serve vegan and vegetarian hot dogs, something for everyone! The buns are notably vegan, and there are lettuce wrap options for the gluten-free.

From the folks at Dat Dog…

Dat Dog is a place where amazing and affordable food, fun-loving staff, and bright colors provide you with a sanctuary of joy from the moment you cross its threshold. Combining the soul of Louisiana with the sophistication of Europe, Dat Dog’s artfully crafted cuisine of Hot Dogs, sausages (including vegetarian, vegan and fish), burgers and chicken (fried, grilled or tossed in buffalo sauce) are a thing of beauty. The over 30 toppings available at no extra charge allow you to create your very own “jazz improvisation in a bun”.

This is one comfort food many of us find hard to give up but if hot dogs are not your thing, the restaurant also branches out beyond just hot dogs, with burgers, chicken sandwiches, and fries. The Baton Rouge location may offer some Baton Rouge-specific items as well.

Holly Clegg’s Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe

January 31, 2018 by Guest Contributor

Even if you’re limited on time, I promise my crescent roll Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake recipe will be worth the 15 minutes it takes to make it. No time-consuming yeast dough but all the richness of the best king cake you have ever put in your mouth!

I know I made an impression with this easy king cake recipe when my five-year-old grandson gave me a stack of cut out king cake newspaper ads and told me he knew I would want them. You probably have seen, Clegg, on my Facebook Live videos cooking with me. I realized cooking with him has become a teaching moment too.

Who doesn’t like king cakes? We are so fortunate in Baton Rouge to have some of the best king cakes but I have been told my crescent roll king cake recipe is “just as good (if not better) than at the bakeries!” With reduced-fat crescent rolls, reduced-fat cream cheese, cinnamon and sugar and a little icing, this is a lighter trim and terrific king cake recipe that can be made wherever you live. However, all the rage is my new savory and sensational Crawfish King Cake with a scrumptious creamy crawfish filling topped with Mardi Gras colored Parmesan cheese. Sweet or savory, this king cake recipe will be your go-to recipe this carnival season! Having company—check out my easy Mardi Gras Menu filled with recipes and tips.

How To Make My Kid-Friendly Easy Mardi Gras King Cake Recipe: Fun Cooking!

Cooking With Kids:

Teaches you to follow directions
Measurements teach you math
Learn your colors + red and blue make purple
Instant gratification with finished recipe
Cooking gives kid’s confidence

Easy King Cake Recipe with Cream Cheese Cinnamon Filling from Gulf Coast Favorites cookbook

My most popular king cake recipe known as a crescent roll king cake! You can leave out the cream cheese filling if you have picky eaters or sometimes I put half with cream cheese filling and half plain. Here are photos of the steps of how to make a king cake.

Makes 16 servings

2 (8-ounce) cans reduced-fat crescent rolls
4 ounces reduced-fat cream cheese
2 tablespoons confectioners sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup light brown sugar
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
Mardi Gras Icing (see recipe below)

Preheat oven 350°F. Coat 10-inch round pizza pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Separate crescent rolls at perforations, into 16 slices. Place slices around prepared pan with points in center. About halfway down from points, press seams together.
3. In mixing bowl, beat cream cheese, confectioners’ sugar, and vanilla until creamy. Spread on dough in the center where seams have been pressed together.
4. In another small bowl, combine butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon with a fork until crumbly. Sprinkle over cream cheese. Fold dough points over filling and then fold bottom of triangle over points forming a circular roll like a king cake.
5. Bake 20-25 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly and drizzle with colored Mardi Gras Icing.

Mardi Gras Icing:

1 cup confectioners’ sugar
1-2 tablespoons skim milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Yellow, green, red, and blue food coloring

In small bowl, combine all ingredients, except food color. Divide mixture into three bowls
2. In first bowl, add a few drops of yellow food coloring and in second bowl, add a few drops of green food coloring. In third bowl, add equal amounts of drops of red and blue food coloring (to create purple). Drizzle over baked cake.

Nutritional information per serving: Calories 184 Calories from fat 36% Fat 7 g Saturated Fat 3 g Cholesterol 9 mg Sodium 275 mg Carbohydrate 26 g Dietary Fiber 0 g Sugars 16 g Protein 3 g Diabetic Exchanges 11/2 carbohydrate 11/2 fat

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Best Baton Rouge King Cake 2018 – voted by YOU!

January 26, 2018 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

It’s good to be a Louisianan! We took our third annual king cake poll to find out what YOU choose as this year’s BEST King Cake and the results are in! King Cake may be the demise of many New Year’s resolutions, but how can we resist this buttery danish pastry, sweetened with dusted sugar, icing and a plethora of flavored fillings? We can’t! Here are the best Baton Rouge king cakes according to YOU, Baton Rouge moms! Enjoy this trail of delicious king cakes, try them all to decide the best for yourself.

Best Baton Rouge King Cake – 2018

Thee Heavenly Donut – For the SECOND year in a row, Thee Heavenly Donut takes the prize of BEST King Cake according to Baton Rouge moms!! Home of the BOUDIN kingcake and Pecan praline, Banana Foster, Turtle, LA Cajun Mud, Strawberry and famous Fried King Cakes! Thee Heavenly Donut’s mission is to offer the Best, Freshest (made daily), Handmade Donuts, Kolaches, King Cakes, Cupcakes and Specialty Cakes– all year round. Owners Kara and Shane Castille have a passion for Great Customer Service and treating their customers like family. Their products are like no other in the greater Baton Rouge area and truly believe in the quality and deliciousness of these products.
BONUS: Thee Heavenly Donut also has King Cake donuts!!
Oak Point Fresh Market –Home of the Chantilly king cake and the Oreo Cream king cake, Oak Point Fresh Market is a family owned and operated full-service supermarket. They offer a wide variety of King Cakes baked fresh daily! Flavors include banana, Bavarian cream, Orange Dreamsicle, Pecan Praline and many more!
Ralph’s Market -A locally owned business, Ralph’s Market offers a large selection of fresh, high-quality products that includes many grown right here in Louisiana! Also voted Best King Cake in Ascension with over 50 flavors of king cakes!!
Calandro’s King Cake– With over 50 flavors, you’re sure to find the perfect King Cake at Calandro’s, learn more in the video below! Also 4th but not in Baton Rouge… Randazzo’s King Cake!
Ambrosia – There are many options when it comes to The Ambrosia King Cake! The Traditional King Cake (shown here for an “In-Store Pickup”) has cinnamon and sugar inside of our family secret King Cake dough. Purchase a “Mardi Gras King Cake Kit” and take your King Cake home for the kids to decorate and have a Mardi Gras Party!

Honorable Mention:

Rouses – Rouses oval-shaped king cakes are made with their exclusive gourmet cinnamon dough, iced, and sprinkled with decorative sugars in the carnival colors of purple (for justice), green (for faith), and gold (for power). Your choice of traditional or one of their tasty fillings.

More Baton Rouge Area locations to get your king cake fix:

Baums – www.baumspastries.com
Blue Rose Cafe – www.thebluerosebr.com
Gambino’s Bakery – www.gambinos.com
Harvest Market in Prairieville – www.harvestsupermarket.com/
Les Amis Bakery Shoppe – www.lesamisbakeshoppe.com
Tiger Deaux-nuts – www.tigerdeaux-nuts.com

Chicken Salad Chick To Open Denham Springs Location

September 27, 2017 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Have you heard the news??? Chicken Salad Chick, the nation’s only southern inspired, fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, will be expanding in Denham Springs! We have heard nothing but great things about Chicken Salad Chick and we are thrilled that they will be opening at Juban Crossing in Denham Springs on October 4th!! Not only do we have an awesome giveaway for you but we will be inviting 100 moms to the soft opening next week to try Chicken Salad Chick for themselves!! Keep reading…

The Chicken Salad Chick concept, born in Auburn, Ala., was established in 2008 in the kitchen of founder, Stacy Brown. When Stacy discovered that the local county health department would not allow her to continue making and selling her delicious recipes out of her home kitchen, she overcame that obstacle by launching her first restaurant with the business expertise of her future husband and fellow founder, Kevin Brown. Together, they opened a small takeout restaurant, which quickly grew; the company now has more than 65 restaurants across the Southeast.

Grand Opening Festivities

GRAND OPENING – 10/4: The First 100 Guests receive FREE CHICKEN SALAD CHICK FOR A YEAR! The first guest receives a Large Quick Chick of chicken salad per week, the next 99 receive a Large Quick Chick of chicken salad per month!

During grand opening week, guests will enjoy southern hospitality through giveaways and specials at the new restaurant.

*Must make a Chick purchase to receive reward
*Must be 16 years of age
*Must Download Craving Credits App
*Redemption will start 10/9

THURSDAY – 10/5: Thirsty Thursday! Our First 100 Guests to purchase a Chick Special receive a Free Large Drink and a Chick Koozie!

FRIDAY – 10/6: Our First 50 Guests to purchase two Large Quick Chicks receive a Free Large Chick Cooler!

SATURDAY – 10/7: Our First 100 Guests to purchase a Chick Special receive a Free Scoop Card for their next Chick visit!

Be sure to RSVP to their event page on Facebook here!!

About Chicken Salad Chick

Chicken Salad Chick puts an edgy twist on a Southern classic, offering guests a “custom fit” chicken salad experience, with over a dozen original flavors to choose from, as well as gourmet soups, flavorful side salads and freshly-baked desserts. Chicken Salad Chick serves southern style chicken salad with heart and strives to spread joy, enrich lives and serve others every day. Today, the brand has more than 65 locations across the Southeast and has currently sold 146 franchises to be developed across the states of Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana and Texas. Visit www.chickensaladchick.com to learn more!

Chicken Salad Chick Giveaway!!! (Ended)

We have partnered with Chicken Salad Chick to give away a large Chicken Salad Chick cooler with a large quick chick of chicken salad, crackers, chips, koozie and a tumbler.

But that’s not all!! Enter on the Rafflecopter Giveaway Widget below with an email and share our Facebook giveaway on Facebook http://bit.ly/BRmomsFBGiveaway and you could be 1 of 100 moms to receive an invite to try Chicken Salad Chick at their soft opening next week! We will email winners Friday!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
Mark your calendars for a whole week of awesome giveaways to celebrate the newest Chick in town! Denham Springs Chick opens October 4th – see Y’all there!

The most cherished beverage of moms everywhere – National Coffee Day

September 29, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Today is National Coffee Day, it’s no surprise that the beloved and most cherished beverage of moms {second most favorite} has its own day. The first thing I did this morning was pop coffee capsules of Gourmesso in our espresso machine. The smell, the sound, the taste… always the preferred alarm clock. Oh the joy of the first sip of your delicious morning brew. Sensory overload in the very best kind of way.

Women grinding coffee, 1905 – Wikipedia

Coffee has fueled the mothers of the world for over a century. From being up all night with littles, to tending to sick children, working into the wee hours of the morning, getting up early to get it all done or waiting up for a post-curfew appearance, moms are awake at all hours for the first 20 years of their children’s lives. No. Joke.

It’s no wonder many of us dream about that first morning Cup o’ Java before our head hits the bed at night and it’s usually the first thought when we wake up in the morning. I think it’s safe to say coffee has a special place in the hearts of moms everywhere, specially the ones from creama cafe, they are definitely the ultimate favorite, still there are some moms who are more tea moms and prefer to dream tea over coffee so they got brands like lumitea skinny for the health benefits and the flavor.

Our coffee is often our first positive experience of the day and can set the the tone for the morning. Our coffee mug collection tells a story; special memories unfold with a mug made by a child or a souvenir from a favorite time or place or just an inspirational quote that lifts our spirits. The kind of coffee we drink can also make a difference, my Gourmesso is saving me money, it’s fair trade and it tastes great… 3 wins first thing in the morning! Cha-ching!

Your love of coffee might even be genetic. According to researchers at University of Edinburgh, the amount of coffee we consume may actually be linked to our genetics. The study, published in the journal Scientific Reports, found that people with a DNA variation in a gene called PDSS2 tend to drink fewer cups of coffee than those who did not carry the specific variant. The researchers said that the gene might reduce cells’ ability to break down caffeine, causing it to stay in the body longer.

So the next time someone judges you for that fourth cup of coffee,you can blame it on your genes.

P.S. All too often, we’re subjected to drinking our coffee after it has cooled or warm it up 5 times before drinking half of it. Invest in a coffee warmer and treat yourself on this National Coffee Day!

I am hungry.

August 7, 2016 by Guest Contributor

I am hungry.

Not in a figurative sense. Not hungry for a new pair of shoes or hungry to achieve a new milestone in my career.

I am literally hungry. My stomach feels empty more than it feels full these days and my fridge and pantry are so bare it seems that they are taunting me each time I open them to inspect their contents. I save all non-meal food items for my kids because even though I am nursing a baby and need the nutrients, I can’t stand to hear the tiny voices of my children every time they go to the cupboard only to discover there’s nothing there to eat.

I hope that they don’t remember this. I pray that, instead, they remember the laughter we have shared as I try to distract them from their desire for food. I hope that they forget the tears that fill my eyes at the thought of their tummies growling, but remember the smile on my face as we have dance parties in the living room to Taylor Swift.

I don’t even know how we got here. It all happened so fast, when just months ago the thought of going without food seemed like something that could never happen to me. We work hard, we love Jesus and we serve Him to the best of our abilities. It’s crazy how one decision made even with the best of intentions can alter the course of your life in ways you never imagined. It’s eye-opening the compassion you can express for others when you are walking through a situation you could’ve never thought you’d find yourself in.

Lately, when we do get to buy groceries, it’s only the bare necessities. I hate that I fuss at the kids the minute they run to the pantry or to the fridge for a snack because they want to sample all the food they haven’t seen in days, but I know the sooner they eat it, the sooner it’s gone. And when it’s gone, I have to hear them cry about their hunger, and it kills me.

How do you explain rations to small children? How do you tell them “If you eat this now, you will be hungry later?” How do you live with yourself as a mother when you’re digging sugar soaked fruit out of a donated can from the food pantry to feed it to your children for lunch and they beg for more but it’s all you have?

I try to thank the Lord for His provision. I try to smile while I shop at the store while I furiously calculate every penny we are spending and simultaneously determine if we will be able to keep our water running once I buy these items. I try not to cry when a friend orders us a pizza for dinner because she knows otherwise we would not have anything to eat.

I try not to hate politicians who say that people like me should be drug tested when we are already living in overwhelming grief and humiliation. I try not to be offended by fellow church members and Christians who want to withhold government programs that we need just to survive. I try not to resent my husband- who works tirelessly and without complaint, often three jobs at once- for us being in this position.

I try to understand what it’s like for other moms who never get a reprieve from this reality. I try to imagine what it’s like for families who don’t have electricity or comfortable beds or adequate shelter. I try not to get angry at those who have excessive amounts of money but want to hold on to it for dear life, because they somehow deserve it more than I do. More than my kids do.

I try to keep it together and to put on a happy face for those around me, but most of all for my kids. The hunger pangs screaming from within my hollow stomach burn so strong that they turn me into a person I don’t like, a mother I don’t recognize. I try so hard to be what they need me to be, but…

I am hungry.

The above is written anonymously by a fellow Baton Rouge mom, a mom living in our community, this mom could be anyone’s neighbor. Hunger is everywhere: It’s in every community, it can also be invisible. Some 47 million Americans live in poverty. All told, 17.5 million households and 16 million children—one out of every five—struggle with hunger. Visit the Baton Rouge Food Bank to learn how you can help those hungry in our community.

Sweet & Savory Picnic Potato Salad Recipe #RescuedMoments

July 27, 2016 by Tiany Davis

Never could I have imagined the reality of a growing boys escalating appetite until I was faced with feeding two teens and two preteens. We are officially in that season where our boys are eating us out of house and home, proclaiming that they are hungry 20 minutes after their last meal. I’m always in search of quick, protein packed meals and healthy high protein snacks. My boys are active, with high metabolisms, they need the protein and healthy carbs to sustain them while fiber keeps them feeling full. This summer, I concocted the perfect, boy approved, picnic potato salad with the perfect potatoes.

Tasteful Selections potatoes have a very unique flavor, the ruby sensation potatoes are sweet with a creamy texture and tender skins. The bite size potatoes make the perfect option for kids and they’re mom friendly too. They are easy to eat and easy to cook as they are pre-washed and have an especially fast cook time. My picnic potato salad was not only easy to make but quick, allowing me to spend less time in the kitchen while still making a healthy, robust meal for my family. This is how Tasteful Selections is helping moms in the kitchen reclaim time to enjoy more family moments, rescued moments! As moms, we often feel guilty when work, house chores, and or cooking take us away from the family. I popped the potatoes in the oven for twenty minutes while I prepped the rest of the ingredients and just like that I prepared a twenty minute meal. And save the leftovers for a future meal I could just heat in a microwave or other appliance since I had many I got from reading at sites like Zozanga.com and others.

Sweet & Savory Picnic Potato Salad Recipe

2016-07-31 23:19:54

A picnic classic, this Italian inspired potato salad is a well balanced, robust, complete meal.

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Ingredients

• 24 oz. Tasteful Selections™ Ruby Sensation potatoes, cut in half
• 1½ cups of asparagus, cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 can (14 oz.) artichoke hearts or dip, drained and chopped
• 2 small Honeycrisp Apples, diced
• 1/4 lb. hard Salami or pancetta, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup bacon bits
• 4 green onions
• 1⁄4 cup chives, minced
• black pepper
• sea salt
• vinaigrette dressing of your choice

Instructions

• Pre-heat the oven to 425 degrees.
• Cut your Ruby Sensation potatoes in half, toss in a Ziploc bag with your vinaigrette of choice. Line your cookie sheet with nonstick foil, place potatoes face down on baking sheet and bake for 25 minutes at 425.
• Toss the asparagus with a tablespoon of oil and lay out in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for 10 minutes until the asparagus is tender but still slightly crispy.
• Allow the potatoes and asparagus to cool completely. While they are baking and cooling, chop your artichokes, apples, green onions and chives.
• Gently toss together all ingredients except chives and drizzle with a ¼ cup of your favorite vinaigrette. Toss to coat. Top with chives.
• Serve warm or at room temperature.

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