Simple Hearty Soups to Warm the Soul

November 25, 2013 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

When the temperature drops and the days become shorter, there’s something so comforting about sitting down to a nice bowl of piping hot soup. Soup warms the body and soul and gives you that feeling that everything is going to be o.k. It can be compared to getting a hug, except it’s in the form of food.

I remember as a child dumping a can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup in a sauce pan, adding water and gobbling it up. Back then, I thought it was the most delicious, wholesome soup I had tasted. Unbeknownst to me at the time, Campbell’s was not as healthy as I thought. Today, I make my own soup and I eat much healthier than I did in the past.

Today, I want to share two simple hearty soups to warm the soul. These are family favorites and we eat them often during the colder months. Not only are they healthy, they are perfect if you’re in a crunch for time. The first is Roxanne’s Italian Chicken Soup. This is named after my step-mom, Roxanne. She is the master of coming up with delicious recipes on the fly and this one proves to be no exception.

Roxanne’s Italian Chicken Soup
1. Remove the meat from 1 Baked Chicken and set aside.
2. Next, finely chop 1 small Zucchini and 1 Yellow Squash. Add 1 liter of Chicken Stock
to a large pot and bring to a boil.
3. Once at a boil, add 2 cans of Italian Stewed Tomatoes.
4. Stir well to combine and bring back to a boil. Next, add chopped Chicken, Zucchini
and Squash.
5. Boil for 15-20 minutes on low/medium heat or until Vegetables are slightly soft.
6. To finish the soup, add in ½ cup of Orzo or Noodles of your choice.
7. Continue boiling until the noodles are done.
8. Add more Water or Chicken Stock to your desired thickness

The second soup I make regularly is Debbie’s Chili. Debbie’s Chili is my mom’s chili recipe and it’s also super simple to make. It’s always a hit in our house. This recipe makes a big batch, perfect for freezing and eating later.

Debbie’s Chili Brown 2 lbs of Lean Ground Beef, Turkey or Deer Meat with 1 Onion, chopped fine.
Season with Salt and Pepper.
Add one 64 oz bottle/can of Tomato Juice,
two 14 oz cans of Chopped Tomatoes,
two 14 oz cans of Kidney Beans (drained),
1 tsp Garlic Powder,
1 tsp Cayenne Pepper and nearly ¼ cup of Chili Powder.
Taste test along the way to determine the amount of Salt and Chili Powder preferred.
Simmer until bubbly or cook in crock pot on low all day or high for 2 hours and serve.

Gluten Free Thanksgiving Dishes and Desserts in Baton Rouge

November 21, 2013 by Jodi Stewart

Looking for Gluten Free desserts or sides for this Thanksgiving? The Baton Rouge area has a huge selection!

Bibi’s

1321 W Pinhook Rd, Lafayette, LA ‎

Bibi’s is a dedicated gluten free bakery located in Lafayette, perfect if you have house guests looking to make a day trip. This season they’ll have all their usual favorites, plus some special treats for the holiday. Look for their Thanksgiving sides and salads, dinner rolls, pumpkin pie, praline cupcakes and cream puffs.

You can find their bakery menu HERE

Gluten Free Bread from Bibi’s in Lafayette
Photo Courtesy of Bibi’s

Truly Free

4321 Perkins, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70808

Baton Rouge’s only dedicated gluten free bakery and deli will have your favorite Thanksgiving sides, stuffing, and pies (including sugar free apple pie) and dinner rolls.

You can find their bakery and Deli menus HERE

Room for Dessert

9618 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70809

New in Baton Rouge, Room for Dessert has dedicated half of their bakery, including the equipment, to baking gluten free treats. This week you can order pies! Sweet Potato, Pumpkin, Lemon Icebox, Apple and Key Lime. They also have Sweet Potato and Pumpkin Cheesecake. A note, not all of Room for Dessert’s products are gluten free, so double check before you purchase.

Visit the Room for Dessert webpage HERE

Gluten Free Coconut Lime Cupcake from Room for Dessert Baton Rouge.
image courtesy of Room For Dessert

Whole Foods

7529 Corporate Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA ‎

Whole Foods has a whole line of in-house gluten free products made in a dedicated facility. Our favorite company friendly dessert is the Gluten Free Cherry Pie. (And we might occasionally pick one up even when we don’t have company.)

You can find Whole Foods’ gluten free list HERE

Trader Joes

3525 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70808

I was so happy to see that Trader Joe’s brand of Turkey Gravy is gluten free. They also have frozen vegetables, including baked and mashed sweet potatoes, to make your meal preparation easier. They also sell gluten free fully cooked Whole Roasted Turkeys.

You can find Trader Joe’s list of gluten free products HERE and this week’s gluten free “fearless flyer” HERE

Fully Cooked Gluten Free Turkey from Trader Joe’s
photo courtesy of Trader Joe’s

Maple Bourbon Green Beans

2013-11-19 05:29:57

A flavorful Thanksgiving Side

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Ingredients

4 cups Green Beans
1 cup Pearl Onions, halved
2 cups Sliced Mushrooms
2 tablespoons Butter
2 tablespoons maple syrup
1 tablespoon bourbon or Jack Daniels
2 slices cooked bacon, chopped (optional, for topping)

Instructions

Steam green beans for about 3 minutes, remove from heat and rinse with cool water.
In a large skillet over medium heat, melt butter, add onions and sautee about 5 minutes.
Add mushrooms and continue cooking until both mushrooms and onions are tender.
Add bourbon and maple syrup.
Gently mix green beans into the skillet to fully coat with glaze and heat through.
Transfer to serving dish and sprinkle with bacon.

By jodi stewart

Baton Rouge Family Fun https://batonrougefamilyfun.com/

8 Tips for Surviving Holiday Indulgences

November 20, 2013 by Nicole Decker

It’s getting to be that time. The holiday candy and cookies are starting to come out, holiday parties are booked. How can I indulge but not overdo?

Here are 8 Tips for Surviving Holiday Indulgences:

Take an extra class at the gym whether it is Zumba, Yoga, Spin class anything to get some extra cardio in and take a little holiday stress off.
Sign up for a holiday themed 5k. Here are a couple local ones in Baton Rouge: http://www.turkeytrotbr.com/ http://www.forum35.org/?page=RR
Go dress shopping ladies. Yes, dress shopping. Find a flattering, snug dress for a holiday party. Instant weight management!
Eat a small snack before leaving for your holiday party or dinner. Whether it is raw almonds, carrots with hummus, anything to take the edge off of your hunger so you don’t over indulge. Drink lots of water throughout the day which will naturally make you more full.
Watch your calories in alcoholic drinks and non-alcoholic drinks such as Egg Nog. Choose lighter varieties. Tip: Champagne only has 110 calories per 5 oz. versus White Russian 307 calories per 5 oz.
Skip the hors d’oeuvres. You know there will be plenty of dinner offerings to satisfy you and this way you can save a little room for dessert!
Survey party offerings before filling your plate. Include vegetables and fruits to keep your plate balanced. Enjoy smaller portions of your holiday favorites. Eat until you are satisfied not stuffed. If possible sit far away from tempting dishes.
Bring your own healthy dish to a holiday potluck so you know at least one dish that you can enjoy guilt free. Look up some healthy holiday cooking recipes to experiment and learn where you cut back on calories.

It is the holidays and you can enjoy without the guilt!

Gluten Free Cooking Classes for Thanksgiving at Bibi’s Patisserie

November 6, 2013 by Jodi Stewart

Thanksgiving usually means family, fun and FOOD!! But if you’re newly gluten free, it can be a stressful time. You might still have questions about what you can eat, and you might not have any idea how to make your favorite Thanksgiving dishes gluten free. I totally understand. My first gluten free Thanksgiving, I sat down to plain chicken and mashed potatoes. Not the feast I was used to.

Thankfully, Louisiana is filled with gluten free resources, including gluten free cooking and baking classes at Bibi’s Patisserie in Lafayette. This month Bibi’s will be offering two Thanksgiving classes, one to teach you how to make your favorite sides gluten free, and one to teach you some favorite family desserts.

All the dishes you make will also be egg, dairy and sugar free and vegan, so you’ll be able to fit lots of special diets around your table. My own extended family includes gluten free, diabetics and vegetarians. It going to be nice to have something for everyone.

The three hour classes include personalized instruction from Bibi’s head chef Hannah Ellaham-Raffel. She’s well known gluten free expert and you’ll have a chance to ask her questions about being gluten free and gluten free cooking techniques. You’ll also get to eat all your creations along with free wine or sparkling water, take home the recipes and a treat!

The classes, including food and wine, are only $65/person or $99/couple, so they’d make an excellent girl’s night out or date night activity. They do fill up quickly, so if you’re interested, contact Bibi’s at 337-534-0173 or on their website.

Chef Hannah is famous across the country for her special creations like this Cupcake Cake she made for Know Gluten

Bibi’s Thanksgiving Classes

Down-Home Baking- Friday, November 15 at 5:00 pm

This class is gluten-free, sugar-free, and vegan (optional)

On the menu: A southern bread pudding that will have your family asking for seconds, but never second guessing if it is gluten-free. You’ll also learn how to create a sweet potato casserole topped with house made vanilla bean creme marshmallows, and a rice puff bar made with gooey caramel and an almond butter ganache. The entire dessert menu will be served with house made apple cider, red wine, white wine, filtered/sparkling water, and of course mimosas!

A Southern Thanksgiving: The Bibi’s Way! – Friday November 22 at 5:00

Come and enjoy a thorough cooking demonstration and instructional cooking class with Bibi’s head chef Hannah Ellaham-Raffel. Allow her to show you how to cook a traditional southern Thanksgiving dinner using unconventional ingredients, that will leave your family begging for more! Join Bibi’s in making a creamy green bean casserole, corn maque choux, and a cornbread dressing that is absolutely mouthwatering! Served with your choice of beverage: red wine, white wine, filtered/sparkling water, or apple cider.

Future Classes:

Bibi’s offers classes almost every month. They’re an excellent chance to not only learn how to cook and bake gluten free, but also a great opportunity to have your questions personally answered by a well known gluten free expert.

To contact Bibi’s and register for these classes, visit their website, or call (337) 534-0173.

Bibi’s is located at 1321 W. Pinhood Rd, Lafayette, LA 70503.

Quinoa and Black Beans

Here’s a popular side recipe that would work for the holidays or any day for that matter…

2013-11-06 15:32:55

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Ingredients

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped
3/4 cup uncooked quinoa
1 1/2 cups vegetable broth
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
salt and pepper to taste
1 cup corn kernels
2 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
Lime

Instructions

Heat the oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in the onion and garlic, and saute until lightly browned.
Mix quinoa into the saucepan and cover with vegetable broth. Season with cumin, cayenne pepper, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes.
Stir frozen corn into the saucepan, and continue to simmer about 5 minutes until heated through. Mix in the black beans and cilantro. Garnish and drizzle with lime.

Adapted from All Recipes

Baton Rouge Family Fun https://batonrougefamilyfun.com/

Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Event and Giveaway

October 21, 2013 by Jodi Stewart

If you’d like more information about going Gluten Free, if your family is living with food allergies, or if you’d just like to buy some tasty cookies, you’re invited to the Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Event on November 2. GFAF will be held in the Cook Hotel and Conference Center at LSU, 3848 West Lakeshore Drive Baton Rouge, LA 70808 from 10am-3pm. Tickets are $10 per adult, children under 13 are free, and LSU students get 50% off with student ID.

Taste and Shop:

GFAF will include a vendor’s fair featuring some favorite gluten free and allergy friendly brands and local businesses. This is a perfect time to try some gluten free samples and pick up some treats.

Learn:

If you’d like to learn more about living gluten free, there will be several presentations throughout the day.

11:00-11:45 – Living heart healthy with Celiac Disease with Mrs. Northwest Brandy Wendler
11:45 am – 12:30 pm Embracing the gluten free lifestyle with Carol Kicinski from Simply Gluten Free Magazine
12:30 Raffle Drawing – you must be present to win
1:00-1:45 Dispelling Myths of Celiac and Gluten Free with Melinda Dennis MS, RD, LND, Coauthor of Real Life with Celiac Disease: Troubleshooting and Thriving Gluten-Free
1:45-2:30 A Gluten free holiday meal for the family, with meal options for gluten free and other dietary restrictions with Gail Johnston RD

Win Tickets!

We’re giving away two tickets to this fun and tasty event! Use the handy form below to enter!

The only mandatory entry is to leave us a comment and share why you would like to attend the Gluten and Allergen Free Wellness Event. All other entries on the Rafflecopter below are extra entries into the giveaway.
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Tips for Eating Clean on a Budget

October 17, 2013 by Maggie

As the main cook in my house, feeding my family healthy meals is very important to me. The main focus when planning our meals is to use very few (none if possible) processed ingredients. My pantry and fridge consists mostly of fresh produce, hormone-free/antibiotic-free meat and diary products, healthy oils, spices, beans and lentils and minimally processed grains. Of course, eating this way can get a bit pricey if you’re not careful so here are some tips for eating clean on a budget.

Eat at Home

I’m not naive enough to think that, with our busy schedules, we can cook every night of the week. However with a little planning ahead, eating most of your meals at home can be easier than you think. Preparing your own meals not only saves money but allows you to control the ingredients that are in your food.

Plan Ahead

Planning ahead is the key to being successful with any healthy diet plan, as with any sort of investment. If you buy silver bars online – you’re not buying them willy nilly, you do research with exact expected outcome for when you’re planning to sell them. And it’s the same with a proper diet, without a plan, we may fall victim to the “quick supermarket dash” or worse – the drive thru; both of which will cost you more in the end, I recommend getting health tips from the Mayo Clinic for those want to become healthier.

Use these easy steps to plan ahead for one or two weeks of at-home meals:

1. Print out a blank calendar template or use your online calendar. Take note of how many days you absolutely can NOT eat an at-home meal. (NOTE – you do not have to be at home to eat a meal that you prepared yourself – bringing leftovers instead of paying for lunch everyday will save you a ton of money).

2. Choose as many meals as days that you have to fill on your calendar. Deciding on healthy meals for your family has become so much easier with the introduction to sites like Pinterest. You simply pin or repin recipes that you find on the web on your “healthy meals” board. Of course, if you’re like me you will also have lots of recipe books and magazines to search as well.

3. When choosing meals, pick a few recipes with like ingredients so that there will be no waste when using specialized items (ex. Coconut Milk, Turmeric – items you may not use often). Also, plan a few meals that use less meat (like salads or soups) or no meat.

4. Make a list of items that you need to buy along with the increments needed. This will prevent you from overbuying.

5. Fill in your calendar with your planned meals.

Saving at the Store

Sales

The best way to save is to buy what’s on sale at a few different stores. I know, I know driving around town doesn’t sound like most people’s idea of fun but if you can schedule one day to hit 2 or 3 stores it will save you more money than you think. Make sure you keep it to only 1-3 to keep fuel costs down.

For those times that you just can’t fit in such a trip, shopping for Organics and natural foods at one store will save you time but may not save the most money.

Clip Coupons

Visit online sites like Coupons.com to print internet coupons and clip coupons from your Sunday paper. When possible, pair your coupons with sales. Natural food stores like Whole Foods also have their own store coupons.

Shop Local and Seasonal

We are very fortunate to have many great Farmer’s and Produce Markets in and around Baton Rouge. Buying fresh/seasonal produce and dairy items from local farmers not only helps support the local economy but almost always guarantees a lower price than like items at natural food stores. Local items are also fresher and therefore last longer than items that are shipped from across the country or imported from other countries.

When you can’t buy local and seasonal, frozen fruits and veggies are a great substitute. If you have a green thumb, growing your own produce is a an even better option.

Buy Cheap Proteins

Unless you come across a major meat sale, save the steaks and fresh tuna for special occasions. Plan your meals around frozen chicken breasts (Walmart carries a line of hormone-free free range chicken for around $8 for 2.5lbs), canned fish, frozen Tilapia, ground beef, eggs, beans, pork, etc.

Buy Store Brands

Most stores carry a line of their own brand name items. Natural food stores such as Whole Foods, The Fresh Market and Trader Joes each have their own line of dairy, canned goods, grains, broths and more that are very cost effective.

For instance, Whole Foods line of 365 Organic items can be cheaper or around the same price as their conventional counterparts in other stores. Their hormone-free cheeses are the same price as Kraft most of the time – and better for your body AND better tasting.

Buy in Bulk

Some natural food stores, such as Whole Foods, have a large bulk section of grains, beans, spices and more. Because these items are NOT prepacked, you save money. You can buy a pound of brown rice in the bulk section for as little as $1.00 compared to almost twice that price in the packaged section.

Another advantage to buying from the bulk section – buying only the amount that you need.

On a recent trip I purchased 2 Tbsp of Organic Turmeric, 2 Tbsp of Organic Brown Mustard Seeds, 1 Tbsp of Organic Curry Powder and 1/3 cup grated natural coconut (the exact amount that I needed for a few recipes). I paid on average $0.10 for the spices and $0.23 for the coconut. It would have cost me $5-$10 for a whole bottle of each of the spices and $3-$4 for a whole bag of coconut and I may not have ever used it all.

Stock Up On Items You Use The Most

Simply put, when you find a good sale – stock up on the items that your family uses most. I recently found an amazing deal on Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil and now I have enough for at least 6 months and only paid a fraction of the price.

Drink Tap Water

Invest in a filtration water pitcher to save on bottled water.

Cook in Larger Batches

Cooking in larger batches than you’re used to will give you healthy meals when you’re on-the-go or for those days that you just don’t feel like cooking. I know we could all use a little more time with the family on weekends. 😉

Creative Crafts and Mouth-Watering Dishes to Help you Celebrate Halloween

October 11, 2013 by Tiffany

It’s almost time for trick-or-treating and Disney’s Spoonful.com is brewing up some horror-fyingly creative crafts and mouth-watering dishes to help you celebrate Halloween! Spoonful’s affordable and easy-to make ideas will enchant you and feed your appetites.

Plus, don’t miss out on Spoonful’s all-new recipe customization feature, “My Take.” Spoonful’s latest feature will allow you to share your own version, or “take,” of almost any recipe on the site. To introduce My Take, some of our Spoonful bloggers partnered with Pillsbury® to create their own wickedly wonderful takes around some classic Pillsbury Halloween treats.

Creepy-Crawly Cupcakes

These Creepy-Crawly Cupcakes might look grotesque, but I promise you won’t be able to say no to one, two, or even three.

Edible Eyeballs

If you’re throwing a Halloween bash this year you should definitely set out a platter of these creepy peepers. Your Halloween party guests are bound to do a double-take.

Scary Pumpkin Carvings

Spooky and scary Halloween pumpkins add fright to the night. Maybe you want something just a little bit more spooky than a traditional jack-o-latern on your porch this year? Check out all of the spooktastic pumpkin carving cutouts at Spoonful.com.

20 Pumpkin-Decorating Ideas

Transform your pumpkin into a spooktacular Halloween decoration with one of the many DIY pumpkin-decorating ideas at Spoonful.com.

Mickey’s Paper Bag Scarecrow

This fun tabletop Mickey scarecrow may be a bit ear-ry, but don’t count on it to keep the birds away. In fact, you’re likely to find young Mickey fans quickly flocking around it.

Find these creative crafts and mouth-watering dishes to help you celebrate Halloween by visiting Spoonful.com, a one-stop shop filled with thousands of inspired ideas that can bring a little magic into everyday family life. Spoonful delivers easy-to-digest daily doses of inspiration and information, designed to spark the enthusiasm of parents. The site helps parents just like you power through everything from getting a handle on holiday festivities to figuring out a fun way to get kids to eat fresh fruits and vegetables. The site’s responsive design also makes it easy to access from home or while on-the-go via smartphones and tablets.

Which crafts or desserts do you plan on making with your family?

Apricot-Mustard Glazed Pork Tenderloin

October 7, 2013 by Maggie

Apricot-Mustard Glazed Pork Tenderloin

Besides chicken breasts, pork tenderloin may be one of the most versatile proteins to cook with. As an added bonus, it doesn’t require much cook time so it’s perfect for weeknight meals.

The preparation of the pork itself in this recipe is quick, easy and foolproof. I actually have several recipes that start out with roasting the pork in this way and end with a different glaze or sauce.

Apricot-Mustard Glazed Pork Tenderloin

2013-10-07 09:50:16

Serves 8

Easy Weeknight Meal

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Prep Time

30 min

Total Time

1 hr

Prep Time

30 min

Total Time

1 hr

Ingredients

2 (1-lb.) Pork Tenderloins
Salt and Pepper to taste
2 Tbsp. Olive Oil
2 Tbsp. Butter (real butter)
1 Large Shallot, minced
1/2 Cup Apricot Preserves or Jam
1/3 Cup Bourbon
2 Tbsp Dijon Mustard

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Remove silver skin from tenderloins. Season pork with salt and pepper and let rest at room temperature for 10 minutes.
2. Add olive oil to a heavy bottom skillet on high heat. When pan is slightly smoking, add both tenderloins and brown on both sides for around 3-4 minutes each. Once browned, place on a foil lined sheet pan and roast in the oven for 16-20 minutes or until internal temperature reaches 155 degrees. Remove from oven when done and tent with foil for 10 minutes.
3. While the pork is roasting, add 2 Tbsp of butter to your skillet and reduce heat to medium. Add shallots and cook for 3-4 minutes. Add apricot preserves, bourbon and Dijon Mustard and cook until preserves are "melted" and sauce thickens a little.
4. After your pork has rested for 10 minutes, pour the accumulated juices into your sauce and cook another few minutes until flavors are incorporated.
5. Slice pork and spoon sauce over the top.

Notes

Add a simple rice pilaf and steamed vegetable to complete this dish.

By Maggie Howes

Baton Rouge Family Fun https://batonrougefamilyfun.com/

Pumpkin Fest at The Fresh Market on Perkins Road

October 2, 2013 by Tiffany

You are invited to celebrate the flavors of fall at the Pumpkin Fest at The Fresh Market on Perkins Road. This year, Pumpkin Fest will be accompanied by in-store trick-or-treating and a coloring contest for children. You can stop by The Fresh Market stores to take advantage of special offers and enjoy samples of some of the specialty grocer’s favorite autumn and pumpkin inspired items including:

Apple Cider
Honeycrisp Apples
Pumpkin Pie
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Pound Cake
TFM Pumpkin Milk
TFM Pumpkin Salsa
TFM All Natural Pumpkin Pie Coffee
TFM Pumpkin Spice Tea
TFM Pumpkin Gelato
TFM Pumpkin Cinnamon Caramel Dessert Sauce

During Pumpkin Fest at The Fresh Market, you can also expect a number of special two-day deals on many pumpkin and autumn inspired items throughout the store.

* Sampling and product availability may vary by store*

Pumpkin Fest will start on Wednesday, October 2 and run through Saturday, October 26th.

For local store information, please visit www.freshmarket.com

Welcome to Baton Rouge Moms!

October 1, 2013 by Baton Rouge Family Fun

Hello Baton Rouge Moms!

It’s BRM launch day!!! If you have yet to do so, please take a moment to meet the ladies behind the blog, on our contributors page. Tiffany, Maggie and I are local bloggers that have been supporting moms online for many years. We are thrilled to be joining forces to put our collective talents to work for moms in the Baton Rouge area.

The idea for this community blog was sparked a little over 10 years ago. Yes, I am a procrastinator, it took 10 years for my plans to come to fruition. I wanted to launch a site that would not only support moms in the Baton Rouge area, but make life easier with tips, recipes, reviews and local news. Moms are busy, we need the gifts of knowledge and encouragement without having to dig for them.

My hope is that Baton Rouge Moms will fill a need in the community. Through daily topic posts, mom events and a strong social media presence, we will make it easy for you to find the information you’re looking for while staying connected to moms in BTR.

Here is a taste of what you can look forward to at Baton Rouge Moms.

We have listed some of this weeks BRMB launch giveaways too!

BRMB Daily Blog Topics

Sunday – This Week in BR

Each Sunday we will post a list of events happening in the Baton Rouge area for that week. A one stop resource for you to find all of the weeks events at a glance. Be sure to check out our Kids Eat Free listing as well as our calendar of events (coming soon).

Manger Monday:

Every Monday we will bring you Manger (Manger is the French verb “to eat”.) Mondays. We will share kitchen help in the form of menu plan tips, healthy 30 minute meals, recipes, quick fix snacks, smoothie recipes, green shakes, holiday treats and more. We will also share reviews, specials and giveaways from some of our local restaurants. Our very own Holly Clegg will also join us on BRM with her fabulous recipes and giveaways.

GIVEAWAY – We will be giving away 3 of Holly Cleggs cookbooks, stay tuned for reviews and recipes from these cookbooks… KITCHEN 101, Too Hot in the Kitchen, and Gulf Coast Favorites:Easy Southern and Louisiana Recipes

Tech Tuesday:

Technology is defined as the application of scientific knowledge to the practical aims of human life. Every Tuesday we will bring you the latest and greatest in gadgets, apps and online resources for your family. The folks at Cox Communications – “your friend in the digital age”, will share their tips on technology too!

GIVEAWAY – Power up on the go! The HALO Pocket Power Charger is a super-popular, supercharged electronics accessory that provides peace of mind away from home. Charge up any phone, tablet or camera with this super charger, a great gadget for busy moms! Of course this giveaway will include the PURPLE charger, perfect to whip out on LSU game days! ($40 Value)

Wellness Wednesday:

Our days are filled with requests, deadlines and never-ending demands, leaving us tired and rarely taking proper care of ourselves. We can’t take care of our families if we are not taking care of ourselves. On Wellness Wednesday’s, we will share health and beauty tips and feature local Doctors who will guest post throughout the year and share their expertise on BRM.

GIVEAWAY – One lucky Baton Rouge Mom is going to win this Wellness Gift Basket? Filled to the brim with all of the things that will help mom relax and rejuvenate!

Thrifty Thursday Tips

On Thursday we will share money saving ideas as well as local deals, sales, promotions and thrift store happenings.

One of our partners, Chick-fil-A at College Drive, is one place to get a great deal on Kids night! Eat a delicious, nutritious meal and enjoy FREE events for the kiddos! This Thursday, Chick-fil-A at College Drive will host BRFD Fire Safety Night & Parachute Drop, be sure to RSVP here. .

Have you ever seen a flying cow before? Stop by for this very special Kid’s Night with the Baton Rouge Fire Department. Learn about fire safety, tour the fire truck, check out the fire fighter gear and catch your very own cow which will be dropped from the fire truck ladder. See you there 5:30-7:30pm ***Parachute drop begins at 6:30pm

GIVEAWAY – Chick-fil-A at College Drive is giving away 2 Adult Meals and two Kids Meals to be redeemed at the College Drive location.

Fun & Fancy Free Friday

It’s FRIDAY Fun Day and we will be sharing fun things to do in the Baton Rouge area along with freebies, and fun posts for mom.

Speaking of fun, have you had a chance to visit Quarters off Sherwood Forest? Quarters is the only venue for endless family entertainment, including a state of the art video gaming floor with consoles and computers with the really good gaming keyboards and other hardware, 10 lane boutique bowling alley, 2-story 8,000 sq.ft. laser tag arena and a Full Service Restaurant. One lucky family in the Baton Rouge area will get to experience the fun first hand!

GIVEAWAY– Family Access Pass…A family of four will get 1.5 hour of Bowling, 1 Large Pizza & Fountain Drinks, and $5 Winners Cards {$70 Value} Visit Quarters online to learn more at http://www.quartersbr.com/

Sisterhood Saturday

We are all navigating this crazy, amazing, beautiful thing called motherhood together. The key word being “Together”. We hope to bring moms in the Baton Rouge area together for support, encouragement and a real sense of community.

The sense of community is a feeling members have of belonging, a feeling that members matter to one another and the group” (McMillan and Chavis, 1986).

Sisterhood Saturday will be a day where we share the real side of motherhood through our own stories, parenting and home keeping tips. We hope you will share your Supermom moments, your struggles, your knowledge and support with us too.

We will also share ways that we as a community of moms can work together to help make BTR the best it can be through social good efforts and volunteer opportunities.

GIVEAWAY – LALove Necklace in Purple, Mint, or Pink – Silver or Gold Chain. We love this necklace from Hey Penelope Design, the perfect Logo jewelry for Baton Rouge Moms Blog!

7 days of of all things Baton Rouge, Family, Fun and most importantly #BRMOMS!

To enter to win the above giveaways, please follow the instructions in our Giveaway widget below… Number one on the widget is the only mandatory entry for our giveaway (leave us a comment and tell us what you hope to gain out of Baton Rouge Moms) All additional entries are extra and will give you additional entries into our giveaway. Giveaway ends Oct. 7th, winners will be listed and emailed on Oct. 8th.

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Maggie, Tiffany and I are excited about the future of Baton Rouge Moms, we hope you are too! As always, if you have any questions, suggestions or if you would like to work with us, please shoot us an email at info@BatonRougeMomsBlog.com

Keep up with Baton Rouge Moms on the go!