Food Fun Family

Caramel Apple Croissant Donut + Dunkin’ Donuts Giveaway

Lolli — Fri, 07 Oct 2016 15:52:34 +0000

This post is sponsored by Dunkin’ Donuts through Blog Meets Brand but all thoughts and opinions are my own.

There are so many things I love about the fall – the cooler weather, the kids heading back to school, my birthday, the changing colors, and all things pumpkin and apple and caramel! Oh my! Seriously, fall food is my absolute favorite. I love baked goods, and I swear that fall has the best baked treats of the entire year.

I headed to Dunkin’ Donuts this week for a mid-day treat. Sometimes I just need to get away from my desk for a little while, get in the car, and get something to pep me up. I was so excited to find the new Caramel Apple Croissant Donut at the Dunkin’ Donuts around the corner from my house. I LOVE caramel and I love baked apple treats, and the Caramel Apple Croissant Donut is a perfect marriage of the two. Plus, I am a huge fan of the croissant donut. Flaky layers of goodness? Yes, please!

Dunkin’ Donuts is celebrating the return of fall (both the weather and the delicious flavors of fall!) with a bunch of delicious fall-inspired menu items, including the Caramel Apple Croissant Donut – a glazed croissant donut with apple filling, finished with caramel icing drizzle. The Caramel Apple Croissant Donut and other fall menu items are available for a limited time at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants.

Of course, I couldn’t head to Dunkin’ Donuts without bringing home a dozen donuts to share with the rest of the family. My kids are more traditionalists and always go for original glazed or chocolate and vanilla glazed. I treated them to some fun fall sprinkled donuts and kept the Caramel Apple Croissant Donut for myself.

It was not too sweet, but just sweet enough. It was light and flaky and filled with the most delicious apple filling and covered with a tasty caramel drizzle. I can’t wait to have another one!

Dunkin’ Donuts fall flavors

Dunkin’ Donuts’ full menu, including breakfast items, are available all-day…because Dunkin’ Donuts understands that we live in a 24-hour world and sometimes we want breakfast in the middle of the day. Breakfast isn’t just for breakfast anymore. Which

Pumpkin flavored coffee, lattes and macchiatos, served hot or cold.
Pumpkin Macchiato is served hot or iced, and is a handcrafted, layered espresso beverage made with steamed milk and pumpkin flavored swirl, then topped with a double shot of Dunkin’ Donuts’ rich, freshly-brewed espresso.
Pumpkin Donut – a glazed pumpkin cake donut that can also be enjoyed as bite-size MUNCHKINS® donut hole treats.
Pumpkin Muffin – a pumpkin spiced autumn delight topped with white icing and sweet streusel crumbs.
Reese’s® Peanut Butter Squares – filled with rich, creamy Reese’s® peanut butter buttercreme & topped with chocolate icing.
For brewing at home – Dunkin’ Donuts Pumpkin flavored K-Cup® pods are available in a box of 14 individually-sized portions, and Dunkin’ Donuts’ packaged Pumpkin flavored coffee is available in a 16 oz. size. Both are available at participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants as well as online at https://shop.dunkindonuts.com.

Connect with Dunkin’ Donuts

Facebook: Facebook.com/DunkinDonuts
Twitter: @DunkinDonuts
Instagram: @dunkindonuts

WIN a Dunkin’ Donuts $25 mGift

How would you like to win a Dunkin’ Donuts $25 mGift (a virtual DD card) to try the Caramel Apple Croissant Donut and the rest of Dunkin’ Donuts’ fall lineup? Enter asking readers to Tweet @DunkinDonuts about the giveaway for a chance to try the Caramel Apple Croissant Donut and the rest of Dunkin’ Donuts’ delicious fall treats.

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Reason to Celebrate at Red Lobster #LobsterWorthy

Lolli — Fri, 13 May 2016 16:13:11 +0000

Did you know that May is Celebration Season? Between Mother’s Day, graduation, weddings, prom, the end of another school year, and in our family, lots of birthdays…there’s so much to celebrate this month!

Whatever you’re celebrating this season, Red Lobster is the perfect place to celebrate with the ones you love. I’m sharing some of my recent #lobsterworthy moments as part of a Red Lobster sponsored series for Socialstars, but all thoughts are my own.

We have had a LOT to celebrate lately. First, my oldest daughter got married. (Kind of a big deal in a parent’s life, don’t you think?)

The next week, my husband and I celebrated our 21st anniversary. (How is it possible that it’s been so long?)

And about a week later, we celebrated Mother’s Day. (Pretty much the most important day of the year, don’t you think?)

The challenge? We haven’t had much time to actually stop, celebrate, and enjoy all of these moments. It’s all been a big rush of activity and travel…and work. Luckily, we were able to escape the other day, just the two of us, to celebrate everything that’s been happening. We’ve got so much to be thankful for, and this is certainly an exciting season in our lives!

Red Lobster has become our go-to place for those special moments. When our sweet server asked if we were there celebrating a birthday, we both kind of chuckled. No, we told her. But we’re here celebrating just about everything else!

We both ordered Seafood Trios. The Seafood Trios menu allows each person to mix and match to create their own perfect trio for $15.99 (prices may vary based on region) by choosing one selection from each category:

Pasta Specialties

Baked Lobster Alfredo
Creamy Shrimp Scampi Pasta
Garlic Parmesan Chicken Alfredo

Twists on Classics

Panko-Crusted Crab Cakes
Lemon Garlic Butter Shrimp
Parmesan Fried Shrimp

Wood Grilled Selections

Chimichurri Shrimp
Pineapple Teriyaki Chicken
Spicy Tennessee Bourbon Shrimp

My perfect trio consisted of baked lobster Alfredo, panko-crusted crab cakes, and pineapple teriyaki chicken. My husband chose garlic parmesan chicken Alfredo, lemon garlic shrimp, and spicy Tennessee bourbon shrimp. What a feast!

PS – I could eat the baked lobster Alfredo all day, every day. It is that good!

Of course, we had to top our celebration meal off with a dessert! Our server recommended the Warm Chocolate Chip Lava Cookie and it was simply perfection!

Next time you’re enjoying Celebration Season at Red Lobster, be sure to snap a picture and share why love to celebrate your special occasions there, using hashtag #lobsterworthy!

The Perfect Place for a Date Night #LobsterWorthy

Lolli — Thu, 14 Apr 2016 02:32:07 +0000

I’m sharing some of the #lobsterworthy moments in my life as part of a Red Lobster sponsored series for Socialstars, but all thoughts are my own.

Did you know that April 23 is Lovers Day? This Lovers Day is particularly special for our family, because it’s the day that our oldest daughter is getting married (and just a few days before we celebrate our 21st anniversary!).

It’s been a little crazy the last few months getting ready for the wedding, along with all of the normal pressures of work and family, so it was especially nice for my husband and I to get out for a date, just the two of us.

How often do you get out on a date with your significant other? Whether you make date night a weekly priority or if date night (and the accompanying babysitter) is a rare treat, you need to pick the right place.

What do you look for when you pick a restaurant to go to? Do you choose something quick and close to your house? Do you head back to your favorite stomping ground every time? Or do you look for something new for each date? We often pick our date night restaurant based on what we’re craving that night.

Red Lobster is the ideal place for our date nights because everything is so shareable….and that’s exactly what we did for our date.

I love the appetizers at Red Lobster just as much as I love the entrees and biscuits. Maybe even more. I am tempted to get the Langostino Lobster-Artichoke-and-Seafood Dip EVERY SINGLE TIME because I love it that much. But this past time, we decided to try the Crispy Shrimp Lettuce Wraps and Oh-My-Goodness it is my new favorite. It was so delicious. And as much as I love sharing appetizers when we go out on dates, I kind of didn’t want to share any of it at all.

Since we’re still in the middle of Lobsterfest, I ordered the Dueling Lobster Tails. I had seen them on the Lobsterfest menu before, and I couldn’t wait to give them a try. I think I could eat the lobster macaroni every day. So delicious! Listen to this description:

A roasted Maine lobster tail stuffed with langostino lobster mac-and-cheese, paired with two split Maine lobster tail medallions with our seafood stuffing. Served with mashed potatoes, roasted green beans and sundried tomatoes.

See the Lobsterfest menu here.

How are you going to celebrate Lovers Day? I’d love to hear your own Red Lobster date night stories from the past and present. When you share your stories on social media be sure to use the hashtag #lobsterworthy.

Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill Restaurant Review

Lolli — Wed, 21 Oct 2015 02:12:26 +0000

I had the pleasure of attending the recent opening of Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill in Springfield, Virginia, with my husband (it was one of those nights that he was very grateful for my job). Although we were hosted for dinner, all thoughts (and photos from my phone) are my own.

Let me start off by saying that I love to eat out. As much as I love to cook, if I were given the option to eat out for dinner every day or eat a home cooked meal every day, I would choose the meal out….as long as the restaurant served food that I liked, of course.

Have you ever noticed that you can get a feel of a restaurant before you even take a bite? I could tell as soon as I walked in to Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill that it was a perfect match for me – from the atmosphere to the smells (Oh! The glorious smells!) to the friendly greetings we received even before we took our seats.

The Springfield, Virginia, restaurant where our VIP/grand opening event was held is the first Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill to open outside California. I’m personally hoping that the new Virginia location will be so popular that they’ll have to open a new restaurant closer to my house. Although if it was too close, I think I’d run the risk of wanting to eat there a little too often.

During our preview event, we were able to sample several of the dishes from the Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill menu – from appetizers to salads to main dishes to desserts. The problem was NOT finding things that I liked. Far from it! I was so smitten by all of the dishes that we were served that I had a hard time NOT eating everything. I was able to take a couple of small bites of most dishes, but some items – like the original peanut coleslaw or the Tuscan kale salad (How does watermelon radishes, green beans, golden raisins, carrots, toasted pumpkin seeds, chives, cauliflower, shaved Parmesan, topped with a balsamic vinaigrette sound??) – were so delicious I could bear to not finish them….or at least take another few bites before they brought a new dish out.

The main part of our dinner included award-winning BBQ such as dry-rubbed and smoked St. Louis Ribs, Carolina Pulled Pork, Texas-Style Brisket, Baby Back Ribs, Brisket Burgers and more. My favorite meat by far was the Wood Ranch tri tip. If you have the opportunity to visit a Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill, order the tri tip. It was some of the best meat I’ve ever had. Ever.

I have to say that, although I was completely stuffed by the end of the evening, I loved tasting so many cuts of meat side by side. I was amazed by how different beef (or pork or chicken or seafood) can taste depending on the sauce or the method of cooking. By the end of the night I was totally hooked on Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill’s BBQ sauces – and so I was particularly thrilled when they sent us home with a bottle.

Did you know? All of their sauces are gluten free, and they are also sold to-go in the restaurants so diners can enjoy the great taste at home.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the desserts (and yes, we had to try all four of them):

WARM CHOCOLATE CAKE: Flourless Guittard chocolate cake, hand-candied pecans, vanilla bean ice cream, whipped cream
MOM’S DEEP DISH COBBLER: Freestone peaches, whole grains, brown sugar, cinnamon, vanilla bean ice cream
THE BEST CHEESECAKE: Graham cracker crust, raspberry sauce, whipped cream
OREO® COOKIE CRUNCH: Vanilla bean ice cream hand-rolled in ground Oreo® cookies. Served with caramel sauce and fudge

I don’t know if I could choose a favorite. I was very impressed by the flourless warm chocolate cake, but I often gravitate towards the cheesecake when I’m eating out. I think the dessert that hit the spot that night was the Oreo® Cookie Crunch.

Build-Your-Own-Dinner Menu

One of the new features that we discussed during our event was the new Build-Your-Own-Dinner Menu, which gives diners the option to mix and match meat dishes, sides, and sauces to enjoy their ultimate combination of quality meats and flavors. The build-your-own-dinner option will be available initially dine-in only from 4:00pm to close. Perhaps my favorite part of the Build-Your-Own-Dinner Menu is that families can order and eat “family style” by ordering a unique selection from the menu and trying a little bit of several dishes – just like we did at our event.

The menu includes the signature Wood Ranch Tri Tip, an iconic California sirloin cut, Wood Ranch’s #1 seller and available in 4, 7, and 16 oz. portions. Also included on the menu are All-American Baby Back Ribs, Fire-Roasted Chicken, Double R Ranch® Brisket, St. Louis Ribs, Carolina Pulled Pork, Pecan Wood Smoked Beef Ribs, and Boneless BBQ Chicken Breast.

The Signature Sides are available for $3.95 and include Original Peanut Coleslaw, Grilled Corn on the Cob, Skin-On Fries, Lauren’s Favorite Mac & Cheese, and more. Premium Sides are $4.95, and include Loaded Baked Potato, Sweet Potato Fries, Asparagus, and more.

Have you ever been to a Wood Ranch BBQ & Grill? What are your favorite items on the menu? If you haven’t been to a Wood Ranch, what would you love to order?

Bold at Steak – Outback Steakhouse

Lolli — Thu, 04 Jun 2015 17:20:44 +0000

This post and giveaway are sponsored by Outback Steakhouse, but all enthusiasm and thoughts are my own.

Outback Steakhouse is perhaps my family’s favorite restaurant. It’s definitely the kids’ number one request for birthday dinners…we’re heading to our Outback on Monday night for my daughter’s 16th birthday, in fact.

Why do we love Outback Steakhouse so much? Because they serve consistently juicy and delicious steaks (and chicken and shrimp…) paired with some of our favorite sides ever (my husband LIVES for the wedge salads and my 14-year-old would eat the potato soup every day if he could).

Just last week, Outback Steakhouse launched the new “Bold at Steak” brand campaign, which focuses on the bold flavors (signature steaks and fresh vegetables and herbs), sights (like the flames emitting from the wood-fire grill and the fun, relaxed atmosphere of their restaurants) and sounds (steak searing, families laughing, fans cheering at the bar) that make Outback the steak authority.

Bold at Steak – NEW Menu Items

As part of the “Bold at Steak” campaign, Outback is introducing three new steak entrées starting at just $13.99* – the Wood-Fire Grilled Flat Iron Steak, the Victoria’s Filet^® Mignon Portabella and the Outback Sirloin Portabella – as well as a new menu design that will help guests choose the perfect cut and preparation for their steak. I know that I often don’t know what to order because each restaurant prepares their steaks differently. Add to that the fact that I am not an expert on cuts of steak – and I frequently need help ordering. Luckily, the new menu design provides chef recommendations on how steak should be prepared.

Did you know that Outback’s Signature Steaks are available in eight different cuts and can either be seasoned and seared with a secret blend of 17 spices on the flattop grill or wood-fire grilled for a delicious natural flavor? That’s a lot of variety. I love that you can customize your steak any way you like it.

In addition to the new steak entrées, Outback is unveiling new Premium Sides, including Steakhouse Mac & Cheese, Loaded Mashed Potatoes, Broccoli and Cheese and Parmesan Fries. I think I may have to make sure the kids all order a different side on Monday so I can try EACH of the new sides. Good plan?

Let’s Make Steak the Official Food of the U.S.

When you think of Italian cuisine, you probably think of pasta. France probably makes you think of the baguette. Belgium brings to mind chocolate. And yet there isn’t really a “national food” that represents America. To celebrate the launch of the “Bold at Steak” campaign, Outback has introduced a petition to make steak the first official food of the U.S. They are urging consumers everywhere to rally behind the cause. To show their bold love for steak, fans can sign the petition here by June 26, 2015: https://1.usa.gov/1J2J9Fb.

For more information on Outback or to find a location near you, please visit www.outback.com, www.facebook.com/outback or follow them on Twitter @Outback.

*Prices and product participation may vary by location.

Win a $50 Outback Steakhouse Gift Card

I’m thrilled to be able to give away a $50 gift card to Outback so that YOU can head out to your local Outback to try the new menu items. This giveaway ends at 11:59pm ET on June 26, 2015 and is open to US residents only. Simply enter on the giveaway widget below. A winner will be generated randomly and notified via email once the giveaway has ended. Good luck!

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Fresh Juice at Jamba Juice #JuiceByJamba

Lolli — Wed, 11 Feb 2015 01:53:01 +0000

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Jamba Juice for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine.

My mom got me hooked on Jamba Juice, since they had locations out in the West long before they had any near my house near DC. Jamba Juice became one of our favorite stops during our yearly summer trips together. Luckily, we’ve got a Jamba Juice in our area now, and this week I treated myself and the family to a little visit to try out some of Jamba Juice’s freshly squeezed juices (and a few of our old favorites, too).

After we had all had a chance to place our drink orders, we sat down and watched our juices being made. I loved seeing real, fresh, whole ingredients going into our drinks. The orange juicing machine might be the coolest thing I’ve seen in a long time. (Oh…What I wouldn’t do for an orange tree in my back yard and one of those mega-juicing machines in my kitchen!). When they say their juices are fresh and cold pressed….they mean fresh! Jamba Juices are also healthy and paleo with no preservatives.

Did you know that in addition to the customized juices and smoothies that you can order and have made while you wait, Jamba Juice also has a selection of healthy and delicious ready-to-drink beverages, too?

My husband and I were eager to try some of the Fresh Squeezed Juices on the Jamba Juice menu…and I have to say, it wasn’t easy to decide which to choose. Luckily, he let me take a few sips of his, too!

Check out these awesome 100% fresh-squeezed juice flavors:

Tropical Greens: For a truly tropical flavor, we’ve combined apples, pineapples, Supergreens, and Chia seeds. This is one island that will never be deserted.
Citrus Kick: When you really want to bring up the brightness in your day, try this blend of oranges, apples, pineapples, and ginger. Just don’t forget your sunglasses.

Veggie Harvest: Take some apples. Then take some carrots, and beets, and super greens and ginger. Then take a minute to drink it all down and wonder how you ever got through your day without it.

Orange Reviver: When your day feels like 5 days, revive with an Orange Reviver. We’ve taken oranges, apples, bananas, beets and Chia seeds and turned them into a spirit-lifting, taste bud-hugging masterpiece of mixology.
Carrot Cayenne: Carrots. Apples. Ginger. Cayenne Pepper. It’s carrot with a kick, and it’s going to wake up taste buds you never even knew you had.
Garden Medley: Is there such a thing as too many servings of vegetables? Not when they make up a melodious medley like this. Try one and enjoy delicious, perfectly portioned vegetables and a splash of apple, all living together in perfect harmony. Just like Mother Nature intended.
Orange Carrot Twist: The fresh, tangy brightness of the orange meets the smooth, earthy sweetness of the carrot. Some things were just meant to be.

Orange Berry Antioxidant: For juice lovers that know the more, the merrier, we’ve squeezed this orange and double berry masterpiece. It’s The Works of Juices.
Kale Orange Power: Green means go-go-go with this delicious blend of fresh orange juice, kale and bananas. And as good source of vitamins and manganese, it’s hard to stop sipping. Get ready for the perfect fuel to power through your day.
Triple Revitalizer: Do bananas have juice? Yep. But don’t take our word for it, just ask the oranges and carrots in this awesome blend of potassium-loaded goodness.
Tropical Kick-Start: We took the American breakfast staple on a trip to the tropics. The result? A juice blend that will take your taste buds on vacation. (–>this is the juice that I had. The Jamba Juice employee who made our juices recommended that I try it with kale, too. Yum! It was smooth and fresh and full of flavor. I would order it again in a heart beat! I must say, though, that my husband’s Orange Berry Antioxidant was delicious, too!)

Need a Jamba Juice kick? Find Your Closest Store.

Enter to WIN a $20 Jamba Juice Gift Card!

Leave a comment below with the Fresh Juice flavor you would want to try for a chance to win a $20 Jamba Juice gift card! If you’d like to earn extra entries, use the share buttons at the top or side of this post to share the contest and leave me a link to your share. The more shares the better! Good luck!

Note: this giveaway will end on 2/20/15 at 11:59 pm ET, after which a winner will be chosen at random and notified via email. Good luck!

Never Wait to Eat with Outback’s Click Thru Seating #OutbackBestMates

Lolli — Mon, 08 Dec 2014 22:53:13 +0000

I am an Outback Steakhouse Best Mates Ambassador. Every once in a while, I get to bring you guys specials and insider information on one of my favorite restaurants. All thoughts, as always, are my own. Follow the hashtag #OutbackBestMates on Twitter and Facebook (and here, of course).

I love date night. But I don’t love waiting for an hour with one of those buzzy remote things before I can sit down at a table, look at a menu, and order dinner. Most of the time when we’re heading out for date night, we just run out the door and drive to the restaurant. If it’s a Friday or Saturday night after work, we’re pretty much guaranteed to have to wait to be seated.

Click Thru Seating at Outback Steakhouse

The other night, I was heading back home from picking kids up from after-school activities and remembered Outback’s Click Thru Seating. I had the teen in the passenger seat call home and ask Dad to go online to Outback.com to secure our place in line. Even though the waiting area was packed when we got to Outback, all we had to do was give them our name and we were seated within a few minutes. It was glorious.

How long to you typically wait for a table when you go out to eat on the weekends?

Outback recently did a survey asking consumers about their typical wait time at restaurants across the country and found that, on average, Americans have waited nearly 40 minutes to be seated at a restaurant — which is more time than it takes to cook and eat an entire meal.

When you go to Outback.com/seating before you leave the house – or on your smartphone when you’re on your way to the restaurant – you can view the current wait time at your local Outback and put your name on the wait list (for now or later). That means once you make it to the restaurant, you can sit down – and EAT – even faster.

And if you’re like us, you can get back out the door to make it to your movie on time faster, too.

Our new favorite menu item at Outback

During our latest date night at Outback Steakhouse, not only did we get seated quickly thanks to Click Thru Seating, but we discovered the BEST new item on the menu. We love the Bloomin’ Onion (and the Bloomin’ Sauce) but we can never finish a whole Bloomin’ Onion on our own and I hate wasting food. We are so excited to have discovered the Sips and Snacks menu and the new Bloomin’ Petals. It’s a smaller-serving portion of Bloomin’ Onion, and because of the way it’s served, the “petals” are crispier. We polished off the plate and were totally hooked.

What is your favorite appetizer to order at Outback Steakhouse? Are you a Bloomin’ fan like me?

Try Outback’s NEW Moonshine BBQ Menu FREE! #OutbackBestMates

Lolli — Wed, 21 May 2014 19:21:01 +0000

My family and I were invited to attend a special VIP tasting night at Outback Steakhouse® on Tuesday to try the new Moonshine BBQ menu, which is available NOW (for a limited time). All thoughts are my own.

My kids and I have been fans of Outback Steakhouse® for a long time…but last night’s dinner may have been our favorite Outback experience ever. EVER.

Outback Steakhouse® is introducing a limited time only Moonshine BBQ menu, made with real moonshine (I warned my kids, since they know what moonshine is, that the moonshine is cooked away). New menu items to hit the sauce include:

Sirloin with Moonshine BBQ Bacon Wrapped Shrimp
Moonshine BBQ Ribs
Moonshine BBQ Wood-Fire Grilled Wings
Moonshine BBQ Chopped Salad
3 Moonshine cocktails including the Huckleberry Hooch, Watermelon Hunch Punch and Just Peachee
Skillet Apple Pie

Our Moonshine tasting experience began with Moonshine BBQ Wood-Fire Grilled Wings with Ranch dipping sauce. We were all licking our fingers – the Moonshine BBQ sauce was an instant hit with everyone, even my BBQ-sauce-hating daughter. We couldn’t get enough!

Our server brought out the Moonshine BBQ Chopped Salad next…and all 3 of the girls (me and 2 of my daughters) commented that it was one of the BEST salads we had ever tasted. It was full of flavor and the perfect combination of ingredients (and lots of them!). My daughter who was hesitant to try a salad with BBQ in its name was insanely impressed. It doesn’t taste BBQ-y. It’s just delicious, period.

The Moonshine BBQ Ribs came next, with a few Moonshine BBQ Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp on the side. The rib meat was so tender and juicy that it literally fell off the bones – but AJ’s favorite part about it was the “crunchiness” of the outside of the ribs. They were definitely worth getting our hands a little dirty. Yum!

The bacon-wrapped shrimp doesn’t even need any commentary, does it? I mean…bacon-wrapped shrimp??

As we finished off our meal, we were stuffed…but I was sure to leave plenty of room for the skillet apple pie topped with vanilla ice cream. My favorite thing about the apple pie was that it was not too sweet (which just meant that I ate more of it than I needed to!). It was a perfect sharing size, too!

Try Moonshine BBQ for FREE!

Outback is inviting America to get a FREE taste of Moonshine BBQ on May 21 & May 22. Visit your local Outback restaurant and say “Moonshine BBQ Wings” to your server to receive a free half-order of Moonshine BBQ Wood-Fire Grilled Wings with the purchase of any adult entrée.

Learn the secret to why Outback’s new Moonshine BBQ sauce is so dang good by visiting Outback.com/Shine.

My kids and I are going to be rooting for Moonshine BBQ to stay on the menu permanently! Necco already has plans to celebrate her 15th birthday at Outback Steakhouse® in a few weeks.

Connect with Outback Steakhouse:

https://twitter.com/outback
https://www.pinterest.com/outback/
https://instagram.com/outbacksteakhouse#
Be sure to check out all of the specials at www.outback.com/specials

Which Moonshine BBQ menu item are you most excited to try? HURRY over to your Outback and give it a try (and help me convince them to keep it around forever!

This post and the information included are part of a sponsored ambassador program with Outback Steakhouse #OutbackBestMates. All opinions are my own.

Outback’s Wood-Fire Grill #OutbackBestMates {And Happy Anniversary to Me!}

Lolli — Fri, 25 Apr 2014 18:00:51 +0000

I am an Outback Steakhouse Best Mates Ambassador. Every once in a while throughout the year, I’ll be bringing you guys specials and insider information on one of my favorite restaurants. Just follow the hashtag #OutbackBestMates on Twitter and Facebook (and here, of course).

This coming Monday, my husband and I will be celebrating out 19th anniversary. Nineteen!

(If you were wondering, no, I did not get married when I was 12, but thanks for thinking I looked so young…)

To make sure we celebrate right, I’ll be taking my hubby out to eat at one of our favorite restaurants – Outback Steakhouse, of course! Not only is it one of our favorite date night places to eat, they’ve got a pretty amazing special that will not only make my tummy happy, but my wallet, too.

Outback’s Wood-Fire Grill

Outback’s Wood-Fire Grill meal is a 3-course meal. For just just $11.99, you’ll get:

First Course: Start with your choice of Soup or Signature Side Salad
Second Course: Choose your wood-fire grilled entrée and freshly made side: Choose from: Parmesan-Herb Crusted Wood-Fire Grilled Chicken, Wood-Fire Grilled Outback Special Sirloin, Sweet Chili Wood-Fire Grilled Chicken & Shrimp
Third Course: Finish off your meal with either Classic Cheesecake or Carrot Cake.

Which soup/salad, entree, and dessert would you choose?

I’ll be ordering the House Salad, the Sweet Chili Wood-Fire Grilled Chicken & Shrimp, and cheesecake for dessert. I’m not entirely sure I’ll be able to wait until Monday night…

More great flavors from the Wood-Fire Grill:

Firecracker Grilled Salmon: Wood-fire grilled Salmon glazed with Firecracker sauce and topped with mango salsa. Served with season mixed vegetables.
Bone-in NY Strip: Known for its juicy, intense flavor, the thick-cut NY Strip is grilled to perfection. Served with one freshly made side and a Signature Side salad.
Grilled Pineapple ‘Rita: Smooth El Jimador Resposado Tequila hand-shaken with all-natural citrus juices and crushed pineapple. We rim the glass with our very own
hickory smoke margarita salt and top with a wood-grilled slice of pineapple

Connect with Outback Steakhouse:

https://twitter.com/outback
https://www.pinterest.com/outback/
https://instagram.com/outbacksteakhouse#
Be sure to check out all of the specials at www.outback.com/specials

What do you like to do to celebrate your anniversary? We tend to be fairly ordinary. We’re a dinner and movie kind of couple…so we make sure that the FOOD we eat is BOLD!

This post and the information included are part of a sponsored ambassador program with Outback Steakhouse #OutbackBestMates. All opinions are my own.

Papa Murphy’s Pizza Maryland Blogger Tour

Lolli — Wed, 23 Apr 2014 16:36:42 +0000

It’s days like these when I absolutely love my job. Earlier this month, I was invited to a blogger event at a local Papa Murphy’s Pizza. They did a thorough bahind-the-scenes tour (think elementary school field trip) and sent us home with lots of pizza. Although I was compensated for my time, all thoughts are my own.

I figured I’d grab your attention with this:

Papa Murphy’s Pizza

Since I was invited to join a small group of local bloggers at the Papa Murphy’s in Frederick, Maryland, I have dreamed about this pizza multiple times. I’ve even driven out of my way to order it again since our event because it was that good.

Photo courtesy of Amanda at DudeMom.com

I was introduced to Papa Murphy’s back when I was in college in Utah. Papa Murphy’s has been making take-and-bake pizzas since 1981, but they were mostly a West Coast business. I am thrilled that they are out here now! I just need a Papa Murphy’s to open up a *little* closer to my house (in case you are curious about the location of your nearest Papa Murphy’s, check out their store locator – they’ve got 1425 stores across the US).

Photo courtesy of Amanda at DudeMom.com

Take-n-bake Pizza

Papa Murphy’s is not your typical pizza chain. They have NO OVENS in their stores. In fact, they are not classified as restaurants, but instead as deli/grocery stores because they only carry fresh foods. They make their pizza dough by hand every day and chop their veggies fresh each day as well. You wouldn’t believe how many toppings they go through in a single day!

Jessica of AParentInSilverSpring.com makes pizza dough

Because all of their pizzas and salads are prepared fresh, customers must plan ahead. They may not be “fast” food, but they are certainly convenient and the taste is totally worth the pick up and 20 minutes or so of cooking time.

Look at all those fresh ingredients!

The family size pizza is so huge it fills the entire oven!

Our local Frederick store impressed me with their family atmosphere. Not only do they cater to families like mine, but they really feel like a family store (the store is run by a husband and wife team that couldn’t be nicer!). When I came back to buy some pizzas last week (not as a blogger!) they were just as friendly and welcoming as they were when I was there as their guest.

Tammy even put on the pizza suit for us! Photo courtesy of Amanda at DudeMom.com

Delicious pizzas with something for everyone!

OK, remember that pizza above? That is a half-and-half pizza from their DeLITE line (one half Herb Chicken Mediterranean and one half Chicken bacon Artichoke). These are not *just* thin crust pizzas. The deLITE crust is a whole new “lite” recipe – it’s low calorie and Weight Watchers friendly!). It is my new favorite kind of pizza. I have since tried the Thai Chicken…and every variety is delicious.

The deLITE pizza line is diet and Weight Watchers-friendly!

My family, however, is totally HOOKED on the 5-meat STUFFED pizza. Not stuffed crust. Stuffed pizza. They make one pizza, then put another pizza crust on top, seal the edges together, and sprinkle with more toppings. This pizza is loaded with goodness! We get a family sized stuffed pizza (regular price $15 for a large, and $2 more for family size) and ONE slice fills each person. This pizza lasts us for dinner AND leftovers the next day.

$10 Tuesdays

That brings me to Ten Buck Tuesdays! Our local store has a special every Tuesday where every pizza is just $10, regardless of toppings. Not every store has the same promotions…so definitely check your local Papa Murphy’s!

Our other favorite at Papa Murphy’s is their dessert pizzas. For less than $5, we can add on a dessert pizza – we’ve tried both the s’mores pizza and the Cinnamon Wheel pizza. Both incredible (but the cinnamon wheel is definitely our favorite).

I can’t wait to get our next Papa Murphy’s pizza! What pizza variety would you like to try?

Connect with Papa Murphy’s:

Twitter: @PapaMurphysPizza
Facebook: Facebook.com/papamurphyspizza

*Thanks to Amanda at DudeMom.com for sharing the group shots!