Wanna be the next top Sous-chef?

I have a varied repertoire (ok, maybe just 2) of things that I can cook and they all include frozen chicken and a slow-cooker.  But, when I leave one of Deb Cazavilan's cooking classes, I feel like I can conquer the culinary world!  

Wooden Spoons & Apron Strings is the perfect place to explore your inner sous-chef in a fun, hands-on, non-inimidating atmosphere.  Walking into Deb's kitchen, you are always greeted with a smile and food.  Lots and lots of food!  I have never left a class hungry.  Deb makes you feel like family the moment you walk in the door and treats you like family too!  Classes are small and she's not afraid to let you delve right in and help cook, if you want to of course.

Deb offers cooking classes are for all abilities (including none, like me) at her super-cozy location in Ankeny.  Her cooking classes/workshops are informative, fun and inspirational.  While she still offers a wide range of classes from pie-making to slow-cooker cooking (you'll see me at that one) to seafood, her latest classes have taken on a healthy-spin to incorporate diets including gluten-free, meat-less, veggie "pasta", paleo/nut-flour and much more!  Deb and her husband have recently lost 30 pounds, not by dieting, but by utilizing "real-food" techniques and she is eager to share her knowledge.  

Deb offers a number of week-night and a few week-day classes with the occasional Sunday class thrown in.  Classes are great for a date-night a girls-night out or even comfortable enough to tackle by yourself. Check out her class offerings here: Wooden Spoons Workshop Calendar

The first class we took was about 4 years ago, and it was a sushi-making class. We have since hosted a few sushi parties at our house, and they are always a big hit! We've been hooked ever since.  Try a class and I'm going to bet you'll be addicted too!  

Tonight's class was the Nut-flour class.  I never knew how awesome chestnut-flour brownies could be or how tasty nut-crumb coated zucchini was (pictured to the right)!

You'll be amazed at what you'll be cooking up after spending an evening with Deb!

What's for breakfast?

Growing up in Massachusetts, there is a Dunkin Donuts on every corner. Literally!  I just figured America does "Run on Dunkin" like the commercials.  

Little did I know that in Iowa, there were no DDs in 100 mile radius!  Great thing there are thousands of other redeeming qualities to Des Moines or we may not have lasted here this long!

Don't get me wrong, the donuts are good, but how can people live without iced coffee?! Well, now we don't have to!  

Dunks is now open in West Des Moines! It opened on Halloween this year! I know because I was there the minute they opened =) It's right on 73rd street near Walmart.  Pretty conveniently located off of the 73rd exit on 235.

What to order:

* Boston Creme Donuts. (And not because of the name...) Blueberry cake donuts or apple filled donuts are our favorites.

*Coffee Coolattas (Try one with a flavor shot, french vanilla is awesome) They can also make these with skim milk to cut down on calories. But, of course tastier with cream.

*Munchkin variety box.  Right now the special flavor is sprinkles munchkins (Katie's favorite) and they also come in chocolate glazed, jelly filled and original.  Kids LOVE these!

*Chocolate chunk cookies.  They're just good.

*Surprisingly, the chicken salad is awesome! Try a croissant sandwhich with chicken salad for lunch. You'll like it!

* For a little over a buck you can get a meat, egg and cheese on a tortilla. Tasty and filling for a quick breakfast with your coffee if you are looking to cut down on calories.

The drive-through is open 24 hours and there is some seating inside.  Easy to find a seat during the week, a little more difficult on the weekend mornings.  Oh, and did you know gluten free donuts and muffins are coming soon?!

This was the wonderful DD employee who made my first coffee coolatta. I think she was a little confused as to why I was taking her picture.

Here is a link to the DunkinIowa facebook page, it's a little hard to find: DunkinIowa

That's a spicy meatball! (Not really, but isn't that what they say in Italy?)

So, we ventured out in the snow tonight in hopes of using my groupon (which I still encourage you to get, because the food is fantastic!) at Fat Tuesday on the South side.  It's our favorite cajun place in town, so more on them later!  But, unfortunately, they were closed because of the weather, so we decided to stay on this side of town and hit up 

Baratta's.

 And we were glad we did!

 We had pretty much the whole restaurant to ourselves and were pleasantly surprised to see they had a weeknight special. And there were gluten-free options!

An appetizer, two salads or soups and two entrees all for $20! Score!

I started with a lovely glass of sparkling Moscato and Josh stuck with a Roy Rogers since he was on-call and I think they'd look poorly on him if he were drinking.

Josh enjoyed a heaping plate of onion rings, salad and warm bread, while I devoured the best part of my meal which was the pepper cheese soup.  When we asked what was in it, they said the special ingredient was cauliflower! I was impressed. Pretty Tasty.

Josh is kind of a fiend for meatballs and he gives his approval! The steak was a great size and came with a baked potato, great option if you have allergies.

All-in-all a great comfort-food meal, with prompt service at an affordable price.  For a glass of wine, two sodas, an appetizer, a soup, a salad, two entrees and a dessert milk-shake for Josh, the bill was $36.  Hard to beat!  Give Baratta's a try if you haven't yet!

They are only a few minutes from downtown, so a great place for a nice lunch if you work downtown and did you know they deliver? You can order right online! Oh and they also have a location right inside the State Historical Building!  They have a more limited menu but are happy to  cater to you and your kids when you've just explored the Historical Building (which is great for kids, BTW) and the kids are begging for lunch =)

So you think you're an artist?

You don't have to have taken tons of art classes to have fun at these painting classes!

All around the area, venues are popping up that offer a painting class along with options to purchase or bring in wine and snacks!  These make great girls-nights and have specified sessions that you can bring kiddos.  Some even offer date-night options where you each paint half of a picture on your own canvas....Valentine's Day date perhaps??

A few places offering these classes include :

*The Social Canvas in Waukee...They offer wine and beer for purchase, but allow you to take your own snacks.  We brought cheese and fruit last time and it was great!

*El Arte Uncorked which meets at local restaurants. This is kind of neat because you can order appetizers along with a wide selection of drinks while you paint.

*Wine & Canvas which also meets at local restaurants. They are also offering cookie and painting classes now! I'll let you know when I check THAT out!

*Glazed expressions in Clive...They've recently taken the plunge in offering these canvas classes after offering pottery and glass painting classes for a while now.

Tip: Make sure you check living social, group on or deal chicken as they often have coupons for these places!

Performing Arts for Kids!

Did you know you can take your kids to see awesome live shows at the Civic Center and Des Moines Playhouse?

Nathan gives two thumbs up for the Des Moines Symphony's Children's performance of "The Carnival of the Animals".

The next show at the Civic Center is on March 2nd and 1:00pm and is "The Ugly Duckling". Tickets are only $8 and they have a pre-show that allows kids to do crafts and meet performers!  Very fun!

Buy tickets for this show and other Civic Center shows here:

Des Moines Performing Arts

The next Des Moines Playhouse show is "The Kid Who Ran For President". It plays from March 1st to March 17th and you can purchase tickets here:
Des Moines Playhouse

$5 Martinis? Yes, please!

Not only does Mezzodi's have pretty great food, a convenient location near the airport right off of Fleur drive, delivery in Des Moines for free and an amazing filet, they have $5 martini's!  All-day, everyday!  Choices include fruity favorites and dessert-y chocolate.  You have to try one...or five!  We often come late at night just for the martini's.  You can sit at tables in the bar for a relaxed atmosphere or sit up at the bar to chat with the talkative bar-tender. There are at least 20 different kinds on the menu! Check it out!

Martini's are good and you can't beat a full-sized martini for $5!  But remember, even though they taste great, they are aren't watered down like cocktails, so they pack a punch! Drink responsibly!

Tropical Wine Heaven

Looking for something to do this Friday Night? Check out the Tropical Wine Fest!

Heart of Iowa Tropical Wine Festival (Click here for more info and tickets)

Great for a girls night out or date night!  They'll have most of the local wineries set up to give you generous samples of wine and lots of local restaurants serving up samples of their best dishes. This event was so fun last year.

This year it's at a bigger location, so hopefully not as much waiting in lines.  Not that waiting was a big deal when you have a big glass of wine and plate of food to keep you occupied though! There was everything from tamales to fried ravioli to seafood samples and enough reds and whites that you may need a designated driver! Oh, and don't forget prizes, there were at least 30 give-aways last time just for showing up!

 Don't miss it!

Travel Back in Time with Taste

We all know Living History Farms is a great place to take the family to learn about life on the farm and they have great family Halloween and Easter events.  But have you ever considered a date night at the farm??

Check out Living History Farm's 1875 and 1900's dinners.  

Historic Dinners (Click here for more info and to purchase tickets)

If you choose the 1900's dinner you'll be transported to the farmhouse in a horse-drawn carriage!  Both menu's are fantastic! You learn a bit of history, get to tour the farm and eat a meal prepared by staff that slaved all day over the stove preparing your meal the way they would have back then.

I recommend the 1900's turkey dinner! Enough food to make you feel like it's Thanksgiving again! You are greeted at the farmhouse by hot cider and treated like kings and queens.

You can make reservations right online and even take in your own bottle of wine for a corkage fee of $10. Tickets are $50/person. and the first party to reserve a night picks the meal. They can even accommodate special diets!

Tips: Dress in layers!  The ride out to the farm can be chilly and eating by the fire can get warm. Oh, and be ready to use an outhouse if you have the urge...They'll give you a lantern of course to lead the way...

Say Cheese!

If you haven't visited The Cheese Shop yet, you're missing out!

The Cheese Shop

The cheese shop is located in the strip mall that is The Shops at Roosevelt.  It's right next to the Des Moines Playhouse, so it's the perfect stop before hitting a show at the playhouse. ("Completeness" is about to premier at the Playhouse by the way!)

CJ  and his wife Kari are the owners and are so passionate about what they do.  They have been there just about every time we've visited to give suggestions based your likings. But all of the staff is great, don't be surprised if they learn your name and the cheeses/meats/wines/beers you like.

When you walk in, you feel like you are at a deli, don't be afraid to ask for samples, they are happy to oblige!  They feature La Quercia meats as well as cheeses you can't find anywhere else.  

Grab a table or don't be afraid to pull right up to the bar and start asking questions, the helpful staff will point you in the right direction of what to order.  

Order something like a gourmet grilled cheese sandwich off the menu or just order a sample plate and get tasting! You won't be sorry! They have lots of tame options like flatbread pizzas if you aren't into some of the more exotic options! And then order some to take home! You'll be craving more later, trust me!

Check out their calendar for lots of fun new classes they are holding. They kicked of their class series with a chocolate and cheese class and it was awesome!

Pump It Up!

Today's Deal Chicken deal is for four drop-in sessions at Pump It Up in Urbandale. This is one of our favorite places to go and burn some energy! I typically see moms (and a few dads) there during the daytime hours and they are usually working on their smart phones or knitting. However, I LOVE to hold my little guy and go down the big slides too! 

Pros:

• Fun for all ages--including the moms! 
• Closely supervised and organized into different rooms.
• Burns LOTS of energy for the kids (and I was tired too!)
• Clean
• Easy to get to--right off I-80/35 Douglas Exit

Cons:

• Kids are required to play in the room designated by the staff. I didn't see this as a problem, but I think my oldest wanted to have more time in one particular area. 

Hints: 

• Remember your socks, waivers for kids that aren't in your family, and any coupons you have. 
• Pack a snack and water for the car ride home! They will be tired!
• Wearing smooth athletic pants will provide the most speed on the big slides. Fun!



Fun for the parents too!



Lots of cars for the little people. 



That's Fast!

Pesticide free bliss!

Katie actually intoduced me to one of the most fabulous services in the area.  I'm always more likely to make healthy food choices when my fridge is stocked with fresh organic choices.  

Prudent Produce

Prudent Produce is a locally owned and operated supplier of locally grown and organic produce and the best part is that they deliver it right to your door!  It is totally affordable when you compare the price of picking up these items at the store and it saves you the trip!

Angie, the owner is super nice and helpful! And the website is super easy to navigate.  You can start service right on the website and cancel at any time.  They offer weekly or biweekly service and you are able to adjust the menu to your liking!  You can pick items to absolutely hate and they will never include them in your menu, or you can just swap out items you don't want to others.  

For our family of 3 we get a mini-bin every other week and that is totally enough for us.

Give Prudent a try! You'll love them as much as we do!

How it all Began...

So, If you're my friend on facebook, you know I have a bit of an obsession with posting photos from the fabulous locations we are visiting, the food we are eating or fun things we are doing.  After much encouragement from Katie and other friends, I've decided to share these experiences with the world to help others learn about all the fun things to do, places to eat and shop, local services to utilize and seasonal events going on. Mostly in Iowa, but periodically other regions as well =)  Look here for upcoming events, reviews of restaurants and activities for kids and adults and let us know when you've tried them!

We frequent shows at the Civic Center, Des Moines Playhouse and other venues. 

We take our kids to fabulous places around town that don't break the bank or require days of planning. Like the zoo, science center, libraries, Historical Building, apple orchards, plays and tons more  and we'll tell you where and when to be there!

We'll let you know the best places for a girl's night out, date night, or just where to go if you're bored or feel like tapping into your inner artist, chef or gymnast!

Smokin' Ribs!

We love BBQ!  We have a few local favorites and I'll share one with you today!

Woody's Smoke Shack

It's located close to the MLK exit off of 235 @ 2511 Cottage Street in Des Moines.

Pros:

* They have the MOST amazing ribs in town.  Seriously, it's a mix of the special seasonings they use and the amazing sauce. Try the ribs!

* Large selection of side dishes and meats (most of which are gluten free!) Try the cheesy potatoes! 

* Help yourself to free cornbread and honey as you wait for your meal! As much as you can eat! My 5 year old can put away three pieces before the food comes.

* Fast, friendly service.  Great for a quick lunch, or dinner before a show downtown.

Cons:

*Limited seating at busy times.


Try Woody's! You won't be disappointed!

Bass Pro Shop Bowling

I recently decided to open a Val-Pak and found a coupon for Free Bowling at Bass Pro Shop in Altoona. It was good for up to four people and I thought it would be a lot of fun to take my kids there on a cold winter day. I was not disappointed!

Pros: 

• Very Clean and Great Atmosphere--you feel a bit like you're underwater with the decorations and shark's mouth ball return. 
• Automatic Bumpers appeared for the kids and lowered for my turns. 
• Clean-ish shoes. They were the cleanest shoes I've seen at a bowling alley, but they are still bowling shoes.
• Great score board screen and I didn't have to do a thing! 
• My littlest guy--two years old--was able to use a stand to push the ball off of and he had a great time playing too!

Cons:

• This bowling alley has you pay per lane, per hour. It is too expensive for just the kids and myself to go to, but it would be a fun night out with friends or more people. 

Overall, we had a great time and look forward to going back soon!