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Mom MVP: Cassie McGregor

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You guys are going to love this month’s Mom MVP! We’re taking a closer look at local milliner, Cassie McGregor of The House of MacGregor. If you aren’t familiar with the term millinery, think hats! Oak Cliff-based Cassie McGregor knows the language of hats. Cassie has been creating hats using traditional millinery techniques since 2002. Raised in Dallas, Cassie began taking evening hat making classes for fun at the Fashion Institute of Technology while living in New York City. It was love at first hat! After many years of running her own label on the side, Cassie decided to hang her hat in Dallas for good. She owns and operates her own atelier near the historic Bishop Arts District. When Cassie isn’t at the studio or chasing her three adorable daughters around, you might find Cassie and her husband Rob cooking up a storm in the kitchen or dining out in the city.

“Hi! My name is my name is Cassie MacGregor and I own The House of MacGregor over in Oak Cliff.  We are a custom hat shop and we make men’s and women’s straw and felt fedoras plus special occasion hats for horse races and weddings.  We also have a wide selection of other designer’s hats in our studio located above Bolsa Restaurant.  I am also kept busy by my four kids, three of whom are five and under!”

What is your favorite meal? I love a good green chile stew on a cold day. I am currently day dreaming about being cold enough for that to sound good.

What is your favorite kitchen tool?  My Le Creuset red dutch oven.  It was my first present from my husband and I use it more than anything else in our kitchen.

What do you do to recharge your batteries?  I take yoga classes at SYNC Yoga 2-3 days a week and I don’t think I would be very livable without it!  We have 4 kids and it is the main way I squeeze in self care time.

What is your go-to hostess gift? You can never go wrong with wine or flowers.

What is your entertaining must-have? I have a very colorful, striped Missoni table cloth that was a present from my mom.  It makes any dinner party look cheerful and happy plus the stripes cover up food stains well.

What it your favorite holiday to host? Thanksgiving is a big deal in our house.  We start the day by hosting a neighborhood Turkey Trot in our front yard that ends with mimosas and homemade goodies from all our friends.  Then we have to cut ourselves off from the mimosas so dinner will be ready before 10:00!

Visit www.thehouseofmacgregor.com to learn more about the hats and be sure to pop by this sweet mama’s shop – I know I’ll be making a visit soon!

Love,

Tuesday’s Tip: 5 Ways to use Beer in Summer Cooking

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Beer isn’t just something you crack open after a long, hot day in the Texas sun. Brews of all kinds can be used in your summer cooking, too! Here are a few ways you can use beer in recipes:

1. Use the can – We’ve all heard about beer can chicken. The steam from the brew adds so much flavor to the meat! Here is a great recipe for a beer-filled bird.

2. In marinades – A simple marinade loaded with flavor from your favorite beer can transform your everyday grilled steak into Dad’s new favorite recipe! This Beer and Brown Sugar Marinade sounds so tasty.

3. Add a dash to soup – From Beer Cheese Soup to Stout French Onion Soup, there are so many fabulous soup recipes out there that can be enhanced with a dash of beer!

4. For braising – Just imagine slow-cooking your favorite ribs in your favorite dark beer. Voila! These Stout-Braised short ribs  sound just right.

5. In cake – What better therapy than a great beer PLUS your favorite cake? You can use a delicious IPA to make the filling and the frosting and select a lower hop beer for the cake. This Lemon Beer Dream Cake is on our list!

Happy Cooking!

Love,

Pack up a Picnic

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Summer is a great time to get outside (before it gets too hot) to eat! We love to tailgate in the fall, but try to go on several picnics during spring and summer.  It’s a fun way to entertain friends and family in a beautiful setting (even if at a local park)  and enjoy some fresh air and fellowship all at the same time.  I don’t slack when it comes to preparing a table scape for our outdoor adventures.  I switch glass to plastic and a table cloth to a fun blanket.  I’ve included some of my favorite picnic essentials for you.  Enjoy your next meal outside, I know you’ll love the experience.

Dad MVP : Mr. Donavan

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I am so excited to introduce you all to Mr. Donavan, although I am certain many of you already know and love him as my family does. Lil Hatt has been enjoying learning from Mr. D for several years now and Coach and I love his ability to know and understand precisely the best way to reach and motivate each child individually. If you haven’t tried his services yet, I highly encourage you to check him out as soon as possible! We LOVE Mr. D at our house and I know you will too!

Hi! My name is Mr. Donavan and I am the President of  MR.DONAVAN Mobile Athletic Concepts. I help kids develop physical coordination, motor skills, social interaction and team play through fun activities, decision making, and following directions.

What is your favorite meal?   Chicken & Steak Fajitas

What is your favorite local Dallas restaurant? Ida Claire

What is your favorite kitchen/bbq gadget/tool? 3 way spatula

What is your favorite outdoor activity? Horseback riding

What is your go-to spice/sauce?  Tone’s Peppercorn/Black pepper & Sauce Sweet Baby Ray’s  original

What is your entertaining must have? AWESOME Music Playlist

Love,

Last Minute + Local Gifts for Dad

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We are keeping things simple and themed for our Father’s Day gift guide. Cooking, Grilling, Beer & Outdoors are the areas we’ve found gifts that can be found in and around Dallas with only 3 days left to shop!  We hope some of our picks are perfect for your Pop. Happy shopping!

 

Top Row (Left to Right) : one  |   two   |  three

Bottow Row (Left to Right) : four  |   five  |   six   

 

Ice Cream, You Scream!

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Summer is finally here and it’s the perfect time to get churning!! In addition to fresh, all natural ingredients, we have found several kitchen essentials that we recommend to make this process smooth & sweet!  Mrs. Gridiron is known for our homemade Ice Cream and we know you’ll love creating flavors of your own too!

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Mom MVP : Maegan Brown (aka: The Bakermama)

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Hi, I’m Maegan. I’m married to my best friend and fellow foodie, Brandon. We have 4 sweet (yet wild!) kiddos. I started The BakerMama in 2012 where I share easy delicious recipes, a glimpse into everyday life, and tasty travel adventures on my quest to find the best food wherever I go.

What is your favorite meal? That’s a tough one! I have so many favorite meals depending on the time of day and what I’m craving. My ideal day would include donuts for breakfast, a big salad for lunch and a charcuterie board for dinner!

What is your favorite restaurant? My favorite restaurant in Dallas right now is without a doubt Top Knot! Their Pisco Problemo is my favorite cocktail anywhere and all of the food is amazing! Our menu favorites include the yucca chips with edamame hummus, chicken karaage, crack broccoli, hot fried chicken bun, crispy rice nabe and all the desserts.

What is your favorite kitchen gadget/tool? Like most bakers, I don’t know what I’d do without my KitchenAid Mixer. I use it at least once every day.

What do you like to do to recharge your batteries? It’s amazing what a great workout (Les Mills Bodypump is my fave!) will do for my sanity and what baking a fresh batch of cookies will do for my soul.

What is your go-to hostess gift? I love to take homemade granola bars or muffins so they have something yummy waiting for them the next morning when they wake up after a long evening of hosting.

What is your entertaining must have? A great cake! Like the wise Julia Child once said “A party without cake is just a meeting.” And we don’t host meetings here at our house! 😉

What is your favorite holiday to host? We go to my parent’s house for most of the big holidays so we were thrilled to get to host them for Thanksgiving this past year. It was so special having it at our house and being able to prepare all of our family recipes along with some new ones we created that complimented the traditional menu so perfectly. Happy bellies, happier hearts!