Three Great Salad Recipe Websites

You might know how to prepare a basic Greek salad or a classic Caesar salad, but what about one with fried garbanzo beans? Have you ever thought of adding quinoa to your salad? If your salads need a bit of updating, these creative recipe websites can help.

Oprah.com
Oprah’s wonderful website is packed full of delicious recipes, but the salad tips are truly one-of-a-kind. Browse 45 fresh and healthy salad recipes for every occasion, from hearty, main course salad dishes to appetizer salads for summer gatherings. The Shaved Fennel and Grapefruit Salad is tangy and tart, while the salad with prosciutto and goat cheese perfectly complements Italian food.

101 Cookbooks
This stylish website offers a number of unique salad recipes for inspired lunches or dinners. The Avocado Salad doesn’t seem like much of a salad at all, with sliced, buttery avocados arranged over a bed of lentils, but its abundance of nutrients and low calorie content make it just as healthy. 101 Cookbooks features a variety of other bowls, dinner salads and side salads with ingredients that are much more creative than your usual lettuce.

Better Homes and Gardens
If you’re looking for modern updates to your favorite salad recipes, Better Homes and Gardens is just the place to look. They feature the very best ways to prepare herb salads, pasta salads and steak salads, and they’re so delicious that they might even feel new again.

Public Domain/Public Domain

Northshore Park: A Beautiful Gathering Spot

Northshore Park is one of the most popular spots in The Woodlands, and it's easy to understand why. This seven-acre park, situated on Lake Woodlands, has served as a central gathering spot for more than 20 years. From late spring until early fall, the park hosts free concerts on Sunday evenings, and the music ranges from jazz to The Beatles to country. The park is also the launching point for the annual Dragon Boat Race.

It has a playground for the kids, barbecue pits, picnic tables, a volleyball court, and soccer fields. You can bring a boat or kayak and sail around the lake, and kids will enjoy feeding the ducks and other birds that flock to the park. Northshore Park is also a popular spot for sport fishing.

Northshore Park
2505 Lake Woodlands Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77382
(281) 210-3900
woodlandsevents.com/parks/panther-creek/northshore-park
Read the reviews on Yelp.

The Blue Mug Cafe: Casual Dining at Its Best

The Blue Mug Cafe is a fast-casual eatery serving breakfast and lunch. You place your order at the counter, and you're given a beeper that will alert you when your food is ready. Regulars note that the owners of The Blue Mug also own the poplar Black Walnut Cafe, so you can expect the same high-quality food and service.

One of the top dishes is the bruleed French toast, and once you taste it, you'll see why. The bread is extra thick sourdough, and it's grilled and then baked until it's golden brown. It's topped with powdered sugar, a medley of nuts, and the cafe's house-made bourbon amber maple syrup. The French dip sandwich also gets rave reviews. Diners note that the portions are generous, so you should expect to have some food to take home to Avana Woodridge.

Blue Mug Cafe
30420 FM 2978
The Woodlands, TX 77382
(281) 292-2583
bluemugcafe.com
Read the reviews on Yelp.

Painting With a Twist: Unlock Your Inner Artist

Painting With a Twist has an interesting back story. After Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, friends and Louisiana natives Cathy Deano and Renee Maloney thought their neighbors could use an activity to help them de-stress. They started holding painting classes and encouraged the budding artists to bring their own wine. Eventually it blossomed into Painting With a Twist, which now has 81 franchise locations, including one in Spring, near The Woodlands.

Bring your favorite bottle of wine or other beverage, invite some friends, and a professional artist will walk you through how to create a painting, step by step. All of the painting supplies are provided. If you don't have any painting experience or artistic leanings, that's okay, because the goal at Painting With a Twist is to simply have fun. And who knows, maybe you will be happy enough with your final result that you will want to hang it on your wall!

Painting With a Twist
570 Sawdust Road
Spring, TX 77380
(281) 465-4995
paintingwithatwist.com
Read the reviews on Yelp.

5 No-Bake Desserts to Satisfy Your Sweet Tooth

Sometimes you crave a sweet dessert after your evening meal, but digging out pans and preheating the oven just seems like so much work. If you want to create a tasty, creative dessert dish without messy baking, no-bake recipes are a convenient alternative.

You can make just about any type of treat with a no-bake recipe, from cookies to bars to candies. These five recipes are also perfect for last minute dinner parties or those times when the kids need a snack for school with little advance notice.

Double-Chocolate Mascarpone Raspberry Pie [Better Homes and Gardens]

Creamy Frozen Lime Pie [Recipe Lion]

No-Bake Snickers Caramel Apple Pie [Fox News]

Cookies & Crème Pudding Pops [Kraft]

Strawberry Freeze [Kraft]

Shop, Eat, Take a Spin on the Carousel at The Woodlands Mall

In need of a little retail therapy? Treat yourself to a shopping spree at The Woodlands Mall, a mall boasting both indoor and outdoor shopping areas. Anchored by Nordstrom, Macy's, Dillard's, JCPenney, and Forever 21, this mall offers a wide variety of retailers and specialty stores. Think Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Coach, Vera Bradley, Williams-Sonoma, Fossil, and many more.

The mall is clean, and dining options are available. If you have children in tow, take them for a ride on the carousel located on the second floor. Parking can be a challenge here, but valet service is only $5, cash. The Woodlands Mall is open Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sundays, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Woodlands Mall
1201 Lake Woodlands Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 363-3409
www.thewoodlandsmall.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-woodlands-mall-the-woodlands

People Watch at Market Street in The Woodlands

Spend an afternoon browsing at Market Street, an outdoor shopping center with a downtown feel right in The Woodlands.

Window shop at upscale and specialty stores like Tiffany's, Lululemon, Tommy Bahamas Michael Kors, and J. Crew. Many shoppers enjoy people watching while indulging in ice cream from Red Mango or Cold Stone Creamery. There are plenty of full service dining options as well including Cru Wine Bar, Jasper's, and Grotto.

On warm days, the kid-friendly splash park attracts families, and as the days turn cooler Market Street exudes holiday charm with lights, decorated trees, creative window displays, and even horse drawn carriage rides!

Market Street
9595 Six Pines Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 419-4774
www.marketstreet-thewoodlands.com/default
www.yelp.com/biz/market-street-the-woodlands-the-woodlands

Amerigos: Classy Italian Food in The Woodlands

For nearly twenty years, Amerigos has offered fine Italian dining in The Woodlands. Chef Arturo Orsorio has been with the restaurant since its opening in 1994 and has received numerous accolades, including being named as one of Houston's top 10 chefs in 2006 by H-Texas magazine. Combining locally sourced ingredients and quality imported goods, the menu features many seafood options. Try the most popular dish, Linguine Pescatore, with a medley of shellfish tossed in a sherry cream tarragon sauce and served over handmade pasta.

In addition to fresh fish, there are several steak, veal, and chicken dishes, all of which get equally rave reviews. With its classy, fine-dining ambiance, Amerigos is fitting for a romantic date as well as a business lunch. The full bar boasts an impressive wine list; savor your meal over a bottle of Sauvignon Blanc while taking in sounds of the piano bar entertainment. Meals can get a bit pricey, but generous portions will satisfy any appetite

Amerigos
25250 Grogans Park Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77380
(281) 362-0808
http://amerigos.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/amerigos-grille-the-woodlands

Unique Muffin Recipes You Can Bake at Home

From blueberry to chocolate, muffins come in an endless assortment of flavors for just about any occasion. Whether you’re looking for a nutritious breakfast treat or a sweet dessert, these unique muffin recipes will show you a number of different ways to make your favorite baked goods.

Easy Morning Glory Muffins
Rise and shine with these hearty, flavorful breakfast muffins. Full of shredded carrots, apples, and raisins and accented by crushed walnuts and spicy cinnamon, these easy-to-make muffins make a delicious treat to have with coffee or to toss in your bag when you’re late for work.

Apple Pumpkin Muffins
Perfect for cold weather seasons (or any other time of the year, for that matter!), these sweet apple and pumpkin muffins are filled with two of the most popular flavors. The warm, rich taste of pumpkin combined with the tangy sweetness of apple creates a flavor that is just perfect in muffin form.

Ginger-Lemon Mini Muffins
With a uniquely spicy zest, these mini muffins are better for pairing with tea than your usual coffee. The spice of ginger and the tartness of lemon create a sophisticated flavor that make this muffin recipe perfect for serving at a fancy party or giving as a gift to you foodie friends.

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Black Walnut Café: Happy Hour So Nice, They Do It Twice!

A regional chain known for its fast food-meets-sit down dining concept, Black Walnut Cafe has several area locations, including The Woodlands. Order at the counter before filling your drink and choosing your own table. This relaxed, self-service concept is convenient for those looking for a quick and casual meal. Black Walnut Cafe's cozy ambiance and classy decor make it an inviting spot to sit a while and enjoy a snack.

100 menu choices range from small bites to full size entrees, with many salads, sandwiches, and pasta. Try the Fish Tacos or the Grilled Cheese Burger — a beef patty between two grilled cheese sandwiches. Breakfast is a favorite at Black Walnut Cafe; stop by for the morning happy hour from 7 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Monday through Friday, for deals on breakfast favorites and cocktails. (Happy hour gets an encore from 3 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.) If you enjoy a late brunch, the breakfast menu is served until 4 p.m. on weekends. Don't pass up the fresh baked goods and gelato!

Black Walnut Cafe
2520 Research Forest Drive
The Woodlands, TX 77381
(281) 362-1678
http://www.blackwalnutcafe.com
http://www.yelp.com/biz/black-walnut-cafe-the-woodlands

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