When we plan a giveaway, we always ask ourselves what moms really want and need most. When it comes to relationships, sometimes what a mama needs most is to get the heck out of the house.

Let’s face it: It’s often very difficult to shift out of “mama mode” and into “romance mode” when you’re literally surrounded by things that remind you that you’re a mom — a high chair, a pile of laundry, a stack of bills, school backpacks, or a Diaper Genie staring at you from the corner. Sometimes what we and our relationship need most is a change of scenery and time to re-connect.

So, with that in mind, we’ve partnered with Aloft Hotel in Rogers to give one very lucky mama and her sweetie a night away from home, a.k.a “parenting headquarters.”  You’ll get to spend the night in the very swanky, very hip Aloft Hotel and then enjoy a free breakfast the next morning. Nice, huh?

(Your night away doesn’t have to happen during Valentine’s Day weekend. You can pick the night that works best for you.)

Plus, we’re sending you to dinner across the street from the hotel at the popular and posh Crabby’s restaurant — a favorite of seafood lovers in Northwest Arkansas.  The dinner comes courtesy of our friends at NWARestaurants.com.

After dinner, you can use the two free movie passes we’re giving you to go see a show at any Malco movie theater you like. You pick the movie, the date, the time, etc. It’s all very flexible. (FYI: Did you know the movie Valentine’s Day, which includes actors like Julia Roberts, Bradley Cooper, Jennifer Garner, Taylor Swift, Taylor Lautner, Jamie Foxx and Patrick Dempsey is opening this Friday? Might be a good choice for your free tickets. Click here to see the movie preview.)

Sure you could technically bring your kids with you to the hotel if you really wanted to. But we’d recommend sending them on a sleepover with friends or asking Grandma to come visit for the weekend so you could use the time away as an in-town vacation with the one you love. Can you just imagine the number of “awesome wife points” you’ll earn if you win this thing and surprise your husband? He’ll think you’re a rock star.

If you don’t have a sweetie right now, no worries. You can still throw your name in the hat and use this getaway as a fun grown-up girls’ slumber party with a great friend.

So… anybody interested? Yes? Good.

Here’s how you throw your name in the hat: We love, love, love publishing nwaMotherlode.com and dreaming up all these cool, fun giveaways. But, honestly, none of it would be doable if we didn’t have local sponsors. So, we’re hoping you will “show us the love” by showing our sponsors the love. They’re the ones who help us make all the giveaways happen, and these are generous, mom-friendly people who run good companies. In fact, most of them are parents themselves.

To enter the drawing, click on the word “comment” below and post a short thank-you note to any or all of the sponsors on the list you see here. If you use one of these businesses, say so and tell us what you like about them. Or just let them know you appreciate their support of a local mom-focused website like this one. You can also e-mail your comments to us at giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com.

INCREASE YOUR ODDS: For decades, moms have told other moms about things they like. So we’re asking you to keep the cycle going. If you tell your friends/family about this giveaway or website via e-mail, we’ll give you an extra chance to win for every person you tell. Just be sure to put giveaways@nwaMotherlode.com on the CC line of your e-mail so we can give you proper credit.

Share the love with these sponsors:

• Mercy Health System of Northwest Arkansas
• Walton Arts Center
• Aloft Hotel
• Hedberg Allergy & Asthma Center
• Bordinos Italian Restaurant
  
• Jump Zone
• Metro Appliances & More
• Hull Dermatology
• First Security Bank
• Flooring America by Carpetsmart
• MJW Photography (Melinda Worthington)
• NWARestaurants.com
• I.M. Spa
• Oh Baby Foods
• Kate Austin Jewelry & Gifts
• Northwest Orthodontics
• Drs. David and DeAnne Witherspoon Optometry
• Pinnacle Chiropractic & Family Wellness
• Katherine Arkell, child, adolescent and family therapist
• Melody’s Choices
• All About Her
• Underwood’s Fine Jewelers
• NWA Family Video
• Big Brothers Big Sisters

Click on our new comment button below to post a comment and enter the random drawing!

We want to know what you’d like for Valentine’s Day this year! Click on our Cheez Quiz jar below to vote for your favorite answer and to see how your fellow mamas are voting. Here’s the question:

Which of the following would you prefer to receive for Valentine’s Day?

• A massage or other spa services
• Flowers and chocolate
• Something sparkly
• Some time alone (while Dad takes care of the kids!)

Click on the Cheez Quiz jar to select your answer! Have a great week!

Our friend Jennifer Lewis has shared a mouth-watering menu with us today that’s sure to impress your dinner partner on Valentine’s Day — or any day!

Jen is a mom of two and owner of Fresh & Fabulous Entertaining in Fayetteville, which focuses on the fine art of cooking and entertaining. For more information about taking a Fresh and Fabulous class with Jen, call her at 871-4139.

Now on to the menu!

Shrimp with Red Pepper and Tomato Sauce

Jen says: This recipe makes a great starter or main dish. If using as a starter, just use less shrimp. The sauce is incredible and could be used on chicken or other seafood. Make sure you buy large or jumbo shrimp. I like to get mine from Sam’s Club. 

Serves 4

Red Pepper and Tomato Sauce:

1 T unsalted butter

2 large red bell peppers, seeded and chopped

1 large tomato, seeded, and chopped

1 T chopped fresh chives

1 T chopped fresh dill

juice of ½ lemon

salt

white pepper

Shrimp

2 T unsalted butter

T Olive Oil

1 large shallot minced

1 t of red pepper flakes

fresh chives for garnish

Red Pepper Sauce: Melt 1 T of butter in a large skillet over medium-low heat. Add bell peppers and tomato. Cook covered until peppers are soft, about 20 minutes. Transfer bell pepper mixture to a food processor. Puree until smooth.  Add chives, dill, and lemon juice. Process again. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm or put in refrigerator and reheat later.

Melt 2 T butter in large skillet with Olive Oil over medium heat. Add shrimp, shallots and red pepper. Cook, turning, until shrimp turn pink and are cooked through. Will only take a couple of minutes. Put sauce on plate, place shrimp on sauce and use two long strips of chives to make an X over the shrimp.  Have some bread on the side.

Asparagus with Chardonnay-Black Caviar Cream Sauce

Jen says: The cream sauce really makes this dish. I love the caviar on it, but if you are not a fan of caviar then it can be left off. I buy my caviar at Richard’s Meat Market. It’s $9 for 2 ozs and you will have enough to make two recipes of asparagus. This would go lovely with the shrimp or as a side for steak.

Serves 4 to 6

2 pounds of Asparagus

1½ T unsalted butter

1 ½ T vegetable oil

3 large shallots, finely chopped

1/3 C  Chardonnay

2 t lemon zest

1 ½ cups of heavy cream

1 ½ t dried parsley

2 ozs black caviar

Blanch the asparagus in a large pot of boiling salted water for 2 minutes.  Drain and rinse with cool water to stop it from cooking. Pat dry.

Heat butter and oil in a saucepan over medium heat until the butter is melted. Add the shallots and cook until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the wine and lemon zest. Simmer for 3 minutes. Add the cream and parsley.  Simmer for 15 more minutes, until thick. Pour sauce over the asparagus. Sprinkle on the caviar and serve immediately.

Decadent Chocolate Cake with Raspberry Coulis

Jen says: This chocolate cake is flourless and is pure bliss. The raspberry coulis is perfect for Valentine’s Day and is absolutely divine with the cake. This will be the perfect way to end your evening with the one you love.

Serves 6 to 8

For the cake:

8 ozs of good quality (Ghirardelli) semisweet baking chocolate

 8 T unsalted butter

¼ cup sugar

4 eggs separated

1 t vanilla

¼ t salt

1 T dark brown sugar

For the Coulis:

12 ozs fresh raspberries (reserve some for garnish)

2 T sugar

rum or orange liqueur

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

In a medium saucepan, melt the chocolate and the butter. Stir over low heat until smooth. Stir in the sugar until dissolved. Remove from the heat. Let the mixture cool slightly. Add the egg yolks one by one, mixing well after each addition. Stir in the vanilla. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, beat egg whites with the salt until foamy. Add the brown sugar. Beat until the soft peaks form. Fold the whites into the chocolate mixture. Pour the batter into a buttered 9-inch cake pan. Set the pan inside a larger pan filled with boiling water about halfway up the sides of the cake pan. Place in the center of the oven and cook for about 30 minutes.  Do not over cook. When a toothpick inserted in the center of the cake comes out clean, the cake is done.

While the cake is cooling, prepare the coulis. Puree the raspberries and sugar in a food processor. Strain through a fine sieve and stir in the liqueur. Pour the coulis on a small plate for each person and put a slice on the cake on each plate. Garnish with extra raspberries. Heaven!!

Thanks to Jen Lewis, owner of Fresh & Fabulous Entertaining, 871-4139.