What's for Dinner Wednesday~

Hello, hello...gosh, where has January gone?  Seems like yesterday we were all just ringing in the new year!

I have a few tasty recipes to share with you today.

Gluten Free Chicken Fried Rice-Gluten Free Living February 2015

Anyone who has gone gluten free will most likely tell you that one of the things they miss most is Chinese Food!  The February issue of Gluten Free Living featured several yummy recipes, but Chicken Fried Rice has always been a favorite of mine.  It did not disappoint, and my hubby loved the fact that the recipe called for green beans rather than the typical peas (he does not like detests them).

Chicken

Ingredients:

5 oz chicken, skinless and boneless

1 1/2 tsp gluten free soy sauce

1/8 tsp salt

1/8 tsp black pepper

1 tsp rice wine

1 tsp oil

1 clove of garlic, crushed and chopped

Fried Rice

Ingredients:

2 C water

4 oz green beans, cut into 1/2-inch pieces (we used frozen already cut)

2 TBS oil

1/2 onion, diced

1/2 yellow pepper, diced (we used green as the yellow did not look fresh at the store)

1/2 red pepper, diced

2 C cooked rice, about 10 oz

1 tsp oil

2 eggs

1 tsp gluten free soy sauce

3/4 tsp salt

Directions:

In a sauce pan, heat the oil and add the garlic and chicken.  Saute for 2-3 minutes.  Set aside.  In a small pot, heat the water to boiling and add the green beans. Cook for 2 minutes. Drain and set aside (I steamed the frozen ones in the microwave for a couple minutes).

In a wok (we used a large saute pan), heat 2 TBS of oil, add the onion and saute for 1 minute.  Add the yellow and red peppers and saute for another additional minute.

Add the rice and cook for 2-3 minutes, until heated through.  Push the rice and vegetables up along the sides of the wok (or outer edge of a saute pan).

Add 1 tsp of oil in the center of the wok (pan).  Crack two eggs in the center of the wok (pan).  Cook for 1-2 minutes, until the egg is nearly set.

Add the green beans and chicken and stir together.  Add the soy sauce and salt.  Serve warm.

Slow Cooker Potato and Corn Chowder

Recipe can be found here.  A delicious, hearty dish for a cold winter's evening.

Karina's Beef Stew

Recipe can be found here.

Another fabulous hearty crock pot dish.  Be forewarned, your kitchen will smell amazing!!  We used the Italian spices and it smelled/tasted so good.

And, last but certainly not least...another winner from Mike of The Iron You.  Mike's recipes are always simple and easy to prepare, but so full of flavor.

Buffalo-Style Pork Chops

The recipe can be found here.

I will leave you with some AMAZING news...those of you who have been praying for sweet Brooke, her cancer is in REMISSION!!!!!

She will be undergoing 12 radiation treatments in the following weeks, but this was such a huge blessing.  Continue to keep her and Jennifer in your prayers.

Enjoy!!

The Long Weekend~

Hi all.  Sorry I have been a bit MIA.  The hubby and I were "grand-dog/puppy" sitting over the holiday weekend for #1 while she was away. Whew, 5 dogs under one roof is exhausting. Fortunately, we have a HUGE yard for them to run in and tire them out!

Her one sweet pup has serious separation anxiety, and whimpers due to it.

I am proud to say however, that come yesterday we had broken him of the habit.  My #1 even called me after she got home to ask what I had done to her dog???!!!  You see, every time she used to leave he would whimper, then bark and whimper when she returned home until she let him out of his crate.  She had run to Target to pick a few things up, and came home to quiet!!  I just told her to call me "the dog whisperer", LOL.

And, yesterday was my sweet hubby's birthday.  He usually doesn't like a lot of fanfare, so I asked him what he would like for dinner and dessert afterwards.  Not surprised, he chose pot roast with mashed potatoes and Boston Cream Pie.

The pot roast and mashed potatoes were a no brainer for me.  Grass-fed Sirloin tip roast, beef stock, onion-quartered, and spices (onion powder, garlic powder, italian seasonings-trust me it is so good, salt and pepper).  Brown the roast on all sides, and then place in crock pot.  Add broth, onion, and spices.  Cook on Low about 7-8 hours.  Melts in your mouth!!  He said it was the best he'd ever had.

Now, as far as the dessert goes, the last time I had made Boston Cream Pie was ages ago and not gluten free by any means.  Knowing my cooking skills back then it was most likely out of a box.

I googled looking for a recipe and found this one. It was easy to prepare, and we had all but 3 ingredients already in our pantry and frig.

Oh man, it was delicious!!

All in all, hubby said it was the best birthday dinner he'd had to date.  Mission accomplished.

I hope to share several other yummy recipes we tried last week tomorrow on "What's for Dinner Wednesday".

Reflections~

Have a Blessed Sunday!

What's for Dinner, a Friday Addition~

Hubby and I made a pot of yummy Spicy Asian Chicken and Noodle soup last night for dinner, and after posting pics on IG, several wanted me to share the recipe.  This has become a favorite, especially when fighting a cold and stuffy nose, that I was surprised I had not already shared it with you all.

Spicy Asian Chicken and Noodle Soup
from Cooking Light Ultimate Chicken Cookbook magazine

Ingredients:

3 C fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 C water
1 1/2 C shredded rotisserie chicken breast
1/2 C grated carrot (about 1 medium)
1/2 C thinly sliced snow peas (we omitted as hubby does not care for them)
2 tsp Sriracha (hot chili sauce, such as Huy Fong)
2 tsp lower-sodium soy sauce
1 1/2 tsp Thai red curry paste
1 (2-inch) piece peeled fresh ginger
6 C water
3 oz uncooked wide rice sticks (rice flour noodles) *we prefer the narrow
1 Tbs fresh lime juice
1/4 C fresh mint
1/4 C fresh cilantro
1/4 C thinly sliced green onions

Directions:

1. Combine the first 9 ingredients in a medium saucepan.  Bring to a simmer, keep warm
2.  Bring 6 cups water to a boil in a large saucepan. Add rice noodles; cook 3 minutes. Drain. place about 1/4 cup rice noodles in each of 4 bowls.
3. Discard ginger. Add lime juice to broth mixture; stir. Ladle 1 1/3 cups broth mixture over each serving; top with 1 tablespoon each mint, cilantro, and green onions.

*Hubby likes to cook the soup mixture with the herbs and green onions in it, as he finds the flavor is better.

Hope you are staying warm!!

What's for Dinner Wednesday~

My hubby

and #2 LOVE Baked Potato soup, and this recipe did not disappoint.  We made this while #2 was home for the holidays.

The recipe is from my Cooking Light Gluten Free Cookbook.

(again, excuse the not so great picture, my Iphone was my quick grab throughout the holidays)

Ingredients:

2 1/2 pounds baking potatoes
4 slices bacon
2 1/4 C chopped onion
1/2 tsp. salt
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 bay leaf
3 3/4 C 1% low-fat milk (we use Lact-Aid)
1/2 tsp. black pepper
1 1/2 C fat-free, lower-sodium chicken broth
2 TBS chopped fresh parsley (optional)
1/2 C sliced green onions (again we omitted since #2 cannot eat them)
1/2 C (2 1/2 oz) finely shredded reduced-fat sharp cheddar cheese

***be sure to check all ingredients if cooking Gluten Free.

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 400*.
2. Pierce potatoes with a fork; bake at 400* for 1 hour or until tender. Cool slightly. Partially mash potatoes, including skins, with a potato masher; set aside.
3. Cook bacon in a Dutch oven over medium heat until crisp. Remove bacon from pan; crumble.  (give some to the dog with the big brown eyes who has been staring you down) Add onion to bacon drippings in pan; saute 5 minutes.  Add salt, garlic, and bay leaf; saute 2 minutes.  Add potato, milk, pepper, and broth; bring to a boil.  Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes.  Discard bay leaf.  Stir in parsley, if desired.  Top individual servings with bacon, green onions, and cheese.

Hubby says the key is to cook a little extra bacon and add some to the soup while it is simmering, then top with a bit more when serving.  The more bacon the better, right?!!!

Kylee, a year of pictures and memories~

Most of you know that we have a 3rd child, our baby girl, however 4-legged.  She is the princess of the group and the life of the party.

 So innocent...

Snow storm 2014!

tastes like ice cream!

I prefer the comfort of a leather chair and cozy throw.

Mom...you are slacking on making my hair appointment!

Yertle...my favorite turtle!

Yes, even my crate is comfy cozy!

I make a great water color print, if I do say so myself.

Imitating my "grandpa"...zzzzzzz

Check out my snazzy tie-dye bandana!!

Just try and say no...

Okay, so baby blue leopard print is not exactly camo!

You are going down bruiser bear!  Go Baylor!!! Sic 'em.

Being me is tiring!

Bruiser and I are best buds before a big game.

What?  You don't sleep like this?????

Humiliating, enough said!

Now, this is camo at it's finest!

Thanksgiving, and my finest bandana!

"What you talkin' bout Willis"?

Do you want to eat a snowmen???

This holiday stuff is tiring.

The girl does enjoy the finer things in life!

She is such a joy to have around.  Makes our nest seem a little bit less empty.

First Reflections for 2015~

I pray everyone had a fabulous and safe New Year's Eve/Day.  Hard to believe we are already to day 4 of the new year.  My oldest turned 25 yesterday!!!

As you are reading this, I am driving baby girl back to Texas for her final semester at Baylor.  How did that happen??????  While we are so very proud of all she has accomplished, and in 3 years I might add, it is a bit bittersweet.  It is kinda like she and her sister's senior year  in high school...you know each event you attend is the last (at least this time I don't have to cry over it being her last homemade lunch packed...I can't go through that again :-(  We plan to make many more lasting memories in the next few months before she takes that BIG walk across the stage to receive her diploma.

I found a few quotes or words to "think" upon for the New Year, and thought I would share them with you all.

Have a fantastic and blessed week everyone!

Happy 25th Sweet Girl~

Wow...that one is hard for this momma to digest!  A quarter of a century.  REALLY?????  Not sure if it is her age or the fact that it means I am that much older.

This one has been a blessing from day one, our first.  A feisty go getter from day one!  The girl was running at nine and a half months for goodness sake.  That should have been our first clue.  Not to mention, she could talk up a storm and would engage anyone willing to listen.  Her dad would say she inherited that annoying habit gift from her mother.

I love that this one, despite a degree in Communications/Public Relations, a minor in Marketing and now a teaching certificate, still calls me MOMMY!!  I think it is quite funny that many of her current high school students refer to her as mom, mommy, mother, at the ripe old age of 25.

You continue to make your dad and I proud!  You are a beautiful example and role model to your students who so desperately need someone like that in their lives. Someone who truly cares and listens.

May God bless you richly this year sweet girl.  We always did say, go big or go home!

Love,
Mom, Dad, Kate, Kylee and Toby too!

Happy New Year, and My Word for 2015~

Happiest of New Years to each of you!  I pray each of you is blessed beyond measure in the year to come.

Years ago, I would make a list of resolutions like many do prior to the New Year.  And like most, they lasted all of about a month or two (if that long).  So, a few years back I decided to pick just one thing, a word, to concentrate my efforts on.  Past words have included simplify, intentional, and "be" still.

This year's word is THINK.

Think...why yes, we all have to think. I know.

¹think

 verb \ˈthiŋk\

: to believe that something is true, that a particular situation exists, that something will happen, etc.

: to have an opinion about someone or something

: to form or have (a particular thought) in your mind

But, it is much more than that.

This year I want to really think...

Think carefully.
Think positively.
Think before speaking.
Think before acting.
Think before judging.
Think outside the box.

Blessings for a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year my friends!!  May God Bless you richly in 2015!!