Monthly Archives: February 2012

Moo Shu Chicken (A long awaited post for some of you!)

Sorry ladies, here is the famous Moo Shu Chicken recipe. I have to say that while it was very good, I'm not a huge mushroom fan. So I can't say it's my favorite. But for some of you, it'll be the best! This recipe comes from America's Test Kitchen chicken cookbook that I borrowed form the library. Without further adieu…

Serves 4

(Shredded carrots, bean sprouts, or thinly sliced bamboo shoots can be stirred inthe the pan with the cabbage.)

1/3 C chicken broth preferably lower sodium or homemade.

6 T Hoisin sauce

2 T soy sauce

2 teas non-GMO cornstarch (organic)

2 T coconut oil (or vegetable oil)

8 oz shiitake mushrooms stemmed, wiped clean and sliced thin

3 garlic cloves minced or pressed through a garlic press

1 T grated fresh ginger

2 Cups shredded or thinly sliced cooked chicken

12 oz cabbage washed, cored and shredded (about 4 cups)

5 green onions sliced thin

8 (6") flour tortillas or mandarin pancakes

  • Mix the broth, 2 Tablespoons of Hoisin sauce, soy sauce and cornstarch together in a small bowl and set aside. 
  • Heat 1 T oil in a 12 inch non-stick skillet over high heat until just smoking. Add the mushrooms and cook until lightly browned, 4 minutes.
  • Clear the center of the pan and add the remaining 1 T oil, the garlic and ginger. Cook, mashing the mixture slightly until it's fragrant. About 30 seconds. Stir in the chicken, cabbage, and green onions and cook until the cabbage begins to wilt, about one minute.
  • Whisk the sauce to recombine and add it to the pan, bringing to a simmer. Cook until the sauce thickens and the mixture is hot 1-2 minutes.
  • Meanwhile warm the tortillas and serve tortillas with the chicken and the 4 remaining tablespoons of Hoisin Sauce. 

Enjoy!

Meal Plan Monday

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So my mother is coming today. Since we always look forward to cooking together, I have quite the list of meals selected that I'm planning on letting my mom choose from, although I do have a slow cooker recipe planned for tomorrow. Enjoy the list and please feel free to comment if you'd really like to see any of these recipes published here on the blog.

Monday- Slow cooker Chicken and (soaked) Quinoa

Rest of the weeks choices. Whatever doesn't get picked will end up on the menu next week…

  1. Apple and Walnut stuffed pork chops with green beans or roasted broccoli.
  2. Minimalist Roast Chicken with Lentils Madrid
  3. Chimi churri steak sandwiches on sourdough rolls
  4. Vegetarian Quinoa Chili
  5. Spicy Meat Chili
  6. Artichoke and Sun Dried Tomato stuffed chicken breasts
  7. Tender skewered beef
  8. Mexican Chicken lasagna with black beans
  9. Ground Turkey Enchiladas
  10. Hunan Pork and Zucchini Stir Fry
  11. Maple Glazed pork Roast

A Beautiful Letter…Repost from Raising Homemakers

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This came to me this morning in email, and I thought I'd re-post it for you all to enjoy. It really struck a chord with me. Both in the desire I have to see my children create successful marriages, but also as a reminder to myself about my own marriage. 

"Dear Children,
Should the Lord give you the good gift of a husband or wife, and I hope He does, there are a few things I want you to know. Things that you may not hear from anyone else, and certainly not on TV or other media. Sadly, your church may not even tell you.
Marriage, sweet little people, is not for the purpose of your happiness. Happy as I want you to be and hope you will be, you must yet understand that marriage is God’s design and His purposes must be pursued in order for you to be truly happy. His end is holiness and He will use all things in a life devoted to Him to fulfill that end.
To my girl:
Marry a man whose first pursuit is Christ. After that, he is not hard to please. Admire him, cheer him on and show gratitude, and he will fall over himself trying to please you. Smile often, speak well of him always, and do whatever necessary to try and maintain a pleasant mood about you so that it transfers to your home, making it a place where he and your children love to be.
You’ll have bad days of course, crying days even, and that’s when you go to your bedroom, kneel on the floor and beg the Lord to carry you. Then get up, get a fresh perspective (crayons will come off the wall), and try again. Above all else, make a home.
To my boy:
Marry a woman whose first pursuit is Christ. After that, she may be hard to please only if you don’t know “the secret”. What is that? I’m glad you asked. The secret to pleasing your wife is to make her feel safe and treasured. You may have to move out of your comfort zone to do this at times. She won’t always readily translate the oil change to love, though it means that. But let me give you a “secret question”–a question you need to ask her often. It’s not just in the asking, though. Be sure to focus your eyes on hers, maybe even touch her shoulder or face, and then ask: “What’s on your mind these days? “ And then be ready to listen. She wants you to draw her out. She will perceive this as your protection over the matters of her heart. Tenderness, listening, protection. That’s what she wants.
To you both:
If your wife or husband does something really stupid, forgive. If they do it again, forgive again. Forgiveness must be the propelling force in your lives each day. Dwell on the strengths, push out thoughts of their weaknesses. Take every thought captive–choose to love.
Here’s that part you are not going to hear often:
If you find yourself “not happy”, having lost attraction, disinterested, etc., you are not permitted to even think about a divorce. If you find yourselves arguing more and more, don’t think for a minute that “the children will be better off out of this”, because they won’t.
The vows you took on your wedding day were not suggestions. They were covenant vows, before a Holy God, family and friends, to stay with this person the rest of your life, even if you don’t feel like it. You swore a solemn oath and if you can’t live up to it, don’t get married. Decide up front that your marriage is irrevocable. There is far more motivation for getting along if your “marriage house” has no door.
Do not share intimate thoughts or feelings with anyone of the opposite sex. Do not find yourself alone for any length of time with such either.
Divorce is not a “private option”. It will affect multiple families for many generations. When you “separate what God has joined” you permanently injure far more than just yourself.
Guard your marriage as fiercely as you would guard your own life. Treat your spouse as an extension of your flesh, just as God sees you. Treat your spouse like other family members. You know, “you gotta love ‘em, they’re the only family you’ve got”.
I want you to be happy, I surely do. But I will pray for you to be holy."