Chinese Orange chicken stir fry

Best orange chicken stir fry.

1/2 Jar of orange marinade 

1-2 TBS Grated Ginger 

3 TBS Soy sauce

1/4 Cup Brown sugar 

2-3 TBS Sriracha hot chili sauce 

1 TBS Garlic 

Fresh or frozen veggies (I used frozen stir fry veggies) 

Chicken breast

(Test sauce before serving if needed add more)

Cut chicken into pieces, tossing into hot pan with a drizzle of olive oil. On low-medium heat Add veggies then put soy sauce, orange marinade, ginger, brown sugar, garlic, chili sauce on top then mix in. Put lid on cook for about 20 mins stirring occasionally. Veggies should be tender and chicken fully cooked if not cook a until done. Sauce should be a little thick if not it's okay it still tastes wonderful. Serve over rice. 

Apple Banana Bread

 I made this for Curtis to take to bishopric/ward counsel meeting today and got raving reviews. I have made this recipe before because Curtis like to have something besides just bananas in his banana bread and of course we can't do nuts so we have tried several recipes. He has always liked this one but I haven't made it for awhile because I was thinking that I needed baking apples and I just don't buy them much but I made it with gala and I think it worked just fine.

Apple Banana Bread
3 lg. ripe bananas 

1 c. sugar
1 egg
4 tbsp. butter, melted and cooled
1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp.  salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 apples, peeled and chopped into small pieces 

Cinnamon Topping:
1/4 c. firmly packed brown sugar
1 tbsp. all purpose flour
1 tbsp. softened butter
2 tsp. ground cinnamon

In a bowl, stir together brown sugar, flour, softened butter and cinnamon.

Directions
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Lightly grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan; set aside. In a bowl mash bananas; you should have 1 cup. Beat in sugar, then egg and butter. In another bowl, stir together flour, salt and baking soda; add to banana mixture and stir just until all flour is moistened. Add apples; stir just until well mixed. Pour batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle cinnamon topping evenly over batter.

Bake for 55 to 60 minutes.

I use a regular bread pan and a little bread pan, otherwise it bakes too high. I bake the little pan for about 25- 30 minutes.

Chocolate bunt cake with chocolate glaze

Chocolate bunt cake with chocolate glaze

I used a cake mix from a box then made the glaze. Remember bunt cakes take longer to cook then normal 13 by 9 pan. 

Glaze recipe

1 can sweeten condense milk

1 cup chocolate chips (I used milk chocolate)

1 tsp vanilla 

Combine sweeten condense milk with chocolate chips in a sauce pan over medium heat until melted. 

Remove from heat add vanilla. Mix well

Drizzle over cooled cake. 

Enjoy once cooled!

Spinach Chicken wrap recipe

Spinach Chicken wrap

1 chicken breast    Grilled
Romaine lettuce
Spinach wraps (I used Mission)
Blue cheese dressing or ranch
Feta cheese
Avocado
Tomatoes
Any other veggies



Spread Dressing all over one side of the spinach tortilla (wrap), place feta cheese, grilled chicken, romaine lettuce, tomatoes, Avocado (sliced), and any other veggies you want on top of the dressing on the tortilla. Fold in 2 sides then start at the bottom and roll upwards. Cut in half at a angle for fancy look.

Easy Lunch or Dinner and Healthy too! 

Crisp Baked Chicken nuggets

Homemade Crispy Baked Chicken Nuggets. This recipe is made with a blend of spices, panko bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese as its coating and baked to perfection. Kids love this recipe and you will too!

Ingredients

• 1 lb. boneless chicken breasts (or tenders), cut into small bite sized pieces (1/2-inch by 1-inch)
• 3 teaspoons canola oil
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon Italian herbs
• 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
• 1/4 teaspoon oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 3 tablespoons bread crumbs
• 2 tablespoons Parmesan cheese
• Cooking spray

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 450°.
2. Add the chicken with the oil followed by the salt, Italian herbs, garlic salt, oregano, and black pepper.  Massage the chicken with the spices thoroughly.
3. Add the chicken, bread crumbs, and Parmesan cheese to a zip top bag.  Seal the bag and squeeze the bread crumbs onto the chicken multiple times.
4. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray.
5. Lay the breaded chicken nuggets on the baking sheet in a single layer.
6. Spray the top side of the chicken with cooking spray.
7. Bake for 8 minutes on each side.
8. Serve immediately.

Easy Lemonade or Limeade

My husband and I had been working outside in the hot sun all day.  When evening came we sat on the porch to rest for a few minutes and he asked me if we had lemonade.  I knew we didn't have any frozen lemonade. I looked up some recipes on my phone.  I was finding recipes made with syrup (takes 24 hours), recipes that take 20 lemons (I had 4) and then I found this easy lemonade recipe.  I did modify it some to suit our tastes.  I can't wait until Mary makes this because she makes really good strawberry lemonade with mint.  I think it would be good with peaches or raspberries too.

2 medium lemons or 4-6 limes
4 cups water
1/2 cup sugar + however much you want to sweeten it.
Rinse and quarter the lemons or half the limes.  Pour it all on the blender and blend well.  I used the highest setting.  Strain the liquid into a pitcher and add 4 more cups of water.  Stir well.  Add more sugar if desired.  Also add your blended strawberries, raspberries or peaches now.

This makes really good lemonade.  I did read though that it is best if you drink it the same day.  Which certainly was not a problem for us!  We played Dominos with our daughter and her boyfriend and the lemonade went fast!

Potty training day 5

DAY:5 Scylla started to act more like her self this afternoon after her nap (hopefully her virus is going away) so I picked back up the potty training with out any pull ups or anything. As a reminder this is only at home she is bare bottom for the potty training. Getting her to stay on the potty long enough to go the first time was a task, I have been trying reading books, finger play songs, even the iPad. Today what worked really well was bubbles. Letting her blow them also me blowing them for her to pop. It took awhile the first time for her to go but once she did and got a surprise she was so happy that she kept going back to the potty herself. She went 3 times with only one accident between after nap and bed (3 hours). The last time I was in the kitchen making her little brother cereal and baby food when I asked her if she needed to go potty in which she ran off to the front room and sat on the potty. When I came out with his food to feed him (again we have been eating meals, playing, coloring etc, close to the potty on the floor so it's easier for her to stop what she is doing.) but I came back to the front room to her still siting on the potty. I began to fed her brother which during she decided she was done going potty so I continued to feed him. When I was done I had her and I look to see if she had went potty (I had not seen her go) but sure enough she had! Best part is she didn't care about the surprise she was to get for going potty. Almost like it's becoming second nature. I know we still have a long way to go but I think I'm going to continue this bare bottom idea at home until she is going more then interduce the panties again. One thing at a time. The important part is she is getting the idea. 

Potty training days 3-4

DAY 3: As you know yesterday was Easter so with all the excitement going on Scylla didn't have any interest in sitting on the potty or getting a surprise because she had Easter basket. We still tried but the morning was full of accidents then in the afternoon when we went to grandmas it was too hard to really do our potty training over there. We did have her sit on the potty a few times but she wore a pull up. Note to others don't start potty training with a holiday so close or big event.

DAY 4: Well Scylla started to run a fever last night and today it's still continuing with extreme grumpiness. So we are doing pull ups while she doesn't feel good because all she wants to do is cuddle not even play with toys. So I'll pick up back posting about this potty training adventure when she is better. Although we will not be putting her back into diapers at all and do pull ups with trying to take her potty when ever she can. So we aren't stopping the training but slowing it down. 

Potty Training

After days and days of my 28 month old (Scylla) taking off her diaper (during naps, bedtime, random times during the day. So payday comes around and I decide I don't want to spend the $40 on diapers from Costco (with two kids it costs $80 month on diapers). With Scylla showing signs (the biggest being taking off diaper) I decide its time to really potty train. Now for months I have been letting her sit on the potty here and there. Like a few days ago when she took off her diaper I put her on her little potty and a few seconds later she says "Look I did it" (oh she really only likes to wear dresses so taking off the diaper is something she can do quickly before I notice). This brings you up to speed on the potty training or the beginning stages.

DAY 1: Yesterday I start the day by having her go sit on the potty and put the training pants I have on her, telling her to keep them dry. Well before I left to go to the store about an hour later she had 2 accidents. Even though I would set a timer for every 15 mins. Leaving her with my husband while I ran out telling him to continue this on though we only had one more training pants clean. I came back to her in a diaper, due to another accident. We have been trying to say oh no accident and not react badly but put her on the potty then clean up the mess. I brought home another potty seat to go over the toilet so each bathroom had one and a step stool, and princess panties. Plus I took all of our change which was mainly pennies to the coinstar and got cash then went to the dollar store. I spent $15 on little toys bracelets, necklaces, rings, crayons, painting book, puzzles, ball, etc. Anything your child would like, I got a few parties favors but she will love them in the end. I showed her everything I had bought and told her while i was putting the prizes into a large gift bag that if she went potty in the potty she would get to pick a surprise. She was so excited about the idea of a surprise. After putting her in panties (washing of course) I continued to take her potty every 15 mins. I even put on potty signing time which she would want to go sit on the potty but still nothing. Accident after accident. By the time bedtime came around I was beyond worn out. Keep in mind my husband wasn't around after I got back from the store so I was not only potty training alone I was taking care of both my 5 month old and by stubborn 2 year old that by the end of the day was even refusing to sit at all on the potty. I didn't understand why before we really started to potty train she would go everytime she sat on the potty but now nothing!! I went to bed frustrated and feeling like I'm doing this all wrong.

DAY 2: Today I must admit when my daughter woke up at 6 am (she normally gets up at after 8) I was too tired to start then so I just changed her diaper. But by the time I was awake and it was time for another diaper change I put her on the potty and in panties. Accident after accident. Again taking her potty even 10-15 mins. How could we not have one success when we were going into the bathroom that often? Starting to feel like I live in the bathroom. Lucky my husband didn't leave until 12:30 pm to work. at 1:30 it was nap time which I put her in a diaper for. While she napped I researched again what I am doing wrong. I wasn't doing anything wrong it just wasn't working for us. So I decided to try changing things up. And I have read alot about putting the toddler potty in the main area of the house but I have not heard how its better then just having it in the bathroom thats a few feet away. But I decided to give it a try. I brought the toddler potty out to the front room where we spend most of the time, placed a towel under it so hopefully nothing yucky spills. Then when she woke up I showed her where the potty now was and had her sit on it. While drinking diluted juice (you want them to have to go pee pee alot so that they can learn to go in the potty). This time she stayed on the potty. After she was done, still nothing I left all bottoms off (I read that it makes it easier to go quickly until they get better with knowing when to go.) This time I had no timer but we sat on the floor eating a snack (close to potty) then a few minutes later I tell her lets sit on the potty. Finally a little bit of pee in the potty!!! I was so excited over that smallest amount it's crazy. We cheered, clapped, called her aunt, got a prize everything I could think of. Also when she went after the cheering we went into the bathroom dumped out the pee into the big potty and wiped then flushed while saying "bye, bye pee pee!" washed hands then picked a prize (the bag is in the bathroom so after all the steps she can pick her surprise).
She picked the biggest item of course which was paints and two Doc McStuffins boards to paint. We painted on the floor close to her little potty then after a few minutes I asked wanna sit on the potty and get another surprise? Answer "No". a few more minutes Asked again this time she ran over sat on the potty and really went alot this time! We kept this up until she had her bath for bed. We even ate dinner on the floor so that she was close to the potty which was good because during dinner when I asked about potty she went over and went potty. All together in the 4 hours we did things this way she went potty in her potty 5 times and only one accident which while she was going i rushed her to the potty (she stopped going while i moved her then started again on the potty) But she did not get a prize that time because it still was an accident which I explained to her and she didn't have one accident after that. She even ran over to sit on the potty while I was changing her brothers diaper and went potty with out me telling her to! Much better day for potty training. After bath I put her in a pull up telling her that the diapers were for babies and she was a big girl now. I even hid her size diapers where its not easy for me or my husband to get to so we have to keep this up.

Korean beef tacos

I made the most incredible dinner last night!! I was inspired by a show on food trucks and one had Americanized Korean food.  Here is what I did. 

  

Thin sliced beef (I have used carne asada meat which is tough. If using it marinate a long time or cook in the crockpot. The crockpot makes this super tender!  Keep in mind the meat is thin and they won't take long to cook for not really good for an 8-10 hour meal.)
1/4 c soy sauce
1-2 T sirichan hot sauce
1-2 t garlic minced
2 T sesame oil
1/4 c brown sugar
1T lime juice
1 Sliced onion
1/4-1/2 bunch cilantro chopped

Marinate at least an hour then cook.
You can grill, broil, or cook on the stove top
 I liked it broiled except it wasn't as caramelized.

More chopped cilantro and sliced green onions to top

Slaw
1/2 head Cabbage
1/4-12 c rice vinegar
2T soy sauce
1-2 T sirichan hot sauce
1 T sugar
1t minced garlic
Chopped cilantro

Mix together early and let it sit.

Southwest chicken salad

You have to try this wonderful salad! 

Lettuce (romaine is what I like)

Avocado 

Chicken breast marinated in lime juice

Can of black beans

Can of corn 

Can of diced tomatoes

Cheese grated

Green onions sliced

Tortilla chips (I like Fritos)  

Taco seasoning

Chipotle seasoning

Chipotle ranch dressing (optional)

Marinate chicken in lime juice then sprinkle chipotle seasoning lightly on top of the chicken before grilling. 

In small sauce pan add canned tomatoes with juices in the pan. Drain and rinse black beans and corn. Add to sauce pan with some taco seasoning, mix and heat on low while chicken is cooking. 

Set a side each item after preparing. Wash and cut lettuce. 

Cut green onions and avocado into pieces. 

Grate cheese. 

Crumb chips 

Slice chicken into bit size pieces when cooked. 

Assemble salad and top with salad dressing of your choice. I used chipotle ranch Caleb used blue cheese.

Chimichangas

1 lb cooked ground beef

1/3 c chopped onion 

1/3 c chopped bell pepper (optional)

1/2- 3/4 can of Refried beans

1 can El Paso sauce (Mexican tomato sauce)

1/2-3/4 c  cheddar or Mexican cheese

1 pkg/10 ct  flour tortillas

Add first five ingredients mix well and then add cheese mix well until cheese is melted. Take off burner. Heat oil in frying pan 1/2-3/4" deep. Put 1/4 c hamburger mixture on tortilla. Fill and fry until light brown. Top with shredded lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream. 

Easy Chicken Enchiladas

Amaya's new favorite and if you know who much Amaya eats that's saying something. She wants to start Chicken Enchilada Wednesdays.

3 cups chicken, cooked & shredded

1 cup sour cream 

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 

6-8 flour tortillas 

Sauce 

2 T butter

2 T flour

2 tsp chili powder

1 tsp salt

1 cup milk

Mix chicken, sour cream, & cheese in a bowl. Place a spoonful or two of mixture into each tortilla, roll up and place on a greased 9x13 pan 

In a saucepan over med heat, melt butter then add remaining ingredients. Stir until smooth and thickened. 

Pour sauce over chicken filled tortillas, top with cheese if desired. Cover dish with foil. 

Bake at 350 for 20-30 mins 

Carne Asada tacos in the crock pot

Best ever tacos made from the crockpot! 

Carne  Asada steak (I buy the thin meat from Costco and freeze a few slices in baggies then take one bag out when I need it)

Taco seasoning

1 can Black beans 

1 can diced tomatoes with chilies

1/2 cup salsa 

Combine everything into crockpot no need to unfreeze the meat. Cook on low for 4-6 hours. Serve on fried corn tortillas with any toppings you like on tacos.

Better then chicken tacos in the crockpot  

Sugar cookies

I was making some sugar cookies for Amanda's girls when they were spending a couple of nights with us.   I had found a Hello Kitty sugar cookie kit and wanted to make them. Amanda's girls LOVE Hello Kitty.  I rolled out the dough and cut out the cookies with the cookie cutter.  Well you know how the cookies flatten out while they are cooking, when I pulled them out of the oven they were pretty much shapeless.  I was holding the cookie cutter up to see if it even looked like it should and my brother said hey why don't you just cut it again now while it is hot.  So I tried that and voila it worked.  They turned out pretty cute I think!  Good idea huh!   Try it out.  

Dinner Ideas

I made a dinner idea calander. It has a main idea for every day. For example when it says chicken I can make BBQ chicken, chicken pot pie or chicken 

tacos. I then make my shopping list off of this. I am thinking I will laminate it and write what I plan for dinner on the box for that night. 

You can download a copy of the dinner idea calendar from Google Drive here: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0YSY_9a0yWFRjZqUzA4d2pNelE