Even MORE Good Food - Spring Chicken Roll-ups

I apologize if this is recipe overload...this is what we had tonight!


Spring Chicken Roll-ups

(I am just including the link, because I really didn't change much. I didn't have bacon or provolone...so I left out the bacon and used shredded mozzarella, and it was still delish!)

Good Food - Gingered Flank Steak

I realized after posting the Orange Chicken recipe it was probably wrong of me not to post my "Best Meal" ever after mentioning it...

Here you go. No explanation needed. And no excuses not to make it, as I have an entire meal laid out here for you.

Gingered Flank Steak
INGREDIENTS:
• 1 1 pound flank steak (I get this at Costco - you get two in a pack, and it's just as much work to make two when you're already making one, so I make one to have and freeze the other one. It is a great treat to know it's already in your freezer ready to go!)
• 1/4 c. soy sauce
• 3 T sugar
• 3 T ketchup
• 1 T bottle ground fresh ginger (I use Rachael Ray's technique of grating about a 1-1.5 inch piece of fresh ginger. Peel the other pieces and cut them into 1 inch pieces and freeze - then it's already set to go next time you need it...like for your Orange Chicken night)
• 1 T cider vinegar (I always use rice vinegar because that's what I have on hand...I think anything would work)
• 1/4 t ground red pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Combine steak and all ingredients into a zip-lock back. Marinate up to 2 hours. Grill for 5 minutes on each side (a little longer if using a grill pan - my personal favorite). Cut the steak diagonally across the grain into thin slices.

Sauteed Snow Peas
INGREDIENTS:
• Snow peas (or sugar snap work well, too!)
• Dark sesame oil
• Salt and pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Saute snow peas in a bit of olive oil and water. Toss lightly in dark sesame oil, salt and pepper.

Rice Noodle Salad
INGREDIENTS:
• 3 c. cooked rice noodles (thin)
• 1 c. cucumber, sliced
• 1 c. sliced baby carrots (optional)
• 2 T soy sauce
• 1 T rice vinegar
• 1 t sugar
• 1/4 t crushed red pepper

DIRECTIONS:
Combine rice noodles and cucumber. Mix other ingredients for the dressing. Pour dressing over noodles, toss well. Serve chilled.

Good Food - Chinese Orange BBQ Cashew Chicken

I always find that I never quite know where the line is to "overstay one's welcome." Last week Gary's mother was in town, and I think she felt that she crossed this line even before she came. However, as usual, by the end of the week we were all wondering where the time had gone and how was it already time for her to leave??

Muggs and I are constantly sharing little tips, tricks and recipes with each other whenever we are together. It is always fun to have someone to share your latest culinary delights and pick up new ones! In one of our many Barefoot Contessa-eque conversations, we were both exclaiming that much of our Joy of Cooking comes from how much we just LOVE FOOD. There is nothing better than taking a bite of what you've made and experiencing a little party in your mouth.

I have several recipes in the queue that elicit such sensations that I've been meaning to share...strangely enough most of my recent ones are all asian-inspired...but here's one that I made last night that Gary equated with my Ginger Steak, which says a lot, as he has claimed that my "Best Meal" to date. Not only is it delicious, it's healthy, easy and quick to make.

So here you go - my adaptation of Rachael Ray's Chinese Orange BBQ Cashew Chicken:
INGREDIENTS:
• 2 tablespoons canola or vegetable oil (or olive - I use olive oil for everything)
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, chopped into bite-size pieces (I cut up the chicken AFTER I cooked it - I felt like it kept it more moist)
• Salt and ground black pepper
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and thinly sliced (Add whatever veggies you have...I did a mixture of peppers, broccoli and carrots...anything would work!)
• 1 onion, chopped
• 2-3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or grated
• 1 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and grated (fresh ginger is key!)
• 1 tablespoon hot sauce
• 2 tablespoons tamari
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 1/2 cup orange marmalade (AT LEAST! - this is about 1/2 a jar...but I think you could add more if you wanted even more orange flavor)
• 1/2 cup regular or honey-roasted cashews
• 3 scallions, thinly sliced on a bias
**Note - the original recipe also calls for a 1/2 c. chicken stock. I left this out last night, as I felt like the time before the sauce was a little runny. If anything, leaving it out only intensified the flavors.

DIRECTIONS:
Place a large skillet over medium-high heat with 2 turns of the pan of oil, about 2 tablespoons. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. When the pan is very hot, add in the meat and stir-fry until golden brown, about 5 minutes. Remove the meat from the pan and reserve on a plate.

Add the veggies, onion, garlic and ginger to the skillet and stir-fry until tender, 3-4 minutes. While that’s cooking up, stir together the hot sauce, tamari, hoisin sauce, orange marmalade and stock in a small bowl.

When the veggies are tender, return the chicken to the skillet and pour the sauce over everything. Add the cashews to the skillet, toss to coat and continue cooking until the sauce thickens up, about 1 minute.

Serve the stir-fry over brown rice, garnished with scallions.

My only problem with this recipe is that even with leaving out the chicken broth I still cannot come up with that sticky, gooey consistency of "normal" orange chicken sauce. The flavor's there, but it is just like a runny teriyaki sauce. Please let me know if you figure this out!

She's Going to Kill Me for this Someday

This is a picture of the World's Second Largest Blowout.

The World's First Largest Blowout occurred today. Unfortunately I did not have my phone with me when I took her upstairs to change her. I say unfortunately for two reasons:
a) You would not believe it even if you saw it. It put the above picture to shame. Up the back, to her neck, in her hair, around the side, in her armpit...are you feeling nauseous yet? Because I definitely got the dry heaves. And she's not even eating vegetables yet!
b) I had no way of setting her down once the damage was discovered to make a phone call to COME HOME NOW.

Recently Maggie has taken to pooping ONLY when she's in her exersaucer. Which, for those of you without kids or without an exersaucer, is a guaranteed blowout. Meaning some days she is not allowed in it until night, and also that I continue to be more and more thankful for my new washing machine and Oxy Clean. Because both getting a lot of use these days.

This was one of those occasions that two things suddenly became very clear for me:
a) why God gave us TWO parents (although the necessity for at least one to work doesn't help a TON in this situation), and
b) the term SUPER MOM is definitely not overused or overrated:
After using at least half the bag of wipes, holding her up with one hand while simultaneously wiping and trying to balance her to keep her from grabbing the wipe packet (one of her favorite things), I recalled back to the Powder Puff days and tucked her under one arm while running down the hall and the stairs saying over and over, "Please don't pee. Please, please don't pee now." Then I had to clear out the clean dishes from the sink (15 pounds was starting to feel pretty heavy with one arm at this point), get the bathtub, fill it, forgot her towel - got that, and FINALLY the bath (a job in and of itself)!

I apologize if I've thoroughly grossed you out, and I'll put a dollar in Maggie's therapy jar for posting this - but I thought it would be good to post something on Life Lately since my updates have been on the low side for several months now.

Tonight? Carrots! (On a somewhat related note: we started oatmeal last week and as expected she is LOVING EVERY BITE.)

I think I'm going to go wash my hands now. Again.

Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow

While Sunday was a great day for everyone in general, there was one member of our family who had to deal with a hard life moment. It's true - after nearly 10 years of Halo-playing, guest accommodating and man-cave dwelling - the Futon is no longer here to scream, "My owners still have dorm room furniture!" to whoever walks by.
Don't worry. He'll get over it.

In the meantime, I am LOVING the reason the futon got displaced.

Easter

What a wonderful Easter Sunday! Slept in. Enjoyed sunny blue skies. Attended church, which was particularly meaningful and powerful today. (As it should be) Joined my family for Easter dinner at my parents' house. (Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE not traveling for holidays? Because it's awesome.) And now we are home, listening to the rain and thunder, watching the Tour of Flanders in our sweats. A good day.

Helping Dad enjoy his Easter treats.

With Grandma and Grandpa Wells. (Names TBD)

Reaching for the camera.

Take #21 of the "family pic." I now understand the difficulty of taking pictures with multiple children!


I purchased this dress with the intent of her wearing it for my sister's wedding in October. She is now finally wearing it over five months later! Little peanut!

With Auntie Hannah. Somehow we didn't get a pic with Auntie Laura. :(

Hannah with her (*ahem) artistic Easter Eggs.

April Fools

The weather has been amazing this spring so far. So great in fact that I haven't even found myself envying our AZ and CA friends as much as I normally do by this date. Today the temperature reached a record 83! We've all been enjoying taking advantage of being outside. Looking forward to the snow we'll most likely have next week.