Half way through the week people. I think we can do it. Just wishing our life away five days at a time. We are all still trying to get used to this time change. And when I say all…I do mean all. Gracie just wasn’t having it this morning.

I have been cooking up a storm in my kitchen. Pretty much every week night I come home and create something for Chris and I. I try to make the meals as healthy as possible, but every once in awhile….you gotta have a little fun! Today I want to share with you one of my “take out at home” recipes. I love Kung Pao Chicken and fried rice from Chinese restaurants, but I often worry about the MSG and other such products that tend to be lurking in their food more often than not.

This is what you will need:

For the Chicken:

1 lb chicken breast, cut up in inch size pieces
1 tbsp Cornstarch
1 tbsp sesame oil (you may find you need more)
chopped green onions
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 tsp of crushed red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp of powdered ginger
2 tbsp rice wine vinegar
2 tbs soy sauce
2 tsp sugar
sesame seeds
crushed peanuts (I just use cocktail nuts)

For the rice:

2-3 cups of  day old brown rice (depends on how much left over you want, I usually use brown minute rice and cook it a day or two before and leave in refrigerator until I am ready to use it)
2 eggs
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup of mixed frozen veggies (I buy a bag with peas, carrots, green beans and corn)
1/4 cup soy sauce
sesame seeds
2 tbsp sesame oil

What you do:

Getting every thing done at the same time can be challenging at times, so I like to get prepped first. I get out all ingredients and set on counter. I start with chopping my onions, and setting a side. Then cut up the chicken breast. If you prep, it makes this a lot easier and more fun!

Toss the chicken breast with about a tbsp of cornstarch, maybe a little more…just make sure the pieces are mostly covered.

I use a small wok for the chicken, and a very large wok for the rice. Get the sesame oil in both. In the large walk, heat the oil then add your onion and garlic for a few minutes. Then add in the veggies.

Once the veggies are defrosted, push to one side and cook your eggs.

While the egg is cooking, heat up your small wok with sesame oil. Add chicken.

Once your egg is fried, add in the rice, soy sauce and sesame seeds. Just keep stirring until heated through, and ready to serve.

Combine the soy sauce, sugar and vinegar in a small bowl and set aside.

Once your chicken is cooked, push to the side and add green onion, garlic, red pepper flakes, and the powdered ginger to the wok. Let heat for a few seconds, then add in the soy sauce mixture and stir everything together. Add in peanuts and a tsp of sesame seeds. Heat thoroughly.

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION: 

This is a tough one. There are so many life lessons to learn. I think the most valuable one for me so far, has been that you simply can not please everyone. I still struggle with this every day, but I am getting better. I have learned that you just need to do the best that you can. Sometimes your best will not be good enough. Sometimes, no matter how hard you try, you are going to disappoint someone. There are always going to be people that do not like you.

I stress myself out so bad just trying to please every person in my life. It is something that shouldn’t stress you out. It hurts my feelings so bad if I know someone doesn’t like me, or I did something wrong when I tried so hard. However, that is life.

I think when you accept that some times things don’t change, and you learn to let go….you will be much happier.

This weekend has been….eventful…to say the least!

Let’s start with the happies! This weekend was the Alabama Blogger’s March Blate. Joy is so precious, and she opened her beautiful home for all of us to meet. We had a great lunch, and wonderful conversation. I am so glad I got to know everyone a little better. There were a few girls that couldn’t make it, and they were very much missed!

I am also attempting to start my own little window seal herb garden. I started with Basil and Cilantro. I will see how I do with these, and if I can keep them alive…I may add a few more! I got these kits at Target, and they were just $1!

Sunday morning is always a fun time to make a big breakfast!

The dogs were enjoying the sun Sunday morning. Got to love a little sunbathing in the back yard!