Chicken Pad Thai

I decided to try to cook Thai food and searched multiple recipes to find a method to make my own version. I wanted to make it extra lean and load it up with veggies.

First I bought the noodles-it comes with a sauce packet, too.

Here's a list of ingredients I used-mix and match as you wish:

3-4 Large chicken breasts, cubed

*I often add a dozen shrimp or some organic lean chicken sausage*

1 egg

Olive oil-1 TBS

Prepare noodles per package instructions-I let noodles sit in the water while I prepare the rest.

Brown the meat in olive oil in an extra large fry pan or wok and set aside

Crack egg into pan and scramble

Add Vegetables:

1 cup raw spinach leaves, torn

1 cup broccoli slaw

1/4 cup shredded carrots

1/3 each of diced bell peppers-I use red, orange and yellow

1/2 yellow onion, diced

1 small bunch of fresh asparagus-I use the tips 

6-8 Basil Leaves, chopped (approx)

2 TBS chopped fresh cilantro

1 small lime, cut into wedges, if desired

1/4 cup fresh pineapple, chopped

* Can add water chestnuts, mushrooms or whatever you like-can also omit any of the ingredients-you should make it however your family will eat it.

I saute all veggies (stir fry) and add back in the meat. 

I add extra sauces while cooking (you may do without or use less or more-according to your specific taste) :

1-2 TBS Sriracha Sauce, to taste

2 TBS Fish Sauce

1 TBS Hoisin Sauce

2-3 TBS Soy Sauce

Once vegetables are done to your liking-add in the noodles and the sauce packet from noodle kit, and stir all together. Squeeze a lime wedge on top, if you wish. 

Enjoy! It's delicious!

CHRISTmas lights and cookies

Two of our CHRISTmas traditions include looking at Christmas lights and baking/decorating sugar cookies. Thought I would share a few pictures with you. Another thing we do annually is visit a Mexican food restaurant that puts up tons of tinsel and lights. It is festiveness at its finest! LOL 

After we eat dinner, we go look at lights. We also pile the family into a large SUV or VAN and go see lights on Christmas Eve....this year was particularly special because we got my dad and my brother in law to go with us! It was EPIC! We sang Christmas carols loudly and had a wonderful time making family memories! 

My hope is that you and your family will enjoy traditions of your own-if you don't have any-feel free to incorporate ours or simply start your own! 

The restaurant:

More lights:

Cookies!

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas every year!

Deck the Halls Installment #5: Crazy Kitchen

My favorite colors since I was a little girl have been purple and pink. I love them! When I tried to come up with a theme for my kitchen, I went with my favorite colors and tossed in some Gingerbread items for good measure.

I use battery operated garlands with a timer for the cabinet tops with pink ribbon woven throughout. I bought a large purple polka dotted ribbon to add to them next year.

Looks like I am ready to make the traditional iced sugar cookies soon!

Deck the Halls Installment #4: Living Room Garland and Nativity Scene

I was shopping with my mom one year and happened upon a beautiful, ornate Nativity Scene at Sam's Wholesale Club. My sweet mom bought one for me, and one for her home. We put it out every year. I love it because it reminds me of her, and also because it is the prettiest one I have ever scene. The outfits on the figures are ornate and detailed and made of fine fabrics. The camel is one of my favorite pieces, as well. :)
I added an angel from my angel tree to the set, because I thought it needed one.

I updated our mantle decor this year, as well. I have a very heavy, large garland that I now place on top of my mantle and let it hang down both sides.  I used to hang it from the mantle with nails-it was hard to do and then you had to fill in the holes afterwards. Why don't we think of better ways to do these things right away? LOL
This year, I added gold deco mesh to the garland and a new animal print ribbon from Garden Ridge. The ribbon matches my two giraffe inspired fabric chairs in that living room, that I just love. I also added clusters of oversized gold ball ornaments, which made a nice impact. I opted not to hand the matching wreath above the fireplace this year, and just let the garland make the statement instead. I am a big fan of reindeer, so the golden ones adorn the center of my mantle.

Deck the Halls Installment #3: There's a story behind this tree...

There's a story behind this tree.....I had been admiring a tree full of golden angels at Garden Ridge one year and had decided that if it were on sale after Christmas, and if I had any money left over,  I would try to buy it.

Luckily, I received $200 that year as a gift. So, very early on December 26, I waited outside the store in the cold with other bargain shoppers waiting for the doors to open. Once they did, I rushed to "my" angel tree, stood guard and looked for an employee, who was nowhere to be found. I ran around the store and located one and told him I wanted to buy the tree, decorations and all. He got a manager, because I wanted to buy it as it stood, lock, stock and barrel for a mere $200.

Somehow, I convinced the manager to accept my offer, if I would be responsible for "un-decorating" it myself, which I gladly did! While the store's employee disappeared to find a box for me to use, I had to keep multiple customers from taking ornaments off of my tree! Hahaha..I bet I was a sight! When the employee finally returned, I excitedly placed the treasured angel ornaments into an empty cardboard box, placed the tree on a flatbed cart, paid for my find, and proudly took it home. This 7.5'  tree came with gold ribbon, gold plastic beaded garland and more gold angels than I cared to count. I was thrilled! (It does have a gold tree skirt, but I have a dog who insists on peeing on our tree skirts, so I don't put them out!).

 I place this golden covered gem in my entry every year. When I divorced in 1999, my soon to be ex-husband demanded possession of my tree in mediation. Needless to say, he did not get it! Unfortunately, over time, lights began to go out, and a well meaning friend bent the tree pretty badly one year while helping me put it away. So, I replaced the original tree with a 9 footer. Over the years, I have added new ribbon and a few ornaments, but, basically, it still stands proudly in our hallway, greeting our guests and reminding me that every once in a while, you can find a real bargain that not only makes your home more festive, but also has an interesting past. Just like me!

Deck the Halls Installment #2: Red and White Candy Cane Tree

We love to decorate for CHRISTmas and one of our trees is red and white with Candy Canes, Santas, and such. It's a flocked tree and makes quite a mess when setting up, so I suggest you invest in a tree bag to store it in, if you have one.
Here are some pictures:

To get this look, I added C9 white twinkle lights from Decorator's Warehouse in Texas, red and white striped deco mesh, red and white striped ribbon, red glitter ribbon, red ball clusters, red and white balls, red and white candy lollipops and ribbon candy, peppermint sticks, berries, assorted picks, and stuffed Santas with other assorted ornaments.
For the window, I added several flocked garlands with the same deco mesh, balls and assorted ornaments.
The effect is a pretty tree. Enjoy the holidays!

Deck The Halls!!!!

CHRISTmas is a BIG DEAL at our home!

It's our favorite time of the year and we love everything about it! We decorate just about every room in the house-with trees in every room, complete with garlands, Santas, Reindeer, a beautiful Nativity Scene and more! I will be blogging several posts about the season. This one will focus on how to deck your outdoors for a fabulous Christmas!

This year, I decided to go with blue, my son's favorite color . I upgraded to mainly all LED lights and added battery operated wreaths and garlands, to boot.

Here's how I began:
I hung garlands across the top of the garages and tucked in blue deco mesh followed by ribbon.

Then, I added clusters of blue balls and snowflake lights and glittery snowflake cut outs from Target.

Above the front door, I used a large garland around the perimeter and tucked in blue deco mesh along with a pretty shimmery silver sheer fabric.

Then, I added the same blue and silver ribbon, large snowflakes and clusters of balls to finish.

For the wreaths, I did the same-and added a large bow out of the ribbon.

All in all, it has turned out well so far.....more to come!
Enjoy the holidays and remember: Jesus is the reason for the season!
:)