Monday!! :) (Chicken Fried Rice)

Not a bad day for a Monday..  Was able to get 5 planograms done in Accessories,  yes it is Transition time in my wonderful department again..  I set some of the cutest, brightest handbags ever today..  made me happy..  :)  Talked to my bff Kimmy on the way home.. I love talking to her..  so very much..  then walked into 2 very happy puppies..  Dylan is doing so much better than she was a week ago..  the meds and homemade food has helped her so much..  so very worth my time and effort..  :)  I didn't have dinner planned out in my head so decided after I got home to make Chicken Fried Rice..  so quick and yummy,  quick thanks to my wonderful Rice Cooker..  Love it..  and yummy because,  well it's Chicken Fried Rice.. what's not to like..

Chicken Fried Rice

4 c cooked rice

3 medium carrots, diced and  cooked until tender crisp
1 pkg frozen peas
olive oil

1 onion, diced
1 large chicken breast, diced
soy sauce
Fried Rice Seasoning

In a saucepan cover carrots and cook over medium heat until tender crisp,  pour the frozen peas in a strainer and pour the carrots over, draining completely..  In a large stockpot heat the olive oil until hot and cook onions until tender crisp,  add the chicken and cook about 5 minutes,  adding soy sauce after a couple minutes.  add the peas an carrots and toss around to heat.  add the rice, more soy sauce and the seasoning and stir well..  Serve hot..

Finally Cold!!! (Broccoli Cheese Soup)

So finally we are seeing some cold weather..  YaY!!!  We get to use the fireplace..  I love the fireplace..   I have decided that I am going to put maybe a small mirror over the fireplace surrounded with different pictures.. I am going to make it a focal picture wall..  paint it a metallic brown and use black picture frames..  I am sure that Samantha will be featured the most..  :)   She is just so darn cute..   I am also excited about the possibility of snow flurries tonight..  I came home from work wondering what I am going to make for dinner tonight..  and decided quickly on Broccoli Cheese Soup..  I cheated and used some leftover Broccoli with Cheese Sauce from Saturday's dinner that was just sitting in the fridge..  we paired the soup with some French Bread and we were all very happy..

Broccoli Cheese Soup

1/2 to 1 pkg frozen broccoli cooked in water with either chicken or beef bouillon cubes..
3 tbsp butter
3 tbsp olive oil
6 tbsp all purpose flour
salt and pepper
the reserved water from the broccoli plus enough added milk or cream to make 8 c.
8 oz shredded cheese or velveeta

In a large saucepan heat the butter and oil until butter is melted,  add the flour and stir together..  add salt and pepper and cook for a couple minutes over medium low heat..  stir in the water/milk/cream mixture slowly, stirring as you add..  add the cheese and stir until melted..   cook about 10 minutes until bubbly.. ( I cheated and used about a 4 oz countainer of leftover broccoli with velveeta cheese sauce from Saturday's dinner.. I added it after the milk mixture and stirred it in before adding the cheese.. and then only added 4 oz cheese..)  it was yummy, quick and very filling..

Is it January?!?!?!?! (Spicy Peanut Noodles with Chicken and Stir Fry Veges)

So this is January of 2012,  feels like March or April..  Are we going to have a winter??  I want to use my fireplace more..  I want to wear my sweaters, jackets, cardigans and boots more..  I need a little more cold air,  a little snow would be nice too..   We have been having bi-polar weather the whole month.. keeps going back and forth.. just can't make up it's mind.. Everything is going great with the house.. we are still LOVING it..  still love sitting in my living room watching the birds make little piggies out of themselves..  so cute though..  love watching them.. 
Have had a couple issues with the house,  but nothing to drastic,  first issue was a couple days before Christmas and I had a pan soaking that I had made caramel in and pouring it out to put in the dishwasher.. then I heard a splash and my blood ran cold..  I opened the cabinet under the sink and there stands water.. ugghhh..  the pipe from the garbage disposal and the sink had came undone..  so I asked a friend what he knew about sinks and he came and fixed it..  still have to fix the wood underneath and we are all good..  eventually I plan on redoing my kitchen..  Needneedneed an island..  badly..   A couple days ago I came home from work,  open the freezer and there is ice covering everything.. so I called and they sent someone out today..  seems I have a leak,  but they didn't fix it..  pried the layer of ice out of the bottom and said if it happens again to call back.. and I already called back,  waiting on them to call me..  I just hate when men look at a woman and think that maybe because she is blonde that she isn't very smart..  grrrr.... 
I know I haven't blogged a lot this year,  and I am going to try to do at least 2 blogs a week with one new recipe and an old favorite of the family..  Life keeps getting in the way of me doing things that I love,  and I am going to stop letting it..  so be on the lookout for my blog posts and if I don't hold up my end of the bargain,  then I give you permission to call me out on it.. 
Tonight I am making Spicy Peanut Noodles with Chicken and Stir Fry Veges.. something the girls have been begging me to make for a while..  tomorrow or Friday I will make up a list of food for the next 2 to 4 weeks for dinners and make out my shopping list for this weekend.. If I have some free time I might post the list,  ingredients and some of the recipes..  we will see..  I have also being obsessed with Pinterest.. love it.. getting lots of great ideas for food, crafts and the house..  :)  Will probably be incorporating some of those ideas also.. 

Spicy Peanut Noodles with Chicken and Stir Fry Vegetables

Olive oil
2 chicken breast, sliced and cooked
1 onion, sliced
1 bell pepper, sliced
1 pkg stir fry vegetables
1 pkg whole wheat thin spaghetti, cooked to al dente and drained.. reserving 1/2 to 1 c pasta water
1 c peanut butter
4 tbsp reduced sodium soy sauce
4 tsp minced garlic
3 tsp chili sauce,  hot sauce
2 tsp minced ginger
about 1/4 c honey


In a large skillet heat the oil and cook the chicken until done,  can add a little soy sauce, honey and ginger while cooking if desired..  add a little more oil and cook the onions and bell peppers for a couple minutes,  add garlic and stir fry vege's,  cook until crisp tender..
In a large bowl mix the peanut butter, soy sauce, garlic, chili sauce, ginger and ginger,  stirring well to combine,  add to the chicken and vegetables in the skillet and cook.. add 1/4 c of the pasta water and continue stirring,  continue adding 1/4 cup at a time until desired thickness..  toss with the hot noodles.. 

Wednesday Afternoon!!! (Mexican Wedding Cakes, Lemon Coolers, Snickerdoodles, Chocolate, Peanut Butter, Walnut Cookies(aka Boo's cookies), White Chocolate, Orange, Cranberry Cookies, Foolproof Fudge)

Boo and I are home..  the funeral was nice..  I am pretty tired,  but have so much to do still and need to get it done,  so I made a fresh pot of coffee,  looked every where for my favorite coffee cup and have no clue where I put it..  I will find it eventually.. so I am using my enormous mug that holds like 5 normal cups of coffee..  it's definitely a 2 hander.. and I am baking the Mexican Wedding Cakes..  I haven't made these in years..  Lin,  the nail technician that does my pedicures asked about these types of cookies,  so especially for her I whipped up a couple batches of the dough last week and stored them in the fridge..  now the first pan is on the oven baking..

Mexican Wedding Cakes

1/2 c butter
1/2 c shortening
1 1/2 c powdered sugar
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2c all purpose flour
1 1/2 c chopped walnuts..

In a mixing bowl cream the butter, shortening and sugar, add the salt and vanilla and mix well,  add the flour 1c at a time..  stir in the walnuts and wrap dough in plastic wrap and then place in a plastic bag.. store in refrigerator..  to bake:  take dough out and form into 1 inch balls,  place on a parchment lined baking sheet and put in the fridge for 20 minutes.. bake in a 325 degree oven for 20 minutes.. remove and while still warm roll in powdered sugar,  cool and roll 1 more time.. store in airtight container..

Lemon Coolers

1 c butter, softened
2 c sugar
2 eggs
2 tbsp lemon extract
zest of 1 lemon
2 2/3 c flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

In a mixer cream the butter and sugar,  add the eggs 1 at a time and mix well after each.. add the lemon extract and zest and mix well.. add the baking powder and salt,  add the flour 1 c at a time..  wrap dough in plastic wrap and place in a ziploc bag and refrigerate..  to bake roll into 1 inch balls and bake in a 350 degree oven for 9 minutes.. roll on powdered sugar when still warm.. store in airtight container..

Snickerdoodles

1 1/4 c sugar
1 c butter, softened
2 eggs
1/4 c light corn syrup
1 tbsp vanilla
3 c flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

In a mixer cream the sugar and butter, add the eggs and corn syrup and beat well,  add the vanilla, baking powder, baking soda and salt,  mix well.. add the flour 1 c at a time..  wrap in plastic wrap and then place in a ziploc bag and refrigerate.. to bake,  roll into 1 inch balls and roll into cinnamon sugar.. place on parchment lined baking sheets and bake in a 350 degree oven for 9 to 11 minutes.. cool and store in an airtight container..

And a break from cookie baking to make a little something for dinner.. Omelettes and Bagels..  :)

Dinner was wonderful,  now back to another batch of cookies..

Chocolate Chip, Peanut Butter Chip, Walnut cookies or Boo's Cookies

1 c butter, soft
1 cup shortening
1 c brown sugar, packed
1 c sugar
2 large eggs
1 tsp vanilla
4 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 pkg semi sweet chocolate chips
1 pkg peanut butter chips
1 1/2 c chopped walnuts

Cream butter, shortening and sugars,  add eggs one at a time,  add vanilla, baking soda and mix well,  add the flour 1 c at a time until mixed well,  add the chips and walnuts,  wrap in plastic and place in a ziploc bag and refrigerate.. to bake,  drop by rounded tbsp onto a parchment lined baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees for 9 minutes..  cook and store in an airtight container..

White Chocolate, Orange, Cranberry Cookies

1 c butter
1 c shortening
1 c brown sugar, packed
1 c sugar
2 eggs
zest of 2 oranges
4 c flour
2 tsp baking soda
1 pkg white chocolate chips
1 pkg dried cranberries

In a large mixing bowl cream the butter, shortening and sugars,  add the eggs and mix well,  add the zest and baking soda.. mix and add the flour 1 c at a time..  add in the white chocolate chips and the cranberries,  wrap in plastic wrap and store in a ziploc bag in the fridge.. to bake..  drop by rounded tbsp onto a parchment lined cookie sheet.. bake in a 350 degree oven for 9 minutes.. store in an airtight container

Foolproof Fudge

1 can sweetened condensed milk
3 c semi sweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp salt
1 c walnuts (optional)

In a saucepan melt the chocolate chips in the milk,  when complete melted take off heat and add the vanilla, salt and walnuts and beat until shiny.. pour into prepared square pan( line pan with foil and spray with cooking spray)..  refrigerate until set,  cut into 1 inch squares..