Bueller? Bueller?

Ferris Bueller's Day off is an iconic movie of my era so to see Matthew Broderick in this commercial doing Ferris is great.  Such a great commercial.

The Only Expectation

Crockpot Chinese Chicken

I found this recipe via Pinterest too but it was on several places and slightly different ingredient and amounts. So I just kind of improvised on the amounts. This was a recipe when I looked at the ingredients I went really - ketchup?  But it worked. It doesn't taste like ketchup and honey in the end. It just has a slight sweet oriental flavor but it is hard to tell where that flavor comes from exactly. Michael LOVED this - he was saying  "more please" - instantly after eating a serving of it. He said he wants me to make it again soon.  We did also notice that the flavors got even better the next night.  It was really good the first night but it was even better with the second night. 

1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts (or thighs work too - it ended up being 2 LARGE chicken breast to make a pound and it made several meals for us)

3/4 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup diced onion
1/2 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon olive oil (could also use vegetable oil or canola oil)
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 teaspoon Sriracha hot sauce or red pepper flakes (doesn't really add heat, just adds more flavor)

Directions:
Put chicken into crock pot. In a small bowl, combine honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and hot sauce/pepper flakes. Pour over chicken. Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours or on high 2 to 3 hours, or just until chicken is cooked through. Shred chicken. Stir to combine with sauce. Replace lid and cook for 20 to 30 mins or until chicken is coated. Serve over rice or noodles.

NOTES:
I served with rice that I tossed with some steamed peas.  This doesn't make much sauce so if you are wanting more - I would I think add some chicken broth towards the end with some cornstarch to thicken it and mix with the other sauce already in there to get flavor.

click on the title of the post and then click the print button

Print Friendly

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. a lot of new recipes that I have been trying and liking
2. tea
3. a fun afternoon at Angelo's Pottery and Glass Studio - paint your own pottery. Michael and I had a lot of fun painting a gift for a friend. Definitely something we want to do again.
4. snail mail - a friend sent us a package of some treats from Trader Joe's - something we don't have in GJ and not even in Colorado although I suspect with Ikea in Denver now - Trader Joe's has to be soon.
5. music - cleaned quite a bit this week and just having music to clean makes the job easier

Etta James

Taco Cups

I found this recipe on Pinterest. The orginal recipe, which I really didn't change except in my notes, is on Plain Chicken. These were really easy to make and they were a nice change from tacos or my usual Mexican dishes. I can see these might make good appetizers or party food. I served with a big green salad and it was just a good dinner. 

Taco Cups


1 lb ground beef
1 packet taco seasoning
2/3 cup water
1 can black beans, drained
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
36 wonton wrappers
your favorite taco toppings - salsa, cheese, sour cream, lettuce, tomatoes, etc
cooking spray

Preheat oven to 375.

Brown the meat in a skillet and drain off fat. Return the meat to the skillet; add the taco seasoning, water and black beans.  Mix and simmer for 7-10 minutes, until water is absorbed.

Spray 18 regular muffin pan cups with cooking spray.  Place one wonton wrapper in each muffin cup.  Divide half of the taco meat between muffin cups.  Sprinkle half of the cheese over the cupcakes.  Repeat layers - wonton, taco meat and cheese.  Bake at 375 for 20 minutes, or until cheese is bubbly and wontons are golden brown.  Top with your favorite taco toppings.




NOTES:
* I actually made 20 so I don't think I filled them all quite as full as maybe I should have but they all were still very full.


* I find that wontons wrappers can dry out quickly so I did 6 at a time. I put 6 muffin tins with the bottom layer of wontons, filled them meat mixture and then added the next wonton layer topping with the meat layer and cheese. Then moved on to the next 6 so that the wontons wouldn't dry out.  



click on the title of the post and then click the print button

Print Friendly

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. fun stickers to put on packages and snail mail
2. Michael surprising me with fun paper clips - I love office supplies!
3. Hershey Chocolate Kisses
4. library books
5. clean sheets on the bed

Give Thanks

Take a few moments each day to be in a state of appreciation for the immediate surroundings that you call home, regardless of how grand or humble they might be. Give thanks to those who provide this home, to those who share it with you, and for the blessing of a shelter. In turn, do whatever you can to assist those in our world who do not have a home whether it be a service financially, spiritually, or physically. ~ Dr. Wayne Dryer

Walk Off the Earth

Brene Brown

Brene Brown is on Smart People podcast.  From their website: "Perhaps no other journey is as important as trying to figure out who you are and who you want to become.  However, as with most things in life worth their salt, you gotta eat a lot of pepper to figure it out. You will learn a better description of what shame is and how it creeps into all of our lives.  You will realize that EVERYONE has their insecurities, everyone has the same worries as you and it’s ok to embrace these insecurities and learn from them.  When you walk into a room full of people that you don’t know, does it feel like everyone is looking at you, judging you? Well don’t worry, because they aren’t! We will discuss different guideposts such as letting go of what you’re supposed to do, perfectionism and fear that have been established over years of research." 


As always she says what I was needing to hear. 

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for....
1. the colds Michael and I had finally leaving
2. being able to go with Michael on a day trip even though it was for his work
3. new mittens Michael bought me with a flap so I can use my fingers when getting into my bag or texting
4. just time with Michael on the road - some of my favorite memories are of us talking and enjoying the scenery on road trips and this last one was the same.
5. it being Friday

Meetings

We had a really good time for the holidays. Meeting my niece was a highlight of the trip.  She walked while we were there. On Christmas Eve I was sitting in the family room and I had a brightly colored package of kleenex - the little purse size pack. Chloe saw all those bright colors and wanted it so walked to me to get it. It was quite a few steps and it was a moment I am sure I won't forget. It was so amazing to see her taking those steps when she is just walking - to know she can get that thing in my hand just by going over and getting it.

It was just fun to see how her mind works. Wondered though what she was thinking. But just so happy to see smile and laugh.

After we left Minnesota, we met a friend on our way home. We had a great time - wonderful talks and laughs. She is an amazing person and I was just so happy to be able to sit in the same room and talk with her. She is going to come visit us out here in a Colorado. Michael and I can't wait to show her around our beautiful state.

All Alone

Gratitude Friday

I am thankful for...
1. snail mail from good friends
2. phone calls with good friends
3. my therapist - she is leaving the office I go to but I really appreciate all she has done for me since I started seeing her.
4. soup - we have had so many different kind of soup since being home because it tastes good with the colds we have going on
5. not having to go out when I don't feel good

Create Solutions, Not Resolutions

"Achievement is still the goal, but ironically, you only get there by letting go of the need for it." from TinyBuddha.com  I really like the affirmations listed in this post. 

Regrets

I can't get this TED.com video so embed into my post. It shows up sometimes and yet at other times it doesn't. So just linking it - Kathryn Schulz - Don't Regret Regret in case you can't see it.




YES. This has been my view on regrets for as long as I can remember. I often get a lot of grief from people when I say I have regrets. From the video: "If we have goals and dreams, and we want to do our best, and if we love people, and we don't want to hurt them or lose them - we should feel pain when things go wrong. The point isn't to live without any regrets - the point is to not hate ourselves for having them." AND "Regret doesn't remind us that we did badly - it reminds us that we know we can do better."

Pink