Gung Hei Fat Choy...from our family to yours!!!
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Monday, January 23, 2012
COOK IT UP MONDAY!!!!
Cold Peanut Soba Noodles With Chicken
- Recipe
- Ratings & Reviews(8)
Photo: Cold Peanut Soba Noodles With Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 12 ounces soba (buckwheat) noodles
- 1 cup frozen shelled edamame
- 1/2 cup peanut butter
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar (not seasoned)
- 1 tablespoon soy sauce
- 2 teaspoons grated peeled ginger
- 1 teaspoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon Asian chili sauce (such as Sriracha or sambal oelek)
- Kosher salt
- 1 cup shredded rotisserie chicken
- 1 cup diced cucumber
- 1/2 cup chopped scallions
Directions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the soba noodles and edamame and cook as the noodle label directs. Reserve 1 cup cooking water, then drain the noodles and edamame and run under cold water until cool.
Whisk the peanut butter, vinegar, soy sauce, ginger, sesame oil and chili sauce in a large bowl. Add 1/2 cup of the reserved cooking water and whisk until smooth. Add the noodles and edamame, season with salt and toss to combine (add more cooking water to loosen, if needed). Divide among shallow bowls and top with the chicken, cucumber and scallions.
Per serving: Calories 652; Fat 25 g (Saturated 5 g); Cholesterol 57 mg; Sodium 1,446 mg; Carbohydrate 78 g; Fiber 5 g; Protein 38 g
Friday, January 20, 2012
The whole truth and nothin' but the truth.....
And guess what I did? I felt guilty about not doing what I had said I would. Felt like I kinda set myself up for failure..and that everyone would judge me.
I recently passed on a link on FB that was so powerful, I now see it being spread amongst many of my mom friends. It's called "Don't Carpe Diem" and it is such an insightful article..and SO NEEDED!!
Read it HERE...and then come back!
I have a tendency to look on the bright side of things...remain somewhat unruffled by kid stuff...and to keep things cheery...at least to the outside. I cannot TELL you how many times I have been told while out with the kids...minding my own business...
"oh you must enjoy having all those kids around"
"So many reasons to be happy"
"What a blessing they are..enjoy them now..it goes fast."
"What an incredible person you are"
"You are a saint!" (at this I literally laugh out loud...)
And I ALWAYS give the answer that they want to hear....
"Yes...our house is SO much fun!"
"Oh they make me smile everyday!"
"I am SO enjoying every minute..I'll be sad when they're gone!!"
as for the accolades about me being a great person and all....well I always respond...."these children have blessed me waaayyy more than I them."
And I actually do mean everyone of those responses..I truly do.
Just not EVERY day.
And why is it that we can't, as human beings... just tell the truth?
Why, instead of giving wanted answers...can we really say how we feel? Maybe not to the cashier at Target...or the well-meaning grandma...but how about to our friends?
What is it...Fear of being judged?
Fear that you might come across as...I don't know...normal???
Fear of breaking the perfection illusion that you have created?
Or in us adoptive parents..fear that people will think you regret your adoption? Or that you have gotten yourself in way too far over your head?
Because, as I posted that link...I got thank you's from my niece who is caring for her first infant...and feeling guilty when she just wants to scream from her baby screaming. But she's afraid to say it because she should be grateful she has a beautiful healthy infant .
Or the private message from a friend that has many kids that feels like she's drowning some days...and won't fess up because she got herself into it in the first place.
The email from my friend who is navigating her way as a single mom..and doesn't want to give off the impression that she's struggling.
WHY?? Why can't we share??
I know that when a mom tells me of any kind of trouble with her kid, personal life..whatever...I am so happy to hear that I am not alone!
When someone lets you in...you feel closer to them..and it can have a great impact on the quality of your friendship. I know that I LOVE real people. The kind I can dish with over coffee...and that I can tell about the craziness at my house..and all of the sudden be laughing so hard I can't stop!
I think it is WAY healthier than keeping it all bottled up inside...so on that note...I will share. I will give you (in bulletpoints) an honest look at the past few weeks.
I will promise you that all of the following statements are fleeting feelings...that we all have...and I DO LOVE MY KIDS....really I do......
Here are some things that I could have answered to the above statements....
*Well-meaning samaritan:
"Oh you must enjoy having all those kids around!"
My "real" response:
"You think? Yes I really enjoyed waking up to 4 kids, two dogs, and 10 matchbox cars in my bed this morning. In addition, I enjoyed discovering that my 4 year old wet the bed..again..and I have to wash all his sheets....again. I also enjoy seeing that as I go downstairs in my hazy fog..I discover that someone has drawn smiley faces on my white spindles..in red....with a sharpie. I also enjoy the mad scramble of feeding 7 kids..5 of whom are always running late for the bus..and all of whom argue about everything that I prepare.
Now THAT, my friend...sure is enjoyable...especially before 7:30 am!!
Yes..having all these kids is a daily joy-fest. Have a nice day...."
*Kind..usually elderly person: *"What a blessing they are...enjoy them now, time goes fast"
(this would be the carpe diem comment)
My "real" response:
"How fast does it really go? Because right now my dreams consist of being able to have one nano-second to myself..like for the luxury of peeing in peace. Yes---please tell me it goes fast..I would like to go into the pantry for a pretzel, and eat it without hiding in fear... of the "seagulls/kids" that will swarm me if they see me having a morsel of food.
Yes, dear kind person...I would like to watch something besides the Disney Channel..and I do NOT want to know all the words to every Justin Bieber song. I would like to watch movies without 3D glasses, and go to restaurants that don't have a kiddie menu. Fast, you say? Yes, fast will get me through the day...thank you very much!"
And the best...of them all..as I tote around my adorable Chinese children..from all kinds of people:
"you are an incredible person, saint, Mother Theresa..whatever.."
My "real" response:
Well, thank you kindly...but I seriously doubt that saints, or the dearly departed Mother looked forward to a beer at 5:00 pm to get them through to bedtime.
I also don't think those of a saintly status had times where they lied to their kids and told them it was 8 pm...time to brush their teeth..when in actuality it was 6:30.
Or I am quite certain that saints don't second guess themselves...thinking that if we had only had two...we would be doing this, that and the other....(usually quite frivolous things..like trips, and the like...)
I also know that the Holy do not throw temper tantrums worse than a two year old at times when their kids don't listen. So ....thanks for the compliment...but.....
The saintly would also be quite calm and patient when kids do things like....
hide mom's car keys..so well that the car has to be towed to the dealer for a new set
or
stuff 12 juice boxes down the toilet...mixed with applesauce..for fun..
or
take food from the pantry..and when they have eaten half of it..just stuff the remaining half in the couch..to be found..quite awhile later...
or
carve their name in the kitchen table...
YES..these things would NEVER ruffle a person with "holy" describing them.
So, that' the REAL truth...and nothin' but the truth...so help me God!
And at the end of the day, I would never, ever, trade this life for anything. No life of leisure could compare to the love that I feel for every single one of my kids. No amount of money could replace the amazing experience of having this family. And quiet, perfect, houses make me a tad nervous.
I'm just saying'....it aint perfect ALL the time. And it's ok to let it all out. Tell a friend, sibling, partner, your dog...anyone....how you REALLY feel at times. It gives such a sense of freedom.
And to be honest.....I think it helps you to appreciate your life on a whole new level, because when you REEAALLLY picture your life without all "this"(whatever "this" entails to you")........it just seems empty.
SO vent away my friends....take a load off your shoulders and your heart...and your tomorrows will take on a whole new meaning.
Monday, January 16, 2012
COOK IT UP MONDAY!!!
Here is the first entry in COOK IT UP MONDAY!! It's easy, kid friendly, and can be prepared with "light" ingredients, and a few variations for taste!
I will be cooking it up tomorrow...so I will let you know how the kids liked it!! Please leave me your favorite recipe....I would love to build a database big enough to have a special button on the blog for them! Help a mother out please??
Have a great Monday!!! Tomorrow I will post on the birthdays we are celebrating today and tomorrow! FUN times!!
Photo: Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo Recipe
In just 30 minutes, you can serve this delectable dish, with a rich, satiny Alfredo sauce that coats chicken, broccoli and pasta.
Ingredients
- 1/2 of a 16 ounce package linguine
- 1 cup fresh or frozen broccoli flowerets
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound), cut into 1 1/2-inch pieces
- 1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Condensed Cream of Mushroom Soup (Regular, 98% Fat Free or Healthy Request®)
- 1/2 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
Directions
Prepare the linguine according to the package directions in a 3-quart saucepan. Add the broccoli during the last 4 minutes of the cooking time. Drain the linguine mixture well in a colander.
Heat the butter in a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until it's well browned, stirring often.
Stir the soup, milk, cheese, black pepper and linguine mixture in the skillet and cook until the chicken is cooked through, stirring occasionally. Serve with additional Parmesan cheese.
Grilled Chicken & Broccoli Alfredo: Substitute grilled chicken breasts for the skinless, boneless chicken.
Shrimp & Broccoli Alfredo: Substitute 1 pound fresh extra large shrimp, shelled and deveined for the chicken. Cook as directed for the chicken above, until the shrimp are cooked through.
Serving Suggestion: Serve wth a mixed green salad topped with orange sections, walnut pieces and raspberry vinaigrette. For dessert serve almond biscotti.
You can substitute spaghetti or fettuccine for the linguine in this recipe.
Cost per recipe: $7.86
HOPE YOU ENJOYED!!
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