Thursday, March 31, 2011

Throw blanket


I've been getting a serious itch to make a throw blanket to brighten up our couch and living room area. Well, today I went to Joann's (with my 40 percent off coupon, of course) and picked out some material. Pretty happy with my selection. I also have plenty of craft projects I've been working on-I will post all of them soon.

Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Playground


This past weekend we got a lot done around our place. Transplanted plants, planted trees, made a new flowerbed, trimmed up some evergreen trees we have along our house, took down an old split rail fence, put a border around our new playground/campfire area and put in Kohen's new playground. It feels so good to be productive and I'm looking forward to another weekend like the past in the near future. Weather permitting of course. Here's some pics of us putting in the new playground..





the sidekicks

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Chicken Chow Mein

Made this last night. It was amazing, everyone liked it and its healthy. What could be better!? ( I didn't use mushrooms. Instead I put in cut up zuchinni and carrots for color) Enjoy

2 T olive oil
2 onions
2-3 C celery
2-3 C bean sprouts
1 8 oz package mushrooms
4 chicken breasts
salt and pepper

3 C water
3 Chicken bullion cubes
2 T soy sauce
1/2 t sugar
3 T cornstarch dissolved in 1/3 C water

Hot rice
Chinese Noodles

1. In a large skillet heat 1 T olive oil. Cut up the chicken breasts with a pair of cooking scissors. Add them to the pan and sprinkle with salt and cracked pepper. Cook over medium heat until the pieces are golden brown. See how pretty they are? This beautiful golden brown color is going to add some screaming delicious flavor to your chow mien.
2. While the chicken is getting itself beautifully browned you are going to be chopping up your veggies. The long noodlie like things pictured at the far left are bean sprouts. You can find them at any grocery store, though I don't recommend buying them at Walmart. They sale them in a prepackaged bag, and are very rarely fresh. Smiths (or Kroger) has the best quality I have found. I always make this the same day I purchase the bean sprouts....they do not keep very well.
3. When your chicken is browned, set it aside. Add 1 T olive oil to the same skillet you cooked the chicken in. Add your veggies and cook on medium heat for about 15 minutes, or until the veggies are crisp tender.
4. While your veggies are cooking put the water, bullion, soy sauce, and sugar in a small sauce pan. Heat until boiling, and add the cornstarch/water mixture. Stir it in thoroughly. The sauce should thicken quickly. Set aside.
5. When your veggies are done, add the chicken and the sauce back into the skillet with the veggies. Heat through and serve with rice and Chinese noodles.

Monday, March 21, 2011

More baby stuff


My parents got us an awesome new infant swing for baby #2. I decided to put it together today because I want Kohen to get use to all the new stuff and I can discipline him not to touch it before the baby comes. We also hung some new wall art in the nursery. Its from children inspiration and is wall cards numbering one to ten. The nursery is almost done. We only have the new rocking chair left, that should be in anyday, from Jordans parents and then we're all set. Im starting to get really excited to meet this little one.





Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Decorating the nursery!


So I'm putting some final touches on the nursery and thought I would share. We're also letting you in on a secret. Both our girl and boy names that we picked out start with the letter 'B'. We're not worried anyone is going to guess it b/c they're both unique and you don't hear them very often.... if at all...kind of like the name, Kohen. So now you know! =)