{recetas} Hot Pepper Stir Fry

Okay, technically, this isn't stir fry as it wasn't made over super high heat. I suppose I should call it Hot Pepper Sautée. Either way, it was delicious and I can't wait to make it again!

What you need:

1 family sized steak (sliced)

1 broccoli crown (chopped into small pieces)

1 package baby Bella mushrooms (sliced)

4 or 5 hot red peppers

Minced garlic

3 tbsp. fish sauce

Butter

Another cooking fat (I used bacon drippings)

Shredded cabbage (I used the prebagged coleslaw mix)

What you do:

Mix together the fish sauce, 3 to 4 teaspoons minced garlic, and the hot peppers (finely chopped, seeds and ribs removed).

Thinly slice the steak, mix in eith marinade. Allow to marinate for a few hours.

After marinating, heat your cooking fat over medium-high heat and cook your steak. Set aside. 

Add butter to the same pan and sautée broccoli and mushrooms. I added a splash or two of fish sauce here, too. Once complete, add the meat back to the pan and mix together.

In another pan, warm the cabbage for a few minutes (warm and crunchy).

Serve the stir fry over a bed of warmed cabbage. Enjoy!

((this moment))

((this moment))

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 ~SouleMama~

{recetas} Chicken Taco Stew

Hello! It's been ages! I've (slowly) been adjusting to the new routine...the back to school routine.

I love going back to school, but this was the first time I've done it as a mom. It sure is different! I'm no longer able to stay at work as long as I'd like to get everything done. Instead, I have to get to daycare so I can love up my little man. I bring work home, but don't pull it out until the little peanut is asleep. It's different, but it's worth it.

Part of the routine is having lunches ready to go the night before. It's an easy task when we are home for dinner and have leftovers. It's not so easy when we eat at my parents house and have a semi empty fridge.

So this morning, I "came up" with a crock pot recipe to use what little ingredients I had on hand.

What you need:

4 chicken breasts (frozen is fine)

1 jar salsa (I went with medium)

1 can diced tomatoes with chiles

1 can black beans (rinsed)

1 can (minus the 3/4 cup I needed for my quiche) coconut milk

1 cup chicken broth

What you do:

Place the chicken breasts in the crock pot.

Add the rest of the ingredients on top and cover. 

Turn the crock pot on low and let it work it's magic all day. Mine went for 9 hours, but that's because we went to dinner at my parents. Yours could take way less time. Especially if you cook it on high.

Picture to come when I eat lunch tomorrow. But quite frankly, I'm just too tired right now and I want to go to bed!

((this moment))

((this moment))

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 ~SouleMama~

Mason Jars

Okay, I didn't really use Mason jars for this project.

(They're actually pickle jars)

I cleaned them, and washed them twice, so I promise that they don't smell like pickles!

You've seen the pins, right? The ones with the paint being swirled around a Mason jar?

That's exactly what I did ... and, man. It uses a LOT of paint. I had a few half-full craft paints, and that just didn't cut it. My plan was to have a pink jar and a turquoise jar. But I didn't have enough turquoise paint to cover the entire jar.

Bummer.

So instead, I have a pink jar and a yellow jar.

And I plan to throw the yellow one away. I just don't like it. It's rather transparent. I could add another coat of paint...but the yellow just isn't my style.

Do you like the fake wood desk and fake wood paneling?

I bought more pickles, though. So I can choose another color, and actually like the project.

I guess I'd kind of consider this pin project a bit of a fail. I wasn't happy with the result. Both of the jars have some marks on the inside from clumps of paint. BUT, I will be trying again. With colors that are more my style...

My tip for you, though, should you decide to do this project is this:

Use new paint.

My paint was at least 2 years old. It was all gloppy and gloopy. Please. Use new paint.

Ch-ch-ch-Changes

I've decided it's time to change the way I meal plan.

In the past, I have chosen things I would like to cook and then gone to the grocery store in search of ingredients. From this day forward, I plan to change the order. I'm going to shop, and then decide what I will be making.

Here's the thing.

I do most of my shopping at a small grocery store, where the prices are ridiculously amazing. But, you can't always find everything. Last week, I had my whole list planned out and was bummed when there were no Brussels sprouts at the store. There were the week before.

Instead of getting frustrated and having to revamp the meal plan, I'm going to give myself a spending limit ($40 per week) to get the necessary items. THEN, I get to create a meal plan from the ingredients I have. No special trips to the store for me.

So. Here is the first meal plan created after shopping:

Sunday: Venison Chili

Monday: Mexican Stuffed Peppers

Tuesday: Orange Chicken with Brown Rice

Wednesday: Crustless Quiche

Thursday: Lime Tilapia

Friday: Roasted Chicken Leg Quarters with Mushrooms & Onions

Saturday: Date Night!

((this moment))

((this moment))

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

 ~SouleMama~