Gluten Free Sweet and Sour Chicken

I am a cooking rule breaker.  I don't really follow directions well which is why I am better cook than baker.  Tonight I did a bit of exploring with a favorite dish of my families. 

1 lb of chicken breast
3 tbls ketchup
2 tbls gluten free soy sauce
1/2 cup white vinegar
2 tbls honey
1 cup cornstarch
salt, pepper, garlic to taste

 I chopped the chicken into bite size pieces and then sauteed it in a little butter with the salt, pepper and garlic in my wok.  (a frying pan would work just as well)  While that was cooking I mixed the ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar and honey into a sauce.  Once the chicken was cooked through, I mixed in the cornstarch and then poured the sauce over it.  I baked it on 350degrees for 30 minutes.   I think next time I may add sesame seeds.  We ate it over rice, but it would be good over veggies too. 
My five year old son proclaimed this the best dinner I ever made and considering he is my picky eater, I take this as the highest complement.  Enjoy!!

Corned Beef Cabbage Rolls

Looking for something to do with your leftover corned beef?  Or maybe just a change from the regular boiled dinner?  I found a recipes for cabbage rolls made with rice and hamburger and they looked really good, so I decided to give it a try with my corned beef.  It was so easy and really good.
I baked my corned beef in my deep dish baker I got from Amanda Henderson, my good friend and Pampered Chef consultant.  I then cut the meat into small chunks. I boiled my entire head of cabbage (whole) for about three minutes.  When it cooled enough to touch I peeled the cabbage and rolled up my corned beef  in each leaf and placed them in a well sprayed slow cooker.  I added some tomato sauce, seasoned with garlic, salt and pepper on top and cooked them on low for about four hours.  They were soooooo good!  Enjoy!

What you'll need:

1 head of cabbage
1 corned beef brisket
2 small cans tomato sauce
season to taste


(my pictures are not cooperating, but hopefully they show you the process a bit)



Day before payday pasta

Today was payday, tomorrow is shopping day. As I opened up my cupboards I realized mother Hubards cupboards were bare. I wracked my brain for what I could make for dinner. Then I remembered this dish my dad used to make when I was growing up. I thought my kids would really love it and I had everything. At least I think so. I never really made it before so I just sort of went on memory from watching my dad. He got it from his dad. I made up the name. I really have no idea what it's called. Here it is:

Boil 1 lb spaghetti noodles
While they are boiling mix together 5 eggs, a splash of olive oil, a couple shakes of Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt and pepper.
Rinse the noodles with extremely hot water and immediately return them to the pot. Quickly add the egg mixture and stir it around to coat the noodles. Put the lid on for a few minutes.
I have an electric stove so it stays hot, but if you are cooking on gas you may want to put it on low. You want the eggs to be cooked. That's it, super easy and my kids and husband LOVED it! As I side I cut up the last of my cucumbers and peppers. I really need to go shopping soon, but it's nice to know we have a winner!

DIY Cell Phone Holder

It drives me crazy that my phone never fits into the phone pocket in my purse.  Before I leave the house, I have plenty of time to shove it in, but when I'm out it winds up at the bottom every time.  Also, its extremely hard to find it when I'm standing in the grocery line and my phone is ringing like crazy.  I had an idea to make a little pocket for my phone.  I'm sure this has already been done, but I actually thought it up without looking at a pattern. 

First, I took a scrap of fabric and I measured it to my phone.  I folded the material and cut it to fit,  leaving allowances for seams.  I sewed it inside out so the seams would be on the inside.  I know it seems obvious, but for someone who needs it all spelled out, that is the first thing I always forget. Once my pocket was made, I took a long scrap of fabric (I used part of what I had trimmed) and I folded it in half to make a strap. I wish I had one of those fancy long metal rods for pulling strips right side out, because then I would have made it seamless.  (on my Christmas wish list)  Once that was made I hand sewed a snap on and voila, I was done.  The entire project took me less than an hour, start to finish.  All I have to do is wrap the strap around my purse strap and drop it into my purse and it will be easy to find and has been.  I've only used it for a day and love it already!



Slow cooker "Baked" sweet potatoes.

I can't believe it, three posts in one week!  I am on a role!  I want to share my new favorite way to eat sweet potatoes. I placed 4 medium sized sweet potatoes in my slow cooker, I drizzled a little olive oil on top. (next time I may try coconut oil) I then shook a few very generous shakes of pumpkin pie spice on top. They cooked on low for 4 hours to absolute perfection. Now, when we eat sweet potatoes for the holidays, my husband usually bakes them with brown sugar, cinnamon, syrup, coconut and loads of butter. They are amazing, but not healthy at all. I did want a healthy alternative to putting butter on them.  I decided to take 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, two tablespoons of honey and a couple of healthy shakes of that pumpkin pie spice and blended it all together. We put it on the potatoes and it was amazing!  I also plan to keep the coconut oil mixture in the fridge for many other goodies to come. I hope you all enjoy my new favorite Paleo side dish.

Honey Mustard Slow Cooker Chicken

I am a huge fan of my slow cooker. I use it a few times a week. It is so convenient to throw something in while the babies are napping and have it perfectly done when the hubby gets home. I don't usually follow recipe directions, I tend to take an idea and just go with it. I love honey mustard chicken so I went ahead and made my own. This recipe can easily be converted to Paleo by making your own mustard. ( I plan on doing that very soon with this recipe here)

My plan was to make it ahead of time and cool it so we could eat it over salad. We did do this and it was very good, but I couldn't stop tasting it right out of the slow cooker. I was afraid we weren't going to have enough. Next time I'm going to double the batch. Here is what I did.

3 tbsp sweet hot mustard
3 tbsp regular mustard

1 tbsp honey

1 garlic clove 

1lb of chicken breast

I blended the ingredients together and poured them over the chicken. I cooked it for six hours on low because I wanted it to fall apart, but 4 hours would be sufficient. I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as we did!  Next time I will take a picture too!

The Tree Topper

Hubby and I returned from our weekend away rejuvenated and refreshed.  It was so nice to get away together and even nicer that it happened to fall right around our eighth anniversary.  We did, however, miss the kids so much that we came home early on the last day.  Baby girl did great, I was a bit worried having never been away from her.  The boys had a blast as well, Grandma B spoiles them and even though I stocked the fridge with all their favorite fruits and veggies, her donuts and cupcakes won out.  That's ok, what are grandparents for if not to spoil their grandkids. I did remind her though, that she wasn't able to send them home after sugaring them up, she paused for only a brief second and the grandma in her won out! (My parents do the same darn thing!).

          So Thanksgiving is passed and it's on to Christmas!  Yay!! My favorite time of year. Sure it's crazy and and every store you go into from here to New Years will be packed, but there's so much more to it.  I was thinking about that tonight as we decorated with the kids.  My boys really got into the tree decorating this year, even to the point of being upset when all the ornaments were on!  The night went from Christmas decorating to an all out wrestling match with Daddy, his two boys and baby girl!  I was recording it so I was immune from the attacks, it ended with daddy calling a truce.  If the boys broke it they forfeited all their presents and if Daddy broke it he had to buy them the 3DS they want.  Amazingly we had a pieceful bedtime.
         When The hubby and I got hitched a few years back, his wedding present to me was a few bags FULL of Christmas decorations. I have to admit my barely twenty-one year old, incredibly immature self was a bit disappointed. I had envisioned diamonds for my other fingers. After all, their were nine left.  My disappointment was short lived and I was won over by how cute and Christmassy our very first apartment looked.  If you don't count college dorms ( I use the term 'dorms' loosely) this was our very first place away from our parents and those Christmas decorations helped make our apartment feel like a home.  This was especially hard for me since my family was two states away.  The one thing he didn't buy was a tree topper.  This we were to do together.  It was so special to be picking this out with him. We didn't have a whole lot if money, so we needed something on the cheaper side yet still nice and have meaning.  We found the most beautiful Cross.  Of course the cross Christ was crucified on looked nothing like this one, but we wanted that symbol atop our tree to remind us the real reason we celebrate.  We use Christmas Day to celebrate that tiny babies birth, but so many people leave Him in that manger.  At least until Easter.  We need to remember every day that that baby grew up, walking in the perfect will of His Father; He came to this earth to die for wretched sinners like you and me.  He didn't have to, but He did.  I no longer have to fear death because Jesus is my victory; yes I will die, but I will be immediately made alive in Him.

       I love to see my children's face when they receive gifts, the way they light up is priceless. The only Gift that my children really need is Jesus.  Toys and games are fun for now, but an eternity of hellfire awaits them if they do not have Him. I know, what a terrible thought, but it's the absolute truth.  I pray God gives them the gift of salvation more than I pray for anything else.
  I look forward to this joyous season.  As my babies get older activities such as baking cookies and wrapping presents are much more fun.  It's nice having little hands to help.  We have plans to make all sorts of yummy and fun goodies together, and involve some friends and family in the fun also.
My oldest said to me today ' Mom why is daddy working so hard so we can have presents?  We don't need presents we just need to spend time together '  I replied that he's right and we will be spending a lot of time together.  Quickly he responded ' but two or three presents would still be ok!'  Oh how I love these little monsters!