Sunday, January 23, 2011

Stir-Fried Cabbage with Red Chile Peppers, Cashews and Peas

It seems so long since I last posted.  I guess it has been awhile.  So many things have been going on.  And for once I am happy to report it's been mostly good things.  With the exception of fighting off colds-you know the kind that just wont leave and comes back full force (which is what we are dealing with now!), we had Maggie's birthday party at the gymnastic studio with her school friends, we (mostly me) have been busy working at Maggie's school and we found a house to move into and I got a job!  Hallelujah!  I can't even tell you how good it feels to say that!  It's been really, really hard on us as a family living in this temporary home, but even harder not knowing how we were going to find a home and be able to afford it without funds coming in.

The best part about the job is it is part time so I will be able to play in our new yard.  I can't tell you how excited I am about the yard!  It is a large, large yard.  Lots of room for planting, gardening and yes, chickens.  We can have chickens and not have to hide them.  I can't tell you how happy I am about that.  There is already a great little structure there that we will turn into a coop, we just need to build boxes and fence it in. There are also a lot of fruit trees and walnut trees. It's going to feel good to produce our own food again!  I have missed it so much!
The house is adorable.  It is perfect for our family.  And, it has a huge jetted tub.  I would live in a barn if it had a jetted tub!  But one thing I am really excited about is it has a new convection oven.  I can not wait to get my hands on it and start baking!  Bread, bread and more bread!
We still aren't sure when we will be in, but we know it will be any time between now and 3-4 months.  In the meantime, we are able to go work to make our garden and prune the trees!

Because I am feeling lousy with this darn cold (just got it today and I start work tomorrow!) I am leaving this post short and sweet.  But I will leave you with tonights dinner recipe.  It was super yummy so I thought I would share!

                                                                     ~click on picture to make larger~



Stir-Fried Cabbage with Red Chile Peppers, Cashews, and Peas
makes 10 servings

3 T extra virgin olive oil
1 1/2 t cumin seeds
1 t ground turmeric powder
3 dried chile peppers
2 c toasted unsalted cashews
1 (3 1/2 pound) head of cabbage, cored and finely chopped
2 c frozen peas
1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt, or to taste (we use Pink Himalayan Salt)

1.  Heat oil with the cumin seeds, turmeric powder, and chile peppers in a large pot or wok over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally, until the chiles become smoky (about 3 minutes)

2.  Add the cashews and cook for 2 minutes, to brown the slightly and heat them up.

3.  Add one-half of the cabbage and all the peas; stir to combine with herbs.  When, after about 2 minutes, the cabbage starts to wilt, stir in the remaining cabbage.  Cook, stirring often, until the volume has reduced by one-third and the cabbage looks somewhat browned around the edges (about 15 to 30 minutes, depending on your pot or wok).  Mix in the salt and serve warm or at room temperature.

We served ours with chicken.  We were both "iffy" about it because neither of us have really had cabbage outside of coleslaw, so this was a pleasant surprise.  We may even plant some in garden!
Sorry for the not so good picture, but I am miserable right now.  Maybe I will retake it next time we make this, because we are making it again!

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Organization, a much needed help freebie!

I try to be organized.  I do.  I really do.  In fact, when I worked outside the home I was super organized at the office.  To the point where I got teased and people "messed with my area" because everything had a home, a spot, a place to be.  Every day before leaving work everything got put back.  I admit I was a bit OCD about my workspace.  WHY can't I be like that at home?  Maybe not the OCD part, but organized.

Well, besides the fact that I am much more relaxed at home, I think I have 2 other very good reasons why I stink at being organized here.  Chris and Maggie.  Now, i'm not trying to blame it all on them, but man, it's almost like they are tag-teaming against me sometimes!  It makes it difficult when there are others in your home who don't share the need for things to be put back where they belong.

I don't know, maybe Chris is a bit that way because he knows if he goes along with me he may be living with the husband from Sleeping with the Enemy.  Do you remember how the husband would line up all the cans facing outward, perfectly.  

This isn't a New Years Resolution.  This is just a need for order.  I feel so chaotic and so out of sorts.  I need order again.  I have been searching around the internet looking for help to get me started again.  While searching I found something you all might really like!  Check this out!

It's FREE and only available for a limited time! Get Organized Wizard has their Goals & Priorities Diary 2011, valued at $29 available to you, yes, for FREE! All you need to do is LIKE their facebook page.  You will then get a coupon code and directions on how to use.  This has fully interactive Monthly Goal Planners, allowing you to plan your goals for the month.  There is the Daily Priorities Planner that helps you keep track of your top tasks.  Goals Achieved & Reward page--a great way to celebrate your success!  There is also a Goals List not only for this year, but for next year as well!  
I LOVE that this can stay on the computer.  Fill out the forms and save.  No extra clutter, binders, folders whatever around the house.  This is 388 pages of wonderful!
While you are at the website downloading, take a look around.  Lots of great info!

So after you download, don't just leave it there!  Start to fill it out!  Make 2011 a year to remember.  A year filled with less clutter, less junk and more order in your life!





Sparklehearts Bubbling Blooms Body Wash WINNER!

Thank you so much to those of you who participated in our Sparklehearts Bubbling Blooms Body Wash Giveaway!



Unfortunately, there can only be one winner.  So to make this easy on me, 
I used the Random.org generator and it picked.........


Congratulations to Kim78!!

I will be emailing you to let you know!  You have 72 hours to respond!

Again, thank you to everyone who participated!

We are having another drawing soon.  This time for a really fun game called Pick and Draw!
We have been playing it and having a ball! 



Saturday, January 1, 2011

Project 52!


I'm a Project 365 failure.  If you don't know what Project 365 is, it's where you commit to take a picture every day of the year. At the end of they year you have a really cool photo album full of memories.  I am ashamed to say that I FORGOT to take a picture on the first day last year, so I just didn't do it at all.  Honestly, I LOVE the idea, but don't think I am THAT ambitious enough to get a picture a day.  In fact I KNOW i'm not that ambitious.  So when I heard that Darcy at 3 Boybarians was doing a "slackers version" of P365, Project 52 I was ALL over it!


Pictures are posted on the Flickr group every Sunday.   


This group is open to anyone.  So if you or someone you know wants to join, click the above link and start posting your pictures!


I am hoping that this will help me develop some photography skills.  I need to get my camera OFF auto mode!  Between P52 and the awesome info Darcy has on her 31 Days to a Better Photo Series I think I might have a good shot!



"Best day of my life!"

Happy 2011!



Another year is here!  We were so excited this morning to wake up to snow!  And not just the little bit of snow we get every once in awhile.  I am talking SNOW!  I couldn't wait for Maggie to wake up this morning!

She finally got up after what seemed like hours, we got bundled and out we went.  Over 2 hours of fun in our yard and neighborhood.  You know it's a good time when your daughter looks up at you with her eyes wide opened and sparkling and a big smile plastered on her face telling you "This is the best day of my life!"  

That sentence and look on her face was the best way I could have started my new year!  

Here is a collage of my girl having the best day of her life!

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Here are some more pictures we took in our yard and around the neighborhood~

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Today, 01/01/11 has been a good day for us!
I hope you and your family have had a great day together as well!





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