Combo Fried Rice

This is fried rice with a twist....

In a large skillet place 2 T olive oil and then salt and pepper two chicken cutlets and fry until done.  Set aside and then cut into bite size pieces.  Meanwhile boil a bag of instant brown rice and drain.

While the rice is cooking, chop celery, onion and carrots and add S&P. In the same skillet (after the chicken is removed), add the vegetable mixture and the juice of an orange.   Stir fry until tender, and add in soy sauce.

Toss in the rice and stir fry, add in the chopped chicken.  Stir fry and taste, adding in soy sauce as needed.  At the end, stir in about two cups of baby spinach until it wilts.

Top with chopped cashews.  Serve up and enjoy!

As my husband said when he ate, this meal was like cashew and orange chicken mixed with a little stir-fry - and it worked!  The spinach was just an added touch of green for the holidays...:)

Thump Box

A friend's son had this cool device and showed it to several other guys were oohing and ahhing over it - because it's SO cool - it is a bluetooth speaker that turns any surface on which it sits into a loud speaker system!  Great gift idea for the guys...

Found it online...

Tea for Two?

Look at these unique tea towels for the holidays!  Llamas, ugly sweaters, and cats!

Super cute for yourself...or as a hostess gift! From Paper Source...

3-ingredient Mac n Cheese

My family requests this simple dish every time we eat together - and it's just three simple ingredients - a recipe I copied and learned from my grandmother...

2 bags large elbow noodles
10-12 slices Deli Deluxe American cheese slices
1 stick butter

Boil water and salt it, according to directions, toss in macaroni and cook until tender (not al dente.)

Prepare a 13 X 9 dish with pats of butter on the bottom.

Drain the macaroni well, and place half of them in the dish, layer with half of the cheese, then macaroni again, more pats of butter, and top with the rest of the cheese.

Heat in a 350 degree oven until the cheese melts and runs throughout the mixture...

It's really divine... Don't substitute any other cheese or any other noodle or any other step... :)

Trail Mix Deluxe

Trail mix is easy and a great snack for the weekend following thanksgiving...

Dried apricots cut in fourths
Dark chocolate chips
Salted edamame dried roasted
Walnuts
Sunflower seeds
Pepitas

Chilaquiles for Supper

Chilaquiles - that was the recipe - but I didn't quite have all the ingredients - so I improvised.

I used:

1 can chili
1 can fire roasted tomatoes
2 cups cooked stewed chicken (I bought this already prepared and cooked)
8 jarred jalapeno slices
5 green onions, sliced
1 tsp cumin
1/4 tsp salt

half bag of tortilla chips

sliced radishes
chopped cilantro
1/2 cup sour cream mixed with 1 T lime juice
lime wedges
fresh cherry tomatoes halved
avocado, chopped

In a food processor, mix all of the above half list of ingredients into a puree.  Heat 2 T olive oil in a 12" skillet partially covered for about 8 minutes.  While that's cooking, prepare all of the toppings.

Stir in the half bag of tortilla chips and the chicken, and gently stir, coating all the chips.  Serve immediately  on a plate and top with the bottom half of ingredients.

Really good!

DIY Lip Balm

What a cool gift idea for teen girls - a DIY lip balm kit!  It's from Uncommon Goods, a really unique website with gift ideas sure to please!