O is for...Orient!

O is for... Orient!

I love me some Chinese food! I found this recipe for egg rolls a while ago…and have tried it a few times. Just recently I made egg rolls, fried rice and fortune cookies for dinner. I would not post something if I didn’t absolutely love it! Here was our dinner…try it…it’s easy! Enjoy!

Egg Rolls

4 tablespoons Vegetable oil

1” grated fresh ginger

2 cloves of garlic…finely chopped

2 scallions…sliced thinly

1 carrot…cut into 1” julienne strips

1 small red pepper…cut into 1” julienne strips

1 Napa cabbage…shredded

¼ cup chicken broth

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon sugar

1-2 tablespoons sesame oil

20 wonton wrappers…covered loosely with a damp paper towel to prevent drying. I used egg roll wrappers. I have made them both ways…and the egg roll wrappers are better.

This recipe calls for 20 cooked shrimp…but I don’t like it that way. I throw in some cooked chicken…or nothing if you just want to go with a vegetable egg roll.

I encountered a problem almost immediately. The grocery store that I went to did not have fresh ginger. Hmmmm…so, I purchased Stir Fry Seasoning…garlic and ginger blend. It was still very good!

In a skillet, stir fry the ginger and garlic in 2 tablespoons of oil until fragrant. (If you choose to use the seasoning like I did, it takes quite a bit to season it! I bet I used 2 tablespoons) This takes about 30 seconds. Add scallions, carrots and red pepper. Stir fry over high heat for 2 minutes.

In a bowl, combine the chicken broth, soy sauce and sugar. Add cabbage and broth mix to pan. Bring to a boil and simmer for 5 minutes. Stir occasionally until vegetables are soft. Add sesame oil. Cool for at least 15 minutes and strain. STRAIN WELL…OR YOU WILL HAVE SOGGY EGG ROLLS. Fold in the chicken (or shrimp).

Fill and roll egg roll wrapper with about 1 tablespoon per roll. If you choose to use a traditional egg roll wrapper, use more filling.

Brush top corner with water and roll up diagonally. Fold in sides.

In a skillet over moderately high heat, heat the remaining oil and sauté the egg rolls until golden brown on both sides. Using tongs to turn them. From experience, get the oil hot, add the egg rolls and turn down the heat, slightly. They won’t burn as quickly.

I set mine on a paper towel (on a plate) to get rid of some of the oil.

Fried Rice

2 cups white rice (I used brown rice and prepared it according to the package directions)

4 cups water

2/3 cups chopped carrots

½ cup frozen green peas

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

2 eggs (I actually used 3 eggs)

Soy sauce

In a sauce pan, combine rice and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat, cover and simmer for about 20 minutes.

In a small saucepan, boil carrots in water for about 5 minutes. Drop peas into boiling water then drain.

Heat wok (or skillet) over high heat. Pour in oil, then stir in carrots and peas. Cook about 30 seconds. Crack in eggs, stirring quickly to scramble them with the veggies. Stir in cooked rice. Add soy sauce if desired. Again, from experience, the soy sauce is needed!

The next part of my dinner was something out of the ordinary. I had a BLAST making them. Coming up with the fortunes was fun! They are so good! Seriously…way better than store bought! I made a batch…and immediately made another batch. They go quickly in my house!

Fortune Cookies

2 Egg whites

½ teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon almond extract

3 tablespoons vegetable oil

8 tablespoons flour

1 ½ teaspoons cornstarch

¼ teaspoon salt

8 tablespoons sugar

3 teaspoons water

Write fortunes on pieces of paper that are 3 1/2” by 1/2 “wide. Preheat oven to 300.

Grease a 9x13 baking sheet

In a medium bowl, lightly beat egg white, vanilla, almond and vegetable oil until frothy, but not stiff.

Sift flour, corn starch, salt and sugar into a separate bowl. Stir in water with the flour mix.

Add the four mix to the egg white mix and stir until batter is smooth.

Place level tablespoons of batter onto cookie sheet. Spacing them about 3” apart. Gently tilt the baking sheet back and forth and side to side so each tablespoon of batter forms into a circle about 4” in diameter.

Bake until the outer ½” of each cookie turns golden brown and they are easy to remove from the pan with a spatula. (about 14 minutes)

Working quickly, remove the cookie with a spatula and flip the cookie over in your hands. Place a fortune in the middle of each cookie, fold the cookie in half. Use the edge of a glass to fold in half again. Press together. Place cookie in muffin pan to hold the shape.

Please take this advice…put 3 on a cookie sheet. They set very quickly when you take them out of the oven..and they are incredibly hot. You have about 20 seconds to complete the entire pan. The fewer you have to get done the better they will turn out!

And maybe double it right away…seriously sooooooo good!

So…this was our Monday night dinner! It was delicious!

And what fortune did I get?? This was in my cookie…

N is for...New Recipe!

N is for…New Recipe!

Chicken Piccata

I cannot stress how much I love to cook. I could spend all day in the kitchen concocting new menus and revamping recipes.

A friend recently sent me this recipe. At first, I was a little hesitant. Capers. That’s what threw me off. I just couldn’t understand how a pickled part of a plant could possibly make food better. Plus, I was warned by multiple people to NOT try them by themselves. That sounds real enticing.

 I couldn’t find them. I looked everywhere for the small jar of pickled plants. I asked multiple people in the grocery store up here and NOBODY knew what I was talking about! I finally came across them…and was thrilled! Still hesitant…but thrilled to have FINALLY found them!

So…here we go! This recipe was very easy to make and impressive, too! It called for some frying of the cutlets, but I kept the heat to medium and the splattering wasn’t an issue. And everything cooked in one pan…which I LOVE…for 2 reasons. 1…very little clean up and 2…the flavors are more easily blended together.

Ingredients:

2 chicken breasts

¼ cup flour

2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

1 large lemon, juiced

2 tablespoons white wine

1 tablespoon capers

Mushrooms…the amount is up to you. However, it was suggested to me to go heavy on the mushrooms and capers…or you will be sad when you run out!

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 tablespoon cold butter

Salt/pepper

Paprika

1.   Cut the chicken breast halves horizontally. If needed, pound with a meat hammer to ¼” thickness. The thinner the better.

2.   Mix together flour, salt pepper and, paprika and parmesan cheese. Rinse the chicken pieces in water. Dredge them thoroughly in the flour mixture. Let sit for 2 minutes. Dredge again until well coated.

3.   Heat olive oil in a large skillet on medium heat. Brown chicken on each side. Remove from pan and reserve them in the oven to keep them warm. I used some aluminum foil and set them in the oven.

4.   Add the wine, lemon juice mushrooms and capers to the pan. Stir together. Reduce. Remove from heat and add cold butter.

5.       Plate the chicken and serve with the sauce pored over.

I also made mine with angel hair pasta…per suggestion of my friend.  I also made some pretty rockin’ garlic bread. It was an amazing meal!

Oooohhhhh…and buy extra white wine. It goes really well as a beverage with this meal! :)

Try it! Highly suggested…who would have thought that a small little pickled plant could make a recipe sooooo yummy!

L is for...Leaving!

Thanks to my friend Emily, I was blessed with a job right out of college. I never thought that this job would become my life for 6 years. Here are a few facts. Did you know that The United States has the highest rates of teen pregnancy and births in the western industrialized world? Teen pregnancy costs the United States at least $7 billion annually.

Thirty-four percent of young women become pregnant at least once before they reach the age of 20. That comes out to about 820,000 a year. Eight in ten of these teen pregnancies are unintended and 79 percent are to unmarried teens.

It was my job to teach these teens.

Now that my time is over at Carlton County Young Parents, and I am moving on to continue my journey, there are a few things I would like to say.


Dear Young Parents,

Six years ago, I walked into a classroom. I myself was pregnant and unmarried...and I had so much to learn. I cannot think of a better place to have had my first teaching experience.

Starting out, I was the child educator. I came in with crafts, did circle time and kept your children entertained while all of you went off and participated in parent time.

After a few years, I took over as the parent educator, co-teaching with Cindy. I was always amazed how much all of you wanted to be a part of class, how much you wanted to learn, and how much all of you truly love your children.

I learned lots from all of you. I laughed lots with you...and I cried a lot with you. All of you have truly touched me. I will forever be thankful. In the time I was there, I went through countless births, breakups, deaths, graduations, baby firsts...the list goes on and on.

I cannot thank you enough for what you have shown me. I know now that it doesn't matter how old you are when you have a child. What matters is how you choose to make your life turn out in the end.

I pray that all of you go places, do wonderful things and live lives full of love and happiness.

Please remember what I am about to tell you, as I learned it from all of you. Love your babies and appreciate this phase of life when you are surrounded by little ones. Share little things that your children have said or done. Laugh at the days that go horribly wrong. Encourage the joy over their little successes and be the driving force in togetherness and fun in my your family. The role that you play may seem a little menial at times but it is your greatest work. It is sacred and what this life is really all about. Tell them all of the things they are doing right, especially when they feel discouraged.

I hope that I have taught all of you to see your children in the best light. Love your life day after day. Most of the happiness you will find will be because of the beautiful children that you hold.

Love,
Karla

Our cake

Emily...who is also moving on.

Some of the parents, with the breastfeeding ladies and Cindy

The "guys" with Josh

3 of the pregnant moms! I am coming back to meet all of your little bundles!

Yes, I get paid to hold babies!

Playing in the gym
The many faces of Young Parents...

G is for...Grateful!

I am truly grateful for a lot. At the top of my list are my children. Today as Carter was playing cards, I got on the floor and asked what he was up to. In his sweet little voice he answered, "trying to learn a card trick." I don't have any to teach him...maybe I should learn a few! :)

As I sat there, I stared at the deck of cards, pondering everything that is going on in my life right now. And trust me, there is a lot. However, I will make it through and in the end be a better person. I will be okay because of my children and the love that I have for them. Okay...okay...so like I said, I was looking at the cards and saw something kind of ironic. I will show you...

Can you see what I do? The 7, Q, A and 3 form the word love. Again...something I am grateful for!

Alright so now my list...

*I am grateful for how absolutely beautiful my kids are when they are sleeping...I get to tuck them into their beds...and as I do...I am filled with this wonderful love for them that manages to erase all the problems for the day.

*I am grateful for the chance that playing with them gives me. My job as a mommy is great!! What other job description includes playing or imagining?

*I am grateful for my kids making me want to be a better person. If I don't have the willpower to make my self do something, I often think "I will do this because I know it will be what is best for my kids."

*I am grateful for the patience and multi-tasking I have learned from them (and from being a teacher)...Those are skills that do not come easily.

*I am grateful for the chance to teach my children things I wish I would have learned myself when I was young.

*I am more grateful for my mother than  ever could have been without becoming one. There is soooo much love and selflessness I would have never gained.

*I am grateful for the many hugs and kisses I get every day (even the wet slobbery ones from Carson)!

*I am grateful for my childrens' unconditional love for me and for the unconditional love that I will ALWAYS have for them.

*I am grateful for the chance to laugh and be crazy with my kids...they bring it out in me. I love their excitement for all of the little things that life has to bring.

See where I am going with this? I am grateful for the LOVE I have for my children...and for the love that they have for me.

PS...I am grateful for the occasional glass of wine as well! ;)

F is for...Fortune Cookie!

Alright...I must admit...they suck me right in. Fortune cookies! A cookie filled with faux wisdom or a vague prophecy. Yup...I love a dessert that you open for divine inspiration, interpretation, or revelation of a conditioned event to come. Sometimes, if you are lucky they even include some numbers...come on lottery! I remember one in particular that I opened, actually not that long ago. It read "He who throws dirt is losing ground." Really? Where do they come up with these?

I decided tonight that I would open a cookie and believe it...

My talents? Um...no.

So, I opened another one...

Okay...still don't like it. Completely unsatisfied.

On the third try...this is what I got:

I'm sticking with this one!

Thanks, La Choy for helping me see exactly what is coming!

E is for...EYES!

You communicate more than you will ever know with your eyes.

How many times have you heard or said "If looks could kill", "Their face was an open book" and of course, "The eyes are the windows to the soul."

My favorite thing is how a look from across the room can attract or repel. A wink can be coy or lecherous.

So much can be learned about a person simply by studying their eyes.Your eyes can say more than your actual words at times.

Eye color can give a quite interesting glimpse at someone's personality. I read somewhere that people with brown eyes are serious and affectionate. Hazel-eyed people are mentally agile, but get bored easily. Green eyes are marked as quick-tempered, intelligent and curious people. Blue eyes vary with the shade. Blue-grey denotes humanitarian and altruistic tendencies, light blue indicates a peaceful person with low physical endurance, and deep blue eyes are someone who is spiritual and intense. Do I believe any of this? I’m not so sure.

I do know that a little glimpse into another person's eyes can reveal so much about them. What do your eyes say about you?

C is for...Contentment

"We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have, but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have."

I walked into my dining room today, sat at my computer and I realized for the first time in quite a while, that I am content. I’m not sure what triggered the thought...but glad that I had it.

I’m exhausted, to be truthful. I find myself exhausted often. I have 3 very large responsibilities (Livi Lou, Tarter Sauce and Cars McGarse)...2 part time jobs and I am doing the best I can to maintain some balance. Laundry, dishes, paying bills, taking care of my children, mopping the sticky floors, and the dust bunnies (THEY ARE HUGE). Hey... as long as we are talking about housework…it's just going to have to keep multiplying unless a housekeeping goddess lands on my doorstep to help a girl out. Some balls...yes some balls...just have to be dropped.

At any rate, in the middle of the chaos, somewhere…I’ve found my version of contentment. Little things that just make me...happy. Part of me wonders if I’m just sooooo busy that I can’t think about anything outside of "RIGHT NOW". If I did, I might go a little crazy. But I like it here; content…in the middle of a chaotic...busy life. Taking everything in stride and actually feeling okay about a few decisions I have made lately. Notice I said...OK.

There once was a time (not that long ago) when I felt angry and down right mad for not "getting" to do what I wanted because of this silly responsibility thing called adulthood. This is what I think...all things are permissible, but are all things beneficial? If I took a good hard look at all the things I have allowed into my life in my past, I wonder how many things actually made my life harder, but were disguised as something good? I won’t look back!! I can't.  Today is a new day... and I look forward to a pinch more wisdom than I had yesterday....or maybe a truckload. 

 While still busy juggling, when it comes right down to the necessities, if there are not a bunch of other things tugging at me, I’m actually able to focus on my life. I’m surprised, really, that right now I’m not losing my marbles with so much on my plate.

Taking things in stride is helped greatly by not having a lot of extra-curricular activities. I know a HUGE shocker...I don't get out much. I don't know...perhaps I’m really an introvert whose been trying for way too long to be an extrovert…and it just doesn’t work? I’m lovin' the solitude. Just me and my kids right now. What I do have is them singing songs all day; making play-doh objects; stepping on legos; dancing to my ipod; playing in the bathroom toilet; Carter running around in just his underwear; wet spots in the bathroom; doing art projects; helping me bake things; jumping on the couch even though they have been told no; etc, etc, etc. Pretty sure my kids are extroverts because of me!! But anyways…they are MY beautiful noise and a wonderful distraction. I’ve learned to be able to concentrate with them. I wouldn’t be able to concentrate much if they were not here. Funny how that happens isn't it?

I'm going to sit back...and try to enjoy the little things in life that make me so incredibly CONTENT.

B is for...BIRTHDAY BOY!!

B...B is for this fabulous BOY on his third BIRTHDAY!

A letter to my son

Dear Carter,

You’re only three years old...and at this point you can’t read (unless it's a McDonalds, Subway, WalMart or ToysRUs sign), let alone understand (or care) what I’m about to tell you. I’ve been thinking a lot about the life that you have ahead of you. I've been reflecting a lot on what I have learned, and about my role as a mommy. Here are just a few things that I hope you learn from me.

There will be people in your life who will not be nice. They’ll tease you because you’re different, or for no good reason at all. They might try to bully you or hurt you...dont' worry, I'll do my best to protect you until the bitter end! There’s not much you can do about these people except to learn to deal with them. Please learn to choose friends who are kind to you, who care about you, who make you feel good about who you are. When you find friends like this, hold on to them tightly, treasure them like gold, spend time with them like it's your last opportunity, be kind to them, and most importantly love them. Please do not let cruelty close you to new things. Don’t retreat from life, don’t hide or close yourself off. Be open to new things...new experiences...and love meeting new people.

You might get teased and bullied and hurt by people you meet … and then after meeting dozens of jerks, find a true friend. If you close yourself off to new people, and don’t open your heart to them, you’ll avoid pain … but also lose out on meeting someone incredible, who will be there during the toughest times of your life and create some of the best times in your life. WOMEN: here we go already...You might get your heart broken 10 times, but find the most wonderful woman the 11th time. If you shut yourself off from love, you’ll miss out on that woman, and the happiest times of your life.

You will fail many times but if you allow that to stop you from trying, you will miss out on the amazing feeling of success once you reach new heights with your accomplishments. Failure is a stepping stone to success. Here’s my biggest secret: life isn’t a competition. It’s a journey. If you spend that journey always trying to impress others, or trying to outdo, you’re wasting your journey. Instead, learn to enjoy the journey. Make it a journey of happiness, of constant learning, of continual improvement, of love.

Don’t worry about having a nicer car, house, any material object, or even a better-paying job. None of that matters...and none of it will EVER make you happier. I've learned that you’ll acquire these things... and then only want more. Instead, learn to be satisfied with having enough — and then use the time you would have wasted trying to earn money to buy those things … use that time doing things you love.

Find your passion, and pursue it. Don’t settle for a job that pays the bills. Life is too short to waste on a job you hate. If there’s a single word you should live your life by, it is this: Love. It might sound stupid, I know … but trust me, there’s no better rule in life.

Finally, know that I love you and always will. You are starting out on a wonderful journey, and I will be there for you always. You have this crazy ability to make everyone laugh with your light hearted sense of humor and gigantic giggle and smile. You love so hard that you have to try to hold 15 stuffed animals every night at bed time...even though you have only a wingspan big enough for two. May you continue to grow taking down the Mt. Everest-like challenges that may stand in your way. May you always find the lighter side in life as you do right now and may you always know how loved, special and extraordinary you are.

Happy Birthday!

All of my love,

Mommy

I have a love for photography...

I don't think that I ever thought I would like taking pictures...but I sure do now! It helps that I have a SWEET camera that does most of the work for me! My favorites so far are children! How can someone not love the innocence of a child!? I love babies...toddlers...and lately the thought of taking more senior portraits has become kind of exciting! I have learned a few things about photography in my short, short time...and I would like to share!

Follow your own style...trends don't work

Most people like getting their photo taken...most

Always bring your camera with you everywhere you go.

Seriously...EVERYWHERE!

Don’t take photos...tell stories

Look for the beauty in the mundane

Take photos that make people laugh
"The night is often more vivid than the day” – Van Gogh

Don’t worry about the camera so much...just take the photo

Candid looks are fabulous

Go for the shock factor

Smile often :)
Crouch when taking your shots, it often makes for more interesting photos.
Get close... Now take two steps closer...closer...
Go explore...serendipity is key

Now, as I am not a professional, bear with me as I start this new series of photos...

I am going to start posting pictures according to different themes that I choose.

I figured that since I am a teacher my first series of photos should be the ABC's. A is for...B is for... Sounds like an easy task, right? We will see!!