Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Recipes

So, I occasionally get in the mood to share a good recipe I've come across on here. We've used these two recipes I'm going to share several times and enjoyed them alot! I couldn't remember where I had actually found the recipes but after a little searching I have found the site so I can give proper credit. I probably came across the blog from a friends blog and anytime I see a recipe in someones feeds of updates I often go check it out. Especially if I'm on the look out for new meals to try.

So, here we go. From www.melskitchencafe.com I found these two little gems! Let me know if you try them out and what you think. And hey, I'm on the lookout for new meals again so if you want to pass any of your favorites on to me I wouldn't mind a bit!

Also, check out this blog: http://jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com/ (linked up to if from Jill, thanks Jill!) I wanted to eat everything on her blog! She makes alot of desserts. I'm not so much into that, well making them that is, but they sure looked good. I did find some good meal ideas we are still in the process of trying from here though.

Anyways, on to the recipes!

The Best Chicken Fajitas

*Serves 4-5

*Note: liquid smoke may seem like an unnecessary, optional ingredient but I promise it adds an irreplaceable flavor and smokiness – I keep a bottle of liquid smoke on hand in the refrigerator just to make these fajitas.

Marinade:
¼ cup fresh lime juice (about 3-4 limes)
1/3 cup water
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
3 teaspoons apple cider or red wine vinegar
2 easpoons soy sauce
½ teaspoons chili powder
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon liquid smoke
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1/8 teaspoon onion powder

Fajitas:
1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts (about 3 large chicken breasts)
1 yellow onion, cut into thin strips
1 green pepper, cut into thin strips
1 red (or orange) pepper, cut into thin strips
8 ounces fresh mushrooms, quartered
1 teaspoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons water
½ teaspoon fresh lime juice (a quick squeeze of a cut lime)
dash of salt and pepper

Combine all marinade ingredients in a small bowl. Place chicken in a ziploc bag and pour the marinade ingredients over the top. Seal the bag and place in the refrigerator and let marinate for 2-3 hours.

After marinading, take chicken out of the bag and discard the marinade. Grill or broil the chicken 4-5 minutes per side (I use my indoor grill pan usually). Remove from pan and tent with foil to keep warm.

In a large nonstick skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat and add the onion, mushrooms and peppers. Stir fry until softened but still crisp tender. Add soy sauce, water, lime juice and salt and pepper. Cook another 2-3 minutes, stirring frequently. Slice chicken thinly on the diagonal and toss with the vegetables in the skillet. Serve immediately with flour tortillas and top with tomatoes, lettuce, guacamole, cheese, sour cream…the options are endless!

Recipe Source: My Kitchen Cafe/originally from Erin W.

Just a few notes from myself on this recipe. We like to marinade the chicken longer then 2-3 hours. It needs more time to soak up some good flavor and my husband is very picky about flavor! So, I recommend more time maybe 6 hours. And I have found these chicken breasts that are sliced in half already that I like to use and poke them with a fork and I think that helps more flavor get in since the breast is thinner.


Chicken Sauce for Hawaiian Haystacks


2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size chunks (or leftover cooked chicken, cubed)
3 tablespoons butter
½ onion (about ½ cup), finely chopped
3 cloves garlic; finely minced
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon pepper
¼ cup flour
2 cups milk
1 cup chicken broth

In a large skillet melt the butter over medium heat and add the onion and raw chicken (if using leftover cooked chicken, don’t add it to the skillet now, you’ll add it later). Saute the onion and chicken, if using, until the onions are soft and translucent and the chicken is cooked through, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for about one minute, stirring, until fragrant.

Sprinkle the flour over the onions and chicken and stir to combine. Cook over medium heat for one minute - this helps get rid of the starchy, flour taste. Slowly whisk in the milk and chicken broth. Cook, stirring constantly with a whisk, and bring the sauce to a simmer over medium to medium-high heat. Add the salt and pepper. If you are using leftover cooked chicken, add it now. Continue simmering, stirring the sauce frequently, until the sauce has thickened, about 5 minutes.

Serve the chicken sauce over rice with your toppings of choice, such as olives, tomatoes, shredded sharp cheddar cheese, green onions, mandarin oranges and chow mein noodles.

Recipe Source: My Kitchen Cafe


I was so excited to find this recipe. I was tired of using Teriyaki sauce on our Hawaiian haystacks and wanted a creamy sauce but hated to use cream of chicken. Now with this recipe I get the creamy I want and feel it is healthier to eat and it has made me expand the toppings we use which has also been so yummy!

Now, I have to admit me and Myer are the only ones that eat this sauce on ours, the other two still prefer Teriyaki. They are just missing out! We like to use chicken, cheese, green onion, green pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, pineapple, and chow mein noodles as our toppings.

Since it is just for two of us I half the recipe and it has been plenty for me and Myer to use and also have on our leftovers the 2nd day. And since we don't all like this sauce I don't cook my chicken in the sauce so the others can have it too.

Hope you enjoy!!

Saturday, March 12, 2011

New Look

If Wayne and I really looked like this,
Maybe our offspring would've looked more like this,

Just another take on Fischer, no we don't have four kids!

Hehe, I get a big kick out of these!

Monday, February 28, 2011

Those Ears!

I'm terribly lacking the enthusiasm to get pictures posted on here. I'm mostly behind on posting pictures from Myer's third birthday that was, oh the middle of January. Slightly behind, oops. Poor middle child!

But I've been wanting to find this scan of one of my baby pictures my parents sent awhile back and compare it to Fischer. Sometimes the boy reminds me of me in this picture. If nothing else the poor kid got my Lowder Ears! It makes me laugh! I don't notice it as much until I see someone else holding him or look at a picture of him. But I think I grew into my ears quite nicely so hopefully he will do the same!

I guess I was quite a bit older in this picture. Fischer is around 4 1/2 months and I'm more like 11 months. But there's something similar in the face, definitely the ears, don't you think?!



Love this boy!!

Monday, January 3, 2011

And Finally Part 1!

The kids are very lucky and get to open Christmas gifts before most kids. We always have our family Christmas early before we leave to Utah so we don't have to cart gifts around and we aren't usually back until after Christmas so they get them early.

Helping put up the tree.


He was so excited!


Come on, open the gift already!




Myer was excited about everything!

Kenner seemed harder to impress!



Kenner was more then happy to help Fischer open his gifts!




And the favorite toy of the night and the next few days was this firetruck and ambulance complete with noises and moving parts (daddy's favorite, wink wink) that Great Grandma/pa Hartman sent.

The gifts I thought I had got that they'd be ecstatic about hardly compared to these. Made me wonder why I had waited in line 2 hours after Thanksgiving for those big Tonka trucks. They did however like the Toy Story figures I got them but these trucks were a favorite for awhile.

The boys got spoiled and had a great Christmas. And I only managed to forget one gift I had bought that was hiding in a different closet then the other gifts. Don't think I've done that before. I think it'll get wrapped and given to Myer for his birthday here in a few weeks. I can't think of much else to give him since they have it all now!

Friday, December 31, 2010

Christmas Part 3

We also had a great visit in Bountiful. There are lots of aunts and uncles there all the time to keep the kids happy. It is great for me! Thanks for letting my kids drag you around and keeping them happy.

More new faces for Fischer to meet! Here with Aunt Melissa.
And Grandma

This is kinda a blurry pic but this is a favorite toy of the kids at Grandma's house. Myer even decided to drive it down Grandma's big flight of stairs. Eek, silly boy. Not sure if he accidentally went over or had the intention of going down. Luckily he was unharmed except for a little nick on his finger he kept showing me and would tell me it happened when he went down the stairs on the firetruck.

This was about the extent of our snow play. The kids went out for a bit. It later got rained off and we didn't see much snow the rest of our visit.




The 5 Hartman Grandkids. This was about the best pic I got. Annabelle was watching tv and why must we mention Myer's tummy and get him lifting his shirt to get him to smile?!

We had a fun time bowling one afternoon. I think my kids bowled better then I did. But in my defense they had this rack to help roll the ball down and the bumper bars up.


Fishcer hanging out




Christmas morning was much anticipated by Kenner. He enjoyed stacking his gifts into a tower!






Myer was pretty excited about this big truck with cars in it. Unfortunately, I was down feeding the baby when he opened this and I guess when he opened up a pair of Cars Pajamas he was pretty excited as well and took them around showing everyone in the room!

He took his truck over to show Great Grandma and tell her all about it!


Kenner and his Aunt Rachel. He sure likes her and she's good to let him drag her around.


Racing some of the cars! Myers still loves cars and trucks this year.


Gingerbread House making contest. Girls against boys! We totally won right ladies?!

The men did have a very structurally sound house they just lacked in the decorating skills!

Christmas Fireworks. The kids love this! And it wasn't as cold as last year.
Another great visit but we are always happy to come back home to warmer weather, no snow. and our own beds!

The plane ride back was mostly good except for the meltdown Myer had after we got to Vegas. He lost it when we got to the gate to wait for our next flight. Ya, we pretty much cleared the area within a few minutes! He he, I really did see a few people get up and leave. The kids were up around 5:15 to get ready to leave for the airport. Not much I could do to comfort a very tired child. Plus he was hungry since he wouldn't eat the breakfast we had bought.

I was about ready to leave Myer there in Vegas! Thankfully about 10 minutes after we were in the air he was out cold! His head kept bobbing out into the aisle. I was afraid it was going to get knocked with the people walking up and down the aisles. I couldn't get it to stay the other direction. So, I luckily got him to lay down onto my side and stay asleep for a nice little nap.

I had Myer laying on my side and Fischer asleep across my lap.
So sweet!




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