Broccoli Chicken Lo Mein

I posted a photo of my supper Saturday night and several of my Facebook friends asked for the recipe so hence the blog post...because let's get honest I am a terrible blogger. I wanted to say that this recipe is super freezer friendly as a meal kit something I do regularly. I have included the instructions for the freezer method in the recipe as well. The recipe is also great to switch up vegetables and even meats with, plus in my home anything with noodles is consumed very well. I hope you all enjoy! 

I wanted to take a second and say that I really want to get back to blogging on the regular, I really do just with two little ones and two busy jobs my poor blog keeps finding it's way to the back burner. So if you are reading this thanks for sticking with me. I hope all of you are having a blessed Monday. 

Broccoli Chicken Lo Mein 

Makes 6-8 servings

Ingredients

1.5 lbs. Chicken Breast Diced

4 Broccoli Crowns

¼  cup Soy Sauce

¼ cup Teriyaki Sauce

¼ cup Hoisin Sauce

1 TSP Minced Garlic

1 TSP Rice Vinegar

1 TSP Sesame Oil

1 Can Bamboo Shoots drained

1 Can Water Chestnuts drained

1-2 tsp Cornstarch mixed with water (if needed to thicken) 

½ lb Linguini Pasta Cooked until just al dente  

In a medium size bowl mix Soy Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, Hoisin Sauce, Vinegar and Oil pour over chicken and marinate for at least 30 minutes. Steam broccoli for 5-6 minutes to soften. Heat EVOO in a large nonstick skillet add in the chicken and sauce cook through. Add in broccoli and cook until desired tenderness stir in bamboo shoots and water chestnuts. If the sauce is too thin you may need to thicken with cornstarch. Just before serving stir in noodles to coat with sauce and mix in the vegetable through.

Freezer Ready Directions-In a medium size bowl mix Soy Sauce, Teriyaki Sauce, Hoisin Sauce, Vinegar and Oil Place Chicken in a quart Ziploc bag pour sauce mixture over it and seal. Place broccoli in a quart Ziploc bag. Take a gallon Ziploc bag and add each quart bag to it.

Cooking day! Thaw bag in the refrigerator all day. When you get home pour chicken into a nonstick skillet and cook through add broccoli and cook until desired tenderness. Serve over rice, or ramen.

Morning Madness and Mom Guilt...I need a Moment

Today I was sitting with a coworker and she was beginning to lose her patience during lunch, I could see it and frankly I was kind of laughing at her, she knew it and expected it from me. She then says I don’t know what it is about today but my patience is running thin. I quickly reply oh heck I lost mine before I ever left my house this morning (which looking back after reading an article, I was a conservation narcissist, in that situation, more on that another time). Back to the losing the patience before leaving the house. As soon as I said it out loud today I felt sad, like deep down sad. What in the world am I doing losing my patience long before the day really starts. Why am I starting my day this way and why am I starting my kid’s day this way!

I mean I am being completely raw with you guys my heart is hurt about how I was. This morning was rough like from the get go. Conrad was in a constant screaming tirade about well everything, he didn’t like the shirt I picked out, he didn’t want to poop, he didn’t want his diaper changed, he didn’t want to go to Lissa’s (daycare), he wanted to take his drawing board but it was too heavy, he wanted M&M’s (really kid), he didn’t want his coat zipped but he as cold, the list literally continues on and on. Charlot was trying to help but it just seemed that whatever she did just fired her brother up more.

Then I asked the fateful words are you good with the country steak at school for lunch, “I guess because you don’t have time to make lunch for me.” Cut me to the core. Now before I even hear this yes, she is old enough to pack her own lunch but this is kind of my thing I make homemade treats each week for her lunch box, I leave little notes I take pride in sending a piece of myself with her to school. More than anything it helps me with my mom guilt, selfish yes. Any way back on task here. I packed the lunch but probably not with the love and care I normally do. Why because I didn’t realize she wanted to pack her lunch, her brother was crying about his tanks not hooking up right, and frankly I was stressed.

I read those things all the time about a dirty kitchen means I have food to eat, laundry means I have clothes to wear, you know the things I’m talking about…and frankly yes, I know I am very blessed in my life. But at the same time just because I am aware of the blessing can I not be less than grateful from time to time? I think you can I think it is ok sometimes to need a moment, a pause a minute to not help anyone else to just breathe and be. I don’t really know what the intention of this post was other than I hope some mom out there is needing to hear she isn’t alone. That I fear each day that I am screwing up my kids and that I am not loving them enough but each night when they lay down I just try to remind myself that tomorrow is another day that I can try to be better. So here’s to tomorrow morning! Lord help me. No seriously I pray…a lot!