Chicken Ramen with Thai Peanut Sauce

Do you ever just have a hankering for something very particular, ok so maybe it is just me and the pregoness. Yesterday I could not get the thought of HuHot Peanut Sauce out of my head I wanted it I needed it. But driving an hour to get it wasn’t happening. So I turned to trusty Pinterest to see if I could find a recipe for a Thai Peanut Sauce, well of course I could Pinterest has EVERYTHING. The only problem was is that almost all the recipes I found contained coconut milk! Say WHAT! Number one I don’t like coconut, but I kind of figured that the peanut butter would over power the coconut. Number two I wasn’t driving to the next town to locate this, I needed to be able to find the needed ingredients at my local grocery store. Which I must say is AMAZING!!!

I kind of just threw caution to the wind and headed to my local C&R, Lo and Behold SILK COCONUT MILK!!!! I’m not sure that is what the recipes I saw had in mind but hey I used it and it worked wonders! FYI every ingredient in this recipe was available at my local grocery store! Again Amazing store with amazing people and selection! But back to the dish. This sauce made my typical chicken ramen stir-fry totally different sweet and hot and a bit sour from the vinegar gracious it was good! I even used some of the extra sauce to dip my lovely egg roll in! Give this a try if you are wanting to mix up your weeknight meal with a little taste of Thai!!! Plus it was done in under 30 minutes!!! BONUS!

Chicken Ramen with Thai Peanut Sauce

2 Large Chicken Breasts (Cut into Bite Sized Pieces)

1 Bag of Tri-Colored Slaw Mix

3 Packages Ramen Noodles (reserve one flavor packet)

2 Cups Water

1 ½ Cups Thai Peanut Sauce

2 TBSP Teriyaki Sauce

Sesame Seeds (optional)

Heat two TBSP of Oil (I used coconut) in a large non-stick skillet, add chicken breast and cook through. Remove chicken from skillet, season with salt, and set aside. In the same skillet heat another TBSP of oil add your slaw (don’t add the dressing if it comes with it) sauté for 5 minutes or so just to soften the cabbage. Remove from skillet and set aside. Using the same skillet pour in water and one seasoning packet from the Ramen, stir to dissolve add in the noodles cover for 5-10 minutes stirring occasionally. Once noodles reach desired tenderness add chicken and cabbage back in combine, then stir in the Peanut and Teriyaki Sauce. Add more peanut sauce if you like. Top with Sesame Seed and Serve! YUM!

Thai Peanut Sauce

1 ½ Cups Coconut Milk

½ Cup Creamy Peanut Butter

2 TBSP Sriracha Sauce (More if you like it Spicy)

2 TSP White Vinegar

Salt and Pepper to taste

Whisk all ingredients together in a small sauce pot heat over medium low heat until sauce is smooth and thickened, this will take some time just be patient.  It’s so worth it! 

Cauliflower Fried Rice

Last week I was honored to be able to speak again to the biggest loser group I am apart of about healthy eating. That night I tried to focus on healthier swap outs. Because in all of my weight loss journey I have not deprived myself of anything I love food and I knew that if I was going to change it wasn't going to be by changing everything about what I ate! 

The night I spoke I had several options for them to try. Spiced Chickpeas as a healthy alternative for afternoon snacking. Avocado Ranch Dip instead of your typical ranch. I gave samples of Turkey Sausage to show how to cut out some calories without losing taste. I also made an alternative to ice cream, with Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bites. As I was preparing for this little class I knew I wanted to prepare a main dish that had and easy swap out and lately I have been needing lots of Chinese Food. That is where my love for fried rice met my dislike for cooked cauliflower. Boy oh boy am I glad I gave this a try. Plus one of the pickiest people in the group was amazed by it and thought it was rice!!! Winner! 

This dish could be served alone for a meat free meal or paired with some awesome crock pot pineapple chicken like I did in the picture above. Note if you have been avoiding trying these recipes because you don't own a food processor NO WORRIES!!! I found in my local Wal-Mart near the bagged lettuce Cauliflower Crumbles!!! Yup that's that right just open the bag and they are ready to use!!! 

Give this a try for a great healthy option to your typical fried rice!!! Oh and someone mentioned to me the other day that I hadn't posted a before and now (not after because I will always be a work in progress) picture in a long time! Well below the recipe there is one, I feel pretty dang great about how far I have come! 

   

Cauliflower Fried Rice 

INGREIDENTS

1 head cauliflower, chopped into florets

1 small yellow onion, finely chopped

1 cup frozen peas and carrots 

2 eggs, beaten

1 Tbsp sesame oil

1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce

1 Tbsp light brown sugar

1/8 tsp. ground ginger

Pinch red pepper flakes

2 Tbsp green onions, chopped

INSTRUCTIONS

Chop head of cauliflower into florets and place in food processor. Pulse until it starts to resemble rice; set aside.

Heat a large wok (or skillet) over medium heat and drizzle in sesame oil. Add onion, peas and carrots and saute until tender, about 2 minutes.

Meanwhile in a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger and red pepper flakes; set aside.

Slide veggie mixture to one side of the wok and add in the beaten eggs, scrambling until cooked through and then incorporate with the veggies.

Stir in cauliflower "rice" and pour the soy sauce over top, mixing well. Cook for an additional 3 to 4 minutes, until cauliflower is soft and tender.

Top with green onions, serve and enjoy!

The Left is in January of 2014 the right January of 2016

The Things She Says...Even More

This is my child she has easily gained the name the Mouth of the South! She fully believes that Bandaids are a fashion accessory, that pizza is lovely if there isn't too much sauce, and Speaking her mind any chance she gets. 

Here are a few of her most recent hum dingers-wow is all I have to say. 

This occurred one Saturday afternoon I was resting on the couch she was supposed to be resting/napping in her room. She comes into the living room and snuggles up next to me, probably to avoid me telling her to go get back in bed. She then in her sweetest voice possible says this. 

"Momma I'm so glad your having a baby!" 

"Well why is that Charlot?"

"I am going to teach it all kinds of things! Like that God is awesome and Jesus loves you and that you should be kind and honest with people."

"How sweet Charlot." (My heart is about to burst, until) 

"And I will teach it to NOT TOUCH SAMATHA!" (Samantha is her new American Girl Doll)

Well great the fights have already began. 

On the same afternoon, I could see a nap wasn't happening so I suggested she go tidy up her room. I especially wanted her to clean up her books and get them organized. 

She brings some books into the living room where I am tidying things up. She says...

"Momma can we give these to those kids that just don't have and much as me."

"Sure we can Charlot that is very nice"

"Where do you want me to put them"

"Oh just over there on the couch is fine"

I watch her walk over there then she just stands there for quite sometime.

"Charlot are you ok? If you don't want to give the books away it's not a problem."

"No! I'm just scratching my bottom!"

No more questions were asked, I did suggest she go wash her hands

If you don't want to read about my kid comparing me to a sow please stop here now! And I won't blame you for never reading my blog again. 

One day I was in the bathroom getting dressed and if you are like me once you became a mom your ability to go to the bathroom alone completely went away. Well of course before I can get my shirt on in barges Charlot. 

"Momma why are those so big" (well we have had this discussion before about my boobs)

"They just are Charlot, it kind of happens"

"Well are you going to feed the baby with them?"

"I hope so"

"Did you feed me with them?"

"Well kind of"

She just stares at me for a minute I am putting my shirt on by now. She picks my shirt up and looks a my tummy.

"Well why do you just have two, Daisy has lots you should have lots too."

"I'm your Momma not your sow"

"Well it's kind of the same" 

Thank you child your father compares me to cattle being sold at a sale barn and you expect me to nurse 10 pigs. 

Now this last one I had to include because it will provide some insight to what I am living with on a daily basis. 

In the mornings the hubs gets Charlot dressed while I get ready, he brushes her hair then turns her over to me to style the hair. The other morning I walk in to her room to fix her hair and I look at our kid and her socks are on the outside of the pants. Yes the outfit matches (I lay it out each morning) but she looks completely silly with these monster socks on the outside of the pants. I say..

"Hubs seriously I have told you when you are putting her skinny jeans on put her socks on before the pants, please"

This is his response...

"I put clean underwear on her this morning"

Hum isn't that something that should be done every morning I am thinking. About that time Charlot proceeds to show me with so much pride her underwear and says...

"Yea Momma he did but I already tooted in them, sorry!!!"

I just laughed, and prayed that my kid goes to school with clean underwear on everyday. 

Why yes this is my life and yes I thought it would be a good idea to add another child to this!!!

French Puffs...My Style

So these little jewels are amazing...I needed to get that out of my system as much as I needed to get these out of my house. I have to think of the best interests of my thighs. I have been looking at this recipe for several years since I got my very first Pioneer Woman Cookbook, they always looked delish but kind of a pain. You see what kicked my butt into gear to make these is that since Christmas I have been hearing about how amazing these little cinnamon muffins the Hubs sister made were. I didn't get any and she told me that they were a recipe out of one of the PW cookbooks I gave her as a shower gift. I knew that it was these!!!

Well Saturday morning these were happening I was going to get them made. The hubs left to go feed hay and Charlot was still asleep I had the kitchen to myself I was set. the entire recipe was made I came to the part where you alternated 1 cup of milk mixing into the eggs mix with the dry ingredients. I open the fridge...and there it is a nearly empty gallon of milk. WHAT!!! I measured out what I had 1/2 cup seriously!!! Who leaves a 1/2 cup of milk in the gallon. Oh but I was determined, the store was not an option I was not waking my morning hating child. I texted my sister-in-law for a milk emergency. She was already gone for the morning...Checked with the Hubs still feeding hay but looking forward to breakfast, yikes...searched my fridge, no clue why. Then it came to me. I make Lemon Ricotta Cookies that are really light and fluffy! I added a 1/2 cup of the ricotta to the mixture and hoped for the best. 

Basically that was the most ridiculous way I could have gone about telling you guys that these are great and pain free to make! They will be my new go to for new momma's!!! 

For a link to the recipe head HERE! 

Christmas Countdown Random Acts of Kindness...Recap...WAYYYY late.

I am very sorry for the lateness of this post apparently baby brain is striking hard. I have had this post ready since the day after Christmas and I was certain that I posted it...Well as you can see I didn't! Whoops! Please forgive me! 

Monday Day 13- We took Candy Canes to the local nursing home...this was an absolute treat! Charlot loved handing out the canes and the residents loved seeing her. So much fun I don't think that RAOK will ever leave the list.

Tuesday Day 15- The above picture is of her getting ready to deliver treats to our meat cutter at our local grocery store. He is always so very kind to us that we want him to know how much we appreciate him!

Wednesday Day 16- She brought a flower to the cooks at school.

Thursday Day 17- She got to choose someone to call just to say I love you! As we expected she called her grandma Linda they are quite the pair. 

Friday Day 18- We made a meal basket, with a meal she chose and took it to one of our neighbors. She even chose the recipient of this gift. It was so so much fun!

Saturday Day 19- We actually did two things, the first was we spent an hour volunteering for the Salvation Army and rang bells in front of Wal-mart. This has been a tradition my mom and I have had since I was a little girl and I am so glad we are keeping the tradition up. Then we went inside of Wal-mart to do a little shopping and Charlot's task was to choose someone to go in front of us in line. The guy she chose and his son were so kind and appreciative of her gesture. 

Sunday Day 20- We took this delicious Clementine Cranberry bread to our wonderful minister. Our church is so blessed to have such a kind man who is great with all people young and old. 

Monday Day 21- We took treats to the sweet ladies and gents that work at our local bank. They deserved this so much every time we are in there they make certain to give Charlot a sweet treat.

Tuesday Day 22- Her task for the day was to surprise someone with a yummy breakfast. Well Uncle Zach and Aunt Lauren were the lucky ones this year!

Wednesday Day 23- We couldn't forget our four legged friends. Nutkin and friends needed some special Christmas sweets as well.

Thursday Day 24- She was to make a list of things she loved about someone. Well she chose her Pap and man alive is this list interesting and awesome. I have to share a few things with you, "I love my Pap because he let's me take his socks off for him." "I love my Pap because he lives with Grandma." This list was so great that my parents framed it and hung it up in the kitchen. 

Friday Day 25- This was her choice. It was Christmas I wanted her to choose. She chose to give her cousin one of her favorite books because she just knew that Karstin would love it! 

I hope all of you have enjoyed following along in this little tradition with us. I pray it is something we will continue for years to come and that it will become a tradition my little one treasures.