Bourbon Street Chicken

the other day I was talking with a group of women about recipes and they were shocked to find out that I very rarely cook the same thing twice. I love to cook new things - I think it is the most awesome feeling to cook a meal that everyone loves - I'll keep my feelings to myself about how I feel when I've slaved in the kitchen for a meal that everyone dislikes - it pretty much ruins my night. Anyway, if I find a recipe that is fantastic, I save it and will make it again but I'll wait a while. When Brian and I first married I made the same 5 meals and it ruined those foods for me. We had them so much that today the thought of parmesan chicken and spaghetti make me lose my appetite. So when I find a good one, I will only make it for special occasions. I love to read cookbooks since I am constantly on the hunt for new recipes and obviously I love Pinterest - that makes recipe hunting so easy!! I thought I would start posting some of my favorites.

This one was SOOOOOOO good and super easy to make - under 30 minutes!! Can't beat that!

Bourbon Street Chicken

from www.mmmcafe.blogspot.com

from www.mmmcafe.blogspot.com

Chicken
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 Tbs. oil (for frying)
4 Tbs. cornstarch

Sauce
1 garlic clove (minced)
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoon ketchup
1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce (or Bragg Liquid Aminos to be GF)

Cut chicken breasts into bit sized pieces, and lightly dust with cornstarch. Heat oil in your wok or frying pan and fry chicken until lightly browned. Drain chicken on paper towels and set aside.

In a separate bowl combine all sauce ingredients. Pour into wok or frying pan and bring to a boil. Add chicken back to the pan, reduce the heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Serve over rice or quinoa...delish!

Serves 4.

Jack's New Toy

We are in the process of ordering this "new toy" for Jack. It will enable him to walk on his own. I have watched this video at least 100 times and every time it makes me cry :)

P.S. well, I had the video uploaded but after a few views I couldn't get it to work anymore so I'll have to settle for a picture instead.

Papaw

My sweet Papaw went to heaven after living for 92 years. He was so sick and ready to leave this earth and we were ready for him to be out of pain but that doesn't take the sadness away. I have such wonderful memories of him. He and my grandmother threw the best Fourth of July parties that the entire family would come in town for. We would look forward to the party for weeks. He was a carpenter by trade so he was always tinkering around in his garage - if we came to him and complained of being bored he would plop down a box of wood scraps, hammer & nails and tell us to build something. He also used to rent some land to farm on in Shelby Farms and we use to go help him dig up potatoes and carrots and pick green beans. I have very few memories of him actually inside his house, he was always outside working on projects. He was a great man, I am so grateful that he was around long enough to meet my children. I hope Emi Joy will have some memories of him.

this is one of the last days he was able to go outside

I love this one - where he is looking at Emi

Jack is sitting up!!

Jack turned 4 on April 17th and on April 18th he decided that he was going to sit up all by himself. He started doing it right before bed so when we would lay him down he would just sit right back up. We got the biggest kick out of watching him lay down and sit up on the monitor that night. 

This is such a reminder to me that God is in control!! We were going through quite a dry spell - he hadn't really made much progress in the last year. Just as I start to get frustrated or think that maybe he won't be making any more progress he will do something amazing like sit-up on his very own. I know that God is telling me to give it all to Him and He is going to take care of us. I also want to thank everyone who has been praying for Jack - the prayers are felt and appreciated!!

April 18, 2012

Aesop's Fables

The last week of school was CRAZY!!! I was being pulled in 500 million different directions and most of the time Emi won out, poor Jack kind of got the shaft. It's hard having kids in 2 different schools. Oh well, I'm pretty sure Jack didn't mind :) Emi was in her first "play". The two kindergarten classes were reciting a fable - her class was doing The Farmer and the Stork,she was a narrator. She practiced her lines constantly and then did a fantastic job. I was so worried that she would get stage fright but she didn't - the scary part is that I think she really liked it.

After the play they held a graduation ceremony. I didn't cry on her first day of kindergarten but I was boo-hooing on her last day. I can't believe she is done with kindergarten - it has gone by so fast!!

Emi as a cat

Emi and her class

Emi saying her lines

Emi graduating from Kindergarten

the two kindergarten teachers and their classes

me and my "child star"

KK Graduated!!

Well, it's official my little brother graduated high school. I can't believe he is done with school! The worst part is that it reminded me that it's been 12 years since I graduated high school - man, I feel old! :)

Mother's Day

I had the best Mother's Day this year. Earlier in the week, I had a stomach bug (which was not so awesome) so my darling, sweet co-teacher volunteered to teach our Sunday School class so Sunday morning we headed off to church where I had no responsibility other than to show up :) Then we had lunch at my absolute-favorite restaurant Napa Cafe and then we headed home where I was told to stay in bed all day. I napped and read and watched tv - it was wonderful!!

My family did well (as usual)!

**disclaimer** It did take me all day Monday to clean up after my day off but it was worth it ;)

When Brian's away......

When Brian travels I try really hard to get the kids in bed by 8 so I can spend some time with my favorite girls :) He absolutely can't stand them so I never get to watch them unless he is out of town. SO guess what I'll be doing tonight!!

Curious Jack turned 4!

My sweet little boy turned 4 - I can't believe it. Jack's birthdays are sad for me which makes me even more sad. I want them to be happy, joyous occasions like they are for the rest of the family but for Jack they just aren't. Birthdays just seem like a constant reminder of how different he is from every other 4 year old - not that I would trade him for anything in this world but that does not soften the blow that your child is dramatically different. I would trade places with him in a heartbeat so he could know what it's like to be mobile or communicate with the ones he loves. Plus it is an anniversary (of sorts) of the difficult time we had after his birth and then the days leading up to his diagnosis - which I am pretty sure I can speak for both Brian and myself when I say that day was the worst day of our lives. 

SO to distract myself I throw myself into party planning mode - which I love! :)  

The awesome cake my friend Erin made

Jack and his BFF Miles

everybody gathered for the big surprise

Curious George came to the party!!

Jack was partied out!!

Happy Easter 2012

Ok, so it's been awhile - one year exactly since my last post :) I just love reading other people's blogs so I thought'd give mine another try. 

Here is Brian, Emi Joy and Jack reading the clues that the Easter Bunny left that leads them to their loot.

found some in the oven...

under the chairs...

found the loot under the dining room table!!!

Now, I have to explain the 10 pound chocolate bunny. I normally wouldn't condone my child eating oodles and oodles of chocolate but she voluntarily gave up chocolate for Lent and she was so good at not cheating (she is much stronger than her Momma!!). Hence, the gigantic chocolate bunny - when I saw it I couldn't resist ;)

all dressed up for church

Happy Easter from the Matochik's!!