Chili Fajitas Rip Off Recipe

The marinade for this recipe is outstanding.  If you like Chili's fajitas which I do, it is as close as anything I've ever had.  The key is marinating the meat over night.

1/2 cup lime juice
1/3 cup water
2 Tbls. olive oil
4 garlic cloves crushed
2 tspn. soy sauce
1 tspn. salt
1/2 tspn. liquid smoke
1/2 tspn. cayenne pepper
1/4 tspn. black pepper

Basically mix together, add meat and marniate over night.  Remove meat, discard marinade & thinly slice meat.  Cook over medium heat until cooked, remove meat, add veggies of choice and cook those.  Add meat back in and add 1 tspn. soy sauce, 1/2 tspn. lime juice to pan.  Cook everything for a few minutes and youre done.

Bourbon Chicken

Another good one.

Ingredients

chicken cut into bite sized pieces
1 garlic clove crushed
1/2 tspn. ginger
3/4 tspn. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 cup orange juice
1/2 cup light brown sugar
2 Tbls. ketchup
1 Tbls. cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce

Cook chicken in oil until lightly browned, remove.  In same pan add remaining ingredient, heating over medium heat.  Heat until well mixed and sugar disolved.  Add chicken and bring to boil.  Reduce heat simmer 20 minutes.  Enjoy!

Recipe Roundup

I have 3 new recipes from last week, none of which I took pictures of.  All were great, one was really good.  Here goes.

Bermuda Spinach Salad.

I'm not going to post a recipe on how to make a salad, that's silly.  I will however, post the dressing because that was awesome.

1/2 cup onion chopped
2/3 cup sugar
1 tspn. salt
1 cup veggie oil
1/2 cup cider vinegar
1/2 tspn. black pepper
1 tspn. celery seed
1 Tbls. dijon style mustard

put all ingredients in food processor and blend until smooth.  It was great.

Halloween 2009

What a great night for Trick or Treating.  We did our annual trek through the old neighborhood.  The kids, Alex, Rachel & Dillon, had a blast. 

Goooooaaaaaaal!

I don't have a picture of it, but Rachel scored her first goal of the season Saturday, at the last game of the season.  It wasn't a cheap goal either, she passed a defender and kicked at an angle right into the net.  Here are some pictures from the end of the season.

Things I've Heard Over the Last Few Days

Did you know I'm a vampire?  I've been fighting the urge to drink blood but I think I need to give in (SRO Resident)  My response-Hello 911?
I love stepping on the dried up crunchy leaves, it's like walking on a bag of chips-Alex
Mom, Alex called me a name-Rachel.  What did he call you?  An angry mob-Rachel.
I've been touched by the hand of God and I'm here to judge you (SRO Resident-same one)  My response-Umm hello 911 yeah we just called you can you speed it up.
I don't like the treadmills facing the mirrors (Y member).  Why?  Because everyone is looking at my butt. (I didn't have the heart to tell her that they weren't)

Props!

I haven't done one of these in a while, I guess no one has been wowing me.  We (the 4 of us) went to Yokahama's last night to celebrate Allen's 38th birthday.  The food was great, so was the service.  The chef we had really played it up with the kids.  Had great sushi from the sushi bar, and dinner from the teppanyaki table.  John & the woman who works there, who's name I don't think I've ever asked, remembered us.  They always do no matter how long it is between visits. 

Normally when we go here or anywhere like this we just get the kids fried rice and we share a little bit of food from our plates.  We decided this time to get them the Hibachi chicken dinner.  Rachel was great and tried both steak and ate a bit of chicken (maybe 4 bites).  Alex swore we were trying to kill him.  He literally was gagging while eating a bite of chicken.  It's chicken for the love of god.  He would not eat any of the veggies and only a couple of bites of noodles.  That kid is never going to grow. 

Weekly Menu October 25-October 31

I didn't bother with posting last week since I knew the week was crazy.  Both of us had a lot of late nights out of the house so most days were fend for yourself.  Back to nromal this week.

Sunday-Baked chicken & fixings
Monday-Chili's Tacos (another rip off recipe I'll post later)
Tuesday-Bourbon chicken with veggies (new recipe)
Wednesday-Shake & Bake Pork Chops w/ veggies
Thursday-Jerk Chicken w/veggies
Friday-Ham & Eggs

Spirit Day

Today was spirit day at St. Monica's.  The kids had assigned categories they could dress up as and earn points for their spirit clubs.  Alex & Rachel both had clowns.  Stinks for those kids who are terrified of clowns.  They did look cute. 

Flowers!!!

Check out the beautiful bouquet of flowers Dad and Lyn sent me as a congratulations for the Employee of the Year Award.  Aren't they gorgeous?  I just love sun flowers & calla lilies!

2 Black Eyes

Not sure if you can see it well in this picture, but Alex is currently sporting 2 black eyes.  One is much worse than the other.  Now not 100% sure what happened because I was at work and they are getting to that age where they leave details out of stuff so they won't get in trouble. Apparently they were wrestling, on Alex's bed.  Alex was covered by his comforter, kneeling, and Rachel tackled him.  He face planted the headboard.

Screamfest!

What do two good caring parent do on a Friday night?  Well bring their 5 & 7 year old to Screamfest of course.  What's some goblins, monsters and ghouls to little kids?  Ah it wasn't that bad, besides we bought them flashy Monster B Gone necklaces and they did exactly that, stayed away.  Here are some pics.

By the way you want to watch something funny?  Put my kids on the bumpre cars and watch them go.

Tuckered out little chicky

What do you get when you get up early (on her own accord mind you, I certainly didn't see a need to get up early on Saturday morning), play soccer (and play she did) help rake the yard (this was her idea by the way I was content on the couch) then have dinner?  Well you crash early watching tv.

Recipe Review-Peking Pork Chops

I've had this package of pork chops bouncing around the freezer for a couple of weeks and finally got around to making something with them. 

Ingredients

6 pork chops


1/4 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon ginger

1 teaspoon 5 Spice Powder

1/2 cup gluten free soy sauce

1/4 cup ketchup

4 cloves garlic, chopped

 Put chops into the stoneware. In a small bowl, combine sugar, spices, soy sauce, ketchup, and garlic. Pour evenly over the top of chops. No need to add any other liquid. If you had an onion in the house, it might be a nice addition, but not necessary for flavor.

Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours, or on high for about 4. If your chops are frozen they will take longer to cook. The longer you cook the meat, the more tender it will, but it might fall off the bone (which is fine in my mind, but some people really like intact meat).

Serve with rice and veggies; ladle sauce on top.

It was good, probably won't go into regular rotation only because I have other recipes I like better, but it's easy and contains all ingredients I usually have on hand so it would be a fall back recipe.

Weekly Menu 10/4/09-10/10/09

Last week was a disaster.....the white bean chicken chili was well, disgusting.  Probably one of the worst things I have ever cooked.  Just down right gross.  So after spending all that time cooking and it being inedible we got subs.  Then the night I made the slow cooker cabbage casserole thingy, well, I didn't like it.  Mostly I was just being a brat since the other recipe had been so bad i was feeling deflated and we got take out yet again.  So this week we are paying the price because we're broke.  I did squeeze in food shopping but when I do it this week (for next week) I will try and do a cupboard clean up to use stuff on hand and save some cash.  NO TAKE OUT for 2 weeks, that's my plan let's see if I can stick to it.

Sunday-Roast (awesome sale price), over brown potatoes (my favorite), butternut squash & green beans (had Bob and Gail over for dinner)
Monday-I had to work late so it was fend for your self night
Tuesday-Spanish Rice Casserole
Wednesday-Peking Pork Chops (slow cooker meal, new recipe will post later)
Thursday-Shepards Pie
Friday-Chicken, why oh why did I buy chicken.  Can't quite remember what I had planned on making but let's be honest it's chicken, I have about 5000 different recipes for chicken
Saturday-I plan on food shopping either Friday afternoon or Saturday so I'll get dinner for this night then.

Halloween Preview

What do you get when the kids raid the dress up clothes chest?

Mornings

So the newness of school has worn off for Rachel.  We are back to grumpy mornings, which involve alot of hurrying.  Here's the latest pic of her sleeping during breakfast.

Alex on the other hand is bright eyed and bushy tailed.

Weekly Menu

Yeah I don't know what the date is off the top of my head, and don't feel like getting up so that's that.  Another great week of no take out and for the most part sticking to the menu.  Moved a few things around and one night it was fend for yourself since I was still stuffed from the CEO luncheon.  Hopefully this week will go well also.

Sunday-Stuffed Cabbage Casserole in the crock pot (going to Canobie for the day, this will be good when we get home)
Monday-White Bean Chicken Chili (new recipe I'll post later)
Tuesday-Lemon Chicken Pasta
Wednesday-Ropa Vieja
Thursday-Firecracker Shrimp and what not
Friday-Hot Dogs & Mac & Cheese.

Weekly Menu 9/20/09-9/26/09

Wow, did a great job of sticking to the weekly menu, even for what night was what.  Only change was Friday, and I still cooked, no take out.  Here goes this weeks

Sunday-Crock Pot Beef Stroganoff
Monday-Chicken Fried Rice
Tuesday-Buffalo Chicken Quesadilla for me/Meatball sub for Allen
Wednesday-Breakfast for dinner
Thursday-Crockpot Ropa Vieha
Friday-Beans & Hotdogs
Saturday-Grilled Chicken & Individual scalloped potatoes

PF CHang's Mongolian Beef

This is a rip off recipe off one of the many sites I peruse.  I made it last night with a side of rice and it was very good.  I did alter from the recipe and added a bunch of veggies near the final step.  I used broccoli, edamame, and onions and it was a hit.

Ingredients

1 tbls. chopped garlic
1/2 tspn. ginger
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 lb flank steak cup into thin strips
1/4 cup corn starch


Make sauce by heating up some oil in a sauce pan, don't let it get too hot.  Add garlic and ginger, followed by water, soy sauce and then brown sugar.  Disolve sugar and let it boil for 2-3 minutes until it gets thick.  In the mean time sprinkle the meat with the corn starch and let it sit for a few minutes. 

Heat up a cup of oil in a wok or fry pan.  Add beef and cook for about 2 minutes.  Remove meat and discard oil.  Put pan back on heat and put meat back in (this is where I added the veggies) now add the sauce and cook for a few minutes.  That's it.

Quesadillas de Camarones

Wow!  That's all I can say.  I'm a quesadilla girl, I just love them, but I'd never had shrimp ones.  I saw a recipe for them on a site that's never steered me wrong, so I decided to try them.  They are delicious.

Ingredients

Tortillas
8-12 large shrimp, peeled & deveined
8 oz. Mexican red sauce
1 large onion, red pepper, green pepper
2 cups shredded cheese


Cover the shrimp with the red sauce and set aside.  I used the Old El Paso enchilada sauce because it was all I could find and it worked great.  Chop up the veggies and add them to the skillet.  Cook them over high until the soften up and get brownish.  Remove them from the skillet, or use another one if you feel like dirtying up a bunch of dishes.  Now dump the shrimp in the skillet with the sauce.  Cook stirring occasionally until shrimp are opaque.  Remove the shrimp and chop them up.
In a new skillet heat some butter, or butter spray or whatever your fancy is.  Place tortilla down and layer ingredients starting with and ending with cheese.  Top with another tortilla.  Remember to flip it to cook the other side.  I do a terrible job on the flip and this time was no exception.  Serve with whatever side items you like, guac, sour cream, salsa etc.

Weekly Menu 9/13/09-9/19/09

Wow stuck to the menu last week, except one night the chicken chop suey never happened.  We got take out from Friday's instead, but it was a deal.  Their Jack Daniels Chicken Sandwiches are only $5.00 right now.  But take out and extra's will be coming to a halt because we are heading to Florida in April so I need to save money.  Here goes for next week.

Sunday-Maple Glazed Chicken & veggies
Monday-Shrimp Quesadillas
Tuesday-Crock Pot Chicken Chop Suey (let's try this once again)
Wednesday-PF Chang's Mongolian Beef (rip off recipe I'll let you know how it turns out)
Thursday-Pork Chops, hmmm...can't remember why I bought them.  Must have a recipe around here somewhere, if not good old shake & bake will work
Friday-Chicken, not sure how but there's some in the freezer so we're using it.

Eating Sushi

Allen and I love sushi.  up until a couple of years ago we'd never really eaten it, with the exception of California rolls.  It's easily one of our favorite meals now.  We decided to try the new restaurants Wasabi in Salem.  Rachle was adamant she wanted to try sushi, or shushi as she calls it.  Alex wanted nothing to do with it, h ate fried rice instead.  She tried a bite of the salmon roll but couldn't get past the seaweed on the outside so she passed on that one.  She did try the California roll, ate mostly rice but did try the other parts of it.  Here are some pics.

First Day of School

Somehow in all the chaos of life I forgot to post pictures and an update of the first day of school.  So lat Wednesday the kids started school, Alex 2nd grade and Rachel Kindergarten.  She was super excited.  No tears, fears or anything simply waved goodbye and headed in with her teachers and new friends.  Here's some pictures. 

Cowboy Stew

This is not healthy, but it's easy and usually does a good job of clearing some cans out of my cupboard and well, we like it. 

1 lb. ground beef
1 small onion chopped
1 can cream style corn
1 can chili with beans
1 can baked beans with pork
1 can tomato sauce
1 can diced green chiles

Brown ground beef and add in onion.  Drain off grease, add back to pan and add in everything else.  Simmer about 30 minutes stirring occasional.  That's it, dinner is done.

Carne Asada Tacos

Needed to make some modifications but otherwise was good and I'll make again.

1& 1/2 lbs top sirloin cut into thing bite sized strips.  I think I used a flank stead or something like that
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tspn. peper
juice of 1 lime
tortillas
1/2 red onion chopped
1 avocado diced or sliced however you like it
1 tomatoe chopped
clinatro chopped
another sliced or wedged lime
cheese

So basically you thinly slice the beef then sprinkle the salt & pepper on it.  Toss it well with the juice of 1 lime and let it sit about 30 minutes.  When it's done marinating cook it in a skillet till it's done.  Then serve in tortillas with all the fixings.  I liked it better than regular tacos from a box.  It was fresher tasting.  And best of all it was easy to make.

Weekly Menu 9/6/09/-9/12/09

Wow last week went well, with the exception of moving just about everything around.  This week we get into the regular schedule, with the exception of Allen's school.  That starts next week. This week I was determined not to spend a ton of money at the grocery store so I thoroughly inventoried what we had and worked every recipe around it.  For the most part I only needed to buy a few items for dinner to make recipes complete.  By weeks end my cupboard that has al the canned goods, rices, pasta etc. should be pretty bare. So here goes

Sunday-Bob & Gail came over, spaghetti & meatballs
Monday-Carne Asada Tacos
Tuesday-Cowboy Stew
Wednesday-Crockpot Chicken Chop Suey
Thursday-Polynesian Pork Chops
Friday-Jerk Chicken
Saturday-I am working so Allen's on his own

Bugs!

Since the start of the summer Rachel has had an issue with bugs.  She's never been a big fan of bugs but was not the type to screech or run if they landed on her.  That has now changed, and for good reason.  We start the summer off with Rachel getting bit on the butt by a tick.  According to her it bit her there because she has a big butt.  Next, and throughout the summer, was the mosquitos.  Those things love her, and of course she is allergic to them and develops these enormous welts when she gets even the smallest of bites.  Then we had the infamous swarm of wasps.  Bit 5 times the poor thing.  This past weekend was out latest incident.  She left her shoes outside, crocs to be specific.  Allen went out and got them she proceeded to put one on.  There's a rock in my shoe she announced and lifted up her foot.  It was sticking out of the hole, stange looking rock I said and went to grab it and it slithered back inside.  It was a slug.  She screamed so loud she could have broken glass.  Just once I'd like a ladybug to land on her or a butterfly to flutter around her head.  No she gets slugs in her shoes and we wonder why she now hates bugs.

Weekly Menu 8/30/09-9/5/09

Last week was all over the place since we ended up going camping. This week will be busy as we both head back to work and the kids start school. Here goes.

Sunday-Roast pork, potatoes, veggies move to Wednesday
Monday-Carne Asada Tacos (new recipe will post review later) Move to Friday
Tuesday-Make your own pizza night
Wednesday-Steak Tips on the grill Move to Sunday
Thursday-Spaghetti & Meatballs
Friday-Chicken ala King w/rice Move to Monday

Yet more Vacation Photos

Scenic view stop. We let some hippie/drifter take a picture of the whole family, but apparently the camera was too much for him and it didn't take.

Cold after swimming in the river.

That water was chilly.

Just lving camping.

Trying so hard to keep her balance and not fall in. She fell in.

Campground Pictures

The Ellis River. The kids played I kept an eye out for bears.

Finding the perfect rock to skim across the river.

Awwww!

Our campsite.

More Storyland Pictures

Yeah more rides that make adults sick to their stomach.

Doesn't everyone have this picture.

Alex wanted nothing to do with having this picture taken when we were walking into the castle and waiting in line. The minute Cinderella walked over and asked if he'd like to he was like oh okay and followed her over.

Overall great day. Not badly priced $25.00 per person. Free stroller rentals & kennel for your pets if you are a camper. You can bring your own food in, which we did and saved a bunch. Did buy popcorn which was only $2.00.

Camping Pics-Pictures from Storyland

So exctied she is big enough for the big rides.

Allen got whiplash from letting Rachel drive.

Loving the Glockenspiel.

Being a good sport and letting Mom take weird pictures of him.

Sibling love!