What a Week!

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Gaucamole Tostadas

OH MY GOODNESS! So much green on that plate. Maybe it's a dish for Kermit!
No special recipe for this. I found a package of flour (uncooked) tortillas at Walmart and fried them in a little olive oil for a crispy texture.
The flavor was much better than regular packaged tortillas.
I added some Guacamole, Lettuce, Red Onion, and topped the Tostada with a little lime juice.
They were easy and delicious.




Hello to everyone and Thank you for the comments on my previous post!

I have had a pretty stressful week.  On Tuesday I got locked out of my car, with both of my kids, phone, purse, everything locked in it.  And I could not reach anyone (Husband, Dealership, ECT) for assistance, but luckily the Police Department and Fire Department responded quickly and they were able to get a local Tower on scene to get into my car.  No damage to the car and other than being a little shaken up, we are all ok.  I am just so thankful that the Lord was watching over us with this happening during a cool winter day.

Well, on to some fun stuff! 

I am on the search for Zebra birthday party ideas and I came across this blog:

http://karaspartyideas.blogspot.com/

The ideas on this blog are so wonderful, colorful, fun, and creative.  I just love the newest entry: a Raggedy Ann and Andy party theme.  If you get a chance, take a look because the ideas on this page are so fun.  Especially if you have a few little ones running around. 

For tomorrow, I plan to share a few pictures of the Birthday party I hosted on Saturday.

Well, I hope that you all have had a wonderful week and that you enjoy the wonderful dishes on all of the blogs!

Foodie Friday - Teriyaki Chicken with Roasted Scallions

http://designsbygollum.blogspot.com/

My Foodie Friday entry is this sweet chicken dish.  This happens to be the only meal I make that my 2 year old son will want seconds.  He is the pickiest little eater I have seen, although we have encouraged him to try many different cuisines.  His choice would be Thai.  I found this dish on the Martha Stewart website.  The recipe calls for a whole chicken, but with the little ones I use chicken breast cut into peices.  

 

My little table setting.

I used some fun little plates I got at Target in the dollar section.

It was just the kids and me tonight.  It's always fun trying to make dinner with two little ones at your feet! 

Ingredients

Serves 4

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon rice vinegar

1/2 cup honey

1 garlic clove, minced

1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger

1 whole chicken (3 1/2 to 4 pounds), cut into 8 pieces

4 bunches scallions, greens cut into 2 1/2-inch pieces, whites halved lengthwise

1 tablespoon vegetable oil, such as safflower

Coarse salt and ground pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 450 degrees, with racks in upper and lower thirds. In a medium bowl, combine soy sauce, vinegar, honey, garlic, and ginger. Divide sauce between two bowls; use one for basting and reserve other for serving.

Line a rimmed baking sheet with aluminum foil. Place chicken on sheet, and baste. Bake on upper rack 20 minutes, basting twice with pan juices.

Transfer to lower rack; baste once more. Continue to cook until thermometer inserted into a breast (avoiding bone) registers 165 degrees, 5 to 10 minutes.

Meanwhile, on another rimmed baking sheet, toss scallions with oil; season with salt and pepper. Roast on upper rack until crisp-tender, 10 to 12 minutes. Serve chicken with scallions and reserved sauce.
 
*** Tip - Ginger can be stored in the Freezer and will last you for months and months!
 

I thought I would end with a peak at my daughter and her personality.

 

Here is the sweet little look I get when I make my little Liv sit, instead of jump on the couch.

"Oh Mama ~ you are just no fun!"

 

What am I to do? I can never get on to her when she gives me these looks.  All I can do is laugh.

Vintage Banner ~ Happy Birthday

I have always loved Vintage Banners.  Some that I have seen are amazing.  I decided to give it a try for the 50th Birthday I am hosting Saturday. 

I know.. I know.. On the window blinds is not too pretty, but I wanted to Hang it in the room to see how it might look.  I am not too sure where I will officially hang it yet!

(Note: If you click on the picture it will enlarge it for a better view)

So, What do you all think?  I wanted it to incorporate colors from the Table and have a slight vintage feel.

I have the Blue and Pink and all the glittery affect the table has, but I didn't add any silver. I can't say I am 100% happy with it, but it didn't turn out too bad.   I can't wait to have everything together for the dinner.  All the candles glowing and the sparkle from all of the little touches.

What are your thoughts?

Relaxing Moments!

First I would like to say thanks for the posts on my Foodie Friday entry!

It may be hard to beleive, but with two little ones, a relaxing moment may come in different forms than the norm. My relaxing moment of the week was creating a sweet little sign.

Full shot of my sign:

Close up of Mr. Bird

Creating signs is something new to me, but I REALLY love it.  I get to be creative and learn a new skill.  Painting and crafting has really been a release for me.  I love being at home with my children and I wouldn't trade it for the world.  It has been the most amazing blessing in my life.  But I have to tell you, it wasn't easy transitioning from an on the go, traveler. ( I traveled for my big girl job, before my kids)  I was gone pretty much 24 days a month) When I started staying home, I started searching for something that would allow me to relax my mind.  And I found what I really love.  My other passion is reading.  Which I do not get to do very often anymore.

I hope all of you have a relaxing moment this week and if you feel like sharing I would love to hear how you unwind!

 

Warmed by the Fire

So, Tablescape Thursday on Between Naps on the Porch inspired my fireside dinner tonight.  Luckily, we got the kids in bed and my sweet husband and I enjoyed a romantic candle lite, fireside dinner... Well, other than me snapping pictures.  So for my Foodie Friday addition

Thai Coconut Chicken Soup

Fireside dinner with plenty of wood for the COLD COLD night!

I love this soup.  It is very filling and full of flavor

Recipe:

Ingredients

I use a deli roasted chicken and just shred the meat
2 (13.5 ounce) cans canned coconut milk
2 cups Chicken Stock
1 (1 inch) piece ginger or galangal, thinly sliced
4 stalks lemon grass, bruised and chopped
10 kaffir lime leaves, torn in half
1 pound sliced mushrooms 
1/4 cup lime juice
3 tablespoons fish sauce
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon red curry powder or red curry paste
1 tablespoon green onion, thinly sliced
1 teaspoon dried red pepper flakes ( omit if you don't like the heat)

Directions


Pour the coconut milk and 2 cups of Chicken Stock in a large saucepan; bring to a simmer. Add the ginger/galangal, lemon grass, and lime leaves; simmer for 10 minutes, or until the flavors are infused. Strain the coconut milk into a new pan and discard the spices. Simmer the sliced mushrooms in the coconut milk for five minutes. Stir in the lime juice, fish sauce, and brown sugar. Season to taste with curry powder.

To serve, reheat Chicken in the soup, and ladle into serving bowls. Garnish with green onion and red pepper flakes.
 
I found this recipe on allrecipes.com.  The original recipe called for shrimp and water instead of chicken stock, but I enjoy the added flavor of the stock. 
 

I really enjoy trying different cultures food.  Thai and Greek are two of my favorite. 

 

Do you guys have any favorite dishes from other cultures?

 

Don't forget to check out the other great dishes at:

Designs By Golum

Busy again!

Well, I knew the calm before the storm would not last long.  I am once again busy with projects.  The first project is for my mom's best friends birthday party.  I am planning a small dinner party to celebrate her 50th birthday.  The color scheme is blue, pink, and silver.  for the most part I have the tablesscape together.  I am just trying to figure out a few details.

Here is my tablescape: Mercury glass candleholders and on the birthday night the center pot will be filled with flowers.

I want to fill the tray with some more items, but I am not 100% sure what I want to use.  I also need some suggestions on napkins and napkin rings.  Does anyone have any suggestions? 

I want to make this a special and fun occassion.  I would like to wow my guests with some wonderful little suprises and treats.  I would love ANY suggestions for that as well?  I plan to make some boxes to place at each spot.  I am going to use a small heart shaped box, painted pink or blue and fill them with something yummy. 

So, here is another project:

I am going to turn these two candle holders into one and Etch Faith and Hope on the hurrican.

This is the peice all together, with out the etching:

Once I finish this project it will become a gift for the birthday girl.  One of her favorite colors is red.  I will have a pair of these.  On one side will be the word Faith and on the other side will be the word hope.  As long as I get the lettering straight this should not be a very difficult project.  

I think I may also make a banner and of course I will take pictures once the entire space is decorated for the party.  My mom really wants this to be a special day for her dear friend.  They have known each other since they were 12.  Karen, my moms friend, lost her son Cody on July 4th 2008.  She then lost her father that Thanksgiving.  So, we really want to create a beautiful and special day for her.

The other projects I have going, besides my full time job, are two special occasions at my church.  We will be planning a Valentine's dinner for couples (this day happens to be my Birthday) and a Mother's Day Tea and Luncheon. (This one I have a bit of time to do the work)

Well, I plan to join the Foodie Friday again.  I will be featuring a Thai Coconut Soup.  It is just a Soupy time of year!

Well, my dear, sweet, and very passionate 2 year old, Jace, will be returning to pre-school tomorrow.  Jace is very, very energetic and spirited.  His pre-school and the teachers have really had a positive effect on him and helped him learn to better control himself.  It's also a nice break for the both of us.  He gets out of the house and has tons of fun and I can focus a few hours on my grown up girls job.  ( I heard this term used on Notes from a Cottage Industry and it really describes what my day job really is)

Well, I never really thought I would have so much to say.  I have really enjoyed blogging and I am working to get the hang of this.  I would like to have a regular schedule of when I post and I love the ideas of some of the weekly activities!  Maybe once I have a few readers. 

Well, Thanks for stopping by.  I hope everyone is having a great week!

Whirlwind...

I am reflecting on 2009 and I can not beleive what a whirlwind it has been.  My son turned 2 and my daughter turned 1.  My husband celebrated his 30th birthday, my in laws had to move quite a distance away and into an old farm house that needs major renovating, and we had to do major renovations to our own house!  Things have finally quieted down, now that the holidays have passed, but I am sure with two young children, and full time jobs that life will not stay slow for long.  After a pretty busy weekend, I am now able to post again and I thought I would share a few pictures of my Christmas dinner table, kids, and our house renovation, until I can get my mini home tour posted.  ( My husband and I worked on cleaning our garage today so that we can add some storage racks to our garage walls.  I am running out of space for all of my Christmas Decor!)

This was the main table for all of the adults.

We had a seperate table next to our large table for the Kiddos!

I forgot to get my poinsettias off the front porch and they unfortunately didn't make it, but they were pretty while they lasted and pretty dusted with snow!

This is my little Olivia Layne.  The inspiration for my shop name.

This is my Jace on Christmas morning with his train!

Here is a before shot of the side of our house.  We had terrible siding and bad water damage.  We ended up having this portion of our house bricked to match the front of the house.

And here is the after!  It looks much better now that all of the equipment has been cleaned up and the grass is growing again.

Here is the other before on our project.  We had a very old wooden Deck and windows that needed to be replaced.

It is a little hard to see with the tree in the way, but we now have new very large windows and a nice concrete patio.  Our future project with this will be a porch cover, and getting the railing up.  We also added a spot for a fireplace on the left side.  The only other thing we have done back here, so far, is to paint the french doors a nice green color to match the front door.

Well, I promise my next post won't be so long.  While I am working on my home tour, I have a few projects I will be working on.  I will be doing some glass etching with my Silhouette machine, to create some nice candleholders for a dear friends 50th Birthday, as well as, a few wooden wall decor items I want to make. 

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope your first weekend in 2010 was nice, fun, and relaxing!