Beef and Broccoli

I am not a huge Chinese fan, but my family LOVES it. I make stir-fry (from a bagged seasoned veggie mix) and some teriyaki chicken...but that's about it. A few weeks ago I saw a recipe for beef and broccoli and I remembered trying it once and liking it. But it called for some weird ingredients including oyster sauce. I don't know about you, but I don't just keep oyster sauce on hand. So I did a little research and found a fairly easy looking recipe that didn't have any "weird" ingredients. So I printed it so I could try something new. And just my luck the round steak it called for was on sale at my grocery store this week for $1.99/lb!

Here is a recap of the original recipe and the changes I made:

In a large measuring cup, combine 1/4 cup flour, 2 tablespoons brown sugar, 1 14 oz. can beef broth and 2 tablespoons soy sauce. Stir until dissolved.

In a large skillet or wok over high heat, cook and stir 1-2 lbs (I used closer to 2 lbs. because we like beef) round steak 2-4 min. until browned. Stir in broth mixture, 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger (I might go a little more than this), and 1 clove minced garlic (I might go a little more than this also) and 4 cups broccoli. Bring to boil, then reduce heat. Simmer 5-10 minutes until sauce thickens.

Minced garlic: I don't buy garlic cloves...I keep a jar of minced garlic in the fridge...It's AWESOME!

I thought it was REALLY good! However, I tend to like a less spicy, more bland foods. Hubby thought it was good. Next time I make this, and YES, I am going to make this again. I am going to try more garlic and ginger powder and maybe a little black pepper. To make it more spicy you could add some red pepper flakes.

We had this with white rice and pineapple. Sometime I should try making Chinese noodles, never made those before.

Mr. L loved it...he's is a broccoli lover! Mr. S ate the rice and pineapple, but wouldn't touch the meat or broccoli (but I had to go to a meeting so I didn't have time to sit and work with him.) And Little Miss ate everything except the broccoli. I wish I could get her to eat broccoli! It can be so good!

For dessert we had angel food cake with peaches (that I froze from my tree last fall) and Cool Whip. I couldn't tell if it wast the cheap store bought angel food cake or the peaches, but it didn't taste quite right. Oh well.

Saturday's REAL MOM'S DINNER: We were out doing family things so we stopped at Wendy's. We really don't usually eat out every Saturday night...just lately!

Another Use for Candle Holders?

I dreamed all night about crafting...I think. At least anytime I woke up I was thinking about crafting. I'm a sad, sad person.

This a beautifully rusted candle holder ($1) and a very pink glass bowl ($2). I actually just loved the shape of both.


I took them out to my garage and spray painted the heck out of both of them. Then begged Hubby to "fix" the candle holder for me and wa-lah! Here is what they are now!

Since we have had to move everything that could be possibly used to climb onto the counters (couches, bar stools, chairs, etc.) I feel safe in putting a glass bowl and a live plant on my counter. And no, those are NOT real apples much to the twins' dismay. The apples and the plant totaled $10 at Wal-Mart. I think it's cute and adds some great color!

REAL MOM'S DINNER: Chicken Noodle Soup in Breadbowls -soup was homemade, but it was on the gross side...I need to learn how to cook better soup. The breadbowls were bought from the supermarket bakery. They were okay, but not great either. The fruit salad at least was a hit.

Little Miss' Unplanned Craft

Little Miss is 4 1/2. She is very creative, smart, resourceful, independent, curious, and active...and when all of these are combined can be quite the little trouble maker! So over the last couple of years I've had to find things to keep her busy instead of in trouble.

Between 2 doctor's appointments (in opposite directions from my house) and attempting to get this blog up and running today I just wanted her to watch some cartoons during the boys' nap. I came into the kitchen after putting the boys down to find her "making soup" ...with my entire container of oregano in a bowl of water!!!

Let's backup...this use to be a common occurrence (but not lately)...so I'm use to it. I use to yell and get mad. But now I calmly take the "soup" away, put away the teaspoon or so of oregano left, and usher her out of the kitchen. She whines that she wants to make soup. I tell her I can't think of any way to make soup without it being messy and wasteful. After a couple of minutes she comes up with the idea to use food coloring in water.

I finally cave...knowing that if I don't find something for her to do she'll just get into trouble again as soon as I turn my back. So I pull out some plastic cups, fill about half way with water, put it on a cookie tray (I LOVE this idea...I stole it from another blog!!!) and give her the food coloring drops. She goes to town making different colors of water and mixing colors to see what it will end up as.

She is quickly done with this color project, but NOT done being hands on artsy. She says, "this looks like water color paints. I know, I can paint with these!" So trying to keep her busy for a few more minutes I get her some paper and paint brushes. I had remembered seeing you could make water color paints with corn starch ,vinegar, food coloring, etc. But I couldn't remember exactly so just to thicken up the water, I put a spoonful of corn starch in each cup of colored water and let Little Miss stir the heck out it. Then paint.She painted a house with a chair and the dots she made with the end of her paint brush are meatballs raining down. I'm not quite sure where she picked up on that as she has never read or seen Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Her made up song as we drove to the doctor's office this afternoon was...High Ho the Mistletoe. She said it was her "virgin" and that there was another "virgin."
"VIRGIN?" I ask. Then got it... "Don't you mean "version?"
"No, I mean virgin...virgin means (I was laughing hysterically at this point!) "a story behind the song."

Little Miss is one clever and funny girl!!!

The aroma of oregano is extremely strong in my house now. I have an aroma overload headache!

REAL MOM'S DINNER: Pot Roast w/potatoes and carrots, orange jello (w/ mandarin oranges and Cool Whip)...was suppose to be Sunday's dinner, but I forgot to put it in the crock pot before church...so we had it tonight.

Dinner- Cooking Asparagus

I am trying really hard to branch out in my cooking. I have been stuck in a rut for years! My kids will only eat certain veggies and my son's speech therapist highly suggested trying different types of veggies other than green beans, peas, carrots, and corn (and some occasional broccoli).

I know that if cooked right asparagus can be quite tasty.

The problem is I've never been able to make it taste good.

But it was on sale.

So I branched out and bought a small bunch.

Only cooked half the bunch -9 stems to be exact. Steamed it and smothered it with real butter.

It turned out good. Hubby, Mr. L, and I ate it. Mr. S (the picky one) picked at it, and Little Miss wouldn't touch it.

Still had 2 stems left over.

Have enough to try again for another dinner this week.

Maybe Little Miss will picked at it this time and Mr. S will actually put it in his mouth! :)

As for our main course we had French Dip Sandwiches. I bought kaiser rolls from the store bakery for the buns. My new fave way to make the meat...I use to buy deli roast beef and a packet of au jus. But one day I tried the Hormel Beef Roast (it is just the beef.) I microwave it, shred it, drain out the au jus into cups and wa-lah! It is $5, but I often can find coupons for it in the Sunday paper or online for a $1 off. It can be a tiny bit dry, but that is what the au jus is for. One suggestion is to top it with sauteed peppers and onions and cheese, but I've never done that.

Finally Back to Scrapbooking

Hubby was out of town the first part of this week. I had intended to scrapbook while he was gone, but was too tired at night. Then I got my FAVORITE magazine in the mail and read it cover to cover during nap time. I wanted to scrap SOOOOO bad by evening!!! I was dying to get the kids to bed so I could try to make some cute paper flowers! Hubby's plane was delayed that night be several hours so I had an excuse to stay up late! Didn't complain too much *wink*.

I started by finding scrap paper to make some flowers. Then morphed into trying a ripped paper technique to create a grass look. Then decided I just need to make a layout to see how it would look all together. I usually choose my pictures first and find paper to match second. But had to look for pictures second this time because I was too impatient to wait to make the flowers.

*Side note: I am an IMPATIENT crafter! I hate waiting to finish a project because I need to get something at the store or I need to reprint a photo, or even wait for paint or glue to dry properly. etc. So I usually just make do with what I have.

As I was going through pictures to see if I had anything that would work, I found the most. perfect. pictures. of my 4 year! Colors matched great so that I wouldn't have to reprint in b/w! I also found perfect embellishments in my stash! It helps to have a great stash! (Although I do have to say it is slowly diminishing since I haven't had much disposable income the last 2 years to reinvest in "stuff." )

Finished product:
As my daughter would say, "it was refreshing" -to scrapbook again after a small hiatus!

REAL MOM'S DINNER: Out with family so we stopped and picked up Arby's. Yummy!