Who's the Joneses and why is everyone trying to keep up with them?

Who's the Joneses and why is everyone trying to keep up with them?  I  know a lot of people complain about getting older, but I think the best part about getting older is learning to care less about others opinions of you and just live life for yourself.  Life is less about comparing yourself to what others are doing and what they have.  The older I get I don't feel the constant pressure to impress people with what I am doing at work, or what I wear, or what my house looks like if someone drops in.  It's crazy but once you stop worrying about what others think of you it frees up so much time to focus on the things that actually count like spending time with friends and family and living in the now.  Plus if you knew how little others were actually talking or judging you, you would be surprised.  Our minds are great tools but can make you crazy and make you overthink to much.

I always find myself happier when I let my housework go and stop worrying about how my kids and family's future is going to turn out and just live in the now.  For this little reason I have always been a believer in embracing the convenient items and foods that our society has to offer for us.

Did you know that even though I am a chef I don't cut every little fruit and vegetable or make every sauce for dinner at home 100% of the time?  I know maybe that's crazy for you to think but hey, I'm busy too and not everyday do I come home from work from cooking all day and want to make a gourmet meal from scratch for my family.  Yes I love my family and I do want them to eat the best but I have just learned to embrace convenience as well.  I will tell you that I do like to take extra time on cutting everything by hand, or making every marinade and sauce by hand or taking that extra 3 hours to braise the meat but let's face it, there's a time and place for everything.

With the unseasonably warm weather and more time being spent outside we embraced one of our favorite fast, convenient, fresh and fairly healthy dinners.  It was chicken stir fry with rice and cut up fruit.

Look how colorful and pretty it turned out!



I started out with a small box of Uncle Ben's Long Grain and Wild Rice* and cooked it according to the box.  I will say I have been cooking in professional kitchens for 15+ years and this is one of the best seasoned rice products around.  I have used this product in almost every kitchen I have ever been in and love the smell and taste of this product.  Plus the texture of the the wild rice makes it more complex than just old boring rice.



Next I thinly sliced up 1lb. of chicken and sautéed it up in a little olive oil and sesame oil with some McCormick's Perfect Pinch Asian Seasoning*.  I let that cook for about 6-7 minutes, depending on how thinly sliced the chicken is, then I added in yet another convenient and delicious product that you can find in the produce aisle, Taylor Farm's Stir Fry Kit Teriyaki*.  I love this product more than others because it not only has carrots, broccoli, and snap peas in it that my kids love but it also adds in some cabbage, shaved Brussels sprouts, and kale.  I then cooked the chicken and vegetable mixture for another 4-5 minutes, added the sauce packet in it, and served over the rice.

If you don't feel like you have enough seasoning add a little soy sauce and a little sriracha for some heat and you have a delicious little meal!

 

Pair it with some cut up fresh fruit and what a meal it was.  Easy, delicious and the whole family went back for seconds.  Only bad part was that there wasn't any leftovers for me for lunch!



*Just so you all know, I'm not getting paid for my opinions from any of the products I mentioned.  I am not very brand specific on a lot of items but when I find a great product that I love I like to give the exact brand to give them the credit they deserve.  Feel free to use what brands you like.

Pregnancy is Peculiar

Pregnancy is peculiar.  Pregnancy last 40 weeks and sometimes it feels like it takes forever and some days it seems to fly by.  One day you're going out to eat  where your husband is working and feel your boobs hurting so you chug a bunch of water and take a pregnancy test.  Showing up immediately the results that another little  bundle of joy is coming in 9 months.  You are not very good at keeping secrets like this to yourself so you tell your husband at his work while ordering food and it's busy that "hey, do you want me to tell you something to take your mind of work?"  You then break it to him that yes, even though he just opened a restaurant a couple months ago, get ready because we are soon to have 4 children.  Let's  fast forward to the last couple weeks of pregnancy when everyone in the family is getting ready for the little one to arrive and you are getting ready for work when all of a sudden you are doing your daily "throwing up routine" that's lasted your whole wonderful pregnancy and all of a sudden there is a loud pop in your back that sends you into tears and can't breathe, cough, laugh or cry without intense pain.

As you can see pregnancy is full of ups and downs but I don't think any Mom in the world would change it.  I for one am not one of those "loves to be pregnant ladies," but I still wouldn't change it for the world.   I know that each pregnancy is unique and peculiar and am astonished each day at how the human body works.

I will say the best thing about pregnancy besides the obvious end result of the baby is all the crazy thoughts that your hormonal and crazy self has while you are pregnant.


This is just a small crazy list of contradictory thoughts I have had while pregnant and hormonal:

I can't wait to meet the little one I just hope they are happy and healthy.
Is this baby ever going to come out?  Maybe she will come early

Oh good throwing up must mean everything's going well with the baby.
Oh man why am I still throwing up at 37 weeks pregnant.

When will I ever get out of this "fat stage" of pregnancy so people know I'm pregnant and not just bulking up for winter?
Oh man why does my belly have to be so big?  I can't wait until I get to wear normal pants again.

I'm going to try to have a "healthy" pregnancy for this one, let's see what that feels like.
More Chinese food please. I need chocolate. Extra cheese please! Let's bake some cookies! How many more carbs can I put on my plate?


As you see pregnancy is very peculiar.  Here's to all the mom's and soon to be momma's out there and all your funny and crazy stories of pregnancy.  Cheers to embracing your chaotic life.

Gearing up for the big game

Anyone else getting ready for the big game tomorrow night?  And by getting ready I mean planning all the delicious food you're going to eat while professional athletes play football all while the whole world decides to embrace commercials as entertainment for the only time during the year?  Alright I have heard that there are a lot of people that don't plan their super bowl party around  what food they are going to eat but I don't usually hang out with those people.  I am the super bowl fan that likes the super bowl  for the food, drinks, commercials, and then the game, in that specific order.

If you are like me and are planning what food you would like to bring or make for tomorrow's game let me give you a simple yet delicious dip.  Remember the dill pickle wraps that are dried beef and cream cheese rolled around a dill pickle?  Well this is like that but in dip form and takes way less time!

Try it out!  If you like pickles you will not be disappointed at all!!

Enjoy!


Dill Pickle Wrap Dip

1 (8oz.) block cream cheese
1/2 c. Sour cream
1/2 c. Mayo
6 oz. or about 3/4 c. Finely diced  dill pickles
1.5 oz. or about 1/3 c. Finely Diced dried beef
1 tsp. Dried onion
1 tsp. Dill weed, dried
2 tbsp. Dill pickle juice

Put the first 7 ingredients into a large mixing bowl and mix on high until all incorporated.  Add in the pickle juice and mix on low slowly increasing speed until all incorporated.  Put in a serving bowl and refrigerate for at least one hour to bring out all the flavors.  Serve with crackers or by the spoonful!