SHUTTER LOVE TUESDAY...EVEN THOUGH IT'S THURSDAY

I am entering this photo at http://www.trendytreehouse.blogspot.com/.  The theme this week is eyelashes.  I love this picture of little Nick.  The girls are going to be jealous of those lashes someday!  Go check out the other eyelashes!  Don't forget to go vote for me in the comments section of the trendytreehouse blog.  Thanks!



Jules


                                         

NEW RECIPE #7-THAI PEANUT NOODLES

O to the M to the G.  I know I sound like a pre teen but this recipe was awesome.  EASY and AWESOME.  You can't get any better than that.  My kids and husband slurped it up without even talking. Next time I need a little attention I think I'm going to put some of that peanut sauce behind my ears or something.  Okay, okay I'm exaggerating just a little.  But really it was great.

I am a huge Thai fan.  This totally fit the bill.  I got the recipe from http://www.ourbestbites.com/.  I tweaked it quite a bit though.  I added about 3/4 of a can of coconut milk and I added red pepper and mushrooms and shrimp.  You could easily add chicken too.  Here's the recipe:

THAI PEANUT NOODLES:
1/2 c. chicken broth
3 Tbs. creamy peanut butter (I used crunchy)
1-2 tsp Sriracha chili sauce (1 is mild with a bite, 1.5 is medium, 2 is hot)-I used 2 since I doubled the recipe
1 1/2 Tbsp. honey
3 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 1/2 Tbsp. fresh minced ginger
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. Udon or linguine noodles
chopped green onions
chopped cilantro
2 limes, cut into quaters
chopped peanuts

DIRECTIONS:
Cook noodles in salted water.  In the meantime, combine chicken broth, peanut butter, chili sauce, ginger, honey and garlic in small saucepan over med-olw heat.  Whisk until smooth.  Then I added the coconut milk.  Toss cooked noodles with sauce and divide among 4 bowls.  Sprinkle with green onions, cilantro, peanuts, and garnish each with 2 lime quarters.  Before eating, squeeze lime juice over.

I did a little stir fry of shrimp and vegetables in some olive oil, garlic, ginger, and soy sauce and added to the noodles.

This recipe is a keeper!  I may make it next week again!

Jules

SWEET SHOT TUESDAY

I know I already posted this picture on Sunday but it is definitely my favorite shot of the week.  I am joining http://www.my3boybarians.com/ with this picture as well as m3b project52.  It's a picture of my little guy looking out the window at the snow.  He HATES to wear pants so he is usually just all diaper at home! Go check out the other sweet shots!

Have a great Tuesday!

Jules

SCAVENGER HUNT SUNDAY

Ok...so I decided to play along with Ashley Sisk at http://www.ashleysisk.com/ in her Scavenger Hunt Sunday.  I have really been enjoying browsing through all of the entries over the past few weeks and decided to join.  She gives you five prompts and you post your interpretation of those prompts.  This weeks prompts were:
1. Water
2. Quote
3. Window
4. Activity
5. Page 25 of a magazine
Here are my photos

Water...I know this isn't super interesting.  You have no idea how many water shots I took.  I had alot of fun playing around with different shutter speeds on my camera.  I got an awesome shot of the water coming out of my shower but it was too dark.  I tried everything to lighten it up and it just didn't turn out right.  I did learn alot about the light meter on my camera though.

Quote: This is sooooo my life right now.  I can NEVER have anything nice or anything clean or anything orderly with my 3 boys!  I have accepted and embraced this. I love this napkin.  I would love a pickle fork but I know it would end up in the toilet or lost in one of the toy baskets.

Window:  I love this shot of my little one looking out the window at the snowfall.   I'm obsessed with diaper booty's.                          

Activity: This is a shot of my eldest's basketball game.  He scored 10 points!  I know it's blurry but I kind of like the blur.

Page 25 of a magazine:  Well I sort of cheated and did a page 25 out of a cookbook.  The only thing I have time to read lately are cookbooks when I am trying to plan out the weekly meals.  I used my Low Fat and Luscious cookbook and this was page 25-a tuna steak with beet relish.  I don't know about the beet relish but the tuna looks good.

I had alot of fun doing this.  Hopefully I will participate next week!

Jules

SHIRT

I am posting a picture of this shirt I made the other day for a girl who ALWAYS orders stuff from me.  I really appreciate her business!  I don't know what is up with my sewing rut lately.  I used to eat, sleep, breath creating and sewing new things.  I think I have been so obsessed with photography lately that my sewing has taken a backseat.  I only have so much spare time-you know along with wiping poopy butts, laundry, cleaning, cooking, refereeing, tutoring, disciplining, and providing tons and tons of healthy snacks and whatnot.  It seems I can't have two time consuming hobbies at one time which sucks!  It's all good though.  I've been really wanting to make a fabric camera strap so maybe that will be my next project?  Anyhoo......  I hope she liked it.

Jules

RECIPE #6: SIXTEEN MINUTE BEEF AND BEAN BURRITOS

This is another recipe I found on the website http://www.pioneerwoman.com/.  These definitely fit the criteria for an easy weeknight meat.  They were super quick to assemble and they were totally delish.

16 MINUTE BEEF AND BEAN BURRITOS:
2 pounds ground beef
1/2 whole medium onion
1 can (7 oz) Mexican tomato sauce or Enchilada sauce
S and P
cumin, oregano, chili powder, garlic to taste
1 can (28 oz) refried beans
3/4 C. grated cheddar
12 whole burrito sized flour tortillas
extra cheese, for sprinkling
extra sauce, for drizzling

cilantro, optional

optional filling ingredients: Mexican rice, sour cream, guacamole, green chilies, pico de gallo

INSTRUCTIONS:
Brown ground beef with onion and season to taste.  Pour in sauce and simmer over low heat.  Add water if mixture gets too dry. 
Heat refried beans in a saucepan.  Add cheese and stir in till melted.  Keep warm.  Heat tortillas in microwave for one minute.
Spread small amount of beans on each tortilla.  Add meat.  Fold over ends, then roll up.  Place two burritos on a microwave safe plate.  Drizzle red sauce over the top and sprinkle with more grated cheddar.  Nuke for one minute, or until cheese is melted and burritos are hot.  Serve immediately. 

I served this with Mexican rice and topped them with black olives.  My boys love them some black olives!  I doubled the recipe and had tons for leftovers!

Jules

A SPLASH OF COLOR

Ugggg....the doldrums of winter.  I am one of those people whose personality changes if the sun doesn't shine.  I could never live in Seattle.  I am sure I would be diagnosed with SAD (Seasonal affective disorder).  My two least favorite months are January and February.  In Kansas, these two months are generally freezing and grey.  On top of the greyness, we experienced a blizzard two days ago.  The kids have been home from school for three days.  I LOVE snow days but three is just a tad much!  We have had fun and stayed busy but enough is enough.  My husband thinks it's hot when I come to bed in socks, sweatpants, tshirt and a sweatshirt.  I also need my electric blanket because I am ALWAYS freezing.  Are you sick of me complaining yet?  I am..GEEZ!

As I was walking into the grocery store yesterday I saw a splash of color, a moment of hope that spring will soon be awaiting me.  I saw my favorite flower in my favorite color on display waiting for me to buy them.  Tulips...one of my favorite flowers.  I didn't even think twice.  I scooped them up, sped home and put them proudly on display.  I love the brightness that they provide and they just make me happy.  Am I weird?

Jules

SMORES

Here is my entry this week for sweet shot Tuesday and for m3b project 52 on flickr.com.   Not a great capture this week.  These smores were yummy but not as good as good old fashion homemade ones.  Of course, the kids ate them up.

Today we are supposed to experience snowmageddon 2011 so the kids have no school.  It is only 10:54 and my middle one has already been sent to his room and the baby is very whiny.  I have some activities planned so lets hope that lightens the mood over here!
Jules