Copy Cat PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps...really yummy!

The girls and I have made this a few times and it is always delish!  We have tried other copy cat recipes, but this is the best.

PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps – Serves 4

Ingredients:

• 4 tablespoons oil
• 2 2/3 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 1 1/3 cups water chestnut
• 1 cup mushroom
• 4 tablespoons chopped onions
• 1 1/3 teaspoons minced garlic
• 5 1/3-6 2/3 leaves iceberg lettuce

Special Sauce

• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 2/3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 2/3 tablespoons rice wine vinegar
• 2 2/3 tablespoons ketchup
• 1 1/3 tablespoons lemon juice
• 1/4 teaspoon sesame oil

• 1 1/3 tablespoons hot mustard
• 2 2/3 teaspoons water
• 1 1/3-2 2/3 teaspoons garlic and red chile paste

Stir Fry Sauce

• 2 2/3 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 2/3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 2/3 teaspoon rice wine vinegar

Directions:

Prep Time: 10 min, Total Time: 25 min

1. Make the special sauce by dissolving the sugar in water in a small bowl.
2. Add soy sauce, rice wine vinegar, ketchup, and lemon juice and sesame oil.
3. Mix well and refrigerate this sauce until you're ready to serve.
4. Combine the hot water with the hot mustard and Chile paste and set this aside.
5. Bring oil to high heat in a wok or large frying pan.
6. Sauté chicken breasts for 4 to 5 minutes per side or done.
7. Remove chicken from the pan and cool.
8. Keep oil in the pan, keep hot.
9. As chicken cools mince water chestnuts and mushrooms to about the size of small peas.
10. Prepare the stir fry sauce by mixing the soy sauce, brown sugar, and rice vinegar together in a small bowl.
11. When chicken is cool, mince it as the mushrooms and water chestnuts are.
12. With the pan still on high heat, add another Tbsp of vegetable oil.
13. Add chicken, garlic, onions, water chestnuts and mushrooms to the pan.
14. Add the stir fry sauce to the pan and sauté the mixture for a couple minutes.
15. Lastly add your desired measurement of mustard and garlic chili sauce to the special sauce mixture to pour over the wraps then serve it in the lettuce cups.

My new favorite Holiday dish!!!!

Tonight we had and early Thanksgiving dinner over at Eric's parents house.  Hannah and Olivia spent the night with Nana and Papa, so they were already there, but Matt, Amy and Brian came too!  We had soooo many wonderful dishes and the company was exceptional.  We are truly blessed to have such a wonderful family.

A few days ago Anne and I were discussing what I should bring to this fine event and she sent me a recipe for Green Bean Bundles. I had never heard of them, but they are SO easy to make and are honestly too delicious for words!  Here is the recipe, I hope you enjoy them as much as we all did tonight!

Bacon Wrapped Green Bean Bundles

• 1 lbs Frozen Long Green Beans (you can use fresh if you like,but you will have to boil 1st)
• 1 12 oz pack of bacon
• 1/2 stick of butter
• 1/4 brown sugar
• 1/2 tsp soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp garlic powder
• Fresh Ground Pepper to taste

Ok....this is SO easy and FAST!

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Cut all bacon strips in half
3. Wrap 6 - 7 green beans in each half piece of bacon and arrange in dish until you are out of bacon
4. Melt butter in a bowl with brown sugar and soy sauce and give all bundles to give a good coating
5. Sprinkle bundles with Garlic Powder and Fresh Ground Pepper
6. Bake until bacon is crispy...about 30-40 minutes.

If you like, you can cook your bacon a little before wrapping the green bean to lessen the baking time.

...and that's it!  Let me know how you like it.

Officially the worst blogger...

Ok, it has been 2 months since my last blog, but there has been so much going on.  Gabe is getting so big and keeps me busy constantly!

Gabe loves to play and watch his favorite show Hopla in the mornings.  He drinks almost 2 gallons of milk a week and has decided to start being picky when it comes to food.  He really likes oatmeal, applesauce, and chicken nuggets but other than that I can't get him to eat any thing else.

In the T.M.I. department I finally got my period...1st one since I got pregnant with Gabe...that's right...almost 2 years without my special friend and I did not miss them at all.

We had a fun Halloween dressed up as Peter, Lois, and Stewie Griffen...Gabe was a perfect Stewie!  He is such a little booger and sometimes I really do feel like he is trying to kill me. LOL!

I got a new camera, yeah!...but I don't know how to use it yet. ;oP  I am super excited to learn how to use all the cool features, but  for now I am using Auto only.

I know there is more, but I am to tired to think and I need to get Gabe to bed.

1 year and 2 weeks later...

Well...Gabe is officially done with breastfeeding.  Eric and I went to the lake for 2 days without Gabe and when we got back he wasn't at all interested in nursing.  I am sad because this means my baby is getting older and I am going to miss our special time together, but I am also happy because my boobs are mine again. :o)

Birthday Cake, Balloons, and a Pinata...oh my...

Well, the all important 1st birthday party has gone and passed.  We had balloons, a pinata, cake-n-ice cream, a slip-n-slide, a water slide, a bounce house, tons of treats for the kids. All in all it was a great party, but the poor birthday boy slept through most of it because he was still not feeling 100%.  Gabe woke up just in time to open his presents, but he missed cake and ice cream so we did that the day after at our house.  We had a great turn out of guests.  All our closest friends and family were there to help us celebrate.  All the kids had a great time and got to fill up on a bunch of cake, ice cream, and candy.  When it was time for the Pinata we got it all set up outside, but then the rain came so we brought it inside and moved the furniture and let the kids go crazy.  Nothing is funnier than watch a bunch of kids dive in the floor to get candy falling from a Pinata.

Now...what to do for the 2nd Birthday???

Gabriel's Birthday Turtle Cake!

OK...all I have to say is next year we are buying Gabe's birthday cake.  I spent 7 hours baking and making marshmallow fondant yesterday and then 4 hours decorating today...I definitely have a new found respect for cake decorators.

Here is Gabe's 1st Birthday Cake.  I know he isn't the prettiest turtle, but I am proud of him. :o)  I also made his smash cake.

What a fast and crazy year!

One year ago...today, Eric and I welcomed a wonderful little bundle of joy into our lives...I just can't believe that this is what we were doing this time last year.  This past year has been such a blur, but when we try to remember what it was like before you...we really can't.  Life has changed so much, but all for the better.  You are what I was waiting for my whole life and I love you with every ounce of my being.

Gabriel...let me take this opportunity to tell you how much of a little booger you are!  You are your daddy and me rolled into one and I wouldn't have it any other way.  You are into everything!  You are so fast, I can't even blink or you are gone!  You are so smart and you learn new things everyday...you just amaze me.

You have changed so much over the past year...From 5lbs 15oz & 19in long to 22lbs 12oz (haven't measured yet) and we have over 3,500 pictures and videos to prove it...yea...I checked!

From this...

To This...

Over this past year we have had bumps and bruises, scrapes and screaming matches, but you are a very happy and healthy little man who is very much loved.

At ONE year our big boy is...

• Still Breastfeeding, but we are officially starting the weaning process :o(
• Not walking yet, but is very close...He cruises a lot now
• Eats EVERYTHING and is drinking 2% milk
• Wears mostly 12 and 18 month clothes
• Wears size 4 diapers
• Still laughs at everything Mommy and Daddy do
• Is into everything and nothing is safe!
•  Seems to be going through a Daddy phase...you just must have Daddy if he is home
• Sleeps with Mommy sometimes because Daddy is working nights...I know it's a bad habit, but it is the only way Mommy gets any sleep.

Funny things that Gabe does...

Gabriel!  You are a nut, but I know I played a hand in it so I can't blame anyone but myself! :o)  You are so silly and do some funny things.  You have all of a sudden started getting down on your belly and then you proceed scoot backwards...not really sure where you got this from, but it looks like you are trying to be sneaky.  You laugh out loud when Mommy fake cries...I usually do this when you are getting fussy and it completely gets your mind off of what is upsetting you.  You think that it is just too funny when I bite (softly) on your fingers and toes.  Your obsession with doors and cabinets is something that I don't see subsiding anytime soon...not sure why you derive so much pleasure from playing with doors but it makes you happy so I am happy.

You are such a happy little thing...I just can't thank God enough for you.  I love you so much!

For the Fans...

I got to thinking today that we have got to be getting close to a new Season of Vampire Diaries.  Well we are still  a few weeks away, but here is a count down tracker and a sexy picture to help us with our wait. :oP

2 weeks and 2 days...

Gabe,

I am sitting here in bed thinking about this past year...this has been the most wonderful, crazy, beautiful, and blessed year of my life. I just can't believe that this time last year you were still in my belly.  Giving me all kinds of back pain I might add.  You are getting so big and I can hardly remember you being only 5 lbs and 15 oz. When I look at you I see your Daddy and it just makes me smile when you smile. You are such a happy little man...always laughing and smiling. It makes me feel like maybe I am doing something right. :o) You find everything funny and as far as I can tell you think that Mommy is just about the best toy in the world. Right now you are sleeping just in the other room...dreaming something wonderful I hope. I love you so much and I couldn't imagine my life without you. You are my greatest accomplishment and I am so proud of that and you.

11 Months old!

Oh my...only 1 month left until the big O-N-E! I just can't believe how big my sweet baby is getting. He is so incredibly fearless! He crawls at lightning speed and loves to play with Mommy and Daddy. His favorite thing in the whole wide world is opening and shutting doors, cabinets, and drawers...he doesn't care about what is inside, just loves opening and shutting...over and over and over. :o) He also loves to stand at his window and look out to the street to see the cars go by...

At 11 Months our big boy is...
22 lbs & 31 in. long

• Wears size 3 diapers, but they are almost too small
• Wears 12 months close and larger
• Does not like to take naps...ugg
• Loves to eat from Mommy's plate and hasn't found food that he doesn't like
• Still breastfeeding, but not for too much longer...
• Not walking yet, but cruises a lot more now
• Sleeps through the night most nights, but has his few bad nights now and then
  

10 Months old!

We have officially entered the double digits! I can't believe that Gabe is 10 months old. He is getting bigger and bigger ever single day and is now all over the place crawling, pulling up, and trying to walk. He is a MESS!

We are having so much fun playing and learning...we are so incredibly blessed!

At 10 Months our little guys is:

• Still breastfeeding
• Wears mostly 12 month clothing, but still fits some smaller sizes
• CRAWLING and is everywhere!!
• Wants to walk so bad and will very soon
• Still not sleeping through the night, but it is getting a little better
• Much harder to take pictures...too busy to sit still

"Good looks run in the Family"
"Mom...I am too busy to take pictures"
"And...I am spent!"

My Review of 5-in-1 Adjustable Gym

Originally submitted at LIttle Tikes

Winner of a 2005 Parents' Choice Approved Award!

Parenting magazine 2005 Toy of the Year Award!

Toys Made in the USA with US and Imported Parts...

5-in-1 Adjustable Gym

He LOVES it!

By Mars913 from Helena, AL on 6/21/2010

 

4out of 5

Pros: Colorful and Fun, Durable, Easy To Clean, Holds Attention

Cons: Sucks batteries, Needs volume control

Best Uses: Crawlers, Toddlers

Describe Yourself: Parents of very active, First Time Parent

Our son loves this toy. He is almost 10 months, but we have had it since he was 3 months. He used it some in the baby floor setting, but now that he can sit and get around more he will sit on it for hours if I let him.

The only two complaints I have are that it needs a volume control and it uses way too many batteries. We had to put tape over the speaker to control the sound and we go through a set of batteries at least once a week.

Sweet baby stops playing to smile for the camera!

Tags: Made with Product, Using Product, Picture of Product

Having too much fun...he can't contain it!

Tags: Picture of Product, Using Product, Made with Product

(legalese)

9 Months old!

Another month gone by...it seems like time is speeding up and before I know it Gabe will be in school. My sweet baby doesn't seem like a baby as much as he use to...

At 9 Months our little guy is...

19 lbs 13 oz & 28 1/2 in

• Still breastfeeds
• Says MaMa and DaDa
• Wears 9-12 month clothes
• Wants to crawl and walk so bad he can't stand it
• Is NOT sleeping through the night anymore...ugg
• Has become increasingly wiggly and gets into everything
• ROTTEN to the CORE!
  

Gabe's RECIRC

Today Gabriel got re circumcised at Children's Hospital. Eric and I were a wreck at 1st, but our families came to the hospital and made us feel so much better. Gabriel was such a trooper. He was 3rd on the list for surgery today so didn't go back until after 9am. He hadn't had anything to eat since 8pm last night and I though for sure he would be screaming his head off to eat, but he was just so happy playing with his toys in his hospital gown and on his hospital bed. The 3rd picture is from when they brought him back after surgery and he was asleep from the morphine. Once we woke him up he was such a good baby! He nursed well on both sides and let us change him and get him ready to go...he didn't fuss once! He hasn't been fussy since his surgery either and hasn't acted like he is in any pain at all. Such a trooper and boy do I love that little man!

1st Mother's Day

I got to join the best and most exclusive club in the world today and celebrate my very 1st Mother's Day. I am so blessed with the best little boy in the world. He is truly a joy and is my everything!! He is so much fun and he keeps me smiling. My wonderful husband did good and got me flowers on Saturday which I loved. For Mother's Day we went to Nana & Papa's for brunch and then to MawMaw & PawPaw's for dinner. It was a very busy day. We gave Nana and MawMaw hand and feet prints for them to paint. Gabe painted Nana's for her and we got more paint on him then on the prints, but it was so much fun!