Currently

I need to be real with you. I cannot believe I am about to type these words, but here goes... I love deep fried Oreos. I thought they would be revolting, I was wrong, so wrong. I could only handle a little but because they are so very sweet but dang, they are good. Should I have in my food snob card now?

I'm most definitely coming down with something  but I don't know what. I just know, I feel like I've been hit by a truck. I think I've slept more than I've been awake in the past 4 days. I've also been super dizzy, but it isn't anything like the vertigo I've had in he past, so that is a good thing. But sheesh! I just want to feel good.

Love me some alone time .

I'm an over-analyzer too!

An interview with my FAV food blogger.

OMG!!! Bananas Foster Tiramisu!!

Theeeeeeese truffles! I mean...  I. MUST. HAVE. THEM.

How to store and and clean produce. Useful info!

I've been toying with making some cheeky kitchen art, but this lady went and did it for me!

Cream Cheese Apple Coffee Cake. Hello BEAUTIFUL!

Wonder if I can get little mister picky to eat this Mac and Cheese?

Loving this bedroom re-do!

This pizza is proof of why she is my fav!

Love this shared kids room.

Basil Red CURRY Biscuits. Get in my mouth!!!

Now, I've got o get the pork butt out of the slow cooker, make my balsamic BBQ sauce and the apple fennel slaw with orange dressing. I'm trying to make up for the Oreo.

Happy Sunday,
xoxo
Ashley

Mango Honey Chicken Stir Fry

Yowza! This chicken is the new best thing I've ever made. 

(That may change tomorrow but whatever...)

Chicken + Mango + Honey +OJ + Sriracha = DELICIOUSNESS at it's best!

   This started how most of my best stir frys do, I had some chicken that had to be cooked right at that moment, because it was teetering on becoming vile and a fridge full of random ingredients. I'm terrible about laying chicken out to thaw and forgetting it. I have ruined more than my share of meat that way. It is one of my greatest flaws. I'm working on that. Anyway, back to the stir fry... I often find that I don't have anything planned for dinner and I have three males whining, one of them is an adult but that doesn't stop him. These guys get HANGRY! I do my best work then. I pull out what sauce ingredients speak to me and load it full of veggies and try to make magic. This one isn't loaded full of veggies but with fruit this time. I can't believe I hadn't thought this combination before. 

Mango Honey Chicken Stir Fry

serves 6-8

(click to print)

2 lbs boneless skinless chicken

2 mangoes

2 red bell peppers

1 tablespoon oil, for frying

1 cup orange juice + 2 tablespoons reserved

1/2 cup honey

1/2 teaspoon sriracha

3 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon cornstarch

steamed white rice

Start by cutting your chicken into chunks. Next, cut the mango and bell peppers into pieces about half the size of the chicken. In a large skillet, over medium high heat, add the oil and saute the chicken until golden brown. Once the chicken has started browning, add the mango and pepper, stirring often. While that cooks, make your sauces, in a bowl whisk together juice, honey, sriracha and soy sauce. Once the chicken is cooked through and the mango and pepper are tender crisp, add the sauce. Bring to a bubble stirring often. Once the sauce has cooked down and everything is cooked through, this usually takes 3-4 minutes, stir together the remaining OJ and cornstarch, making sure there are NO lumps. Stir into sauce, allowing to cook 1-2 more minutes. The sauce will thicken and you are ready to serve!

xoxo,
Ashley

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

You want to make this oatmeal. Trust me. You really do. The apples, brown sugar and cinnamon make for such a cozy feeling!

   I try to make one big batch of oatmeal, muffins or mini frittatas each Sunday for us to eat for breakfast throughout the week. I have a base recipe for all of these things but change up the ingredients each time, so we don't get bored. This baked oatmeal is the misters favorite. The boys, obviously,  prefer chocolate chip oatmeal but that is a rare treat. Lee is an apple fanatic but he doesn't like them raw. I, on the other hand, love raw apples but am not a fan of baked apple desserts. I actually like this recipe because I don't cook the apple to long so they still have a bite to them but they're cooked enough that Lee likes them too. Compromise, it's what makes the world go round! Now, if we could only solve the worlds problems as easily as we have solved our apple debate.

You know what I learned today?

 This is a recipe that doesn't look very tasty in photos. 

But it is so very tasty! 

Apple Cinnamon Baked Oatmeal

Recipe adapted from Seriously Delish: 150 Recipes for People Who Totally Love Food

Serves 4-6

(click to print)

for the apples:

2 tablespoons butter

3 apples, peeled and cut into chunks

1/3 cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 tsp fresh grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon salt

for the oats:

3 cups oats

1 cup brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup almond milk + extra for topping after it's baked

1/2 cup apple sauce

2 tablespoons butter, melted

2 eggs beaten 

1 tablespoon vanilla

Preheat your oven to 350 F and get out a casserole dish. Start with the apples. In a large skillet, over medium high heat, melt your butter, then add apples and toss to coat in butter. Stir in brown sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt. Allow to cook, stirring often, until sugar has dissolved and bubbles and thickens. In a large bowl stir together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon and salt. In another bowl, whisk together almond milk, applesauce, butter, eggs and vanilla. Stir the wet into the dry, then pour into you casserole dish. Top with the apple then bake for about 25 minutes or until oatmeal is golden brown and set.

It's like an apple fritter but oatmeal! 

Happy breakfasting!

xoxo,

Ashley