Yummy new recipe!

I've been going through my old Cooking Light magazines and trying to pull out recipes I want to try in hopes of adding a few more things to our dinner rotation. I will say it is pretty hit and miss, but this Sesame Brown Rice Salad was really yummy, not to hard to make and the portion size was actually very filling!


Sesame Brown Rice Salad

1 cup brown rice
2 cups shredded chicken
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/3 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup peanuts
1 tbsp chopped cilantro
1/2 tsp salt
2 tbsp lime juice
4 tsp canola oil
1 tsp sesame oil
2 minced garlic cloves

1. Cook rice according to package directions.

2. Mix rice with chicken, carrot, onions, 2 tbsp peanuts, 2 tsp cilantro and salt.

3. Combine juice and remaining ingredients, drizzle over rice mixture and toss to combine. Sprinkle each serving with peanuts and cilantro.

*my modifications - I used parsley instead of cilantro and I added a red pepper, thinly sliced. I would add more red pepper the next time, and maybe some cabbage, because I liked the extra crunch. Also, I used 2 big garlic cloves, next time I would definitely use less. And I poached the chicken in chicken broth with parsley and garlic powder mixed in and it was delicious and shredded well!

Domestic Diva-ness

So I've been determined to put my free time over summer vacation to good use, because I will probably never have this much free time again! Since I have one of Mom's sewing machines living at my house, I decided to get it out and figure out how to use. IN particular, I've been wanting to make some baby related crafts to give as presents to all my pregnant friends. Brenda is due in August with a little girl, and I wanted to make some cute stuff for her so she wouldn't get stuck with all Max's leftovers. I made a wipes case to hold a small thing of wipes and a couple of disposable diapers, and then some matching burp clothes. I think they came out really cute, and by the end I was finally able to sew a pretty straight seam! That is in itself is definitely an accomplishment! I have at least two more babies on the way that I want to make fun stuff for, plus some curtains and pillows to make for the house, so this hobby should at least keep me occupied though the summer!

Summer vacation

So I've been thinking that with all the free time I have this summer, I should dust off this blog and update a little more often! If nothing else, its a good place for scrapbook pages and pictures of my crazy husband. Summer vacation is off to a good start for me, especially considering the job interview I just had! I know God has awesome plans for me for the fall, and I am oh so eager to find out what they are!




These pictures are fairly recent - they're from the Elizabeth River Run Jeff did in Portsmouth a few weeks ago. I had never been to the old towne part of Portsmouth, so I had fun wandering the streets taking pictures of cool buildings while Jeff was running his heart out! One of these days I'm really going to get out there and run with him!