American Chinese Chicken

One of our kids favorite meals is what our youngest calls American Chinese Chicken, it is a meal that I only make once in a while so about every month and a half or when the youngest keeps on asking it shows up on the menu.

 

I started making it about twenty years ago, a friend used to make it and I learned from watching her that it wasn't really all that hard and way cheaper then getting take out,  especially as our family grew larger. Little did I know that just a few years later we would move the country and the nearest Chinese restaurant would be 30 minutes away and being able to make Chinese chicken would be handy. Today we live minutes from numerous Chinese food options but this has been and is still cheaper to make at home.

I usually serve this with homemade fried rice, and if I am feeling really motivated egg rolls.

1	cup all-purpose flour
2	tablespoons cornstarch
1 1/2	teaspoons baking powder
2	eggs
1/2	teaspoon vegetable oil
1	teaspoon sugar

This is usually enough for 2-3 pounds of boneless chicken

1. Mix up the batter

2. Start heating up your oil, I like to use a cast iron dutch oven on the stove top

3. Cut up your chicken breasts into bite sized pieces

4. I like to then add all the chicken to the batter and mix together

5. Take the chicken piece by piece and place in hot oil, enough to fill one layer of pot

6. In about      flip the chicken over then in about take out and drain

7. Repeat until all the chicken is cooked. 

While all this is going on I have rice cooking in my rice cooker, when it is done I place a bit of oil in the largest frying pan I have and fry up some diced onion, then add bag of frozen of peas and carrots, once they are cooked add the rice, some oyster sauce to taste.

I also make a dipping sauce for the chicken

In a small sauce pan mix together the liquid from a can of pineapple, 2 tablespoons cornstarch, 1/4 cup ketchup, 1/2 cup vinegar, 1/2 cup brown sugar. Bring to a boil while mixing and then then remove from heat to thicken.

Potato Soup

When my boys come home from college I ask them what would they like for dinner while they are here. Since they have been either in the case of Conner have been eating in the cafeteria or Nolan eating what ever that days cook decides to make.

It always surprises me that they ask for soup, just simple soup .  I think it might have something to do with the fact that when all the kids were home soup was on the menu often with large loaves of homemade bread in the winter and large salads in the summer. Little did they know it was because it was cheap, easy and filling and feeding one more friend for dinner wasn't a big deal.

So I make them soup.  Their favorites are potato soup, creamy chicken soup, chicken soup, and beef barley. Today I am sharing how to make the potato soup, writing it here makes an easy spot for me to send the older kids to when they call and  ask how to make it.

It can be made in a crock pot or on the stove top. If you make in the crock pot you can prep it the night before or the morning of.

1. Peal and cut into chunks potatoes I figure 2 potatoes per person I like to use the golden ones but the basic white ones work well to.  Unless you are Sarah in which case you don't peel the potatoes which she prefers, but her brother when he visit says it's not  like mom's

2. Don't forget to rinse the potatoes then place them in the crock pot, add enough chicken broth to just cover the potatoes. I use homemade broth but any type of chicken broth canned, boxed, cubes can work.

3. Dice an onion and add to the pot.

4. If prepping the night before cover and place in the fridge the potatoes will not brown as long as they are covered by the liquid. Otherwise turn on the crock pot on low and go to work, the pool,enjoy your day. If making on stove top, bring to a boil and cook until the potatoes can be pierced with a fork.

5. Just before dinner I use my very handy stick blender, or you could use a potato masher to mashup the potatoes. Add 1 can of evaporated milk, heavy cream or regular milk really what you have on hand, but the heavy cream will make it very creamy and rich. I also add one can of corn drained and one can of cream of corn. You can use frozen corn just cook before adding it.

6. Then stir in the shredded cheese so it melts, I like cheddar about 16 oz . But we have used Colby, Taco, etc the flavor just changes a bit.

7. Season with salt and pepper to taste

8. If you like serve with sour cream and more cheese on top.

9. left overs can be stored in the fridge and will thicken a bit but should thin after re heating, ( for my children please toss the left overs within 4 days ) they can also be frozen in which case when reheating you will need to stir often and maybe add more liquid.

Enjoy

Packing for College

For the fifth time we are sending a child off to college, each one has been a bit different but we have learned that less is the best idea, the oldest one currently in college will have a different list this year as he will be living off campus for the first time.

Here is the packing list we have :

Sheets for x-long twin - they pack 2 sets and the boys might have never used the second set but it was there.

Blankets and Pillows- they take the ones from their beds.

Dishes- water bottle, coffee cup, bowl, spoon and fork. My daughter is a coffee drinker so we will be sending her to school with a coffee maker.

Fridge- we have sent the kids with a small fridge, they haven't needed microwaves as they had access to them in common areas.

Bathroom supplies- I do two towels and a basket with the shower items they need.

Laundry- their basket from their rooms at home and I do buy the laundry pods as it's easier then carrying a bottle to the laundry.

Medical- a small tote with things like cough drops, pain reliever, Kleenex, band aids, first aid cream, items found in a household first aid kit. I have gotten more then one call from a college kids asking what to take for a nasty cold.

School Supplies- I send enough for them to start the year so a few folders, pencil, pens, etc. Not a lot because unlike high school you will for the most part get to pick if you like a binder, or a folder. If they like wooden pencils don't forget a pencil sharpener.

Odds and ends - a good umbrella we have had good luck with this one Gustbuster Umbrella after going though a few other brands.  Desk lamp, computer, cell phone and for one son that didn't have much storage a small bookcase. A folding camp chair can also be handy. Printer depends, one son needed one until he got a job at the library and then he printed there. Another doesn't have much to print off and had a school printer in the study area of his dorm that he used. Other odd things packed this year a hammock, two pet rats, and a turtle.

Clothing-  hangers for the closet and clothes that they like, packing for college is a great time to clean out the closet at home.

If they find after a few weeks that they need something there is always Amazon or the next time they come home for a visit.

Last but not least the priciest thing textbooks. 

College is a time of change for everyone and it is a great time to focus on new beginnings for all. I like to remind myself that this what I have been working toward for 18 years to help them grow from young children into young adults.

Goals 2018- 2019

Being a mom of many for many years and currently working for a school I have often thought of the start of the school year as a time of new beginnings. New clothes, supplies, routines, menus, and more. So it's the perfect time for some new goals.

Ten Goals for the 2018-2019 school year

1. Read one non-fiction book per month :

 I have found that most of my reading is fiction which I really enjoy. It's time to add some non fiction to the repertoire , the first time period I am looking to read more about is the War of 1812. A trip to Canada and the state of Maine might have pointed out a lack of knowledge in this time period, could not remember even what it was about. That was a bit eye opening for someone who at one time studied history.

2. Monthly date with the husband : 

With being down to one child at home and both of us working going out has been moved down the list as we can often find time to be together at home and often to tired to go out. But I do think since the one child at home can be trusted to watch himself, I keep telling myself it's ok to do things with my husband and leave him home alone. So making a monthly date with the husband a priority, thinking of some restaurants, movies, and museums that the twelve year old isn't interested in.

3. Weekly Game Night : 

Our lives are once again changing we will only have one child living at home full time, the last time that happened was 25 years ago. Was trying to think of something to do each week as a family a very small family, so game night it is hoping that with only one child there shouldn't be to many tears. Many years ago tried this with six at home, it quickly turned into a movie night instead.

4. Try a new recipe each week - 

looking forward to trying something new each week.

5. Fall Garden-

this summer we were on the road often and it was very hot and dry so not much of a summer garden to talk about, so aiming for a Fall garden and a plan for a better garden next year.

6. De-clutter- 

We moved cross country just over three years ago and the clutter has already grown back, so I am making it a mission to get rid of 1,000 items in the next year.

7. Loose some weight- 

It wouldn't be a list of goals with out at least one healthy living goal.

8. Learn a new skill - 

This has been on past goal lists but this year I will learn to make soap.

9. Reduce trash- 

Increase our recycling, reusing, and composting.

10. A Financial goal-

 I am not going to share to much on this publicly but I do have a saving goal.