Sweet and Sour Chicken

Sweet and Sour Chicken
4 servings

1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons soy sauce, divided
1 tablepoon chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken tenders, cut into 1 inch cubes
1 can (20 ounces) pineapple chunks
2 tablespoons plus 1/3 cup cornstarch, divided
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 cup cider vinegar
1/4 cup ketchup
1 tablespoon oil
2 cups hot cooked rice

Combine 1 tablespoon soy sauce, broth, salt, garlic powder and ground ginger in a large, resealable plastic bag. Add chicken and refrigerate for 30 minutes. Drain pineapple, reserving juice; set pineapple aside. Add enough water to juice to measure 1 cup. Combine 2 tablespoons cornstarch, sugar and pineapple juice mixture until smooth; stir in vinegar, ketchup and remaining soy sauce. Set aside. Drain chicken and discard marinade. Place remaining cornstarch in a large, resealable plastic bag. Add chicken and toss to coat. In a skillet, cook chicken in oil until done. Remove and keep warm. Stir pineapple juice mixture and add to skillet. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Add chicken and reserved pineapple; heat through. Serve over rice and enjoy!

Happy Monday! :-)

Have a great week!

Supper Menus
June 30th-July 5th

Monday
sweet and sour chicken, rice
Tuesday
firecracker casserole, guacamole, tortilla chips
Wednesday
cheeseburger buns, spicy potato wedges, macaroni salad
Thursday
fajitas, pinto beans, spanish rice
Friday
Independence Day Celebration - menu TBA :-)
Saturday
garlic chicken spaghetti, caesar salad, bread sticks

Menu Plan Monday is being hosted by Heavenly Homemakers this week, while Org Junkie is on vacation!

Honey-eyed Chicken

This yummy recipe came from Kelli at There Is No Place Like Home - one of my favorite blogs. Thank you, Kelli! We loved your family's recipe.

Honey-eyed Chicken

4 servings

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup butter

1/4 cup mustard

4 teaspoons curry powder

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts

Combine honey, butter, mustard and curry in a small saucepan. Heat and stir until butter is melted. Place chicken in a baking dish and pour sauce over chicken. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes.

"Whatsoever things are true,

Whatsoever things are honest,

Whatsoever things are just,

Whatsoever things are pure,

Whatsoever things are lovely,

Whatsoever things are of good report;

if there be any virtue,

and if there be any praise,

think on these things."

Philippians 4:8 KJV

I have been looking forward to these all week! Yummy!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Parfaits

4 servings

2 tablespoons peanut butter

2 tablespoons plus 2 cups milk, divided

1 cup plus 4 tablespoons whipped topping, divided

1 package instant chocolate fudge pudding mix

4 tablespoons finely chopped salted peanuts

Combine peanut butter and 2 tablespoons milk. Fold in 1 cup whipped topping; set aside. Whisk remaining milk with pudding mix for 2 minutes. Spoon half the pudding into 4 parfait glasses. Spoon the peanut butter mixture over the pudding, then spread a layer of remaining pudding. Refrigerate one hour. Top with remaining whipped topping and peanuts - serve and enjoy!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup Summertime, Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup Turn Off the Oven.

My 2nd 5K

I'm a walker, not a runner. :-)

I finished 2 minutes slower than my first 5K in April -

I blame the heat! ;-)

Panhandle Beef Brisket

Panhandle Beef Brisket
8 servings

1 1/2 cups ketchup
1 cup beef broth
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup vinegar
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper (or more - we like bbq sauce very peppery!)
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon dried chopped onion
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
1 small fresh beef brisket (3 to 4 pounds), trimmed
2 tablespoons liquid smoke

In a saucepan combine ketchup, broth, brown sugar, vinegar, chili powder, Worcestershire sauce, black pepper, cayenne pepper, onion and garlic powder. Bring to a boil, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat. Set aside one cup of sauce for serving. Place brisket in a shallow pan; brush on both sides with liquid smoke. Pour remaining sauce over meat. Cover and bake at 325° for 2-3 hours or until meat is tender. Let stand for 5 minutes. Thinly slice meat across the grain. Serve with reserved sauce and enjoy!

I used a three pound brisket for our family of four. It was just the right size for supper this evening with enough brisket and sauce leftover for four chopped beef sandwiches for lunch tomorrow! This sauce is very, very good!

Linked to Down Home Cookin' Recipe Linkup.

Oh Happy Day!

DAISIES at the grocery for $1 a bunch!

Flower Arranging Tip

Have you ever seen one of those glass do-dads used in a vase to hold and separate individual flower stems? Maybe there is a name for it? Here's my "homemade" version.

Take a plastic lid about the size of the

container you want to put your flowers in.

Trim to fit the neck of the container,

and use a whole punch to poke a few holes in it.

Start with a long, thick stem in the middle to stabilize it,

and then arrange the other stems.

It works great and enables a small

amount of flowers to look like a lot!

Blueberry Crumb Cake

Blueberry Crumb Cake

16 servings, makes 2 cakes - one for your family, one for a neighbor!

for streusel

1/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
½ cup butter, melted
1 1/3 cups flour

for cake

6 tablespoons butter
¾ cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon lemon zest
2/3 cup sour cream
1 ¼ cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh blueberries
powdered sugar

Butter and flour two, 9 inch round baking pans. Combine sugar, brown sugar, and cinnamon. Stir in melted butter and then flour. Mix well and set aside. Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla, zest, and sour cream. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add to butter mixture; mix well. Fold in blueberries. Spoon batter into pans and top with streusel. Bake 40 minutes at 350°. Cool completely. Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar and enjoy!

Linked to Down Home Cookin' Recipe Linkup, Sweet Indulgences Sunday, Cast Party

Homemade Pickles

Refrigerator Pickles
makes 2 pints

6 pickling cucumbers
½ bell pepper, chopped
½ onion, thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, minced
1 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon celery seed
1 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Wash and scrub cucumbers. Slice into a non-metallic bowl, leaving peel on, about 1/8" thick. Add bell pepper, onion, and garlic to cucumbers. Sprinkle with salt and celery seed. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and set aside for 1 hour. In a small saucepan, bring vinegar to a boil then remove immediately from heat. Stir in sugar until dissolved. Allow to cool; pour over cucumbers. Mix well; fill jars and refrigerate for 24 hours before serving. Enjoy a jar and share one with a friend!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup.

Daddy's Favorite Supper

Skillet Chicken Parmesan
4 servings

8 ounces angel hair pasta (cooked according to package directions)
1 jar pasta sauce
4 chicken breasts, pounded thin
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
2 cups bread crumbs
1 teaspoon oregano
1 teaspoon basil
1 teaspoon parsley
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tablespoons oil
1 cup mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup fresh grated parmesan cheese

Heat pasta sauce. Combine milk and egg in a shallow dish. Combine bread crumbs, spices, and parmesan cheese. Dip each chicken breast in milk wash, then in bread crumbs; repeat. Heat oil in saucepan over high heat. Brown chicken breasts on each side in hot oil. Reduce heat to medium and continue to cook until done - about 5 minutes each side. Dish up pasta; top with sauce, chicken, more sauce, mozzarella and fresh grated parmesan cheese. Enjoy!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup Just for Dad, Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup Turn Off the Oven

Welcome Home Daddy!

This beautiful espresso cup and saucer candle

was a thoughtful gift from my sweet husband!

The morning is brighter.
The day is sweeter.

A song is lovelier.
A picture is prettier.

My heart is lighter.
My burdens are fewer.

My pillow is softer.
The night is safer.

Everything is better when you are home!

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Cake

Chocolate Covered Strawberries Cake

16 servings

2/3 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar, divided

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 1/2 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup milk

4 egg whites

1 cup sliced fresh strawberries

for frosting

7 1/2 cups confectioners' sugar

1 1/2 cups baking cocoa

3/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 cup sliced fresh strawberries

8 whole fresh strawberries

Cream butter and 1 1/4 cups sugar. Beat in vanilla. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with milk. Beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Gradually beat in remaining sugar, on high until stiff peaks form and sugar is dissolved. Fold into batter. Fold in strawberries. Pour in to two, greased and floured 9-inch round baking pans. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans. Cool completely on wire racks. For frosting, combine confectioner's sugar and cocoa. Beat in butter and milk until smooth. Beat in vanilla. Spread frosting over bottom cake layer; top with sliced strawberries. Top with remaining cake layer; frost top and sides of cake. Dip whole strawberries into frosting and arrange around and on top of cake. Refrigerate leftovers. Enjoy!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup.

Summer Morning

I can't think of a better way

to spend a summer morning,

then browsing in the cool comfort of the library

and strolling in the warm breeze of the farmer's market.

Can you? :-)

From Here to Eternity

A Housework Prayer

As I go about my housework
Let me see each job I do,
As a service for my King
And a way of loving You.

Let me wash away my judgments
Of others right or wrong,
As I wash up all the dishes
Place within my heart a song.

As I clean up little fingerprints
And lots of muddy shoes,
May I remember how you cleaned the feet
Of the loved ones you did choose.

As I mend up torn pajamas
And sew a button on,
Show me where I need to mend a breech
That’s gone on for far too long.

Let me tidy up my thoughts
As I tidy up the toys,
Let me sweep away my fears
Like the dirt from little boys.

May I be just as quick with my forgiveness
As I am with mop and broom,
Sweeping up the clutter
In my heart and living room.

May I rinse out pride and ego
As I rinse the bathtub out,
And while we’re at it Lord
Let’s take care of anger, hate and doubt.

Please remind me often Lord
That the way I’m called to serve,
Is an honor given me
And not below what I deserve.

You know Lord, as I look
At all the work we need to do,
I think we’d better house clean
At least each day or two.

~Author Unknown

illustration courtsey of www.allposters.com

"Kitchen Antiques" by T. C. Chui

Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes
6-8 servings

1 pound ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped
1/2 cup ketchup
1/4 cup water
1/2 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 tablespoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon ground mustard
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
sandwich buns

Cook ground beef and onion over medium heat; drain. Add ketchup, water, brown sugar, vinegar, mustard, chili powder, salt, and pepper. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer uncovered until heated through. Spoon meat onto buns. And get those sweet bakery fresh buns instead of hamburger buns - makes all the difference!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup.

A Lunchtime Treat

Spicy Thai Peanut Noodles and reading my favorite blogs!

Spicy Thai Peanut Noodles
2 servings

4 ounces thin rice noodles, cooked according to package directions
1/2 cup hot water
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
2 teaspoons honey
2 teaspoons sesame seeds
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons chopped peanuts

Mix peanut butter with water until combined. Stir in soy sauce, honey, sesame seeds and spices. Toss with hot noodles and top with peanuts. Enjoy!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup.