Look what's growing!

Aren't they cute?! :-)

Kung Pao Chicken

Kung Pao Chicken
4 servings

4 cups water
2 cups rice
2 tablespoons oil
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 cup peanuts
1 bell pepper, sliced
1 onion, sliced
1/2 cup soy sauce
1 cup water
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoon sesame oil
2 teaspoon hot chili sauce
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons water
2 chicken breasts, diced
2 eggs, whisked thoroughly
1 cup flour
1 tablespoon cornstarch
oil for frying

Bring 4 cups water and rice to a boil.  Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, saute garlic, peanuts, pepper and onion in oil until peanuts and garlic have browned and pepper and onion are tender.  Combine soy sauce, water, rice vinegar, sesame oil, chili sauce, and pepper flakes.  Combine cornstarch with water until smooth and add to soy sauce mixture. Pour into pan; stir. Bring to a boil and stir until thickened; keep warm.  In a separate sauce pan heat oil for frying.  Mix flour with cornstarch.  Coat chicken in egg and then toss in flour mixture until coated.  Fry chicken in two batches.  Drain chicken and add to warm sauce and mix well.  Serve chicken over cooked rice and enjoy!

Linked to Gooseberry Patch Recipe Roundup.

In the Good Old Summertime

My Summertime Friend :-)

Where I go, it goes.

Where it goes, I go.

My water glass...with a straw.

A summer slim down's best fried. ;-)

Supper Menus
June 8th-13th

Monday
angel hair pasta with marinara sauce, caesar salad, sour dough bread
Tuesday
kung pao chicken, white rice
Wednesday
crispy tacos, spanish rice, refried beans
Thursday
hamburgers, baked beans, coleslaw, french fries
Friday
take out pizza
Saturday
out for supper

65 years

Several years ago my family had the privilege of visiting the beaches of the Normandy Invasion at the sites of the American D-Day landings - codenamed Omaha Beach and Utah Beach. The following pictures were taken by Mr. H.

June 6, 1944 D-Day

"a mighty armada crossed a narrow strip of sea from England

to Normandy, France and cracked the Nazi grip on western Europe"

Omaha Beach

The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial is a World War II cemetery and memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, that honors American soldiers who died in Europe during World War II.

The cemetery is located on a bluff overlooking Omaha Beach and the English Channel. It covers 172 acres, and contains the remains of 9,387 American military dead, most of whom were killed during the invasion of Normandy and ensuing military operations in World War II. The graves face westward, towards the United States.

Pointe du Hoc is a clifftop location on the coast of Normandy. It lies 4 miles west of Omaha Beach, and stands on 100 foot tall cliffs overlooking the sea. It was a point of attack by the United States Army Ranger Assault Group commanded by Lieutenant Colonel James Earl Rudder, "Rudder's Rangers".

Utah Beach

THIS MONUMENT WAS ERECTED BY THE

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

IN HUMBLE TRIBUTE TO ITS SONS

THAT LOST THEIR LIVES

IN THE LIBERATION OF THESE BEACHES

JUNE 6, 1944

There aren't words to describe the feeling of standing on the very ground were so many brave Americans gave their lives for the freedoms we enjoy today.

Galveston, oh Gal...ves..ton :-)

I love the beach! :-)

My family didn't understand the title of this post, do any of you??

"People are always blaming their circumstances

for what they are.

I don't believe in circumstances.

The people who get on in this world

are the people who get up

and look for the circumstances they want,

and, if they can't find them, make them."

~G.B. Shaw, Mrs. Warren's Profession, 1893

Sweet Daisy

enjoying a summer afternoon!

Graduation Gift

I love to give chocolate candies.

Who doesn't like a little chocolate?!

I've collected candy molds over the years

for just about every occasion you can think of!

A bag of candy melts, some flavoring of your choice,

a mold, and about 30 minutes is all you need.

It's especially nice to give a bag of chocolates

when the gift you are giving is cash or a gift card.

It's just a little something extra.

These were for a special graduate. :-)

Sesame Stir Fry
6 servings

2 cups rice
4 cups water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cups teriaki sauce
1/4 cup water
2 teaspoons rice vinegar
2 teaspoons sesame oil
1 teaspoon hot chili sauce
2 tablespoons oil
2 chicken breasts, sliced thin
2 teaspoons sesame seeds
1 bag frozen oriental style mixed veggies
1 bag frozen sugar snap peas
1 tablespoon corn starch
2 tablespoons water

Bring water to a boil. Add rice; reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Meanwhile, combine soy sauce, teriaki sauce, water, rice vinegar, sesame oil and hot chili sauce. Set aside. Brown chicken in oil. Add sesame seeds and let brown just a bit. Not long, the seeds will start to jump out of the pan! Add frozen veggies; cook and stir over medium heat for about 3 minutes. Combine cornstarch and water. Add soy sauce mixture to pan and bring to a boil over high heat. Pour cornstarch mixture into pan. Cook and stir until sauce thickens. Turn heat to low and continue to cook until chicken is done and veggies are tender. Serve over rice and enjoy!

This was my first try at preparing stir fry without depending on a packaged seasoning mix or prepared stir fry sauce...and it was delicious! My husband thought that the homemade version was much better! The whole family loved it. It was just spicy enough to have some kick, and you can serve extra hot chili sauce at the table for those that enjoy a little more fire. Yummy! And, a tip from my daughter - she says that it tastes better when you use your chopsticks! ;-)

The Old Fashinoned Way

I am really serious about slimming down this summer.

And I'm going to do it the old fashioned way.

Increased exercise and counting calories!

I am a firm believer that nothing is ever accomplished

without a plan!

So I worked up a little Slim Down Notebook

to keep me organized and accountable.

A page for weekly measurements,

and daily log pages -

to track meals,

water intake, exercise,

calories and fat.

Expect lots of motivational quotes to appear at Heritage Schoolhouse over the summer!

And don't worry, I will still be posting weekly menus and new recipes! I still have to feed my family. :-) Some meals might be a little lighter, but hopefully in a way that my family won't even notice. ;-)

Happy Summer Slim Down!

Summertime Kitchen Window

I used this little kit to plant a kitchen windowsill herb garden.

The herbs should sprout in the next 7 to 10 days. :-)
The kit came with more seeds than needed

for the little window planter,
so I'll sow the rest out in the garden.
And I will enjoy tending to these right in my kitchen! :-)

"Then followed that beautiful season...

Summer....

Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;

and the landscape lay as if new created

in all the freshness of childhood."

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

illustration courtesy of www.allposters.com

"Summer's Eve" by Judy Richardson

She's in the army now... ;-)

N0, not really - just BOOT CAMP!

And they don't call it that for nothin' let me tell you.

5:30 AM!!

Running

Squats

Running

Crunches

More Running!

Push Ups (I had to do the modified kind!)

Sit Ups (I tried, really I did! I kept looking for the person that is supposed to sit on your feet...)

We're running again???

Weights

Walking (thank you!!!)

My daughter took this picture after I got home. (I am not as happy as I look!) It was very, very hard. But, I am hoping it is going to be very, very worth it in the end!

Also hoping...to be able to move tomorrow! ;-)

Supper Menus
June 1st-6th

Monday
crispy tacos, spanish rice, refried beans
Tuesday
sesame stir fry, white rice
Wednesday
out for supper
Thursday
angel hair pasta with marinara sauce, french bread, green salad
Friday
out for supper
Saturday
out for supper

Soccer Saturday

Our spring season of soccer is over,

but a special 3 on 3 soccer tournament took place today.

I sure do love #4. :-)

He always plays his little heart out.

And so does his team.

And they will be traveling to play in a

national 3v3 tournament

in August!

So exciting! :-)

Summertime Hutch

It's time to take the spring banner down and the china out of the hutch, and replace them with my summer things.

My ice cream sundae glasses.

My Susan Branch "Summer" book.

And a beatiful flower that my son made me
to match my dishes!

It looks like summer! :-)

TV Time Bucks

So children's brains don't turn to mush

over the summer months...

So Mom doesn't have to work too hard

to keep up with how much television is being watched...

TV Time Bucks!

You start the week with a determined amount.

You might earn an extra one for exceptionally good behavior. ;-)

You turn them in to watch a program.

When you're out you're out.

Simple!

1st Day of Summer Traditions

Today was the 1st day of summer at

Heritage Schoolhouse!

Since my eldest was in kindergarten

we've gone out to eat doughnuts for breakfast

on the first day of summer.

We also visit Hobby Lobby

so the children can choose

a new activity to work on.

We stop by the library

and pick out books and movies

and Library Reading Program charts.

Sometimes a visit to Wal-Mart is in order

for necessary pool supplies.

Then it's home for lunch,

and lots and lots of afternoon swimming!

Summer has arrived! :-)