Sweet Blossoms and Sweet Chicken!

Yesterday we had a dentist appointment and there was a beautiful tree right out front of the office. I couldn't help myself! I had to pick some stems off the tree and bring them home. Beautiful, pink blossoms that look like roses when you first glance at the tree. They are so delicate; the moment you touch the branch the dainty petals fall to the ground. So I carefully removed two branches and brought them home to my blue vase of water.

Now to the chicken!!!! Brian doesn't care for sweet sauce with meat so when he is gone I try to remember to make meals that the boys and I enjoy that Brian doesn't care for. So here is a Sweet and Sour Chicken that is so tasty!

Oil to cover skillet

4 Chicken breasts cut into bite size chunks

3 Eggs, beaten

1/4 C. Pineapple juice

1 C. Arrowroot powder

Heat skillet to medium, medium-high heat. Add oil. Toss chicken breast chunks in pineapple and egg mixture then toss individually in arrowroot powder. Cook chicken until brown and done.

1 Can Pineapple chunks, drained (reserve juice)

1/2 C. Apple cider vinegar

1/2 C. Sugar

1 Med. Green pepper, cut into 1-in. squares

1/4 C. Water

2 Tbsp. Arrowroot powder

2 Carrots, cut into small strips

In a 5 quart pan, add pineapple juice, vinegar, and sugar. Mix well. Mix arrowroot powder and cold water in a container. Mix well then add to pineapple juice mixture. Bring to a boil for 1 minute. Reduce heat to meduim. Add green pepper and carrots. Cook until vegetables tender. Add meat until warm. Serve over rice or Quinoa.

DoubleTree Cookies

This post is inspired from a crazy dream I had about the DoubleTree cookies! You know the ones you hear about at the nice hotels when you go to check in and they offer you the ooooeeeeeyyyyy gooooooeeeeeyyyyyy cookies. I had the opportunity to have these cookies twice before finding out I am allergic to wheat so I have to turn them down for now on. BUT, a friend of mine sent me the recipe for the cookies! (Thank you, Betty Guyer!) Now I am sharing with you! Of course I had helpers while making these.

DoubleTree Hotel Chocolate Chip Cookies

Prep time: 0:30 Overall time: 1 day
20 servings

INGREDIENTS:
1/2 C. Rolled oats
2-1/4 C. Rice flour
1-1/2 tsp. Baking soda
1 tsp. Salt
1/4 tsp. Cinnamon
1 C. Margarine, softened
3/4 C. Brown sugar, packed
3/4 C. Sugar
1/2 tsp. Lemon juice
2 Eggs
3 C. Enjoy Life chocolate chips

1-1/2 C.Chopped walnuts, optional

INSTRUCTIONS

Grind oats in a food processor or blender until fine. Combine the ground oats with the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon in a medium bowl.

Cream together the margarine, sugars, and lemon juice in another medium bowl with an electric mixer. Add the eggs and mix until smooth. Stir the dry mixture into the wet mixture and blend well. Add the chocolate chips and nuts to the dough and mix by hand until ingredients are well blended.

For the best results, chill the dough overnight in the refrigerator before baking the cookies.

Spoon rounded 1/4 cup portions onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Place the scoops about 2 inches apart. Bake in a 350°F oven for 16-18 minutes or until cookies are light brown and soft in the middle. Store in a sealed container when cool to keep soft.

**Note - I made two bathches; one with butter, one with margarine. The original recipe called for butter. Margarine works better with rice flour. Also, you can make smaller cookies, but you need to cut back on your cooking time.

Arts and Crafts!

This is truly God's doing. I have never been arts fartsy and have never loved crafts, but I have to admit, I loved doing this project! And I love it more on my wall!!!!

If you are interested in doing something like this (and the cost is less than $100), here is a site to help http://www.sheknows.com/articles/813266/how-to-make-your-own-headboard

The best thing about it is that you can personalize with whatever material you like. I might do one for Brandon's room!

Chicken of the Sea!

In the Biernat house, we are big fans of sea-food. Here is a "taste" of the ocean!


Mahi Mahi

While on oiled broiler pan, season lightly with salt and pepper, squeeze lemon/and or lime juice gingerly, and a hint of paprika. Bake thawed Mahi Mahi on 350 for 20 minutes in the oven.


Sauteed Shrimp

Place shrimp on medium heat in a large saucepan in olive oil and garlic. When shrimp has turned pink it is done. (Olive oil is much lighter than butter, because after all, it is about the shrimp!)

PIZZA!!!!

Pizza is one food that is associated with a party or just good times. Today was the last day for the boy's end of the year testing at their old school and I made pizza! It tasted so good!! Of course when you make your own, you can personalize it to your liking. And so we did....

Pizza Dough (10 minutes/makes 2 pizzas)

1 1/2 C. Rice Flour

1/4 C. Tapioca Flour

1/4 C. Arrowroot Powder

1 1/2 tsp. Baking Soda

1/2 tsp. Cream of Tartar

2/3 C. Rice Milk

1/4 C. Olive Oil

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix dry ingredients in mixer. Slowly add wet ingredients. If mix feels too dry, add more milk. When mixed, you should be able to roll into a ball without it falling apart. Once all mixed, separate into two pizzas and roll out. Make a crust so your sauce will not roll off!  Cook pizzas for 10 minutes before adding any sauce or toppings.

Pizza Sauce (Enough for 4 Pizzas)

1 (6 oz) Can Tomato Paste

1 C. Water

1/3 C. Olive Oil

2 Garlic Cloves, minced

Salt and Pepper to Taste

1/2 Tbsp. dried Oregano, Basil, Rosemary

Mix all ingredients together in a saucepan. Let cook until everything is well blended. Place sauce on warm pizza and add toppings as desired. Cook pizza until cheese is melted or items are cooked to your liking (approx. 10-20 min.)

Enjoy and Celebrate!!!

Not about the food today.

This morning when I woke up, God placed this on my heart. So today, it is not about the food.
Some people believe that we are here on this earth randomly living, by chance having a good day or bad day. Circumstances happening by chance to no fault of our own. And for people who believe that, I guess it means you came from nothing and then will return to nothing. That doesn't make sense to me.
I am here for a purpose. I am created for a purpose. I did not come to live just to die. What a waste.
I am a child of God.  And some of you may not believe in God. Well let me tell you my friend, He is real. Very real. Very real to me and my family. When we didn't have enough money to pay the bills and we put God first, He provided the money we needed. Unexplainable to us and our checkbook, but all we can do is thank God. When I was sick for 8 months and didn't know what was wrong, yet I could still take care of my children without my husband taking time off from work and be at church three times a week, unexplainable to me, but all I can do is thank God! When I have felt alone and hurt, God has put his arms around me and comforted me and let me know that I am never alone and that He will always be with me. Heb. 13:5
God created me, formed me in my mother's womb. I am special. All of  us are so very special to God. Why else would he send his only son to die on a cross to shed his blood for our sins so that we can be forgiven? Because He loves us. Oh how hard that was. As a mother I cannot even imagine the pain of it. But he did.
So are we here just randomly to live having things thrown at us and having to cope and deal with things. No! We were created by God to live for God and when life does throw a curve, we have a loving God who helps us get through whatever the circumstance. He promises!
"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

Desserts!

Here are two desserts that my family really enjoys. The first is a chocolate chip cookie that is made with one ingredient that makes such a difference - brown sugar! 

Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies

3/4 C. softened butter or margarine

1 1/2 C. Brown Sugar

1 Egg

2 1/4 C. Rice Flour

1 tsp. Baking Soda

1 tsp. Cream of Tartar

1 tsp. Salt

1 C. Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

3/4 C. Nuts (optional)

Preheat oven 375 degrees. In a medium bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add the egg and stir until blended. Slowly add the dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Chill in refrigerator for 30 minutes (optional). Roll spoonful in hands to form a ball. Place on cookie sheet (may line with parchment paper to make clean-up easier). Cook for 8-10 minutes, until cookies get light brown.

The second dessert is an individual dessert so it quite fun. You can make it and then add whatever you want to personalize it. Enjoy!

Chocolate Mug Cake

4 Tbsp. Rice Flour

4 Tbsp. Sugar

2 Tbsp. Cocoa

1 Egg

3 Tbsp. Milk

2 Tbsp. Canola Oil

3 Tbsp. Enjoy Life Chocolate Chips

Pick out your favorite large mug! Add the dry ingredients. In a bowl, mix egg, milk, and oil. Add to mug. Mix wet ingredients with dry ingredients. Stir in chocolate chips. Place a saucer under mug and cook in microwave 2 1/2-3 minutes. Cake will rise over top of mug. Eat plain or add whipped cream, ice cream, milk, cream, jam, syrup, or fruit. You can always place jam or fruit on the bottom of mug before you add ingredients to give a little "surprise"!