Green Grocery Bag Challenge

After hearing about the possible link of lead in reusable grocery bags made in China, my heart just sank.  After finally getting so many people on board to shop with cloth bags it seemed to be a slap in the face for all the efforts.  However....there is a better way!  I was privileged to learn about the Green Bag Lady from a friend's blog about a year ago.  And now, Sew Mama Sew has put a challenge on the table...the sewing table that is.  Green Grocery Bag Challenge is a way for each of us to really use our resources and abilities to help out one gift at a time this Christmas season and beyond.  Check out all the highlighted links and learn more about this great idea.

ps.  I was fortunate enough to win a Green Bag Lady bag (#8321) for myself and one to give away to a friend last year. 

13,445 Green Bag Lady Bags Given Away!

Green Bag Lady bags are being used in 2415 cities in every U.S. state

plus 349 cities in 206 territories/provinces/countries world wide

It really has made an impact on me and my family to reuse bags and take along our own whenever possible.

One word...one syllable...Wok! You Got It!

 Stir Fry!

Okay, so I just checked and there are 2 recipes I haven't posted for you yet, Quick Cherry Cheesecake and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  So I'll work on those this week.  But I did just write up and send off to Miss Bobbi the Garlic Chicken Stir Fry recipe.  So I figured I post that one today.



The kids were giving me puzzled looks when I play charades with then to figure out what type of pan we were using that day.  Some classes got it, others were a little confused with my game playing in the kitchen.  But it was a fun conversation after they discovered the pan was called a wok.   I assured them that you could make a stir fry in a skillet too and that most of their kitchens probably had something that would work just fine.  We talked about how a stir fry would be in the healthy food category since you use little oil and it cooks up so quick.  I was surprised that there weren't more kiddos that squawked at mushrooms in our stir fry, so don't think you have to always leave out those fun fungi on account of the kids.  I also told them that if they didn't chop or slice them too small they were easy to pick out if needed.  So here's the recipe.  As always I would love to hear your comments if you do make a recipe.  Let me and all the others know how it turned out and what changes you may have done to adjust it to your family's liking.

Garlic Chicken Stir Fry

4 medium chicken breasts

1/2 cup water

1 instant chicken bullion cube

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 tablespoon minced garlic

6 oz sliced mushrooms

4 green onions thinly sliced

8 oz can water chestnuts, sliced

3 cups hot rice

Cut chicken into small chunks about 1/2 inch in size.  Heat the water in microwave safe container until hot and add bullion cube, set that aside until it’s dissolved.  Combine soy sauce, cornstarch and vinegar in a small bowl.  Once the bullion is dissolved add it to the soy sauce mix. 

Add oil to a wok or a large skillet.  Heat over med/hi heat.  Stir fry the garlic for 15 seconds, then add mushrooms and onions.  Continue stir frying about 1 more minute or until tender.  Remove the veggies from your pan so they do not over cook.  If you need a bit more oil add it into wok or skillet then add your chicken.  Stir fry until there is no more pink color, about 2 -3 minutes.  Push the chicken away from the center of the wok or pan so that the soy sauce mix can be added and stirred to thicken.  Once it feels a little thick you can return the veggies and add in the water chestnuts too.  Stir everything together in your wok or skillet until it’s heated through.  Serve your garlic chicken stir fry over rice. 

 

Preztels Anyone?

The weeks recipes may not come in order but since I had written the pretzel recipe up to be printed I figured it was good to post it next.  Super easy recipe and very good for a snack on these coming colder days?  I think they are coming.  But November sure has been warm so far.

 

:Super Easy Soft Pretzels:

makes 14 pretzels

1 loaf frozen white bread dough, thawed

all purpose flour, for dusting surface

1 egg, lightly beaten

coarse salt (optional)

Line a sheet pan with waxed paper.  Divide dough into 14 pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll each piece of dough into a 16 inch rope and form into a pretzel shape.  Transfer dough to the prepared sheet pan, cover and refrigerate until ready to boil.  Preheat oven to 400 degrees.  Lightly grease another sheet pan.  In a large pot, bring 4 quarts of water to a boil.  Add pretzels, 3 at a time, and cook until pretzels rise to the surface.  This takes about 2 minutes each time.  Remove and drain on paper towels.   Arrange pretzels 3 inches apart on prepared sheet pan.  Brush with beaten egg.  Sprinkle with salt or choice of toppings.   Bake for 15 – 20 minutes or until brown.

Garlic Cheese --- 1/2 cup finely grated parmesan and 1 teaspoon garlic powder

Cinnamon Sugar --- 1/2 cup powdered or granulated sugar and 1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon

This is another recipe I was hoping to use with the older kids but realized our time was too limited.  I haven't tried it yet myself but hope to soon at home.  I you try it out please let me know how it turns out. 

: Soft Pretzel Recipe :

2 packages or 2 Tablespoons active dry yeast
2 cups warm water
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup butter softened
2 eggs
6 to 7 cups all-purpose flour
1 egg white for brushing the tops

Pour water in measuring cup and heat water in the microwave to lukewarm, about 110 degrees. Add sugar to water and stir to dissolve. Add yeast into water. Allow yeast to bubble and foam for several minutes.

Meanwhile in mixing bowl add salt, soft butter, 2 eggs and 3-4 cups flour. Blend together. Add in yeast mixture and remaining cups of flour. Blend until dough forms a ball. Knead on a floured surface several minutes.

Pull off pieces of dough and roll into ropes. Then cross ends over to make an X and form dough into a pretzel shape. Place on greased cookie sheets. In small bowl whisk egg white. With a pastry brush, brush tops of pretzels. Bake at 400 degrees for 12-15 minutes until golden brown.

Great Week at HSC!

I wanted to say thank you for all the feedback I've been getting from parents and kids about the kitchen blog.  I really enjoy posting the recipes and pictures of sewing projects, I'm just not very good at keeping up each week!  Thank you for being patient while I get my blogging habits in check.

I also wanted to share how much I appreciate all your kind words and prayers for my family as we are navigating through this new kind of normal that has entered our lives.   Priorities are put into perspective very quickly these days.  Spending time with your kids each week has been such a blessing to me and my family.   My kids love to hear what we've cooked for class that day and what types of sewing projects we are working on.  Of course my own kids have  been my "practice" students for recipes and projects for years and haven't even known it.  What a perfect set up I have to prepare to teach your kids.  This week just seemed to be extra special and I wanted to let you know what a great job they did in cooking and sewing.  In cooking class we made spaghetti pie, which took a while to bake so we had extra time at the end of class.  I told the kids there would be a non cooking activity to do until our food was ready.   I had made up a custom word search paper on the computer using words all about our past recipes and things we use in the kitchen each week.  Some of them were a little unsure of the activity at first but as they started talking and sharing they really had fun.  The team work was amazing!  I loved seeing their excitement as each new word was found.  The enjoyment of helping a friend locate a difficult word was contagious.  The first one to find a new word would share clues for the others.  It really was a joy to watch the interactions.

The sewing kids are doing a fabulous job!  I love to see how much creativity is happening in class.  It makes me smile when I hear them chatting with each other about wanting to sew at home or what projects they want to do next.  It's fun to see their excitement when I bring in new fabrics for them to use.  I challenged the hand sewers to thread their own needles today.  (It takes a lot of time to rethread 6 needles over and over again!)  Some weren't sure, but I just said to concentrate and be very still with their hands and keep trying.  They all did it!  The pride of accomplishment was just wonderful. 

Just a glimpse into the kitchen this week at HSC.  Your kids brought me such joy! 
Thank you and have a great rest of your week,

Miss Stacy

French Toast and Fruit Smoothies

Ugh! Sorry I haven't kept up each week with recipes.  Eventually they'll all get here.
Thanks for your patience.

French Toast

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

2 Tablespoon butter or margarine

6 slices firm textured bread

sliced fruit, powdered sugar, syrup

Crack eggs into a mixing bowl.  Beat with a fork until yolks and whites are mixed together.  Add milk and, if you like, cinnamon.  Beat until ingredients are well mixed.  Pour egg mixture into a pie plate or pan.

Put half of the butter into a skillet on the stove with the burner turned to medium high heat.  Let the butter melt.

Dip one slice of bread into egg mixture.  Turn bread over to coat the other side too.  Put coated bread in skillet.  Cook until bottom of bread is light brown. (To check, lift bread with a spatula to peek underneath).  This will take 1 1/2 – 2 minutes.  Turn bread over.  Cook until second side is light brown too.  Remove toast from the skillet.

Repeat with remaining slices of bread.  Recoat skillet with more butter as needed.

Fruit Smoothies

1 small ripe banana

2 cups frozen unsweetened strawberries

1 8oz carton of strawberry or vanilla yogurt

3/4 cup milk

Put banana (cut into chunks), frozen strawberries, yogurt and milk into a blender.  Blend until smooth.  Pour into glasses and enjoy!