Spicy Peanut Tofu with Red Peppers and Spinach

I surprised myself by making a tofu dish at home...I am not really of fan of it. Spicy Agedashi tofu is one thing, covered in yummy goodness and fried, with that delectable sauce, but I have never really been a fan of actual tofu. However, after being to the doctor for potential Gallbladder issues...I thought I should think about eating a few more healthy things (mind you I don't think this is steamed veggie kinda healthy), but it does have red peppers and spinach....I got the recipe from my sister. Its very easy, and very delicious! I would recommend using chicken instead of tofu if you would prefer.

-Spicy Peanut Tofu with Red Peppers and Spinach-

1/2 cup orange juice

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter

1/3 cup chicken or vegetable broth

1 tbsp hot chili garlic sauce (Siracha, or however you spell it)

1 package extra firm tofu (or 2 chicken breasts)

1 red pepper

6oz bag of spinach

In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, peanut butter, broth and hot chili garlic sauce, set aside.

Slice tofu into strips (or slice chicken in thin strips), slice pepper into thick strips. Lightly coat frying pan with oil over medium heat. When hot, add tofu (chicken) and peppers. Gently stirfry until tender. Stir in sauce and add spinach. Stirfry until spinach has wilted and the sauce is hot. Serve over rice, enjoy!

A Valentine, for me?

I saw this easy Valentines craft on Pinterest....yes, of course, Pinterest....I thought they would be really cute to hang on the kids bedroom door knobs, to collect Valentines from us, or other friends, family members, this is my rendition.

You will need.....

Paper Plates (I used red and pink from the dollar store)
Ribbon
Hole punch
Stapler
Paper doilies
Stickers (I used sticky foam hearts)
Glitter letters (if you want)
Paper hearts (I used a heart paper punch, and punched some really pretty paper)

Take two paper plates, cut one in half and flip it over. Staple the half piece to the round plate, so that it creates a pocket.

Punch holes all the way around, about half an inch apart.

Thread the ribbon through the holes, leaving enough at the top to make a loop for hanging.

I glued the doily in the centre, I thought it looked extra pretty, no biggie if you don't have or don't want doilies :-)

Now decorate, and hang in an obvious location!

K

am I really saying this....

Today, on the way home from Metro-hell, as my girlfriend would call it...(Metrotown) I listened to my kids yell and scream at each other....one wasn't listening to the others story, the other was singing too loud..I imagined what my shopping trips to the mall used to be like, before kids.....I know that some will say, because I have sometimes said it myself..."why the hell do you bring kids to the mall"...well, sometimes we have to get shit done...and the babysitters don't appear out your handbag when you need to run errands....I was hoping for a short trip, total joke, two hours later, I am home, and writing this blog entry.....

I really tried my best to imagine what it really was like shopping before kids...getting ready without kids, going anywhere without kids....the level of stress that I feel before I even step foot out the door is craziness, its like pulling hair out to get them out the door, and when you think you have one ready, the other has taken her jacket and shoes off, and wants to watch Mickey Mouse...FML...

I am not going to write about how much I love my kids, we ALL love our kids, to death, but today, in that instant, I really wanted to rewind, to a day when it wasn't such a dilemma to go out for dinner, to make impromptu plans with friends, go pee, or other things for that matter in the bathroom, without someone asking you what that was in your underwear...to wash your hands without having to wash someone else's at the same time...just, to pop out, for a minute....without taking 45 minutes to get out the door....

Yes, it was my choice to have kids, and I know you all have thoughts like this too, I just needed to write it out...like Fat Amy says....she is just saying what the skinny bitches will say behind her back! Thank F'ing god, for a cold beer when I got home....

Have a great night folks!

K

xo

LEGO

L- ovely
E- xciting
G- lorious
O- bsessive 

Noah received a slew of LEGO for his Birthday and Christmas...at one point I thought about how the heck he was going to complete and build all of it, and I dreaded him asking me to help him everyday.....until...something happened......I became obsessed.

I will admit that the other night, before he went to bed, I snuck a gift bag outside his door that housed a few LEGO sets....I was guilty...I was going to build his LEGO, without him....

I must say that putting together the vehicles, and men, with all the matching accessories is AMAZING! and totally relaxing...we just finished a police car and a construction truck...there were quite a few times he said "mom, let me help!"....I am already eyeing the ambulance!

Could this be my new relaxation and meditation technique?

K
xo

Sunshine makes me happy!

The sunshine is something magical...it sure puts the pep in my step, makes me want to sing, and dance, and smile!! It makes me happy to be alive! Everything smells better, tastes better and feels better in the sunshine. It makes me want to buy tulips and hyacinth, makes me, who am I kidding, I did, as soon as the first ray of sunshine poked through the clouds! Everything is prettier and more lovely in the sunshine, including myself......I seemed to be in a real funk..the New Year started off with such a fizzle...

Even though my windows look a mess, and the dust that covers my house is on magnification, there is nothing, nothing, like sunshine. Is it possible that it makes me want to do even more things that are on Pinterest? I hear it is sticking around for another week! I have a few jobs I want to get done....including something metallic...

I hope everyone has an amazing weekend in the sunshine, hey, even chasing my daughter around at my sons soccer practice will be better in the sunshine!

I think I like the word sunshine...

K

xo

All Aboard The Minivan Express!

I have already admitted that we have gotten a mini van....so when I saw this on Pinterest  I knew I had to do it with the kids! Here is the website where I printed the golden tickets www.confessionsofahomeschooler.com I printed them out at home and then had them laminated at Staples...

We put them in the kids mailboxes that we have inside the house, and when they were all dressed in their pj's they checked their mail, found the tickets, and were given their popcorn for the ride! Daddy was waiting at the mini van with the paper punch to welcome them aboard, as soon as their tickets were punched, they climbed in to listen to Christmas carols and head off to our first stop....

The Burnaby Heritage Museum was a great first stop, the admission is free, and the Heritage Christmas is lovely! We toured the town, visited Father Christmas (which I thought was weird), had a hot chocolate in the cafe and looked at all the beautiful lights! The last stop was a drive along Trinity to see the neighbourhood light displays, this street is famous, each year there is a contest, I think the one house, where we got out to sit in the sleigh, will win for sure!

The kids had to remember their tickets along the way, they needed them to get back on board, so we took photos with them along the way! This was such a fun holiday activity to do with the kids, and they LOVED it!

Merry Christmas!!

K
xo

Prosecco, my drink of choice

I often talk about drinking Prosecco...maybe a little too often. I am sure I have been talked about for drinking it while I am studying, or doing my homework, or even just pouring a glass for the heck of it, but what the hell, it tastes really good, it truly is delicious, and tastes even better in a proper flute! Just like opening a bottle of wine, I will open a bottle of Prosecco or sparkling brut, the drier the better, I hate that sweet shit. I once tried a bottle of Dom Perignon , I was the only one that liked it...I think I drank the bottle to myself?? Maybe that is what started my obsession with this fantastic beverage!? 

The thing is, I don't spend a lot of money on a bottle...I have shared with you some of my selections, a few favourites. Three out of the four, I know are under $20, the Cremant I got as a gift, for my 30th Birthday, it was divine, but am unsure of the price point. 

Villa Teresa Organic Prosecco $16.97 BC Liquor Stores

(also comes in a rose, that is delicious as well, best part is the closure, it stays fresh and bubbly for quite some time so you don't have to worry about drinking it all in one go!)

Anna Spinato Organic Prosecco $14.99 BC Liquor Stores

Veuve Du Vernay Rose Sparking Brut $15.99 BC Liquor Stores

(Also comes in white)

Keep an eye out for this one, its delicious, I don't remember this one lasting too long!

My sister adorned the bottle with a label for my 30th Birthday!

This is my little something that takes the edge off, puts a smile on my face, makes me feel like a lady. Something I enjoy, and try to always have around the house. There will definitely be stock for the holidays!!

Enjoy!

K