Travel Often

“I see my path, but I don’t know where it leads. Not knowing where I’m going is what inspires me to travel it.” — Rosalia de Castro

Love Deeply, but Laugh Along the Way

"Happiness is only real when shared." - Jon Krakauer, Into the Wild

View Marriage as an Adventure

"Love is a flower which turns into fruit at marriage." ~Finnish Proverb

Fuel your body with GOOD (It's the only one you get)

He who has health has hope; and he who has hope has everything. - Arabian Proverb

Open your Soul to Motherhood

A Grand Adventure is About to Begin - Winnie the Pooh

A New Kind of Love is Born

Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

Double Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry

A Healthy Chinese dinner

Double Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry
serves 4
(recipe found in Fitness Magazine May 2010)

Cut 3 ounces skinless chicken breast into thin strips

Heat 2 teaspoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Add chicken; 2 teaspoons reduced-sodium soy sauce; 2 teaspoons honey; 1 garlic clove, minced; and 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger and saute 6 minutes.

Add 2 cups fresh vegetable stir-fry mix and 1/2 cup cooked brown rice; saute 10 minutes.

Top with 1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds and 1 teaspoon dark sesame oil.

Karl's take: "Ohh, I like this. Might need a little more salt."

My take: This was good and hit the spot. I was craving Chinese and this did the trick.

Pasta with Sausage and Red Grapes

"Red grapes contain antioxidants that combat inflammation, a main acne culprit."

Pasta with Sausage and Red Grapes
serves 4
(recipe found in Self August 2011)

6 oz mild Italian sausage, cut into 1-inch chunks
1 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 small red onion, halved and thinly sliced
2 cloves garlic chopped
1 tbsp plus 1/4 tsp salt (preferably kosher), divided
2 cups seedless red grapes
1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (or more to taste)
10 oz whole-wheat orecchiette (or other short-cut pasta, such as farfalle or penne)
2 tbsp grated Parmesan
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley (or 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil)

1. Set a large pot of water to boil. In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat, stirring and breaking up, until well browned, about 15 minutes.

2. Transfer sausage to a paper towel.

3. Add oil to skillet; return to medium heat. Cook onion, garlic, with 1/4 tsp of salt, stirring occasionally, until soft and golden, 2 to 3 minutes.

4. Add grapes, broth and pepper flakes; increase heat to medium-high and cook, stirring occasionally, until grapes soften or burst and liquid thickens, about 10 minutes.

5. Return sausage to skillet and stir; turn off heat. When water boils, add remaining 1 tbsp salt and pasta; cook as directed on package.

6. Drain pasta, add to skillet, and turn on heat to high. Cook stirring, until sausage is hot and pasta is coated with sauce, 30 to 60 seconds.

7. Divide among 4 bowls; sprinkle each with Parmesan and basil before serving.

Karl's reaction: "I actually like this. I wasn't sure but this is good. It's sweet but a little spicy. Good babe."

My take: I was a little worried because my sauce never really thickened and I used different noodles (the potato kind) which actually turned out really good. I'd make this again.