Ahhh, I love it when my bathroom is gleaming! Theoretically, if I was keeping up with my chores the way I'd like to, it would be gleaming every day. :) But I hadn't given it a thorough going-over since before our vacation, so it was high time for some scrubbing. It looks much happier now! The only thing left to do is the shower, which I hope to tackle tomorrow. Somehow, tubs/showers seem to need a day of their own in order for me to have enough energy to do a good job.
Since Thursday is my errand day, Sam and I got out as early as we could manage and went to the grocery store and Walmart. Then we took some flowers and a get-well card to my Grammie, who is recovering from gallbladder surgery. After a nice little visit with my grandparents, who always enjoy getting to see Sam, we headed up the road to my parents' house and had lunch with them. I could see that Sam was winding down after lunch (nap time!) so we headed home and he promptly fell asleep, before we even got off my parents' road. I managed to get all the groceries in, then get him transferred from carseat to crib, where he is thankfully still asleep! His nice long nap has given me the chance to put away groceries, read a few blogs, have devotions, and clean the bathroom . . . not to mention write a bit here! :)
After a dreary day of rain yesterday, we are enjoying some warmish weather and blue skies today. The best thing about the rain, though, was that it melted all the ice that was on our driveway! So now I feel a lot better about driving in and out.
It's been a while since I shared a favorite recipe. Here's what we had for supper last night--one of our favorites. It is a bit time-consuming to put together, but I found it went a lot smoother and easier when I got an early start on tearing up the lettuce, making the "crunchies" and stirring together the dressing and marinade.
Marinated Chicken Salad
Dressing:
1/2 c. oil
1/2 c. white vinegar
1/2 c. sugar
2 T. soy sauce
Chicken Marinade:
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. lemon juice
1/4 c. water
2 T. white vinegar
1 T. brown sugar
2 T. oil
1/2 t. pepper
Crunchies:
2 pkg. Ramen noodles, without flavoring
4 T. butter
2 T. sugar
1/4 c. sesame or sunflower seeds
3/4 c. slivered or sliced almonds
3-4 lbs. boneless chicken breasts, cut in strips
1 16-oz. can mandarin oranges
2 heads (approx.) leafy greens of your choice
1. Combine dressing ingredients in a tightly-sealing jar. Set aside.
2. Combine marinade ingredients in a large measuring cup. Set aside.
3. To make crunchies (can be done ahead):
~Break noodles into tiny pieces (I just crush 'em up with my hands while they're still in the package)
~Melt butter in large skillet
~Add sugar, noodles, seeds and almonds
~Brown over low-med. heat until golden in color and toasted
~Be careful not to burn--stir frequently
~Let cool and set aside
4. Pour chicken marinade into large skillet and add cut chicken strips to marinade. Cook in marinade over med. heat for 15-
20 minutes. (I find it doesn't usually take nearly that long, though.) Stir frequently to be sure all the chicken is cooked
evenly.
5. Wash greens and tear into bite-sized pieces; place in large serving bowl. (Do this ahead if you have time.)
6. Drain mandarin oranges and place on top of greens in bowl.
7. When chicken is cooked through, remove from marinade with slotted spoon and place on top of greens. Discard
marinade.
8. Just before serving, place crunchies on top of greens.
9. Shake the dressing thoroughly immediately before serving and pour evenly over salad. Toss to combine.
10. Serve and enjoy!
~~A few notes of my own: We usually use iceberg lettuce, just because that's what I usually have on hand. I know it's not as healthy, but when I buy leaf lettuce, it usually ends up going bad before I remember to use it. We have found iceberg works just fine. Also, when I'm making this just for our family of 3, I cut the recipe in half. The original recipe which I have shared here makes a huge salad! This is so yummy and really quite filling if you serve it with a nice hearty bread or rolls. We just love it. I hope some will try it and enjoy it as much as we do!
9 comments:
Carrie,
Yummy! That salad sounds so good! It sounds similar to a salad that I make with cabbage that is a sort of coleslaw, but you use the Ramen seasonings in the dressings; I'm assuming this dressing might be healthier without the Ramen seasoning?
Have I ever left a comment on your blog? I don't remember, but you left one on mine a while ago and I've been checking in on your blog now and then. . . It's fun, blogging, isn't it?
Have a great day!
Katie
Katie, thanks for commenting! Yes, you did leave a comment one other time, after I left one on yours. :) I check your blog probably once a week or so too . . . I enjoy the pics of Luke!! He's such a cutie. :) I'm also enjoying Shyla's blog, even though I don't "know" her either . . . just left a comment there today for the first time, actually. It's fun to read her pregnancy experiences because she's right about a week ahead of where I am.
Yes, this is probably healthier just b/c it doesn't have the Ramen seasonings . . . no MSG, etc. It's super yummy . . . actually I think the recipe originally came from someone at Northland--my sister brought it home; I think someone in her Foods class used it in one of their dinner parties or something.
And yes, it is fun to blog! I wish I had more time for it; but as you can relate to, I have the more important job of being a wife and mommy, and family comes first! :)
Mindee, hey there my friend! I've been meaning to email you all week and it just hasn't happened yet . . . but I've been thinking of you! Hopefully I'll run into you Sunday sometime. :) You've got to see my expanding tummy!
I actually don't mind cleaning bathrooms, once I get into it . . . as long as I have time to do it all at once and get it done. It's keeping up with it daily that I hate--I think I have way too much stuff around my sinks, which is a hassle to clean around. I also hate cleaning showers--which is why it gets put off for so long--but it looks SOOO nice when it's finally done! :)
Carrie,
Hi there, not sure if you remember me but I used to be Rachel Payne's roommate at good ole NBBC . . . weren't you a friend of hers?
Your chicken salad sounds delicious! I'll have to give it a whirl.
So what are you and your family up to? Congratulations on your second pregnancy. . . do you know if you're having a boy or girl?
God's blessings to you sister in Christ!
Alicia
Hi, Alicia! Yes, I do remember you!! Rachel and I are still good friends and still in touch every once in a while. She's a mommy of 2 now . . . I'll have to let her know about your blog! Chloe is such an adorable munchkin, by the way!
We have a pretty full and busy life here in central NH--hubby is a self-employed carpenter and I'm a SAHM full time, which is great. We currently attend Trinity Baptist in Concord, NH--Pastor Phelps' church--don't know if you remember him but he used to come out to NBBC probably once a year or so. We live in our own home which my hubby built, after many years of dreaming and praying! There is still a lot of finishing work to do on it, but it's wonderful to be in our own place.
We won't find out ahead of time if we're having a boy or girl--we like to be surprised, and I'm not likely to have an ultrasound unless my midwife's concerned about something . . . but boys run in the family, so I'm kind of planning on another boy. :) But if it's a girl, that would be a fun surprise!
Thanks for commenting; it was nice to hear from you! I think it's cool how blogging can bring us in touch with new and old friends. Take care and God bless!
Carrie,
Do you know the Everson's? Marv and . . . I'm blanking out Aughh. Anyways, one my husband's best friend married Jenecia, their daughter - who is now a really close friend of mine! I know that's where they attend church (the Everson's, that is). Chris (my husband) was in their wedding, which was in their backyard, so we got to see that area. They live in Alton Bay, I think. Small World!
Take Care,
Katie
It's been too long since I've commented on your blog, so I just wanted to say "Hi!" I still read regularly:o)
I hate showers and bathtubs too! They're not as bad to clean with a removable hand-held shower head, which I don't currently have. It's on my list:o)
Thanks for the recipe!
P.S.
Oh...I would it if you did a post sometime on your home-building experience! I know your hubby is a carpenter, but did he do EVERYTHING? Did you design the home yourself? Was the cost comparatively reasonable when all was said and done? How long did it take you to finish? (As you can see, my questions are bubbling over!;o)
Micah and I want to build a home someday--and by that we mean be our own contractors--I don't know if we could actually do the building! We would love to learn from my dad how to do some of the finish work, though, like crownmoldings, etc. He's great at all of that.
Katie, I don't actually "know" the Eversons--but I know who they are. :) Trinity's a big church and we've only been going there about a year, so there are still lots of people we haven't met! I actually do know Jenecia, though . . . went to highschool with her, as well as Northland of course . . . but I haven't seen her since college. You're right, it is a small world!
Erin, thanks for commenting--it's always nice to hear from you. :) I will definitely try to do a house-building post sometime soon. (Or several! It might get to be long!) But to briefly answer a few of your questions . . . yes, Jim did all the work himself, with the help of some friends with a few things. My bro-in-law assisted w/hanging drywall, my dad has helped w/mudding & taping drywall, our electrician friend installed most of the wiring, and my brother installed our septic system and did a lot of our dirt work. Oh, and we did hire a company to install our garage door . . . and had a flooring company put in our bedroom carpet (and we'll have them do our living room carpet, too.) But overall, it has been a do-it-ourselves project! Jim is very skilled at all kinds of stuff, which is a huge blessing. We also designed the house ourselves. I guess I should clarify a bit . . . it's only a one floor house, above a garage/workshop. The size is 24' x 52'. This seems enormous to us, since we had been living for 2.5 years in a 10' x 50' trailer. :) But it's not a huge house, by any means. However, it will serve us well for as long as we need it to, and we can always add on somehow if need be. Maybe sometime I can post our floor plan or at least do a visual post so everyone can see pics of the different rooms. It is still a big work in progress, though! Anyway, I got too long-winded here, as usual--but I will detail more in a future post. Thanks for asking! :)
Wow, Carrie...I'm very impressed! Your house sounds wonderful. We live in a pretty small home right now...under 1000 sq ft...so yours doesn't sound so tiny! I would love to read more about it sometime...but no pressure! I know you're a very busy mommy and mommy-to-be:o)
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