What do you do when your life gets too hectic??

Be super prepared!!!! I start classes again next week and I'm working @ the Derm's office + going to school + volunteering + putting in 4 hours at the Neuro lab = every waking hour packed to the max with stuff to do...
Does that give me an excuse to eat like crap and skip the gym??? Nope!

Being prepared is the only thing that will get me through it .....besides the cruise to the Bahamas that I'm looking forward to ;)

Can you tell that I haven't cooked anything in awhile? :)

Just spent a week in Miami, a few days in Orlando and now I'm back home and trying to get back into some kind of routine before classes start on Monday. Honestly I haven't cooked much, but that's life....I needed a break from it all before I start the grind again.

Loving life right now

Nothing to wake up to....except relaxation :) Having seafood pasta for dinner....lobster tail, shrimp, scallops, octopus...YUM!

Super busy

This is the final stretch :) Will post lots more recipes after Friday~

Chicken Stir Fry

Recipe courtesy Paula Deen

Prep Time: 10 min

Cook Time: 15 min

Level: Easy

Serves: 6 to 8 servings

Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1/2-inch pieces
• 1 bunch broccoli, cut into florets
• 1 package shiitake mushrooms
• 2 to 3 carrots, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 cup onion, diced
• 1 (8-ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1/4 cup hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Serving suggestion: Hot, cooked rice noodles

Directions

In a large skillet, heat the oils over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook for 4 to 5 minutes or until lightly browned.

Add broccoli, mushrooms, carrots, pepper, and onion and cook an additional 5 minutes, stirring frequently. Stir in the water chestnuts. In a small bowl, combine broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, ginger, and cornstarch.

Add to chicken mixture and bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Reduce heat to medium to medium-low, and simmer for 4 to 5 minutes, or until sauce thickens. Serve over hot, cooked rice noodles.

**My variation: The chicken listed above was too bland for me, so I marinated it in 2 TBSP of soysauce, some fresh ginger and 2 TBSP of Hoisin sauce (the longer it sits, the better).

I used the whole 9.4 oz of Hoisin sauce (find one with low sugar if possible) and triple the amount of Low sodium soy sauce because the noodles seemed to suck it all up. I cooked the veggies seperately and the chicken separately then combined at the end.

I added in cashews, sesame seeds and 2 tsp sesame oil at the end.

To cut time, I used frozen veggies (broccoli and red/green peppers with onions)**

Short version: If you don't mind blandish food, go with this recipe. If you like your chicken to be covered in sauce, see variation.

Dessert - chocolate chip cookies!

Bought these to use tonight, but apparently they need reconstituting before cooking so I didn't have time...Next time though!!! :)

Chicken recipe

Hard work does pay off....

So after a summer of being a newbie intern...I got offered a part time job at the Derm's office :) Can't do full time because of my Fall '10 school schedule.
Now if only I can get an A in Organic Chem II all will be right in my world <3

Dinner tonight made by a pro chef, Doug

Strawberry/walnut/apple cider vinegar spinach salad
Ingredients
Strawberries (fresh/diced)--> at least 4 for single serving
Walnuts (chopped) amount to taste --> a handful
Apple cider vinegar (1-2 small drizzles)
Baby or regular spinach

Directions
Dice strawberries, add apple cider vinegar (enough to slightly wet strawberries) and mash into paste. Add walnuts and mix "paste", then add spinach. Mix and enjoy!

Homemade amazing mac and cheese
Ingredients

1/2 lb elbow macaroni

3 TBS butter

3 TBS flour

1 TBS powdered mustard

3 cups milk 

1 bay leaf

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 cup of yellow onion, diced

1 large egg

12 oz. shredded sharp cheddar
1tsp kosher salt

Topping

1 cup panko bread crumbs

Directions

Preheat oven 350 degrees. Cook pasta according to directions on box until al dente.

Melt butter in a pot and whisk in flour and mustard and stir for 5 minutes (or until no lumps). Add milk, onion, bay leaf and paprika. Simmer for 10 minutes and remove bay leaf. Add whisked egg and stir in 3/4 amount of cheese. Season with salt pepper to taste. 

Drain macaroni and add to mixture then pour entire thing into a casserole dish. Top with remaining cheese and panko. Bake for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 mins.

**My variation- Use less butter ;)**

Salmon

Ingredients 

2 fillets of salmon
Rosemary
Dill weed (dry)
Black pepper
Thyme
Red cayenne pepper
Ground ginger
Soy sauce (drizzle)
Salt 

Directions
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Grease baking tray or pyrex with pam or canola oil. Wash fish and pat dry. Sprinkle with ingredients. Go light on the thyme and add salt last.
Bake for 10-12 minutes depending on the thickness of the fish.




Uncooked

Cooked

Dessert

You can find this in the freezer section of the grocery.