Carrot Soup Recipe

I had been craving some really yummy homemade soup. Not the brothy kind, but the pureed veggies kind. We had some carrots in the fridge, so I thought we should use those and find a carrot soup recipe online. After searching I found one, made it, and LOVED it!!! I wanted to blog about it because it was that good and also an easy way to find it to make in the future. We served it with french bread.
Here is the link to the recipe:
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Recipe Success-Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-fry

I thought since what I made for dinner last night was so nummy that i should post the recipe so I don't forget (i made it up). I've made good things before and never wrote it down, so I don't remember how to make it, and that sucks! lol
So without further ado, here is the recipe for Spicy Honey Garlic Chicken Stir-fry.

Rice (I used 1 cup uncooked rice and that was plenty. Kobe had enough to take to work)
1/4 cup Ketchup
1/4 cup Soy Sauce
2 TBSPs Honey
2 heaping teaspoons Fresh Minced Garlic
4 skinless Chicken thighs, chopped
Salt and Pepper
1/2 tbsp Roasted Red Pepper Flakes
1 package quartered Crimini Mushrooms
1/2 White Onion thinly sliced and roughly chopped
1 whole Red Pepper thinly sliced.

Cook rice as normal.
Cook chicken along with some vegetable oil. Season it with s&p. When the chicken is about cooked throughout add half of the soy sauce, cook for another 30 seconds or so then add the veggies. Cook the veggies and chicken for a minute or two then add the ketchup, soy sauce, honey, garlic, and the red pepper flakes. Stir well and cook until chicken is thoroughly cooked and the veggies are crisp tender. About 10 minutes. Sauce should be thin. It makes it better so that rice can soak it all up.
Taste it and see if you need to Add more ketchup, soy sauce, honey, garlic, or red pepper flakes. I liked it sweet and spicy, almost like a hot and sour Thai soup. Different veggies can be used, but I just used my favorites and it worked out very well!!

Tiff is 3!!

I love to do these "interviews" on the kids' Birthdays; but since Tiff doesn't talk clearly yet, I will answer with what she says, and then put in brackets what I think she would say if she could talk more clearly and actually answer questions when asked LOL

1. What is your favorite color? Cars? (Pink)
2. What is your favorite toy? toy... toy...and there was some singing, too. (all of her stuffed puppies)
3. What is your favorite fruit? strawberries
4. What is your favorite tv show? Backyardigans
5. What is your favorite thing to eat for lunch? Quesadilla
6. What is your favorite outfit? blue flower dress from the Gap that's too small for her but she still likes it anyways.
7. What is your favorite game?
8. What is your favorite snack? Crackers, snow peas, mini mandarins, grapes
9. What is your favorite animal? Dog and cat
10. What is your favorite song? Rainbow Song "red and yellow and pink and green, etc"
11. What is your favorite book? Her big animal books
12. Who is your best friend? her family
13. What is your favorite cereal? Cheerios
14. What is your favorite thing to do outside? Play at the park
15. What is your favorite drink? Juice, hot chocolate, Mom's decaf coffee, chocolate milk, pop
16. What is your favorite holiday? all of them
17. What do you like to take to bed with you at night? All of her favorite stuffies
18. What is your favorite thing to eat for breakfast? cereal, eggs
19. What do you want for dinner on your birthday? Sushi (that's what we had)
20. What do you want to be when you grow up? She'll probably be something like a politician or dr or lawyerwith her personality LOL

As you can see most of these ended up being answered by me. She wasn't interested in answering questions. She's too busy dancing and playing. :)

Happy Birthday, Sweetie. You are loved! xoxoxo

HALLOWEEN 2011

Since Halloween fell on a Monday this year, we had quite the eventful one. We had a weekend full of fun, and trick-or-treating on actual Halloween. On Friday night we went to the dance at Trystan's school, Saturday Kobe took the kids to a party at the Central Baptist Church. We always get invited and they never disappoint. Monday Trystan had a Halloween Party, aka Black and Orange day, at school; I made an orange dinner, then we headed out for an hour up and down the block and got a ton of candy and had lots of fun. The street was packed with children this year. It was awesome to see everyone having so much fun and taking a moment to celebrate this fun time of year!
Here is our Halloween in pictures:
When I babysat S&K I made these Monser Toes and Mummy Hotdogs



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My (Nichelle's) 29th Birthday

Well...I am now 29. I really thought it would be so difficult on me. I am one that looks back on my childhood with fond memories. Playing with my sister, making up dances to songs such as "Kiss him goodbye", exploring in the forest, playing with friends, Christmases, Birthdays, etc. I loved my childhood and look back on it everyday. I often wish I could go back in time. BUT, getting older is a lot easier on me than I thought it would be. I feel younger inside, and that's a surprise to me, after all, I have been through quite a bit. But I do believe my positive outlook and good morals and loving heart keep me young at heart.
My Birthday was great this year. Kobe decorated our little place for me. There were lilac streamers hanging from the ceiling, pastel balloons covering the floor, and some chocolate and birthday cards waiting for me on the kitchen table.
I really felt the love of my family this year and the love of my friends.
For fun I decided to go to Tillicum Mall to spend my birthday money. I got myself a jacket sweater thing, some nice comfy grey sweater boots, we ate greek food, and just had a fun time. I almost made the kids and Kobe go grocery shopping, but we didn't. Thanks to the buses being spaced out. Kobe and the kids were happy about that. Kobe said, "Who wants to go grocery shopping on their birthday?" I said, "ME!" lol

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

This year Thanksgiving was on October 10th. We opted out of making a big turkey this year, neither of us really felt like it. But we did want turkey of course. So as I was at Fairway one day I noticed they had turkey roasts so I decided to get one of those. It was a tiny one, maybe 1 pound or so, but we still had some left after dinner. Dinner was delicious.
We had this:

And made these:

I love my chidren and my husband, they love me! We have our struggles (i know, who doesn't) but I am grateful all our struggles have been things we can handle and are strong and happy!

Interview of Trystan. Age 7

Just thought it would be fun to ask Trystan these questions. I would ask Tiff too but I don't think that would go over well. haha

All about My Mom
1. How old is your Mom? "28 right now but you are turning 29"
2. What is your Mom's favorite color? "I don't know haha what is your favorite color...Aqua? I forgot. Your favorite color is Aqua right?" (Yes, yes it is!!)
3. What is your Mom's favorite food? "What is your favorite food? I don't know."
4. How tall is your Mom? "I have to measure you first. Medium. You're medium."
5. What shoe size does she wear? "Size 8." Sometimes, Trystan. Good guess!
6. What is her favorite TV show? "All the shows on Food Network."
7. What time does your Mom wake up in the morning? "Really late like between 11. But on school days you have to wake up early."
8. What does you Mom do while you're at school? "Does laundry, plays with my sister, and that's all I think. Oh, and cleans up the mess that Tiffani makes when I get back home."
9. What is your Mom's first name? "Nichelle"
10. What do you like best about your mom? "I just love you!"

All about your Dad
1. How old is your dad? "31"
2. What is Dad's favorite sport to play? "I don't know 'cause he doesn't play any sports."
3. What is Dad's favorite food? "Stuff like salad to make him not fat anymore."
4. How strong is your Dad? "Really strong I think maybe stronger than you. I don't know. I don't know how strong he is."
5. Where does your Dad work? "Ummm....I don't know let me ask him. Money Mart. I forgot."
6. What is Dad's favorite TV show? "Oh. I should ask him again. Jeopardy."
7. What is your favorite thing to do with Dad? "Umm...play beyblade. And play soccer, but I have to get my soccer pumped still."
8. How tall is your Dad? "I don't know. I still have to measure him." 5'10"
9. What do you like best about your Dad? "Ok. I just love my family. That's all. OK?"
10. What is your Dad's first name? "Kobe."

All about your sister:
1. What is your sister's name? "Tiffani"
2. How old is your sister? "2"
3. What does your sister like to do? "Play with her toys and make messes."
4. What is your sister's favorite food? "I don't know. She would have to be talking by now so I know."
5. What is your sister's favorite tv show? "Treehouse"
6. Who is your sister's favorite person? "Her family"
7. Does your sister have a favorite toy? "I don't know. All her toys."
8. How tall is your sister? "Like...about here or something (points to his chest)"
9. What do you like about your sister? "UGH!! I JUST LOVE MY FAMILY!!!"
10. How much do you love your sister? "A lot!"

All about me:
1. My favorite color: "Blue, green, red, and orange"
2. My favorite thing to do: "Watch tv, and play beyblade, and sit down on my butt doing nothing."
3. My favorite thing about school: "Everything"
4: My best friend is: "Dominic, Cameron, and Ivy."
5: My favorite food: "Lots of things."
6: My favorite thing to do with my family: "Play with my family"
7: What do I want to be when I grow up: "I don't know 'cause I can't be a police."
8: How tall am I: "I don't know."
9: My favorite animal: "Cheetah, and puppies"
10: If I had a million dollars what would I do: "I would buy a house and a car. And I'd live by myself..wait...I have to get married anyway."

Thanks Trystan! We love you!!!