Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry

Ingredients
~ 3 chicken breast halves
~ Olive oil
~3 cups green cabbage, shredded
~ 1 tablespoon cornstarch
~1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced
~2 garlic cloves, minced
~1⁄2 cup water
~1 tablespoon soy sauce

Directions

Cut chicken breasts into strips.

Heat oil in a frying pan.

Add chicken strips and stir fry over medium-high heat, turning constantly until done.  I stir fried it in two sections so not to crowd the chicken and steam cook it but to stir fry it which brings out its savory flavor.  Set aside.

Add more oil then add cabbage and sauté 2 minutes until cabbage is crisp-tender.  You'll be surprised how much of it cooks down to almost nothing!

 Turn heat down to medium.  Add the ginger and the garlic and stir for 1 minute.  Add chicken and combine the whole mixture together.  The original recipe asks for powder spices so if you don't have fresh ginger and garlic, go with the powder (1/2 tsp. ginger and 1/4 tsp. garlic powder).  I for the most part try to use fresh spices.  They just taste so much better for me.

Mix cornstarch, add water and soy sauce, and mix briskly until smooth.

Stir sauce into chicken/cabbage mixture.

Cook until sauce has thickened and chicken is coated, about 1 minute.

 Serve with white rice or eat alone.  Either way it's delicious!

Enjoy!

A friend of mine posted this on her facebook page and when my eyes first saw it, I was anxious to make it.  It looked so yummy, I'm ready to make more.  My meat and potatoes man wasn't too crazy about it though.  So, when I make it again next week, I'll just make him a hamburger.  That always makes him happy.  Here's the link to the original recipe:  Chicken Cabbage Stir Fry posted by Louise Gibson.

Until next time,

Grandma Cole's BonBons

It never failed, every Christmas we would get a package from Grandma Cole (hubby's mother) containing dozens of all kinds of homemade goodies, including her famous Chocolate BonBons.  Grandma Cole loved baking.  She started early in the season and would spend many a day in the kitchen baking hundreds of goodies.  Everybody loved her BonBons though.  They were big, fat, tasty and very chocolatey.

As Grandma Cole got older though, it got harder and harder for her to bake.  She would still make the BonBons but not as many.  Now that Grandma Cole is gone, we miss receiving her packages of goodies.  I have her recipe box and found the BonBon recipe.  Since we now live hundreds of miles from our kids, I feel it my responsibility to take over and send them a package full of homemade goodies, just the way Grandma Cole used to do for us.

Grandma Cole made two kinds of BonBons.  One had a peanut butter filling and the other had a creamy coconut filling.  Here are the recipes:

Peanut Butter Chocolate BonBons
1 1/2 sticks of butter, softened
1 1 lb. box (or 4 cups) of confectioners sugar
1 cup of peanut butter
1 1/2  10 oz. Pkg of Ghiradelli melting wafers  (Grandma used paraffin wax and I chose to go the easier route)
1 cup of peanuts, crushed

Combine the butter, confectioners sugar and peanut butter until creamy.  Form into balls.

Follow directions on the package on melting the chocolate wafers.  I used the double boiler method.  With two forks, dip balls into melted chocolate.  Gently roll the ball around to get it covered completely in chocolate.

Gently remove, tap excess chocolate

 and transfer to wax paper covered tray.  Repeat dipping process with each ball.  Set aside to cool.

Chop peanuts in food processor or by hand.  Roll chocolate bonbons in peanuts (this is optional).  Reserve extra peanuts for next recipe.

Set aside to harden.  Since I'm planning to send these miles and miles away, I went ahead and wrapped each one individually in wax paper, just the way Grandma Cole used to do.

Coconut Creamy Chocolate BonBons
1 can condensed milk

2 tsps. vanilla extract
2 1 lb. boxes (or 8 cups) of confectioners sugar
2 cups of angel flake coconut
1 pinch of salt
1 cup of softened butter
2 cups of chopped nuts
1 1/2 10 oz. pkg. of Ghiradelli melting wafers (again, Grandma used paraffin wax and I chose to go the easier route)

In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients, except for the chocolate wafers, until well blended.  I started out mixing it using my Artisan Kitchen Aid stand mixer but it was too much for my mixer so I removed the bowl and dug my hands into the dough. It took a bit of muscle work to get it mixed together well but I did it!  Refrigerate dough for at least a 1/2 hour.

Remove from refrigerator and roll into balls.  Place into freezer until firm, about 1/2 hour.

Melt the chocolate wafers according to pkg. directions.  Dip the balls into the chocolate (follow the same process as the Peanut Butter BonBons).  Place on wax paper covered tray and let harden.  I also wrapped these individually into wax paper for the same reason.

Both recipes made around 126 BonBons!  Whew!  I wrapped them up in wax paper and then placed them in some baggies and into the freezer.  Tomorrow I make sugar cookies.

What a good feeling it is to know that these goodies will put a smile on the face of my kids and grandkids.  Just like when we would receive Grandma Cole's package of goodies.  Paying it forward.

Until next time,

Basement Barn Doors to Display Wall

A gem of a find right in my basement.

Two days ago I needed a backdrop, a display wall for my spot at the local Artisan Market.  We are having our grand opening tomorrow (SAT. Nov 15th) at Redeemed Art and Furniture Decor.  As I setup my table I thought more and more that I needed a backdrop, some sort of a display wall.  I told my hubby we needed to go find something sturdy that would be not only big enough but also sturdy enough to stand up straight.

I had gone downstairs to our basement to pull out some dishes I needed for a big dinner our family was having and as I walked from the laundry room to the storage room, lo and behold, a bright heavenly sunlight and an angel chorus appeared directly in front of these barn doors that I never really notice before.  They were always held open so I never really paid attention to them and mind you, we just moved into this house this past summer.

I closed them on purpose to show both sides.  I immediately realized that these would be a perfect display wall for my setup at the Artisan market.  Hubby unhinged them for me, it wasn't easy for who knows how long they have been hanging there.

It seems like they had been recently painted, even the latch hook was painted and stuck to the door.  I wanted it off at first but then realized it gave the door some character.

and here is my display.  Don't the doors look wonderful??  What a God send, literally.  It was like He gift wrapped and handed them to me.

 I was even able to add some items to the back side too.  These concrete blocks hold them up good and sturdy.

Doesn't the latch hook look great!? 

I've been so busy cutting, slicing, painting, staining, screwing, unscrewing, gluing, designing, undoing, you name it.  So busy I haven't had time to blog until now.  A small break until it gets busy again.

It's snowing flurries today here off the coast of Lake Michigan.  We had a small dusting overnight and the town is almost covered in white.  So beautiful, festive and it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

Have a blessed weekend everybody.  Until next time,

The Story of Two Paddles

I bought two paddles at Michaels.  Always wanted an "established" sign to show who we were and when we were officially "established".  Because we live in a small port city, I thought boat paddles would look perfect along with the rest of my nautical theme decor.

 I stained both paddles with a dark wood stain by ACE named, Java Bean.  The bottom paddle in the picture above shows what the paddles looked like right off the shelf.

After the paddles dried (overnight), I whitewashed them using 1/8 cup white chalk paint to 1/2 cup of water.  I applied the whitewash haphazardly using a sponge brush.  I let them dry while I worked I prepared dinner. Whitewashing over the dark stain gives it an old age look which is what I wanted.

After the whitewash dried (and after dinner), I printed out the designs I wanted for both paddles.  I printed them backwards.

Trimmed it down and taped it to the paddle face down.

With a damp sponge brush, wet the design and then use a soft dull object to gently trace over the entire design.  I use the eraser end of a mechanical pencil.  I tried a wooden spoon, a plastic spatula and found the eraser easy to use.

I then removed the paper and voila!  There's the design transferred onto the paddle.  I then used an extra fine point black permanent marker to finish drawing in the design.  This was the hardest part of the whole project.  I had to keep my hand very steady, making sure I didn't slip.

Once the designs were painted in and dry, I took some rope I had on hand and glued and wound it around the neck of each paddle.  A perfect nautical touch!  I clamped each one and let it set overnight for added measure.

That's it!  Here's the final product and couldn't be happier :)

This is not their permanent spot as I have yet to attach their hooks in the back.  I just thought it would be cute to put them next to the "gnarly captain" wooden statue I also bought. :)

The end.

Have a great weekend.  Until next time,

DIY Rustic Frame Chalkboard

Items Needed:
1 sheet craft plywood 1/4"x12"x24" for the chalkboard
3 craft plywood 3/16"x12"x24" for the frame (Cut one in half)
Black chalkboard paint, sponge brush
1 pkg. of 4 galvanized corner braces 2"x3/8"
Wood stain - Java Bean color, sponge brush
Wood glue
Fine sandpaper
Drill with 1/8" drill bit
1 Alligator-style frame hook

 Give the board a layer of the chalk paint.  Let dry according to directions.  Give it another layer of paint and let dry over night.

 In the meantime, stain the three frame boards then set aside

 Let set over night to dry

 The following day, use the fine sandpaper to sand down the whole chalkboard surface.  Wipe it down with a damp clean rag then give it one last layer of chalk paint.

Once the chalk paint has dried, turn the long frame pieces over and dab with some wood glue then place on chalkboard.  Press down to make sure glue adheres.  Use clamps or something heavy if needed.  Now put glue on the back of the short frames pieces, corners only and put in place.  See image below.

Use the above image a reference only just to see how the pieces are placed on top of each other.

Once the glue has dried, start drilling in the holes, one corner at a time.  Use the corner brace as template to mark the holes first then use a drill bit to drill the holes.

Attach the screws, repeat with each corner

Attach the frame hook to the back at the top

 It's so cute I want to keep it for myself!!

 I have them for sale at my ETSY shop if you so desire one....or two :)

(click on ETSY icon on the top right)

Until next time,

 

Partied with:

StoneGable:  The Scoop #139 

Savvy Southern Style's Wow Us Wednesday