This is one of my families favorite dishes. We all enjoy Chinese food, but don't enjoy some of the side affects of MSG-a common seasoning in Chinese dishes. This recipe doesn't call for it and it's excellent and simple to make.
4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
1 Green Pepper
1 Medium Onion
12 or 15 Baby Carrots
1/2 Cup of Ketchup
1/4 Cup Apple Cider Vinegar
2/3 Cup Sugar
3/4 Cup Water
1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
Cut the chicken breasts into bite size chunks. Fry in large frying pan in a little butter or olive oil until tender. (approximately 20 minutes) Meanwhile chop the veggies in bite size chunks and make the sweet and sour sauce. To make sauce mix ketchup, vinegar, and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil. Add cornstarch to the 3/4 cup of water and add to boiling ketchup mixture. Bring back to a boil and cook till thick. When the chicken is tender add the chopped veggies to the pan and cover. Steam until veggies are crisp tender--about 5 minutes. Serve chicken veggie mixture over steamed rice and drizzle the sweet and sour sauce over the top. Delicious!!
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Why "Chicken Scratchings"
There is a story behind my blog title. No, I don't plan to post mostly about chickens--although they are a common theme around here.
My mom moved out of her home state several years after she married, and at that time snail mail was the cheapest method of communication. Now, my mom is a proficient letter writer, but she had a single brother who was not. He cared for his out-of-state sister however, and he did his very best. His grammar and punctuation left something to be desired, and was a source of amusement to my mom.
For one reason or another my mother has saved some of my uncle's letters, and occasionally I dig them out and read them.
One of the letters began with these words "I hope you can read my chicken scratchings." And thus the name of my blog was born.
My uncle passed away several years ago, but I have some very fond memories of his love of the land. He was a veteran homesteader who survived without many of the conveniences that I consider necessities.
He never had very much in the way of worldly possession's, but was rich in contentment. He had a profound limp that made his work slow and clumsy, and yet to my knowledge never complained.
His life was, and is an inspiration to me of perseverance and contentment.
Do you have someone in your past or present who inspires you?
My mom moved out of her home state several years after she married, and at that time snail mail was the cheapest method of communication. Now, my mom is a proficient letter writer, but she had a single brother who was not. He cared for his out-of-state sister however, and he did his very best. His grammar and punctuation left something to be desired, and was a source of amusement to my mom.
For one reason or another my mother has saved some of my uncle's letters, and occasionally I dig them out and read them.
One of the letters began with these words "I hope you can read my chicken scratchings." And thus the name of my blog was born.
My uncle passed away several years ago, but I have some very fond memories of his love of the land. He was a veteran homesteader who survived without many of the conveniences that I consider necessities.
He never had very much in the way of worldly possession's, but was rich in contentment. He had a profound limp that made his work slow and clumsy, and yet to my knowledge never complained.
His life was, and is an inspiration to me of perseverance and contentment.
Do you have someone in your past or present who inspires you?
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Goliath
This is Goliath. He is the top bird on our little homestead. After several experiences with bad-tempered roosters a friend gave us this regal bird. He rules the hens with a firm, but kind hand (or I guess I should say claw). He makes sure they don't wander into potentially dangerous places to scratch for bugs, and he loves them unconditionally as only a rooster can.
My favorite thing about him though is that he doesn't chase my children or me. I have a huge aversion to looking over my shoulder all the time for fear a naughty rooster might pounce on me. It makes me feel like I'm a criminal and there is a resident policeman in my own back yard. One with feathers and spurs. Anyway...Goliath is a perfect gentleman. He does occasionally give me the evil eye when I have to shoo his ladies away from somewhere, but he never acts on it. Probably he mutters about me in chicken language behind my back, but I can live with that.
He almost looks like he is posing for the picture with one claw lifted delicately.
Monday, May 2, 2011
My Favorite Time of Day
My favorite hours of the day are those before eight am. Now don't get huffy if you're not a morning person. I can't help it that between six (when my alarm goes off and the coffee maker goes on) and eight (when my children get up) is when my mind is most clear and I can make sense of life. If I want to accomplish something worthwhile it is best started before eight.
I think this is hereditary because I come from a long line of relatives who define sleeping in as getting up after seven. Most of my friends including my husband are not early birds and so all the joy that could be shared in those early morning hours has to be kept to myself.
When I was younger I thought I might outgrow this strange attraction to the early sunrise, but alas it has gotten worse. If anything I wake up earlier than ever--sometimes a full forty-five minutes before my alarm. Most of the time when this happens I lay there with my eyes pinched shut and pretend that I'm still sleeping.
I've found that as a mother being a "morning person" has many advantages:
If I haven't tidied the house before I went to bed it can be done in the morning with a cup of coffee in one hand.
Morning is an excellent time for me to read my Bible and pray--there is no one to interrupt me.
I often start a load or two of laundry and by the time the sun comes up I can hang them on the line.
There are a few disadvantages:
When we are traveling and my husband (NOT a morning person) wishes to drive thru the night I am not very adept at keeping him awake. (he insists that snoring from the passenger seat doesn't work)
If we have company and they stay past ten, I become incoherent and the brunt of many jokes over stupid things I mutter in my half-awake state.
I've concluded that being a morning person is something about myself that I cannot change so I try to use it to my greatest advantage. Also, it helps to laugh with people (night hawks) who enjoy cracking jokes at my expense.
What's your favorite time of day?
I think this is hereditary because I come from a long line of relatives who define sleeping in as getting up after seven. Most of my friends including my husband are not early birds and so all the joy that could be shared in those early morning hours has to be kept to myself.
When I was younger I thought I might outgrow this strange attraction to the early sunrise, but alas it has gotten worse. If anything I wake up earlier than ever--sometimes a full forty-five minutes before my alarm. Most of the time when this happens I lay there with my eyes pinched shut and pretend that I'm still sleeping.
I've found that as a mother being a "morning person" has many advantages:
If I haven't tidied the house before I went to bed it can be done in the morning with a cup of coffee in one hand.
Morning is an excellent time for me to read my Bible and pray--there is no one to interrupt me.
I often start a load or two of laundry and by the time the sun comes up I can hang them on the line.
There are a few disadvantages:
When we are traveling and my husband (NOT a morning person) wishes to drive thru the night I am not very adept at keeping him awake. (he insists that snoring from the passenger seat doesn't work)
If we have company and they stay past ten, I become incoherent and the brunt of many jokes over stupid things I mutter in my half-awake state.
I've concluded that being a morning person is something about myself that I cannot change so I try to use it to my greatest advantage. Also, it helps to laugh with people (night hawks) who enjoy cracking jokes at my expense.
What's your favorite time of day?
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Spring Work For A Saturday
It seems like the first post on a blog ought to be something profound or insightful. Unfortunately neither of those words describes me or my writing.
Today I planted onions in my freshly tilled garden--compliments of my husband. I haven't had good success in the past with onions and thought maybe planting them earlier would help.
We also moved our thirty Isa Brown chicks to their new home in a mini barn. Baby chicks have a special kind of charm. Within about two months they lose some of this charm, but for me chickens in general are interesting and peaceful to watch. They always seem so contented and busy in their scratching and searching for bugs.
One of my favorite things about spring time is that I can once again hang clothes on the line. During the winter I use a drying rack some of the time, but for the most part dry in the dryer. This is quicker but also more painful for the electric bill. There is just something wonderful about the smell of freshly dried clothes off the line!
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