chinese chicken lettuce wraps

as some of you know, I made a recipe blog a couple of years ago. I've been quite neglectful of it - plus, sometimes I find it too complicated to go to multiple logins etc.

anyway - from now on, as I find good recipes I'll just post them on here!
If you want to check out any of my previous recipe postings - here is the link:
tocookandbakelikethat.blogspot.ca

I found this recipe last fall when I was making a meal to celebrate my Mom-in-law's last day of work. I had always really liked the lettuce wraps at Joeys Restaurant and wanted to find something similar. I was really pleased with how this recipe turned out, and have made it again since then. Lettuce wraps are so tasty because they are both hot and cold, delicious and crunchy. just so good.

So, here it is - enjoy!

Chinese Chicken Lettuce Wraps
(originally found on Food.com, changed and adapted by me!)
Original recipe says it serves 4-6, but I think those people must eat less than we do. I would say it serves 3.

Ingredients:
1 head iceberg lettuce
Rice Noodles (about half a pack - although you can add more to expand the meal)
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 chicken breasts, chopped into bite sized pieces
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic, minced
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 red pepper, finely chopped
1 can water chestnuts, slivered
1 cup carrots, sliced matchstick style (julienne)
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon brown sugar
5 tablespoons hoisin sauce
2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce (less if it is really spicy)
1 teaspoon coriander
1/4 cup peanuts, crushed or whole (your preference)

Directions:
1. Unwrap lettuce into "cups" and wash thoroughly.
2. Chop vegetables and chicken.
3. Cook rice noodles (I pour boiling water over them in a bowl and cover them until they are soft.)
4. While noodles are cooking - pour oil into a wok and saute the garlic for 30 seconds.
5. Add chicken, stir fry until no longer pink.
6. Add onions, pepper, water chestnuts and carrots. Fry for about a minute.
7. While waiting for the vegetables to saute, combine soy sauce and sugar. Mix with a spoon until the sugar is dissolved.
8. Add the soy sauce mixture to the pan, fry for about 2 minutes.
9. Add the hoisin and chili sauce. Stir well.
10. Add the coriander and peanuts (or leave the peanuts out and add them as you eat so that they stay crunchy).
11. Add the noodles and stir well.
12. Spoon into lettuce cups, roll the lettuce and enjoy!!

3 months

my sweet girl turned 3 months yesterday!

click on the picture to enlarge it - so you can read about what she is up to these days!!

she is pure sweetness.

The war is over.

Last week Michael & I went to the first (of 7) session of a course facilitated by Josh & Leah at our church (Kilcona Park Alliance) called Christianity Explored. It goes over the basics of Christianity using the book of Mark.

During the first video there was one specific line that really stuck out to me - I'm paraphrasing from memory but basically it was: calling the gospel "good news" doesn't do it justice. The news of the gospel should be as incredible as hearing the news that "war is over".

This was eye opening for me as I realized that so often I don't treat the gospel of Jesus (or the bible in general) with the urgency or gravity that it deserves.

I shared this thought with a few people since then and one said that the metaphor of war wasn't really something that was relatable to her (which makes sense since we live in Canada and we only hear about war, we don't experience it first hand.) so then I spent more time thinking about why this specific line had stuck out to me. Was it just that I get emotional over things said poetically (which I will admit has been my issue before, I can get caught up in the emotions) or what?

Well, I remembered that there was a story told by my grandpa - he dictated his life story to my mom before he died and we all have a copy (something I am very thankful for) so I came home and looked it up and here it is:

Our company was made up of three units, all equal strength and numbers. Alfred, my friend and I belonged to the third unit. The first unit was briefed in the evening and put into action during the night. We did not hear from them again. A day later the second unit got the same insturctions and left at night. The next afternoon we just happened to stand around waiting our call to the briefing when three men from unit two appeared. Without the officer's knowledge, they started to tell us about their experience the night before. When the tanks came out they knew each foxhole location and with a barrage of cannon fire from their guns, they annihilated them one at a time. These three managed to escape somehow. My spirit sank. We knew that now it was our turn, and we would be called in any moment. I determined to do my best but I knew that I would not live to see the sunrise again. I had made my peace but I had not taken God into consideration and realized only years later that he would do a mighty miracle that day.

While we were still talking to the three that had escaped, we were summoned inside and instead of last minute instructions, we were told that this part of Germany had capitulated and the war was over.

Just like in my grandpas story, because of Jesus the eternal war is over.

*if this class sounds interesting to you there is still time to join us! It is laid back and supper is provided. Thursdays at 7 till march 14!

catching up

I had decided I wanted to make some type of monthly "tradition" to track Matilda's first year.

I thought about buying those stickers that say "1 month" "2 months" etc and then taking a picture of her wearing one on her shirt each month - and, well, we're coming up on 3 months and I don't have the stickers. I also thought about making a little sign or something that we could make each month - good idea, but again, coming up on month 3 and nothing yet! SO. I decided to make up my own thing, and make a collage of sorts - with a couple pictures of her, her "stats" of the month and a list of things that are characteristic of her at that time. So - I am catching up.

(*click on the pictures to make them big enough to read the writing*)

First is her birth announcement (picture by me, and put together beautifully by my dearest friend Audrey)

Then month 1:

And month 2:

and now I am caught up and will post the rest of the months as they happen. I love catching up.