Chicken Satay

Yummy yummy yum.

That's how good it is. And add in some veggie kebabs and your family is LOVIN' your mean grilling skills. Pictured above is only half of what I cooked. And none was left with our 4 hungry mouths around.

from my friend Jaylin

Chicken Satay

1 ½ lb of boneless, skinless chicken

½ cup of coconut milk

2 tablespoons of fish sauce

3 tbs light brown sugar

2tbs. chopped fresh cilantro

1 tbs madras curry powder

kebab skewers (sticks)

Cut chicken into large chunks for kebabs. In large bowl, stir together all ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for at least 1 hour or up to overnight. Soak the kabob sticks in water or chicken broth for at least 20 minutes. Then stick the chicken onto the skewers, allowing for a bit of space between each piece. To some of the skewers, I added cut up onions, zucchinis, cherry tomatoes, and even wrapped fresh thyme and basil around the skewers as well. Spray foil with PAM and place the skewers on the hot grill for a few minutes each side.

Peanut Sauce (for meat/veggie dipping)

• 1 cup smooth peanut butter

• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce

• 2 teaspoons red chili paste, such as sambal or chipotle chili powder

• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar

• 2 tablespoon of lime juice

• 1/2 cup coconut milk (or more to thin out as needed)

• 1 tablespoon of minced fresh ginger root- Optional powder but fresh is always better.

• 1/4 cup chopped peanuts, optional for garnish

Some people like garlic in their peanut sauce, like me, so add it if you like.

Combine the peanut butter, soy sauce, red chili paste, brown sugar, ginger, and lime juice in a food processor or blender. Puree to combine. While the motor is running, drizzle in the coconut milk to thin out the sauce, you may not need all of it. Pour the sauce into a nice serving bowl and garnish with the chopped peanuts. Serve with chicken satay on the side.

Yield: 3 cups

I made these into kebabs, but if you are short on time (did I just say that? I am the one usually short on time), you could just throw it on a grill pan with a bit of oil on the stove, turning once for even cooking.

someone turned 1 yesterday

Cora had a very special day yesterday! We are so grateful for her and how much joy that comes bubbling forth every morning, noon, and night! More photos to come!

long awaited cocoa shoot

In my first post, I promised more hot cocoa shots, and I finally picked out some of my favorites. This is my little guy thoroughly enjoying his cocoa back in January during one of the blizzards. He had been helping dad shovel outside and came in for a treat.

I think he was feeling a bit sick by the end. He emptied the mug within a couple minutes. Geesh.

Forensic Consulting

I have started an at-home job as a forensic consultant with my former company, AFDIL (Armed Forces DNA Identification Lab). Oh my goodness, what a blessing it has been! Although I can't go into great detail on the blog about the work, it has been a perfect fit for me and my family. AFDIL is a wonderful company and I am so grateful to them for hiring me on after being gone since August 2007.

While it is a wonderful job, it does mean that most of my free time is dedicated to it. So the blog time has suffered. But I am taking a break for a bit and blogging about my wonderful family as they are my number one priority anyways! I actually took Quinn and Cora with me to AFDIL to pick up new work. They seemed to have a good time! It is so weird being in a building you left almost 3 years ago. A building that you spent so much time in, and then you are strolling the hallways with 2 children in tow! So strange.

As you can see, Cora's personality is coming out like a jack-in-the-box. I can't wait for her to hang out with her new cousin, Jamie, some time! Will and Alycia (Israel's sister) just had their first child a few days ago and she's a cutie! There are pictures of her on Facebook.

These children are best buddies. This is fresh after a long nap and they are all smiles and cuddles.

QOTD

There is currently a thunderstorm at our house. Quinn, Cora, and I were outside on the front steps watching the rain starting to come down when one of those gigantic thunder claps (the deafening kind!) came upon us. They were both in instant tears and crying. It really shook Quinn up and he wanted to get in the house. (Probably not the brightest idea to be out there, but the sky looked so ominous and cool!) We prayed and thanked Jesus for the thunder and the rain. Now they are upstairs napping and just before nap, Quinn said...

Q: Mom, can you please put the thunder in the oven?

Some really cute photos are coming. Our basement is soggy right now and pulled apart due to a leak in the foundation and a leak in our A/C unit. So once I locate the card reader amidst the craziness, I will upload some Q and C photos from my camera!

QOTD's

A couple days ago during school time, we were working on Lesson 8 which takes up 2 pages instead of the usual 1 page.

Q: I am so weird that there are two 8's! I am so weird!

At the swing set...

Q: Push me high momma. (he gets pushed) That is what I am talking about!

Q: Mom, why don't you go inside the house and get some water for us and bring it back to us so that we can drink?

Me: I can't leave you out here by yourself, buddy.

Because we all need more choco.cake

Wow, I made this yesterday and it was all that I had hoped for and more. I even had to drag the kids out to the grocery store in the 90 degree heat just to buy cocoa, but it was all worth it. This is one of the pastors' wives' recipe and it really resembles the "TX sheetcake". Oh, and it doesn't go easy on the arteries, so proceed with caution.

Sour Cream Fudge Cake

Valori Maresco

1 c. butter

5 T. cocoa

1 c. water

2 c. flour

2 c. sugar

1 tsp salt

2 eggs

1/2 c. sour cream

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 c. butter

5 T. cocoa

1/3 c. milk

3 1/2 c. powdered sugar

1 tsp. vanilla

Bring the butter, cocoa and water to boil in a large pan. Remove from heat and add the

flour, sugar and salt. Mix together the eggs, sour cream and baking soda; add to the mixture.

Pour into a greased (13x9-inch) cake pan and bake for 30 to 35 minutes in a 350 degree

oven. While the cake is baking, make the frosting by bringing the butter, cocoa and milk to a

boil. Beat in the powdered sugar and the vanilla. Spread on the hot cake when it comes out

of the oven.