What Happens In Vega$... a Random Rant!

.... makes you a guest of the Clark County Bed & Breakfast, or as my darling mom says, "Go on Vacation, leave on Probation!" Oh, don't worry, not the case for myself or my DH- but while in Lost Wages last week, we saw three separate occassions of police action- one was being filmed by cither "Cops" or "Jail" (the camera crew was a dead giveaway), the second was questionable as to if it was just a hefty fine or even worse- bail, and the third, well, let's say that someone didn't know that Las Vegas Boulevard is arguably the slowest street in the nation and tried to make a run, after "a hit!" Can you imagine the sheer humiliation of being handcuffed right in front of the New York, New York while 12 of Las Vegas' finest congregate and tourists take pictures (no, not me!). When we were there in April, we saw another incident where the police officer was going to let the lady (and I'm using that term losely here) go, and she kept mouthing off, and then off she went to jail! The joys of people watching in Sin City! Oh, c'mon, you know you would stop and watch too- it's one of the FREE things to do in Vegas! I had to restrain myself from providing my neighbor's- the bailbondsman, don't laugh, it's true (and actually needing him for a friend is a subject of another post!)- card to the poor individuals who had the unfortunate experience with LVPD.... speaking of restraint....


Do you know how you see a 'sign-spinner' and wonder how they can actually get people to perform that job? There is worse, and dealing with the lesser model of the sign-spinner requires restraint! For those of you that have ever been to Vegas and have walked down the "strip," you will full on understand this, for those of you that haven't, when you do finally see it , you'll laugh and think of me! Okay, so there are people that stand on nearly every square inch of the populated strip and hand out baseball-card sized flyers for, um, professional women to passers-by. They often slap their inner arms once or twice and then try to hand off the "advertisement" to you. Mind you they are also usually wearing neon shirts, and hundreds of these guerilla marketers liter the street with these cards. As if the "slap, slap, pass" isn't enough to get your attention, they might throw in an occassional whistle, or now, their handlers have the poor people wearing half of a sandwich board that extends a foot over their heads. I'm sure to ignore the moving billboard trucks that crawl down Las Vegas Boulevard displaying said professional women, but these little um, porn flickers will definately convince me to call 966-BABE. Oh, and the target market certainly is equal opportunity- men, women, old, young (yes, even kids!) aren't off limits. So, my question is how do they get paid? By each porn card they hand off? and how do you find this job- on craigslist under promoters? I equate them much to the kiosk-workers at the mall- you know, you hug the wall to avoid ending up getting some random hand cream slapped on you, or even pretend to be on the phone and avoid eye-contact at all costs. Ugh- how annoying!

Okay, I said it was going to be a random rant! But really, I do love Vegas! And this particular time, we actually extended our visit as we were having so much fun. We weren't winning tons of dinero, but enough to stay over. Mind you that one of the reasons that we did stay over was becuase of the three hour delay at the airport (only one runway is open) and we didn't spend as much time on the strip that we wanted. Changing our flight to the next day meant that we had to get up at 4:30 a.m., but our flight only had NINE (seriously...) people on it and wasn't delayed.

Some interesting points:

• Do you know how many people are still awake at 4:30 a.m.? We passed a trio of girls that were strolling in from what appears to be an all-nighter clubbing. Oh to be young again! And there were FULL tables of people gambling. I know, it's Vegas and it never sleeps, but its still crazy!
• If you are going to Vegas and want to save some money, sign up for the Pocketbook of Values through the Anthony Curtis' Las Vegas adviser . You will save tons of money on BOGO buffets and even match play. Also, check out the American Casino Guide- it's full of deals as well. These include hotel deals that are BOGO and can save money on the hotels. Between the two books, we made about $150 on match play- seriously- and ate for dirt cheap. You might also try the entertainment book, but the 2009 version wasn't as good as others. I also recommend Tickets2night and Half price tickets- there are kiosks everywhere and they sell tickets for that night's performances as well as discount vouchers for many nice restaurants. We saw CarrotTop and Mystere for 1/2 price (although that was in previous trips)- so if you can be flexible, you'll save money on show tickets and you HAVE to see a Vega$ show at least once. We found out that you can catch a shuttle from Harrah's to the Rio and Gold Coast, the Palms and The Orleans for just a tip. Also, if you take their transit system, the Deuce, for just under $2 you can get around the strip or even take it to Fremont Street.

So, like I said, completely random- but I do feel better now that I shared! (: And I'm sure that you will totally think of me the next time you are in Lost Wages and see a porn flicker!

I'm an Auntie- Again!

I haven't blogged in awhile- it's been a busy few weeks and my main inspiration for this blog- cooking- has not been a non-existent activity. It's either been pizza or cereal (yes, I too, have those days!) or my favorite- State Fair Food! So, to get back on my original topic, part of that week was my BFF had her first baby, Grayson, on August 26th (on my grandpa's bday!). Poor thing was in labor forever and then eventually had a C-Section because of her junior line backer... 9.1 lbs, 21" long.... wow. But he's cute... no, really. Cute with a capital C. Mommy and Daddy did good. Leah and Baby G are doing well! And introducing Baby G:

This makes our 3rd nephew (Jason's brother has 2 sons)... maybe we have the girl genes!

A Great Summer Meal! Italian Bread Salad and Stuffed Steak

My boss brought in a huge bag of home-grown tomatoes and cucumbers the other day; now although they looked beautifully yummy- Jason doesn't like either of these, so what's a girl supposed to do? Well, enjoy them anyways! ( :
So I racked my brain to remember a recipe to enjoy these fabulous veggies (well, are the technically both fruit?), and I created my own version of an Italian Bread Salad and since it was so hot (102! yikes) cooking inside was definatley out of the question- let's grill!

Here's your menu:

• Grilled Corn on the Cob
• Stuffed Flank Steak
• Italian Bread Salad
• Frozen Fruit Salad (cut up whatever fruit you have on hand and put in freezer during dinner- serve over frozen yogurt, drizzled with honey!)

So that everything is ready around the same time, you can mix your marinade and salad dressing while the corn (don't remove husks) is soaking in water. Once you begin marinating the steak, toss the corn on the top rack of the grill while it is heating up.

STUFFED FLANK STEAK

• package of very thin cuts of beef- flank steak is okay, flat iron is good- just make sure it's very thin
• 1 container of veggie flavored cream cheese
• parmesan cheese

MARINADE:

• 1/2 c. italian dressing
• dash of olive oil
• 1 tbls of dijon mustard
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 clove of garlic, pressed or finely chopped
• 1 sprig of fresh rosemary
• 1 tblsp italian season- crush in your hand to release flavor prior to adding

Mix all ingredients for marinade in a shallow dish. Add steak and marinate for 10 minutes before putting on grill over medium heat. While marinating steak, assemble your salad. When you put the steaks on, move the corn to bottom rack. Steaks should no more than 10 minutes to cook through. Immediately remove from heat and spread with a spoon of cream cheese and a sprinkle of cheese and roll, secure with a toothpick.

ITALIAN BREAD SALAD

• 1 medium cucumber; peeled, seeded and sliced
• 5-6 tomatoes (vine-ripened/ homegrown/ or heirloom are suggested), cut into bite size pieces
• 1 onion, if desired (I used onion powder!)
• Sea Salt
• 1 tbsp. sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh basil leaves, washed well, spun dry and chopped fine
• 1 loaf of French bread, cubed into bite-size pieces
  
  In a glass bowl, mix cucumber, tomatoes and onion. Sprinkle generously with Sea Salt and add sugar, mix gently. Add basil and dressing and toss to coat well- it will look like too much liquid, but that will be absorbed by the bread. Add bread about 5-10 minutes prior to serving so that it doesn’t get too soggy. If you know that you will have leftovers, reserve the salad without bread. If you want a more hearty meal, rather than a side dish, add some grilled steak just prior to serving.
  
  DRESSING
• ¼ cup of garlic infused canola or olive oil
• 1 clove of garlic- pressed or finely diced
• Pepper, to taste
• 1-1/2 tablespoons of Dijon mustard
• 1/4 to ½ cup of balsamic vinegar
• Onion powder, if onion not used
  
  Whisk above ingredients until well blended. Pour over veggies.

Hope that you will try this easy, easy dinner idea. It was on the table in about 40 minutes, but just because I was experimenting with the recipes! It is definately on my new list of favorites! Until next time- cheers!

The Dramatic Lemur!!!

May Your Next Yard Sale Be Rained On....

...okay, well not YOURS, but that person who "forgot" to take their Yard Sale
signs down! You know that they saw them on Sunday on their way to
Starbuck's.....

I love Saturday mornings for a few reasons, number one- the most obvious of sleeping in and not having to go to work, and #2- it’s bargain hunting time at local yard sales. I’m a yard sale fan and not afraid to admit it! In fact, I just finished decorating the entry way of our house in garage sale chic (with the help of a few cans of spray paint and some imagination, oh yeah- ebay too) for under $30. But, it’s all custom and the fun was obviously in the hunt! My BFF, Leah, is my yard sale companion, although now that she is beyond pregnant and expecting any day, I drag my begrudging hubby, Jason, out with me. (His brother loves to garage sale, wishful thinking that it was genetic!) I often only take with me $20 and am amazed at what it can get you!
This past weekend, I decided to follow some “signs” to a yard sale. (Paper Plates with Sale and an itty bitty arrow on them) Three turns in and no more signs! Arg- that meant that it was a last-weekend sign- and my biggest pet peeve, next to bad signs. Please, please, take the time to take down your signs. It’s not only inconsiderate to your ‘customers’ that try to find you, but it’s also good for Mother Nature. Okay, this is not the pot calling the kettle black. I am proud to say that along with going to yard sales, our family also holds one about once a year, and one thing that I hear regularly at ours is “Great Signs!” They are large (18x 24) signs, on ground stakes with very large red print that says YARD SALE with an equally as impressive arrow directing the way. I make them on the computer (four sheets of paper per sign) and tape them onto what I’ll call campaign signs (you know the ones that you see along the road during election season?)- and then they can be shoved into the ground. I’ve had these for years, but you could “borrow” some after this years election! I also make them double-sided so that they attract attention from all directions.
Remember, you have about 3 seconds to catch a passer-bys attention and make them turn the car in your direction. It’s not necessary to put the time and date, as long as you put them up and take them down (appoint a family member to help) when your sale is going on; nor should you try to list items in 8-pt font. (If you want to list items, try craigslist- that’s another good way to find yard sales!) BFF Leah is used to the, “Quick, turn here.” directions from less than stellar signs, but Jason is less than so! I can guarantee that if you take the care into making good, attention catching signs, you will actually make more money. Our sale in May this year netted about $800 and in previous years, we average $400 to $500, and our highest price point was about $30. So, please take the time to make good signs, and my last plea is to take them down as soon as your sale is over. I think the next time I see a sign on a Tuesday with the address, I’m going to go over there and ask about the sale! ( :
Now, I am not an expert on yard sales, but I think that the idea that someone will pay you to haul your junk away is so great and do have a few pieces of wisdom to impart:

• Take a few weeks to plan your sale to give you time to clean, mark and sort your items- and to make the signs too. Clean and Marking are operable words here.
• Make good signs- yes, this is the third time I've said it, but.... at least get the posterboard from the dollar store and make large letters on it! You can affix it to a box weighted with rocks to keep it standing!
• If you want to get really organzed, while "spring" (or winter/ fall, etc) cleaning, and you come across an item that you don't want, after inspecting it for defects- slap a price sticker on it and throw it in the Garage Sale box tucked away in a hiding spot!
• Ask your neighbors, friends or family if they would like to participate. The more wares at your sale, the better. Also, they can bring tables (see below).
• Purchase the little priced dot stickers at the dollar store and use them in a very visible spot on the item. It will save you from having to answer “How Much?” 500 times in one day. If you priced it higher than someone wants to pay, they’ll generally ask if you’ll take X amount. Masking Tape and sharpies work well too.
• See above? If the time has to be picked up with two hands, a good rule of thumb is to use a larger sticker or affix a piece of paper.
• Sell in multiples for better value- books, CD’s, clothing. I love sales where I can find 3 paperback books for $1!
• They will come, and they will buy, especially if they don’t have to bend down to look! Borrow as many portable tables and shelves as you can. I attribute the success of our sales to the fact that nearly everything was on a table, clean (if you pick it up and say, EWW, so will someone else!) and clearly marked. The fact that people didn’t have to rummage and bend down will make them look longer!
• Don’t forget to get change- I usually go with $70 to start, with $1s, $5s and $10s and a bunch of quarters.
• Mark items in multiples of 25 cents- it will be easier to make change.
• Have paper and plastic grocery bags on hand to wrap fragile items and to bag peoples purchases.
• Have an extension cord handy
• Make a sign at check-out that says “All Sales Final.”

I'm going to snap a few photos on the way home to accompany this so you can see how annoying the signs can be! Cheers and hope to see you at your sale soon!

Today is "National Nite Out!"

We're celebrating for the first time with our little neighborhood and I'm so excited! Although we've lived in our neighborhood for about 3-1/2 years, it seems that recently it's getting much 'friendlier!' The idea was spawned by my neighbor Annette and then really gelled as we talked it up as everyone was watching the fire burn behind our house on July 25th... so then here we are!

It's always been a great place to live and we've known our closest neighbors since we've moved in, but now it's really starting to feel like "Mayberry!" (Well, not exactly- I grew up in a Mayberry, but you get the picture!) We're having a potluck social- our councilman sent by packets for the neighbors and a police representative is even coming to pass out stuff to the kids. I'm hoping that the fire department makes it by too- I called but haven't heard back, and short of dialing 9-1-1, my expectations are pretty low. I'm excited to let everyone know how it turns out- and obviously, since this does relate to food- I'll post on what recipes I decided to bring. I'm hoping to have pictures too. In the mean time, I'm leaving you with some pictures from the fire behind our house... that might be an entirely different blog!

A Carpenter Wouldn't Work without the Proper Hammer: What Tools Do You Need? The Well-Stocked Kitchen!

The goal to get in and out of the kitchen quickly is to have the right tools to complete the job. With so many kitchen gadgets out there (trust me, I'm a gadget-oholic, hence my 'pampered' alter ego!), it's hard to know what's important, and what is a waste of space. For someone who just uses the kitchen to reheat take-out or to warm up a freezer meal, you won't need much; however, for even the most basic cook, a well-stocked kitchen will allow you to experiment!



It can be costly to set up a kitchen; my advice is to invest a good portion of the budget into knives and cookware- a good quality knife (I recommend a paring knife, a utility knife and a Santuko); and a few essential pans (10" skillet, stock pot, and grill pan- non-stick, as well as one stainless steel saute pan) will save time (sharp knives cut more efficiently and without cutting you!) and non-stick pans require less oil, and are easier to clean. A stainless pan is good for browning or broiling at high heat. To accompany the knife, purchase a synthetic (not wood) cutting board (easy cleanup in the dishwasher!) or even a bamboo. Wood will eventually dull your knives and harbors bacteria. Also, for non-stick pans, you'll want to get silicone or bamboo tools- big no no on metal or risk scratching the pans.



Here's the list for a well-stocked kitchen:

measuring spoons
dry measuring cups
liquid measuring cups
manual can opener
citrus juicer
colander- metal
corkscrew
synthetic cutting boards
funnel
garlic press
ice cream scoop
kitchen tongs
long-handled fork
potato masher
salad spinner
slotted spoons
soup ladle
silicone spatulas
strainer
meat thermometer
turner
vegetable peeler
wire whisk
wooden spoons
zester
chef's knife
kitchen shears
paring knife
serrated bread knife
steak knives
Santuko Knife
baking dishes (multiple sizes)
microwave-safe casserole with lid
mixing bowls (at least two)
large serving bowl (pasta)
plastic storage containers
small ingredient dishes
broiler pan
8” skillet
12” sauté pan
roasting pan with rack
saucepans (1 qt. & 2.5 qt.)
stockpot (8 quart)
baking sheet with rim
cooling rack
flat baking sheets
glass pie plates
muffin tins
round cake pans
square baking pan
coffee maker
food processor
hand mixer
microwave oven
standing mixer
crock pot

Tasty Thai: Satay Chicken & Leftovers: LettuceWraps

I am a peanut butter fiend- preferably if it is encased in chocolate and sitting in a little itty bitty paper wrapper; so imagine my delight in learning that it delightful as a sauce. A staple in Thai food, Satay sauce is a sweet/ savory sauce that usually acompanies chicken. It was the first and only food that I tried at a Thai restaurant. I like to be adventurous, but when it comes to new cuisines, I'm often a bit shy. We had a mixer for work at a Thai restaurant (TukTuk- in Natomas- I highly recommend this upscale and delicious establishment) and decided to try Thai food for the first time. I had Pad Thai with a side of Peanut Sauce. Now everything I order at a Thai restaurant must accompany that sauce. (I've only tried two dishes; Pad Se You and Curry, and just stick to the Pad Se You- with Peanut Sauce!) Jason loves Thai- the hotter, the better; I on the other hand- not so much for the spicy food! Well, I've experiemented (I think that this should be called Kitchen Experiements with Carol!) and found a pretty good version that doesn't include ingredients you may not have in your kitchen (ethnic cuisines often call for exotic ingredients that we don't often keep around!). As with everything I try to make, it's quick and I try to make it as healthy as possible. Last night I decided to make this; and as a pleasant surprise, planned leftovers for lunch as a completely different dish was awesome!

• (1) Serving of Rice (see previous posts on the Rice Cooker Plus)- 15 minutes in the microwave, and a few minutes to stand and "fluff"


• 4- Frozen Chicken Breasts- boneless, skinless- brush with a little oil and toss on the BBQ grill while preparing the sauce and side(s)- I used about 12 little cutlets instead of larger pieces


• Shredded Cabbage, shredded radishes


• Sweet Pepper Strips (red, orange & yellow)- saute with a little olive oil and reduced sodium soy sauce until tender.


• Fresh Mint or Fresh Basil- chiffonade (stack leaves and roll, then snip into smaller pieces with shears or knife)

SATAY SAUCE:

• 5 tablespoons reduced fat peanut butter- I prefer creamy, but you could use chunky
• 3 tablespoons reduced sodium soy sauce
• 1/4 c. brown sugar
• Ginger root- 1 inch fresh, peeled and pressed, or 1 tbsp. Gourmet Garden minced
• 1 or 2 cloves garlic, crushed
• 1 lime, zest first, and then juice
• onion powder to taste

Mix all ingredients together with a wire whisk; you might need to microwave the p/b a few seconds to melt, and then stir well.

If using chicken breasts, dice and toss with satay sauce (reserve some for dipping!) in a skillet to heat through. Plate rice and top with chicken and veggie sides, and garnish with fresh mint and serve.

FOR LEFTOVERS- LETTUCE WRAPS~

Finely dice chicken and peppers. Toss with rice and additional satay sauce. I also added a handful of pineapple and chopped peanuts.

Re-heat in microwave until warmed through and serve with several large lettuce leaves (bibb or romaine). A quick egg-drop soup is a nice accompaniment.

The lettuce wraps were very tasty- almost better than dinner as all of the flavors really blended together well.

Eat Your Veggies: Sacramento Area Farmers Markets

In my quest to save money and eat healthy, I have found that I love to go to the farmer's markets. I love to make this part of my lazy Sunday morning rituals, but that doesn't always happen. The produce and fruit often change from week to week and is of course seasonal, and sometimes the deals aren't always the best. But, it's great to support local farmers and you'll find a large selection of organic without the increased prices. My favorite finds are: Fresh basil for $1 to $2- and it's a huge bunch; the fresh lavendar and of course if you arrive within the last 30 minutes before closing, there are usually deals to be had! I usually go with $20 (don't forget something to carry all of your finds in!) and can load up on fresh fruits and veggies for the week. Below is a list of Farmer's Markets from Tahoe to Pleasanton and in between, it's listed by day of the week and then in alpha order by city (with greater Sacto ones in green) If your area isn't listed here a google search will net you results in your area:


TUESDAY

• Kings Beach- Hwy. 28 at Bear Street- 9:00am – 1:00pm (June - Aug)
• Roseville- Harding Blvd. at Douglas Blvd- :30am – 12:30pm (June- Oct)
• Sacramento- El Camino & Watt in front Office Depot- 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m. (May-Nov)
• Sacramento- 9th & p.m. St-Roosevelt Park- 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. (May-Oct)
• Truckee- Truckee River Regional Park- 10500 Brockway Road- 8:00am – 1:00pm (June- Sept)
• Woodland- E. Gibson Rd. & East Sts-County Fair Mall- 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m., (May-Oct)

WEDNESDAY

• Auburn- Dewitt Center 1st Street between A & B Avenues- 10:30am – 1:30pm (June - Dec)
• Chico- North Valley Plaza Mall- 8 a.m.-noon (Jun-Sep)
• Colfax- Depot Freight Parking Lot- 4:00pm – 7:00pm (May 28th thru October 8th)
• Davis- Central Park-4th & C Sts- 4:30-8:30 p.m. (Apr-Sep)
• Foresthill- Main Street- 4:00pm – 7:00pm- (mid June- mid Aug only)
• Marysville- 2nd & D St- 4 p.m.-7:30 p.m. (Jun-Sep)
• Pleasanton- Main and W. Angela- 6 to 9 p.m. (1st Wednesday of month, May-Sept
• Sacramento- Cesar Chavez Park - 10th & J- 10 a.m.-2 p.m. (May- Nov)
• Vallejo- Georgia and Sonoma- 4 to 8 p.m. (June-Sept.)

THURSDAY

• Benicia- First St. between B and D- 4 to 8 p.m. (April-Oct.)
• Chico- Broadway & Third- 6 p.m.-9 p.m. (Apr-Sep)
• Concord- Todo Santos Park- 4 to 8 p.m. (May-Oct.)
• Dixon- 105 East C St.- 4 p.m.-8 p.m., (Apr-Nov
• Granite Bay- Corner of Douglas Blvd. andAuburn-Folsom Road- 9:00am – 1:00pm (May 15th thru December 18th)
• Fairfield Texas at Government Center- 4 to 8 p.m. (May-Oct.)
• Sacramento- Downtown Plaza- 10 a.m.-2 p.m., (May-Oct.)
• Sacramento- Florin Mall in front of Sears- 8 a.m.-11:30 a.m.
• Tahoe City - T/C Commons Beach Road and North Lake Blvd.- 8:00am – 1:00pm (June - Oct.)

FRIDAY

• Lincoln- At Lincoln Market Place - Corner of McBean Park Dr. (Hwy. 193) and A Street- 8:00am-12:00noon
• Sacramento- Cal Expo-Ethan & Exposition- 7 a.m.-12 p.m.
• Suisun- Harbor Plaza-Main & Solano- 5 p.m.-9 p.m.,
• Vallejo- 975 Serreno Dr .10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

SATURDAY

• Auburn- Corner of Auburn Folsom Road and Lincoln Way- 8:00am – 12:00noon
• Chico- 2nd & Wall- 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m
• Citrus Heights- Sunrise Mall behind Sears-8 a.m.-noon
• Davis- Central Park-4th & C Sts- 8 a.m.-noon
• Homewood Mountain- Ski Resort- 5145 Westlake Blvd on Hwy. 89- 8:00am – 1:00pm
• Paradise- Municipal Auditorium parking lot- 8 a.m.-noon
• Sacramento- Watt & El Camino, next to Macys- 8 a.m.-noon
• Sacramento- 3262 Marysville Blvd- 7 a.m.-1 p.m.
• Vacaville- Main St & Dobbins- 8 a.m.-noon
• Woodland- E. Gibson Rd. & East Sts.-County Fair Mall- 9 a.m.-noon
• Vacaville- Main St and Dobbins9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (May-Nov)
• Vallejo- Georgia and Marin9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
• Yuba City- Center & Plumas Sts- 8 a.m.-noon

SUNDAY

• Rocklin- Stanford Ranch Rd at Park Drive-8:00am – 12noon
• Lake of the Pines- 10556 Combie Road, Auburn- 8am – 12noon
• Chico-Manzanita & East Sts- 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• Sacramento- 8th & W. under Hwy 80- 8 a.m.-noon- THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE!

The Best Ever Chicken Fried Rice

I am infatuated with the Fried Rice that they serve at Japanese Hibachi Steak houses (you know, like Benihanna or Kobe?)- I used to be a strictly-steamed-white-rice-kind-of-girl until my step-mom told me that I wouldn't regret trying the fried rice. And the wise woman that she is, she was right! ( : Ever since then, Jason and I order the fried rice, and end up taking the rest of the meal home! Last week I was craving that rice and instead of driving 20 minutes to the restaurant and spending $50 for just the rice and other stuff I really didn't want, I challenged myself to create a comparable recipe and it was pretty darn close! So, I'm now sharing with you.

This is also a good recipe to use left overs in your refrigerator- makes preparation faster as well! I happened to use left over pork ribs as the protein in this, but feel free to substitute chicken, beef or shrimp! Just to note, I am a "pinch-here & pinch-there" cook, I hardly measure when cooking (just baking!), so the measurements aren't exact and neither should yours! The beauty of cooking is that you can experiment- and don't be afraid to!

Note: all meat and veggies should be finely diced!
For speedy preparation, I would recommend using: The Food Chopper and Rice Cooker Plus.

• (1) Serving of White Rice- I used regular long grain, but you could use any type you want- the rice should be cooked in broth to add flavor without fat or calories.

Never use instant rice again!

Use the Rice Cooker Plus for the inexpensive rice you can buy at any discount store and save money!

I make one serving which is (2) parts liquid (broth) to (1) part white rice.

This item is also great for speedy preparation of single artichokes, steaming veggies or

my favorite 10-minute microwave cake.

• 1 cup of pre-cooked chicken/ pork/ beef/ shrimp- or not and go vegetarian!
• 1-1/4 c. of veggies- I used broccoli, carrots, celery and corn- use what ever you have on hand- either fresh or frozen- canned will do in a pinch also
• 3-4 pressed garlic cloves- suit to taste-
• 2 Tbsp. of butter- the hibachi houses use TONS of garlic butter, and I am minimizing the butter to save on fat and calories
• 1 Tbsp. of Sesame oil- a little goes a long way
• 1/3 c. of reduced sodium soy sauce
• Onion powder- you can use fresh onions instead, but I'm not a fan, so this is a good substitute
• Salt and Pepper
• Sesame Seeds
• Dash or two of Worchester Sauce
• Dash of Olive oil or Garlic blend canola oil to stir fry veggies
• Dash of Ginger- I like to used the Gourmet Garden tubes of fresh herbs that can be found in the produce aisle
• 3 eggs

In a large non-stick frying pan or Wok, add a dash of oil and pressed garlic and saute for about 1 minute over medium heat. Add chopped veggies and saute until al dente, then add pre-cooked meat to heat through. Melt butter in microwave and mix together with onion powder, salt & pepper, ginger, soy sauce, worchester sauce and then pour over rice and mix. Once well mixed, add rice to pan and stir. Crack eggs into dish and beat with fork. Once rice is completely heated through, move to one side and pour in eggs. Quickly scramble and then mix with rice. Add sesame seeds just prior to removing from stove. Serve as a light entree or as a side dish with take-out Chinese! YUMMY.

Really- How Hard Can Dinner Really Be?

Well, if you hate to cook- it's worse than going to the dentist. If you don't know how to cook, it can be plain scary (and you don't want to have to deal with all that smoke anyways)! For others, it might be lack of inspiration, lack of time or simply hating to answer that dreaded question when you walk in the door at 5:58 p.m. (after a day of endless meetings, dealing with incompetent people and the 45 minute traffic jam on the way home!) and your dear, dear husband asks, "So, What's for Dinner?" After halting that knee jerk reaction to slip off your Manolo peep-toe and heave it at him, or telling him to dial the local pizza parlor; come visit me! My new blog is coming to the rescue!

I'm not a chef (I am 'pampered' though!) by any means, and I tend to stay away from exotic ingredients; but I do love to cook. I think that preparing dinner can be a great way to release stress after a long day (or it can be the last thing on your mind), a wonderful creative outlet, or that dinner can be as simple as a Hot Pocket and a bowl of cereal (that's what Jason was inspired to cook me last night for dinner!). We must eat to live, but it should be enjoyable after all; and no man can survive on MickeyD's and deli sandwiches forever. My goal is to provide a resource for the uninspired, the haters, the newbies to enjoy their kitchen time and to do so with as little effort and money (yes, we are all budget conscious these days!) as possible. Thanks for coming on this journey with me- and if you have an amazing find, please do let me know. Happy Cooking!