Despicable Me 2 GIVEAWAY!

My family is really looking forward to seeing Despicable Me 2 this summer, my husband especially! It is a very highly anticipated movie date day for my son, who watches Despicable Me at least twice a week.

How would you like to win a family 4 pack of passes to the 3D advance screening?  Here's your chance!

Show date: Thursday, 6/27 at 7pm

Location: Regal Citrus Park in Tampa

Please comment below and tell me who your favorite Despicable Me character is and why to be entered.  Bonus entry for sharing the giveaway on Facebook.  Please comment separately that you shared the giveaway.  Good luck!

**Contest ends on 6/22.  The winner will be chosen using Rafflecopter and will be notified on 6/23.  Seating is first-come, first-served**

Tasty Time: Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Another dinner hit!  Tonight's dinner comes from http://www.diabeticlivingonline.com/recipe/meat/beef-broccoli-stir-fry/.  No, I'm not diabetic, but this sounded delicious!  As always, I made my own changes and it came out so yummy!

Beef and Broccoli Stir Fry

Original recipe from website:

• 2tablespoons  reduced-sodium soy sauce

• 1tablespoon  cornstarch

• 1tablespoon  white vinegar

• 1tablespoon  grated fresh ginger

• 1/4teaspoon  crushed red pepper

• 2cloves garlic, minced

• 12ounces  boneless beef top sirloin steak

• 1small bunch broccoli (about 1 pound)

• 2teaspoons  cooking oil

• 2medium carrots, bias-sliced 1/8 inch thick

• 3/4cup  reduced-sodium beef broth

• 4green onions, bias-sliced

• 2cups  hot cooked spaghetti squash or angel hair pasta

My recipe:

2T reduced-sodium soy sauce
1T cornstarch
1T white vinegar (I only had apple vinegar, so that's what I used)
1T minced ginger
1/4 t crushed red pepper overflowing
1T minced garlic
1lb lean stew beef (hey, I'm lazy)
a bunch of broccoli
a handful of matchstick carrots
2T olive oil

In a bowl, mix soy sauce, cornstarch, vinegar, ginger, crushed red pepper and garlic.  Toss in the meat and coat.  Cover and let it sit for 10 minutes.  Now my sauce was pretty thick, so I didn't drain it like the original recipe says to do.

In a wok or large skillet, large skillet for me, heat 1 teaspoon of the oil on medium-high heat.  Add the meat and cook it until it's almost done with a little pink.  Remove the meat from the skillet and toss your veggies into it with another teaspoon of oil.  Cook until your desired tenderness.  I covered my skillet for a few minutes to get a good steam going.  Add the meat back to skillet, mixing it all together.

I ate it just like this, but it would be really good with white rice or noodles.  I might try it with chicken next time.  Yum!!

Crock Pot Citrus Chicken

Anything my son will eat is worth sharing.  I made him chicken nuggets tonight and snuck some of this chicken on his plate and he is already asking for thirds!

The original recipe is here: http://luscious-food-recipes.blogspot.com/2013/02/citrus-marinated-roasted-chicken-recipe.html

And here is what I did with it (same ingredients minus the oil, just cooked it different)

4 frozen chicken breasts

2 large lemons (1 squeezed and 1 cut up into chunks)

1 large orange (half squeezed and the other half cut into chunks)

4 cloves garlic, roughly chopped

1T dried oregano

1 1/2 T soy sauce, low sodium

2t honey

1/4t crushed red pepper flakes (I did 1/2)

What I added to it:

baby carrots

broccoli

I don't have a roasting pan, so I brought out the crock pot.  I haven't used it in a while since we are on a low carb diet and all of my slow cooker recipes are pretty heavy on the carbs.  I thought, why not! 

I sprayed my pot with cooking spray and threw the frozen chicken on the bottom.  In a small bowl, I tossed together everything else.  It was at this point that I read in the original recipe that this is a marinade and should have been soaking for hours, but I did not have hours and skipped actually marinading it.

I turned the crock pot on high and cooked it for 3 hours, then tossed in carrots that I cut up into thin slices and broccoli.  After another hour of cooking, I chunked up the chicken, not quite shredding it because my daughter likes to eat big chunks.  I let that soak in for another half an hour and then it was served.  

This would be really good paired with white rice, but since we are low carbing it these days, we ate it as is. Hmm, it would be really yummy in lettuce wraps!

Tasty Time: Crock-pot Thai Peanut Chicken

I've been trying all new crock pot recipes for the last two weeks.  There is nothing better than throwing everything in a slow cooker in the morning and then having a home cooked meal when everyone gets home.  I have found a few hits that I really like, but tonight's dish was delicious!  It comes from http://www.crockadoodledo.blogspot.com/search/label/CHICKEN.  You have to scroll to find it, so I will post it here.  My adjustments are noted.

Crock-pot Thai Peanut Chicken

2.5 pounds chicken (I always use 3-4 frozen chicken breasts)
1 cup hot salsa (Very spicy! If you don't like the heat, go with medium or mild)
1/4 cup peanut butter (I did 1/8 creamy and 1/8 crunchy)
2 T lime juice
1 T soy sauce (reduced sodium)
1t minced fresh ginger (I used minced ginger in a jar found where the jarred garlic is in produce)
rice (I used Uncle Bens Jasmine Ready Rice)
1/2 cup chopped peanuts (I took a handful and chopped them up and then everyone sprinkled their own on)
2 T chopped fresh cilantro (I didn't do this)

Place chicken in pot. *I spray mine with cooking spray first*  Mix salsa, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, and ginger together and pour on top of chicken.  Cook on low for 6-7 hours.  Serve over rice and sprinkle with peanuts and cilantro.

I chunked up my chicken and tossed it back in the pot about an hour before it was done.  I decided not to shred it and leave bigger pieces.  You can serve your chicken any way you'd like, chunking/shredding is the easiest for me.

Even Ava loved it!  Spice and all.

**I must note that it didn't smell all that great when I was mixing it together, so don't be discouraged if you don't favor the smell at first.

Be Our Guest

My family were guests at Be Our Guest restaurant in new Fantasyland during the first day of the Passholder Previews.  We had no idea that the restaurant would be open that day.  Not only was it open for Quick Service lunch, they were also taking reservations for dinner!  OMG!  We jumped at the chance and quickly secured our 4:50pm reservations.

I know most of you have seen pictures of new Fantasyland, but let me tell you, it is more amazing in person.  One of the things I love most about Walt Disney World is the attention to detail and there is no shortage of detail here.  You know you are in the Beast's castle as soon as you walk through the door.  It is very dark with rich colors and is everything you'd imagine from the movie.  In fact, it's so dark in there that the server had to use a flashlight on the menu for a guest sitting at a table next to us.

The Ballroom

There are two rooms you can dine in; the ballroom or the West Wing.  We were seated in the ballroom, which is stunning.  As if I wasn't smiling enough, the perfect red rose napkins on the table made me giggle.

Rose napkin

Anyone who knows me knows that I am a very picky eater.  I am a steak and potatoes kind of girl, so that is exactly what I ordered.  I got the Grilled Strip Steak with Garlic Herb Butter and Pommes Frites. <----fancy for french fries

Grilled Strip Steak

These were the BEST fries ever.  The seasoning was delicious!

My husband ordered Rotisserie Cornish Hen and my son ordered the grilled chicken off of the kids menu.

Cornish Hen

Children's Grilled Chicken

 I.kid.you.not that was a fantastic steak.  The garlic-herb butter was to die for!  I'm also not a veggie girl, but I ate the green beans out of my veggie medley and gave the red peppers and onions to my husband.  My son  must have liked his chicken, because it was all gone.  (Or it could have been that I told him he had to eat it all to get dessert)  My husband's Cornish hen was good, but even he said he should have gotten the steak.

The best park of the evening was the dessert cart.  This amazing case of desserts was rolled right up to our table and our server explained each and every one of them.  Another plus to this restaurant is that the kid's meals come with dessert and they get to pick it right from the cart.

Ohhhh the desserts

I got the Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake, my son got the Chocolate Cream Puff and my husband got the Triple Chocolate Cupcake.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Cupcake

Chocolate Cream Puff

Triple Chocolate Cupcake

Mine was the best!  It is basically a yellow cake with strawberry mousse filling with cream cheese frosting.  I am a sucker for cream cheese frosting, so this was right up my alley.  Again, my husband said he should have ordered what I did.  

After our meal, I walked around the restaurant and ventured into the West Wing.  Wow!  The paintings and tapestries were all torn and ripped from the Beast's claw marks.  It was much darker in there and even had thunder sound effects to make it more creepy.  This is the room where the enchanted rose is held and boy is that rose enchanted!  Every so often, you can see a petal fall.  It's really beautiful.

Enchanted Rose

Beast's portrait above the fireplace

This was one of the best meals I have every had at Walt Disney World.  I can't wait to go again in a few weeks!

Entrance to Be Our Guest

The line queue for Quick Service lunch

The Ballroom during lunch, a lot more light

Quick Service lunch ordering stations

It was only a 5K

I signed up for the Happy Haunted 5K runDisney race months and months ago.  I didn't have a partner, I didn't have a plan, but I signed up.  I am (obviously) not a runner.  I still can't tell you why I clicked "Pay Now" on the registration form, but I did it anyway.  I can't tell you when it was that I decided I wasn't going to go through with it, but I made up my mind.  I was relieved.  I was done thinking about it...until I was asked to be a running partner a couple weeks before the race.  It took a week to convince me to say yes, which was a week before the race.  I was so busy during that last week that I had no time to go out and actually try to go 3 miles.  What did I get myself into?  I couldn't back out now, I made a promise.  I have to admit, it was exciting to be "one of the runners" in the group of over 40 Walt Disney World Moms Panelists that were there for reunion weekend, however most of the runners were running the 10 mile race that evening.

Disney Moms Panelist Kirsten and I before the Happy Haunted 5K

I picked up my race packet at the EXPO at ESPN Wide World of Sports.  I had never been there before and was a bit intimidated when I walked through the doors.  There were so many people, or runners I should say.  And then there was me.  I can't even tell you if my sneakers are running sneakers, but they are all I own.  I signed myself in, picked up my bib and started to walk around.  I was really excited to buy some official race merchandise, so that was my first stop.  Much to my disappointment, there wasn't anything for purchase for the 5K race.  I really mean absolutely NOTHING that said 5K on it.  The focus was massively on the Tower of Terror 10 mile race.  The exciting feeling I had was quickly fading.  I walked around a little more and then left.

Race Expo

I didn't sleep at all that night.  How could I?  I was about to "run" 3.1 miles in the early morning and was supposed to keep a 16 minute mile knowing that I couldn't come close to that.  I put on my tutu and tiara, met up with my running partner and we headed to the bus stop.

Um, wow.  There were so many people.  It was still dark when we got to the Wide World of Sports.  My heart started to race.  Why was I there?  What the hell was I thinking?  I put that feeling to the back of my mind and headed to corral D out of E.

The starting line

Fast forward to the end.  I finished.  It wasn't pretty, it wasn't fast, but I wasn't last.  We finished in just under an hour, which is about a 20 minute mile.  I'm not embarrassed to tell you that, I'm proud to say I did it.  I went back to the Beach Club Resort and celebrated with a red velvet cupcake and an orange juice.

The finish line (total calculated time from beginning with corral A)

But that isn't the reason for this post.  It was a bitter-sweet race.  For me, 3.1 miles is a huge accomplishment, but even as I was crossing that finish line, I didn't feel like it was a big deal.  I was reminded  more times than I care to count throughout the weekend that "it was only a 5K" and that others were running 10 miles that weekend.  And when I mentioned that I was disappointed that I couldn't buy anything that said I ran a 5K, again I was reminded more times than I care to count that "it was only a 5K".  The comments made me feel insignificant and like it was a kid's race.  I quickly decided I wouldn't do it again.

While filling in my husband of all of my weekend details, he said to me that the capability of others is not the same as yours and they quickly forget that and don't understand that it's not easy for everyone, but for me not to forget that I did it.  Right now, my capability is to slowly walk 3.1 miles in an hour.

Well, I am about to sign up for the 5K during marathon weekend in January where I'm sure to hear that others are running half and full marathons.  Who cares, I'm running the 5K.

**Special thanks to Disney Mom Kirsten for being my running buddy and believing I could do it.  I had so much fun sharing this race with you and getting to know you so much better!

Disney Moms Panelist Kirsten and I at the finish

Craft Corner: Quick & Easy Father's Day Gift

Need a last minute idea for a Father's Day present?  I found this adorable craft from nothing but country Mine is more basic than hers as I didn't have card stock or thick matching ribbon around the house, so I used what I had.

What you will need:

Frappacinio bottle or Snapple bottle or whatever bottle you have at the house.  Peel off the outer stickers and wash the inside.

Craft paper in your color choice (I used orange)

Printer for the "We love you to PIECES!" label.  Printed from nothing but country.

Glue

Reese's Pieces candy, enough to fill the bottle

Ribbon optional

I cut out a rectangular band of orange construction paper and glued it around the bottle.  I then glued the label on top on the front of the bottle.  You can cut the label out in any shape you want.  

Add the candy to the bottle.

Tie a ribbon around the neck of the bottle and you're all set!

My husband is going to love this!

Tasty Time: Crock Pot Mexican Chicken Casserole, Crock Pot Corn Pudding, Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Well, I am stuffed!  I made a super easy meal tonight and had two crock pots going for most of the day.  My main dish came from chef in training, who adapted it from Paula Deen.  It was not originally a crock pot recipe, but I made it one.  You can even make these into quesadillas.  I will tell you how to do that under the recipe.  On the side is my crock pot corn pudding.  I really can't remember where I got this recipe from.  Actually, I think it was in a recipe book that came with my crock pot about 10 years ago.  Here's my dinner:

Crock Pot Mexican Chicken Casserole (the way I made it):

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 can cream of cheddar cheese soup

1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles

4 chicken breasts (I tossed mine in frozen)

crushed red pepper flakes (to taste)

tortillas

shredded cheddar cheese

Spray your crock pot with Pam.  Place your chicken in the bottom and pour soups, tomatoes and pepper on top and mix around.  Cook on high for 5 1/2 hours.  Shred the chicken and cook an additional 30 minutes.  Using a 13x9 casserole dish, layer the chicken mixture and tortillas starting and ending with a tortilla.  I ended up with 3 layers of tortillas and 2 layers of chicken mixture, but you can make the chicken layers thinner if you want more tortilla layers.  Sprinkle shredded cheese on top and bake at 350 for 30 minutes or until cheese has melted.  

I have not mastered the art of perfect layered dishes.  My lasagna always comes out runny and never in a perfect square.  Neither did this, but it was delicious!

To make these quesadillas, you will need a baking sheet.  Take a tortilla and place the chicken mixture in the middle.  Sprinkle shredded cheese on top.  Dab your finger in water and run it along the edges of the tortilla and then fold it over in half, pressing the edges together and seal it shut.  Place it on the baking sheet and bake at 350 for about 20 minutes or until the edges are a nice golden brown.  Yum!

Crock Pot Corn Pudding:

1 can cream corn

1 can kernel corn

8oz sour cream

1 stick butter, melted

2 eggs, beaten

1 box Jiff corn bread mix

cayenne pepper

Beat the eggs first and melt the butter.  Spray your crock pot, toss everything in and stir it up.  Cook on low for 6-8 hours or on high for 4 hours.  I stir mine every so often, but you really don't have to.

I forgot I bought bananas at the store last week and they were getting brown, so I had no choice but to make banana bread!  I'm always weary about doing this because I can never get it perfect.  It's usually too dry.  I found a basic recipe and thought why not.  The recipe came from For the Love of Cooking and I changed it up a bit.

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread:

1 stick butter, melted

3/4 c light brown sugar

2 eggs

4 large ripe bananas, mashed

1 t vanilla (overflowing)

2 c flour

1 t baking soda

1 t cinnamon (overflowing)

1/4 t salt

1/4 t nutmeg (overflowing)

chocolate chips

and because it was the first thing I saw when I opened my spice cabinet, 1/4 t pumpkin spice (completely optional)

Preheat the oven to 350 and coat a bread loaf pan with cooking spray.  Beat butter and sugar until creamy.  Add the eggs, bananas and vanilla and keep beating.  In a separate bowl, combine all the dry ingredients and then add it to the bananas.  Pour in your desired amount of chocolate chips.  The recipe said to bake for 55-60 minutes, but mine was more like 90 minutes.  I ended up with a lot of batter, so the loaf pan was filled pretty high.  Insert a knife to make sure it pulls out clean.  

This was the best banana bread I've ever made.  The best banana bread I've ever had was in a little restaurant on the beach in Maui.  They gave everyone a banana muffin with breakfast and it was to die for!  (we had breakfast there a few times throughout our vacation) This reminds me so much of that banana muffin.

I am going to have a slice for dessert after the kids go to bead, but I'm going to make it even better with a scoop of this:

Disney Moms Panel Mini Reunion

One of the best parts about living so close to Disney (besides living so close to Disney) is that I can visit when Disney Moms Panelists are here for vacation!  Last night, I had a lovely dinner with some panelists from the very first year of the Moms Panel, my year and the newest year!  It's great that I get these chances to get to know everyone better and I did just that!

Here is a photo (courtesy of Moms Panel Kirsten) of our dinner at Via Napoli:

Emma, Kara, Kirsten, Me, Jill

I was also able to visit with Moms Panel Elisabeth and her family during Illuminations!  I cannot wait until our official reunion in September!

Thank you wonderful evening, ladies!

Tasty Time: Crock Pot Buffalo Chicken

Yet another recipe from Pinterest that came from chef in training and it's the easiest one of all!  This is basically the equivalent of pulled pork or sloppy joes, but with buffalo chicken!

Recipe:

3 or 4 chicken breasts

1 bottle of your favorite buffalo sauce (I used 2 jars of Hooter's Hot because my husband likes it saucy and 2 jars was REALLY saucy)

1 pkg of dry ranch dip mix

sandwich rolls (I used ciabatta rolls)

Toss the chicken, buffalo sauce and ranch mix into a crock pot and cook on high for 6 hours.  Shred the chicken with forks and cook an additional 30 minutes.  Serve on a sandwich roll.  

The original recipe called for 2 T of butter to be added after you shred the chicken, but I'm not sure why and I didn't do that.  I make a side of plain mac n cheese for a basic flavor since the buffalo chicken is spicy.  I also let my chicken drip dry a little bit before I put it on my roll because I don't like it juicy.

Enjoy!

Tasty Time: Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili

I am loving these chicken crock pot recipes!  Not having to pre-cook the chicken is a real time saver!  Yesterday, I tried out another recipe I stole from Pinterest, which originally came from SkinnyTaste.com.  Crock Pot Chicken Taco Chili!  It was DELICIOUS and I couldn't wait to reheat it for lunch today.  Here is my new favorite dish:

Photo credit - SkinnyTaste.com

This picture was taken after I topped it with shredded Mexican cheese.  Yum!  Yes, there's a lot of cheese. I love cheese.  I promise there is chili under there.  My husband adds Tabasco sauce to his to give it a bigger kick.

Here's the recipe!

1 onion chopped

1 16oz black beans

1 16oz kidney beans

1 8oz tomato sauce

10oz pkg frozen kernel corn (I used one large can of kernel corn)

2 14.5oz cans of diced tomatoes with green chilies

1 pkg taco seasoning

1 T cumin (I didn't use this)

1 T chili powder

3-4 chicken breasts

chili peppers, chopped (optional and I did not use these)

white rice

shredded cheese

Mix all the ingredients together and then place the chicken on top.  Cook on high for 6 hours or low for 10 hours.  Shred chicken 30 minutes before the time is up.  Serve over white rice and sprinkle with shredded cheese.

Enjoy!

Tasty Time: Crock Pot Hawaiian Chicken

I am in a dinner coma right now.  This meal was the easiest dish to make and it only takes 5 ingredients!  I got this from chef in training (again) and I am in love.  I can't wait for my husband to get home because he loves anything with pineapple in it!

Recipe:
4 chicken breasts (I used 3 giant ones)
1/2 c soy sauce (I used reduced sodium)
1/2 teriyaki sauce
1 can pineapple chunks in juice, not syrup
crushed red pepper flakes

Spray your crock pot with Pam and lay your uncooked chicken in the bottom.  Mix up the soy sauce, teriyaki sauce and the can of pineapple chunks.  Her recipe said to use half of the juice from the can, but mine was too salty, so I used all of the pineapple juice.  Pour over chicken and sprinkle crushed red pepper flakes over the top.  Set the crock pot on high and let it cook for 6 hours.  Shred the chicken in the pot and serve over white rice.

I was going cut the chicken in chunks, but as soon as I stuck my fork in, it pretty much shredded itself.  After I shredded the chicken, I turned the heat to low and let it sit there for another half hour to soak up the juice.  Next time, I may use crushed pineapple instead of chunks.  I used about 8 sprinkles of the pepper and I can definitely taste it, but I'd like a little more kick the next time.

UPDATE I still thought it had too strong of the soy sauce flavor, so I added some orange juice which made it even more yummy!

Nom nom nom!!!!!

Tasty Time: Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies and Caramel Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies

I'm having too much fun with Pinterest.  I found the blog of Chef in Training and couldn't wait to start trying her recipes. I decided to start with sweets, Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies.  OMG Delicious!

I ran out of Oreos before I ran out of batter, so I looked around my kitchen for something else I could stuff into my cookies.  JACKPOT!  Caramel squares.  I LOVE caramel, even more than chocolate.  Even better than the Oreos!

Recipe:
1 c shortening
1 c packed light brown sugar
1/2 c granulated sugar
2 large eggs
2 T vanilla extract
3 c flour
1 t salt
1 t baking soda
1 c chocolate chips (I used Ghiradelli)
1 package of double stuffed Oreo and/or caramel squares

Preheat to 350.  Cream together the shortening and sugars.  Beat in eggs and vanilla.  In separate bowl, combine flower, salt and baking soda.  Gradually add flour mix to the wet ingredients and then add chocolate chips.  Form two balls of cookie dough and place one on top of an Oreo or caramel square and one on the bottom.  Squish together and seal the edges.  Bake for about 13 minutes.  Let cool for 5 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.

Tomorrow, I'm making Chef in Training's Crockpot Hawaiian Chicken.

Enjoy!

Craft Time! Crayon Garden

I've been feeling the need to get crafty lately and I've started a bunch of little projects that have yet to be finished.  BUT, I saw this idea on Pinterest and decided to make it my own.  It's a cute way to display crayons and it's a fun way to play with colors!

I call it my crayon garden.  Here are the supplies from Hobby Lobby that I used:

An awesome wooden picture frame

8 glass votive holders, mine look like mini pots

Paint in the colors you want - I used blue, pink, green, brown, yellow, orange, purple and red

Craft paper for inside the frame - I used paper that had creepy crawlers

Paint brushes

Mini wooden fence

Hot glue gun and glue

The first thing I did was paint the inside of the glass.  I used glossy acrylic paint.  It took me two days and 3 coats to get the coverage I wanted.

I painted the fence next.  At first, I painted it in a rainbow of colors, but I didn't like the outcome so I decided to go all brown.

Next, I hot glued the fence to the outer edge of the glass in the frame and then glued the glass votive holders where I wanted them.

The last step is to add the crayons!  I let Neil add some fun bug stickers to it.