So its been a bit a challenge

I haven't been making much food... >.< I was hoping being stuck at home was going to be like "Oh I need to cook more! and I have time"...well I have just been lazy and eating out :(  I have been keeping to my once a week meal though so I am still keeping up with my goals.

They have finally determined what is wrong with my knee for sure and while I do not need surgery, I have a month of physical therapy 3 times a week.  I also get to walk with a cane, cause I am a cool old lady like that! >.<

Right now I am working on making meal plans to help me organize and get under control my eating out habits.  I've looked at a couple of online meal planning tools...but really I think phyiscally writing things down will help me better.

Today is my first day of work in two weeks! and then grocery shopping after.... woot!

10 Minute Leftovers Fried Rice

This is so quick and easy! I didn't even look up a recipe to use for it :)  Quick fulfilling meal.

10 Minute Leftovers Fried Rice 

This really isn't a recipe...more guidelines.

White Rice (leftovers) 

Olive Oil

Soy Sauce

Eggs

Random veggies (leftovers if you have them, I used a green giant frozen corn and canned carrots cause its what I had!) 

Put enough oil (about 2 tablespoons ish) to coat the bottom of your pan, let warm up. Add in rice, stir-fry on med-high/high heat until it starts to look "golden".  *WARNING - rice will pop! 

Add in veggies, stir-fry for a few minutes (or until your frozen corn melts :P ).  

Push everything to one side of the pan, crack egg into pan and quickly scramble. Let set for one minute and then mix all together. I did two eggs because I like them :) 

Splash in some soy sauce for flavor, really just how ever much you like soy sauce!

Cook until looks done :P and eat!

Very easy and you can add whatever you like and it tastes yummy! 

Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl

So no real news on my knee yet. It still hurts, I am still stuck at home, and I still don't know what is wrong for sure yet. 

Lately I have been craving a Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl. Its probably one of my favorites, I just love the tangy sauce with the rice. It was one of the first things I cooked on my own and it is so easy to add/modify as needed. I wanted to take more/better pictures but after standing for a little bit I was sore and very hungry! lol. MMMMmmm I want more just writing about it! 

Teriyaki Chicken Rice Bowl

adapted from the Kikkoman recipe!

1/2 cup Kikkoman Teriyaki Marinade & Sauce  
2 tablespoons sugar 
1/4 cup water 
1 pound (more or less) of chicken breast cut into strips
1 tablespoon all purpose flour
2 tablespoons olive oil 
White rice cooked
Medley of veggies (I used red/green peppers, mushrooms, and broccoli this time)

Mix together Teriyaki sauce and sugar until sugar dissolves. Place thawed (or mostly thawed) chicken strips into a ZipLoc bag and add a few spoonfuls of the Teriyaki sugar mix to coat chicken. Let marinade for 15 or so minutes. 

Add water to remaining Teriyaki sugar mix, stir in flour until dissolved. 

Heat oil in large pan, add chicken strips and sauté for 5 or so minutes. Add in Teriyaki sauce mixture. Let cook for 5 minutes.

Add in veggie medley, cook for another 5 minutes. Turn heat to low and let simmer for 5 or until sauce thickens to a nice consistency.

Spoon over white rice and delve into Teriyaki gooey goodness!

This recipe makes quite a bit depending on how many veggies you put in it and how much rice you make. I tend to put a lot so mine ends up serving 6 or so. But thats okay I love this so much I go back for seconds....and thirds!  I ended up with left over rice but no left over teriyaki. 

A series of unfortunate events...

I feel like a lot has happened since I last posted...when really only a few things have.

So I started to organize my room...it was going well. Taking a little longer then I expected...after 3 days of working on it between going to work it was shaping up nice. The closet was all cleared and I just needed to organize the vanity and my drawers. Look I have a floor!

 Well it was looking all nice...and then I had a unexpected guest about to arrive at the house and the downstairs looked DISASTROUS! So a very quick clean up entailed taking all of my belongs (including laundry basket, giant burlesque props, and here and there bits) and shoving them in my bedroom so they were out of sight. My living room now looks fabulous...my room however...kinda in shambles again.  -.-; I now have plenty of time to clean but the reason I have time is also the reason I can not clean. Which I will explain in a minute...

So the room isn't done. Which was my big project last week, which also took away time from me grocery shopping and planning meals. So for my "cook once a week" resolution I cheated! >.<
It was yummy though.  Sauteed pieorgies with peppers.

I don't really count this as 'cooking' though, at least not the way I wanted. Because all I did was heat butter in a pan. 

On this note I wanted to explain my "cook once a week" resolution a little better. I live with roommates, one whom cooks very tasty meals, so it is not necessary for me to cook all the time. I eat a lot of plain sandwiches too...  I am also addicted...yes ADDICTED to eating out. It is always so good and fun way to get out of the house... It is an evil addiction. I am trying desperately to cure myself.  It is only rivaled by my addiction to Cheese and Chocolate. They are the answer to all the worlds problems I swear, they taste so good with everything! 

But yes, I love eating out, fancy restaurants, pubs, fast food, food stands, everyone has got something I like! However I am going to be forced into making my food for a little while because I can't go out as easy as I would like now...which is also the reason I can not clean.

The reason?

Last year I fell on my left knee, pretty hard, had to be off my feet for a week and wear a huge leg brace for a month. They said I 'strained some ligaments'  and well it never fully got better. It actually aches a lot day-to-day. Well being the graceful being I am I fell on my outdoor concrete/metal stairs Monday night, putting all of my weight onto that already screwed up knee. It hurt. No it hurts.

So to the doctor I went Tuesday. He thinks I probably tore my meniscus last year and made it worse with my fall. I am now off of work until further notice...its hard to be a hairstylist when you can't stand up... I have an MRI scheduled for Friday afternoon to confirm and to determine if surgery is needed.  I also get to wear a spiffy brace, walk with a cane, and am supposed to stay off my feet as much as possible. 

It's scary, painful, and I don't like being stuck! Hopefully it will all turn out well...

SO while I am stuck at home I am going to cook and work on little projects (not cleaning! :( ) to share with you guys to bide my time. 

Hmm teriyaki chicken rice bowl anyone? I think thats next ^.^

Resolutions

Everyone has them...even if they don't admit or mock others for theirs but I know that somewhere in the back of your mind you have resolved to do something different in your life. Even if its something little.

This year I made a list, which I normally do, last year I did not because I was being pessimistic.
I love list making if you didn't know, it seems to organize everything so perfectly.

New Years Goals:

• Cook once a week if not more.
• Take better care of my body
• Keep a tidy house and car
• Be positive and smile more often

I like four, its my favorite number. So we will keep my list short and sweet and I think perfectly attainable. None of this "lose 50 pounds by March" type nonsense resolutions I see nearly everywhere. Thats why people fail, they set nearly impossible goals. At least that is my little opinion.

Alright that is all for now darlings, stay tuned! This week I tackle my bedroom...