Vegetable Fried Rice

This is one of my husband's favorites. I love all the fresh vegetables!

1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
3/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce
2 tablespoons light brown sugar
1 tablespoon white wine or rice vinegar
1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger
1 tablespoon peanut or olive oil
2 carrots, cut into matchstick-size strips
2 cups snow peas, cut into thirds
2 cups bean sprouts
4 scallions (white and light green parts), thinly sliced
4 eggs, lightly beaten
Directions

1
Cook the rice according to the package directions. Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine the soy sauce, sugar, vinegar, and ginger; set aside.
2
Heat the oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the carrots and stir-fry for 2 minutes. Add the snow peas, bean sprouts, and 3 tablespoons of the soy sauce mixture and stir-fry until the vegetables are almost tender but still crisp, about 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl.
3
Return skillet to medium heat and add the remaining sauce mixture, the rice, and scallions. Cook until warmed through, about 1 minute.
4
Make a large space in the center of the rice and pour the eggs into it. Scramble the eggs with a spatula until set. Stir the eggs into the rice. Transfer the rice mixture to individual plates and top with the vegetables.

Carrot Cake Pancakes

Does anyone post on this blog anymore but me? Does anyone even READ this blog anymore?

Anyway, tonight I had the inspiration to make these. Breakfast for dinner is the best! And they were very yummy and I thought I would share. P.S. I actually got this recipe off the Tasty Kitchen blog. If you haven't seen it, check it out!

1 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. each of ground nutmeg, ground cloves, and ground ginger
1/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 Tbsp. canola oil
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
2 whole eggs
1-2 cups shredded carrot
1/4-1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Combine dry ingredients, down to the spices. Then add in the brown sugar, buttermilk, oil, vanilla, and eggs. Fold in the carrot and walnuts. Cook on a greased griddle.

*I didn't add as much carrot as the original recipe called for, and I added the walnuts. I served mine with maple syrup and whipped cream but some cream cheese frosting would've been divine as well! These made about 12 small pancakes when I used my 1/4-cup measuring cup to pour them on the griddle.

Spinach Pasta Salad

I had this at a church activity in my old ward and ate about 4 plates of it. It is definitely a "girl's salad", great for bridal or baby showers, bookclubs, or any other activities where guys aren't in attendance. This recipe is halved, which feeds about 6-8 people, but for bigger crowds, double it for 12-16 people.

1 bag (10 oz) spinach
1/2 bunch green onions, sliced
1/4 C. fresh parsley
3 oz. craisins (1/3 C.)
3 oz. honey roasted peanuts (about 1/3 c.--I used honey roasted cashews)
1-2 cans mandarin oranges, drained
2 C. cooked, cut-up chicken (about 2 large breasts)
1/2 box (12-16 oz) bow tie pasta (about 4 cups cooked pasta)

Dressing:
1/2 C. vegetable oil
1/3 C. Teriyaki Sauce
1/3 C. Rice Vinegar (Nakano original seasonal brand)
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper

Prepare dressing ahead of time and refrigerate overnight. Mix all salad ingredients together and add dressing just before serving.

oatmeal cake

this is my favorite cake in the world. and this recipe is mainly for me because i didnt bring my "cookbook" out to illinios with me... i hope you all enjoy it. honestly i cant think of anything better....

i like it warm, and i ice it while warm too...

Ingredients

• 1-1/2 cups boiling water
• 1 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 
  TOPPING:
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

• In a bowl, pour boiling water over oats; let stand for 5 minutes. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with the oat mixture until combined.
• Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 30-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• Meanwhile, in a saucepan, bring the brown sugar, butter and milk to a boil over medium heat. Remove from the heat; stir in coconut, nuts and vanilla. Pour over warm cake. Cool completely. Yield: 12-16 servings.

Jen's Power Smoothie

My friend Jen introduced me to these smoothies. She calls them green smoothies, but my sister and I have tweaked the recipe a little bit, and our's are more purple (which to me look more appetizing to eat than the green.) These smoothies have so many vitamins and nutrients in them, if you eat one in the morning, your fruits and veggies are taken care of, along with so many other good things like omega-3 and fiber, etc. These measurements are appoximations, so you can play with it to your taste and liking.

1 cup vanilla or plain yogurt
1/2-1 cup orange juice
1-2 ripe bananas
about 1 cup frozen berries (blueberries, strawberries, blackberries, or a combination of all)
1-2 Tbsp. flax seed (whole or ground meal)
huge handful of baby spinach
2-3 large kale leaves, removed from the hard stalk
2-3 large collard greens, removed from the hard stalk
large cup of ice
agave nectar or honey to sweeten

My friend Jen doesn't use yogurt or orange juice, but I feel like it just makes it taste better. Plus the yogurt and o.j. adds protein and vitamin C. I also add a few more berries than she does, and agave nectar because if it doesn't look or taste good, my kids won't drink it! She also adds a scoop of protein powder, and you can do this if you want, but I found it makes it taste grittier or chalkier and it brings out the taste of the greens, which you're trying to mask.

The key is to blend this really really really well so the greens are blended and hidden. Also, another key is the bananas because it makes it smooth and sweet. But you can play with this recipe to your liking, I have a ton of friends who eat this smoothie now and it seems like we all have our own version. But it is really tasty and so good for you, and makes me feel like I'm giving my kids some great nutrition!