random thursday things...and stir fry.

Last night I had intended to post my stir fry recipe,
but I totally forgot that we'd be at the science fair all evening.
For those of you whose kids haven't reached science fair age yet:
relish in this time.
Those science fair projects are a lot of work.
Lucky for me Gary helped Riley with most of it.
My brain and science don't mix.
{but my brain and the science experiment display board?  i got that covered.}

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We got back from Trader Joe's a little while ago and the pantry and fridge are stocked.
Have you tried tj's chocolate covered frozen banana bites?  Holy yummy.
And...only two ingredients: bananas and chocolate.


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Avery and I are sat outside for an hour and a half today.
It was gorgeous today.  Sun...70 degrees...blue skies...love it.
Days like this I start thinking vacation.
We booked a little one over the kids' spring break.
I can't wait.

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Gary got me this perfume for my birthday.
I first smelled it when we were in Hawaii last summer,
so now it always reminds me of that vacation when I wear it.
Ahhhhhhhhh.

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I tried on a pair of these Toms glasses last week...very cute.
But I thought, "No, I have a perfectly fine pair of glasses.  I don't need these."
And then yesterday I dropped that perfectly fine pair and scratched the heck out of them.
Hmmm.

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I am slightly obsessed with these candles from anthropologie.
I saw them in the store last weekend and they smell amazing.
They're beeswax, and smell like summer.
I wish I had bought one.

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Ok...now for a little stir fry.
A little disclaimer about my stir fry recipe:
I call it stir fry, but it may technically not be an actual "stir fry",
in the traditional sense.  Does real stir fry require a wok?
I'm not sure.
But...it's good, no matter what you call it.

First chop the veggies you plan to use.
I always use broccoli, snow peas, red and yellow pepper, and then I'll throw in whatever else I have.
I like rainbow veggies. :)



Then I heat about 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a pan
and saute a clove or two of garlic and about 1/4 of a white onion.

When those are soft I add the peppers.



After those begin to soften, I add the other vegetables.
I go in order from most firm to softest.



Then, when they've all begun to soften just a bit, I add the sauce.



I whisk together 3 Tbsp. reduced-sodium soy sauce,
2 Tbsp. rice wine vinegar,
2 Tbsp. brown sugar,
and 1/2 tsp. cornstarch
and pour over the veggies.



It smells so good.

Then I just let that mixture cook for a bit, stirring frequently.
I know it's done when the broccoli is tender.

Sometimes I serve it over rice, or quinoa.
This time I used Thai noodles.
{you can see the box in the picture with the ingredients above.}
The kids love them.



Cook them according to the package (they're SO easy)
and then add them to the veggie mixture.



And that's this Irish girl's version of stir fry.
Easy...you really can't mess it up.
And it's a great way to get everyone to eat their veggies.

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And there's a look into my scattered little brain today.
See ya...we're off to drum lessons.