Egg Rolls

Posted on January 25, 2017 by

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One of my favorite childhood memories I have is sitting in the kitchen with my brother while my mum cooked up dozens upon dozens of egg rolls. She stopped the tradition years ago when we all started doing our own thing. Instead of making egg rolls for New Years (as my mum traditionally did) I decided to cook up a batch in honor of the Chinese New Year, January 28. 2017 is the year of the Rooster, and people born during a Rooster year are said to be observant. What’s really unique about the Chinese Zodiac signs to me personally is that my mum, her mom and I are all the year of the Tiger.  What’s your Chinese Zodiac sign?

Egg Rolls
Makes 16-18
Ingredients
1 pound chicken or pork
3 cups finely shredded cabbage
1 can (8.5 oz) bamboo shoots, drained and chopped
½ cup chopped mushrooms
4 medium green onions, sliced
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon sugar
1 pound egg roll skins (16 to 18)
Vegetable oil

Directions
1. Stir-fry pork or chicken in a wok or 10-inch skillet until brown.
2. Remove meat from wok or skillet.
3. Stir-fry cabbage, bamboo shoots, mushrooms and onions.
4. Mix soy sauce, cornstarch, salt and sugar.
5. Pour soy sauce mixture over vegetable mixture.
6. Stir-fry for about 1 minute, and allow to cool.
7. Mix meat with vegetables.
8. Keep egg rolls skins covered with a damp towel to prevent drying.
9. Place ¼ cup of filling mixture in the center of each egg roll skin.
10. Fold one corner of egg roll skin over filling.
11. Overlap the two opposite corners.
12. Moisten fourth corner with water, fold over to make into a roll.
13. Heat oil (1.5 to 1.75 inches) to 360 degrees Fahrenheit.
14. Fry three to five egg rolls at a time until golden brown, turning once (about 3 minutes).
15. Drain on paper towels.
16. Enjoy

Sweet and Sour Dipping Sauce
Heat ¼ cup grape or plum jelly and ¼ cup chili sauce in a small saucepan, stirring constantly until jelly is melted.

LuminoCITY Detroit

Posted on January 23, 2017 by

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Detroit has added big bold colors this winter with the addition of LuminoCITY now through February 16. LuminoCITY is a fun and interactive art installation in downtown Detroit that was designed to bring together three characteristics of Detroit: art, design and technology. 16 installations in a mixture of sizes illuminate various areas of downtown Detroit. While walking around Detroit enjoying these interactive sculptures don’t forget to stop into the businesses, restaurants, retailers and more. Grab your family, friends or significant other and head down to Detroit to explore (I parked and walked to all the installations).

 
You can find installations at the following downtown Detroit locations:
Capitol Park
Grand Circus Park
Hart Plaza
Hudson’s Site
Along Woodward Avenue  

Vision Board

Posted on January 11, 2017 by

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We are 12 days into 2017, and how many of you have already broken your new years resolutions? I’ve given up on creating resolutions, because I know that I wouldn’t last with them.

Jimmie was kind enough to gift me some Mantra Bands last year that he thought would help inspire me and show me that someone believed in me (blessed, dream – believe – achieve and you are enough just to name a few). As a visual person these simple bracelets mean more to me this year than anything, and I’m taking the vision even further and created a vision board.

If you have never heard of a vision board it’s something you create using pictures, words and quotes. The Bible says, ‘where there is no vision, the people will perish’ Proverbs 29:18 – makes sense, right? Creating visual goals shows your dreams for the future, and helps keep you on task, because you can visually see what you want to achieve.
How to create a vision board:
• Magazines (you want pictures, words and quotes)
• Poster board, corkboard, standard sheet of paper (whatever you want to create your collage on)
• Scissors
• Glue stick or push pins to secure your pictures

Decide what your goals, dreams and ambitions are, then try to find pictures, words or quotes to represent those things. Remember, this board is for you. You don’t have to impress anyone. You can add quotes, pictures, words, embellishments and more.

Once you have found all your images glue or pin them to your board, and keep it in a place where you can look at it often so you’re holding yourself accountable for your visions. I am posting mine here, on Instagram and using it as the background of my phone just as a simple reminder to keep myself focused on what is important to me this year.

Homemade Dog Biscuit – Sweet Potato

Posted on December 22, 2016 by

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The howlidays have arrived, and while you’re in the kitchen whipping up batch after batch of Christmas cookies don’t forget to make some for the pup too. Today I am sharing Jack’s favorite (and easiest to make) homemade “cookies”.

Jack\’s Favorite Dog Treats
Ingredients
1.5 cups of coconut flour
1 cup mashed sweet potato
¾ cup smooth peanut butter
1/4-1/2 cup cooked carrots (chopped finely)
3 eggs

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
2. In a large bowl combine all ingredients.
3. Roll out and cut your out your favorite cookie cutter shapes.
4. Place on a parchment lined cookie sheet.
5. Baking times will depend on the thickness and cookie size. Jack’s were cut with mini cookie cutters and only cooked for 6-7 minutes. I also made some that took 20 minutes, just keep an eye on the puppy cookies.

Winter Activity List

Posted on December 21, 2016 by

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Even though it feels like winter arrived weeks ago, today is the official start. It’s also the shortest day of the year, which means it’s all uphill from here – have to think positive, right? Today I thought I would share with you nine things I would like to do this winter.

Have someone special take me snowmobiling.
Go to the Eben Ice Caves.
Build a snowman.
Have a bonfire in the snow.
Go ice-skating.
Curl up, watch a movie and enjoy a cup of cocoa.
Go ice fishing.
Rent a cabin up north.
Go sledding.

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