Wild Wednesday

Every so often, I'll share food with you.

Favorites that I cook for my family. Often.

This recipe is an altered one from one of my favorite restaurants ever, Jennie Low's in Mill Valley, California. I used to live in Mill Valley and loved to eat there. Not only was everything delicious but her decor was purple. Everything, even the phone, was purple. She even had a purple briefcase. How cool is that? She no longer has a restaurant in Mill Valley, but you can find her in Novato and Petaluma. If you get the chance, eat there. You won't be disappointed.
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This recipe is adapted from her cookbook, "Chopsticks, Cleaver, and Wok". For the original recipe checkout her book. I have made substitutions based on what my family perfers and what I had/have on hand.
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Main Ingredients:
1 pound chicken breast, cut into small chunks 1" x 1" - ish
1 pound green beans, cut into 1 1/2 to 2" pieces (I prefer asparagus, but DH won't eat them)
3 T Black bean Chili sauce with garlic
2 t oil
1/4 t salt
1/2 t sugar
1 cup chicken broth

Seasoning:
1 t salt
1 t sugar
1 t soy sauce
2 t oyster sauce
1 T cornstarch

Thickener:
2 t cornstarch mixed well with 1 1/2 T cold water

Place chicken and seasoning in mixing bowl. Mix well. And set aside.

Heat 1 t oil in non-stick skillet on med-high heat. Once heated, add chicken and stir-fry for 5 minutes. Remove from pan.

Add the other t oil and green beans. Cook until crisp tender. Add Black Bean sauce and stir together.

Return chicken to pan. Add chicken broth, salt and sugar. Cover and cook for 3 minutes..

Stir in thickener. Cook for 1 minute. Serve over steamed rice.

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This is one of the ONLY Chinese dishes my husband will eat. I am not sure if it is because it tastes so darned good, or because that's all I serve that day. But it IS ONE OF THE BEST dishes. It's also easy and quick.

ENJOY, and let me know what you think.

Wild Wednesday

I just had eye surgery. I know it sounds yucky. And it would be if the Dr had to actually touch my eyeball, but she didn't. She just put that little scope-type-thingy into my eye (after LOTS of numbing drops) and shot a laser into the top of my iris. I have to tell you it smarted. Like an electric shock kind of jolt. You can read more about the procedure HERE. I didn't have mine done in Texas, but the procedure is the same.

Must be the reason for the foot brace and handles I was required to hold. Oh and the nurse had his hand holding my head into the chin/forehead brace holder thingy. (Please let me know if I have lost you with my technical terminology. I often forget that I am talking to the lay-person.)

Anyway, I now have another hole in my head. It's really kind of neat. I can see it. If I use a magnifying mirror. The girls can use their naked eyes to see it, but my 45 year old eyes need help. It really isn't fair is it!

AND, I get to get jolted again in the other eye on Feb first.

Nope. You can't be me.

(Disclaimer: This is not my eye. Nor is it my eye color. I just thought it illustrated the hole in my eye pretty well.)

Wild Wednesday - Blurf Fav's

A few places I LOVE to spend time I don't have.

Here are a few of the places I am looking forward to visiting regularly...

1. Follow Thomas everyday this year. See where he goes and what the little guy gets into.

2. Gina at

Tyggereye Arts - Wonderful handcarved stamps and loads of other wonderful treats. She is hosting Heart the Art this year. A weekly Art Journal Prompt challenge. I am joining her in this venture and so should you. Go check it out. Go on. I'll be here when you get back...

3. Food Porn Daily - no explanation required. (get a napkin before you go over) Make sure you visit the gallery and sign up for the daily email. Yumm.

4. A Collection A Day - beautiful pictures of different collections the artist has in her home. Both real and drawn collections. She is posting a gorgeous picture of a different collection everyday this year.

Wild Wednesday

Wild Wednesday's - I will post about whatever strikes my fancy.

FOR GOOD

I remember my Nana saving things "for good" when I was a little girl. I never got an answer when I would ask when "good" was. She never got to use some things because she was waiting. That makes me sad. I know she liked, maybe even loved, some of the things she was saving "for good", but she waited too long. So to honor her, I try not to wait "for good" to use things.

I use this glass everyday:

(no, it isn't a vase)

It looks out of place with my girls' plastic Transformer Slurpee cups at the dinner table, but I really like the glass and I really LOVED my Nana, so I use it everyday. I hope she would appreciate the gesture. I miss her very much and this is just a small way to keep her close to me.

Everyday.