Friday, March 16, 2012

Stir fry!

It's been quite a rough week.  Work has been awfully stressful...people have been out, some stuff has gotten messed up, and hey, I am in serious need of a vacation.  It's like clockwork, really...every 3 months I need a week off.  I missed my week off in September and it was NOT pretty.  My last time off wasn't exactly a vacation either.  So, my son's "spring break" is very much needed, and it shows.  Soon, anyway.

As I was trying to figure out what to cook mid-week, I had a few criteria: 1. easy.  2. not require a shopping trip.  3. healthy.  So I found some cooked chicken from the Costco chickens in the freezer, some frozen green beans, leeks (literally the LAST of last week's CSA produce - otherwise, we're dry!), and the leftover cooked rice.

Stir-fry seemed perfect. But the sauce... A couple of weekends ago I was at the grocery store and I had to pee.  Because I'm pregnant, and I always have to pee (3 times in today's meeting at work).  As I was waiting to use the ladies room, I perused the discount rack at the store, and found mango jelly made with juice not sugar.  It was half off, or about $2 for a jar.  I thought that would go really well in some of my stir-fry mixtures.  I would have bought a bunch (and the papaya too), but I hate to do that on an  unknown, so I only got the one jar.

I mixed a couple of tablespoons with some rice vinegar, soy sauce, garlic, ginger, and sesame oil.  It made a tasty sauce for the chicken and green beans. 

Of course it's not stir-fry without sriracha on top.  And I tossed on some chopped cashews for crunch.

On another note, my kid is starting to get cranky complainy pants on me about dinners.  Probably because in my 1st trimester I made really easy things that he likes and is familiar with, and now I'm back to my more adventurous self.  In any event, time to nip that attitude in the bud.  This is dinner.  Eat it or not.  If it's not on your list of 5 foods that you don't ever have to eat because you hate them, then I expect 3 bites.  I am not a short order cook.

4 comments:

Joanne said...

I feel like I need a week off every few months as well...helps me refocus and not HATE being at work! Love this quick and easy stir fry. You're right...nothing is complete without sriracha!

Karen said...

Your stir fry looks great!

Anonymous said...

what a smart idea to take off a week every 3 months! glad you are out of the 1st trimester but sd that work is so crazy (me too!). and the stir fry looks good to me!

Jane said...

Sorry you had a rough week ... don't be mad at me, but I am off this week! I haven't had a vacation since September, so it is desperately needed! I am looking forward to deep cleaning the house and doing a bunch of random things I never have time for. Hang in there! The stir fry sounds like it fit all your criteria - quick easy and healthy!