Recipe: Chinese Chicken Stir-fry

I LOVE homemade Chinese chicken stir-fry and the good thing is that I also love making it!  Usually I can't eat most of the food at Chinese restaurants because they use a lot of peanuts/peanut butter/peanut oil, which I'm allergic to!  So, instead of paying way too much money for our family to eat Chinese out, we make it here at home along with some yummy egg rolls we get from a nearby store.  I hope you'll get a chance to try this yummy recipe and enjoy it!!

  Chinese Chicken Stir-fry

Sauce:
1 cup Chicken Broth
4 tablespoons Soy Sauce
1 tablespoon Cornstarch
1 teaspoon Sugar

Chicken Stir-Fry:
3-4 Boneless, Skinless, Chicken Breasts, sliced into small chunks
2 T. of Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 cup sliced Carrots
1 (8 ounces) can Water Chestnuts, drained & sliced
3 Garlic cloves, minced
1 Onion quartered
1/2 cup sliced Celery
1 (6 ounces) package of fresh Pea Pods (or a handful or two fresh from the garden J)

1 (8 oz.) can of baby corn

A couple sprigs of broccoli and/or cauliflower

Preparation:

1. In a medium bowl, combine chicken chunks, soy sauce, chicken broth, cornstarch, and sugar. Set aside and let sit for 15 minutes – 3 hours (depending on how much time you have).

3. Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil to smoking hot in wok over high heat (you can also just use a large frying pan).

4. Add garlic and chicken (along with sauce).  Stir-fry until chicken is no longer pink.

6. Then add onions, celery, carrots, pea pods, broccoli, and cauliflower. Stir-fry 5 minutes.

8. Add water chestnuts and corn.  Stir fry 5 more minutes.  Serve hot over rice and with egg rolls.\

I've noticed that at times the stir-fry has less sauce then I like so I simply add 1/2 cup to 1 cup more chicken broth until the consistency suits me!

Leave a comment if you tried it and let me know how you like it!
Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

 

Mary Magdalene

"But Mary stood outside by the tomb weeping, and as she wept she stooped down and looked into the tomb.  And she saw two angels in white sitting, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain.  Then they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid Him.” Now when she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, and did not know that it was Jesus.  Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?”
She, supposing Him to be the gardener, said to Him, “Sir, if You have carried Him away, tell me where You have laid Him, and I will take Him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to Him, “Rabboni!” (which is to say, Teacher)." 

John 20:11-16

Mary Magdalene has always fascinated me so I decided to do a study on her.  I used the book "All the Women of the Bible" by Herbert Lockyer, "The Bible Dictionary", and the Bible.  Below is some interesting facts about this devoted follower of Jesus.

Magdala is most likely where Mary was from (hence the name Magdalene, just like Jesus is the Nazarene or from Nazareth).  Situated on the west coast of the Sea of Galilee, Magdala was a flourishing town due to the rich dyes sold there and many textile factories.  Mary may have been well-to-do which would've been why she so easily "provided for Him from their substance" Luke 8:3.

In Luke chapter 8 we learn that Jesus cast out 7 demons who were living in Mary.  After that, she left all to follow her new Lord, Savior, and Master and to serve Him in any way she was able.  It is said that whomever is forgiven much, loves much.  Mary demonstrated this unending, devoted love of one who knows how much she's been forgiven!  Several times Mary Magdalene is mentioned first in the lists of women who followed Jesus and provided for Him and His disciples.  She NEVER tried to take the lead but rather led where God had placed her...with her fellow believing sisters.  She was happy being able to serve Jesus in whatever capacity she could, whether or not she was seen and recognized by men.

She and some other women stood at the foot of Jesus' cross, watched Him give up His spirit, saw where He was buried and prepared spices to wrap His body in after the Sabbath.  Mary was at the tomb early Sunday morning and she was the first one to see Jesus after His resurrection...what a privilege!  She was the first Jesus commanded to share the good news with His disciples!

What can we learn from this amazing lady?  If you truly desire to serve the Lord He will provide for you a place "on the wall" so to speak.  Mary excelled in service to others, including her Lord, and Jesus blessed her by allowing her to see Him first after His resurrection.  What a woman all of us girls could be taught from and learn to emulate!

May you be blessed this Resurrection Sunday as we celebrate the life of our Lord and His glorious resurrection!  May we too be excited that our Lord is alive, just like Mary Magdalene!

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah 

My awesome brothers!

Hello all,

I felt inspired to write up a short post on my awesome brothers!  Diligent and hardworking, they've worked more than most kids their age, as they frequently accompany daddy to work (see here for more info).  Thanks to daddy's wise teachings they've matured quickly and have learned to think of others before themselves.  What a blessing it is to see both of them reading God's Word each morning and practicing what it says during the day!  Just today we had some friends over and one of my kind brothers gave up his walky-talky watch (both of the older boys have one so they can talk back and forth to each other) to the friend so he could enjoy it too!  Also today they prepared daddy's grill for him so it would be ready for him to put burgers on as soon as he got home.  Under daddy's tutelage they are fast becoming excellent grillers (is that a word? ;),  charcoal of course, in preparation for one day cooking for their own families, Lord willing.  Frequently the boys hand out their carefully saved candy to each of their siblings.  They also love little babies and are involved in the children's ministry at our church. 

This is what Caleb and Seth usually look like together :)!

Sooooo, to any of you single girls out their...in another 10 years or so you'll have some first-rate men available to choose from ;-)!  But in all reality, I don't praise them or tell them enough how very proud I am of the young men they are becoming!

All my handsome younger brothers: LtoR Caleb, Judah, Seth, and Josiah

 

Learning to delight in Jesus,

 Hannah      

In the "Summer" of Your Life

"He who gathers in summer is a wise son; he who sleeps in harvest is a son who causes shame." 

Proverbs 10:5

Yesterday morning I read this verse during my quiet time.  I thought I'd share with you what the Lord briefly showed me.

I am young and I'm relatively free to do as I like (within the limits of the Scripture, of course)!  Right now is the summer time of my life, now is the time of harvest.  Am I gathering right now in the "summer" or am I wasting it by sleeping, although the Lord's calling?  Am I searching diligently for His will or am I using my time unwisely?  Am I bringing in treasure to be stored up in heaven, or hording wealth which will rust and pass away?  I think these are questions we have to ask ourselves constantly.  I desire to be a wise daughter, to bring my parents glory and honor and most importantly to point others to my loving Savior and Friend.

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah

A Daddy's girl

Have you noticed how the daddy/daughter relationship has drastically weakened in the past 1/2 a century?!  Everywhere I look daddies are dishonored by the way their daughters act, the way they dress, and the way they talk.  Fathers are the God-given protectors of us, the "weaker vessels".

"Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered." 

1 Peter 3:7

Now the feminists would want you to think that what I just said is "degrading".  Why?  They believe that girls need "independence", "freedom" from the "oppression" of men.  Oppression?  Lets look at the difference between oppression and protection.

In the Websters 1828 Dictionary it defines oppression/oppressive as: "...the state of being oppressed or overburdened; misery...heavy; overpowering; overwhelming; tyrannical..."

Now here is the definition of protection: "...defense; shelter from evil; preservation from loss, injury or annoyance...that which protects or preserves from injury."

Wow!  Those words are radically different!  The feminists would have us think that our daddies are being oppressive, they're taking away our freedom, our opportunity to distinguish ourselves.  In reality our daddies are protecting us from the wolves out there (little puppets for the Wolf who "roars...seeking whom he may devour"- the Devil) who would love to devour young ladies, Gentile or Jew.


Women were naturally made to desire to be loved, cherished, and protected.  The Lord made us that way because He wanted us to portray a different side of Himself.  We portray the love, compassion, and gentleness of the Lord Jesus; the men portray the strength, leadership, and protective side of the Lord.  Each are equal in value yet different in position.  You and I will not find true peace and happiness unless we are fulfilling the role the Lord designed for us!

When we reject our daddy's protection, love, and guidance we are rejecting the design created by the Lord.  Do you ever ask your daddy what he thinks about how you act?  What about how you dress?  Do you seek his guidance before making a decision?  Do I?

Many times in the Scripture you'll read about the Lord being the father for the fatherless.  Since these children have no human father they have no protector, provider, priest, or leader...but the Lord promises to watch over them.  If we are blessed to have a father alive and well on this earth, we should value the protection that he affords, not try to get away from it!

My sisters and I with our wonderful father!

I am eternally grateful to have a wonderful father who I'm proud to have as a spiritual leader, protector, and friend.  Having multiple daughters, my father has searched the Scripture, read books, and prayed about how to train us up to be godly women in this oppressive, feministic world.  Beginning at a young age my daddy taught us the Scriptures.  He taught us how to pray, how to ask for forgiveness, how to search the Word to find answers to your important life decisions.  Not only has he taught us but he has portrayed it for us.  Having his protection is the best thing in the world!  It is so freeing, so wonderful, so sweet!

Oh girls, if you have a godly daddy, don't fall for the world's lies that "men are stupid" or "you need to get out from under you father's 'oppression'"...when you follow the Lord's design you will find yourself more free, more joyful, and more grateful to your Heavenly Father and earthly!  One day he may be taken from you and you will wish you had been more obedient.  Only when the gift is taken away will you realize what a treasure you've lost!  Build your relationship with your father right here and right now!!  You won't regret it!

"And he will turn  

The hearts of the fathers to the children,
And the hearts of the children to their fathers,
Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse." 

Malachi 4:6

Learning to delight in Jesus,
Hannah