Step Aside Panda........

ORANGE CHICKEN!!!!
I love Panda Express's O.C. I have been looking for something I can make at home. This isn't quite a replacement, but it is great. I should probably consider it to be better since it is healthier!

(For those of you who know me personally, you know I very rarely follow a recipe to a T. Well, sometimes its because I don't have the ingredients as in this case.)

Ingredients

• Sauce:
• 1 1/2 cups water
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar (didn't have any on hand, so I used wine vinegar)
• 2 1/2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon grated orange zest
• 1 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root( used candied ginger I had)
• 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
• 2 tablespoons chopped green onion
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (you can add more if you like it spicier, but this had the perfect kick)

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons water

Chicken:

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 3 tablespoons olive oil

Directions

1. Pour 1 1/2 cups water, orange juice, lemon juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce into a saucepan and set over medium-high heat. Stir in the orange zest, brown sugar, ginger, garlic, chopped onion, and red pepper flakes. Bring to a boil. Remove from heat, and cool 10 to 15 minutes.
2. Place the chicken pieces into a resealable plastic bag. When contents of saucepan have cooled, pour 1 cup of sauce into bag. Reserve the remaining sauce. Seal the bag, and refrigerate at least 2 hours.
3. In another resealable plastic bag, mix the flour, salt, and pepper. Add the marinated chicken pieces, seal the bag, and shake to coat.
4. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Place chicken into the skillet, and brown on both sides. Drain on a plate lined with paper towels, and cover with aluminum foil.
5. Wipe out the skillet, and add the sauce. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. Mix together the cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water; stir into the sauce. Reduce heat to medium low, add the chicken pieces, and simmer, about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.

Fall Craft Season

Tomorrow September 23rd and Saturday the 24th  2Chick Couture will be set up at the Pumpkin Patch in Manhattan at CiCo Park.  We are to be in the Wreath building. Stop by and check out all of our fun items. Start your Christmas shopping early.( I have made tons, and tons of really cute jewelry items.)

Hope to see you there!

Cinnamon Roll Cake

I had seen this floating around Pinterest so I tried it out.... and it was great. Its a quick substitute for Cinnamon Rolls.

Cake:
3 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. sugar
4 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 c. milk
2 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. butter, melted

Topping:
1 c. butter, softened
1 c. brown sugar
2 Tbsp. flour
1 Tbsp. cinnamon

Mix everything together except for the butter. Slowly stir in the melted butter and pour into a greased 9x13 pan. For the topping, mix all the ingredients together until well combined. Drop evenly over the batter and swirl with a knife. Bake at 350 for 28-32 minutes.

Glaze:
2 c. powdered sugar
5 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
(I added some carmel flavoring, YUM!)

While warm drizzle the glaze over the cake.

Proverbs

Customized Cowboy Boot Ornament Tutorial

I know that Christmas is months away and I am the type of person that hates when stores have any holiday decorations up 6 months before the actual holiday.        However, I have a good excuse. I was asked by a ranch in South Dakota  to make a Christmas ornament(s) to hang on the state Christmas tree in the capitol building. The decorations have to be to the capital by October 1^st. The theme for this years tree is-western family heritage. So I decided to make a cowboy boot with the ranch’s brand on it.  My business partner introduced me to this amazing felt that looks like tooled leather-LOVE IT! Lucky for me when I went to Hobby Lobby it was on sale.

First I looked for a boot pattern, I found one here that I liked.

Then I pinned the cut out pattern onto the felt.

 Cut out 2 pieces. Remember to flip the pattern so that the” tooled leather” is on the correct side for the front and back of the ornament.

I did the same with the brand. I made a free hand pattern. I used the lighter brown for this part.

I placed the boots wrong sides together and top stitched around the edges with my machine. Leaving the the top of the boot open to stuff with batting.

After I filled it I placed a piece of brown ribbon(for the hanger) in the top and sewed it closed. Then I took the brand and glued is securely with fabric glue.  The other ornament I am hand stitching on the brand. This brand was too narrow and I thought the stitching might be distracting.

TA-DA!!

I am making a few other ones in various shapes, belt buckles, stars, etc for presents. I think that stitching in turquoise might be kinda cute too. The possibilities are endless.  Id love to hear from you if you end up making a similar item or have a great idea for this WONDERFUL felt.

Smoky Corn and Jalapeno Dip

Yields 2 cups (about 8 servings)



2 large ears of corn, husks on
2 jalapeno peppers
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
1/2 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup grated pepper jack cheese
1/4 teaspoon Pimentón de La Vera (smoked paprika)- I used "plain"paprika
1/4 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste

Set grill to medium high heat. Grill the corn with the husks on for 20 minutes, rotating every 5 minutes, until outsides are lightly charred. In the last 5 minutes, add the jalapeno peppers and cook until lightly blackened.

Remove the husks and silks from the corn and cut the kernels off of the cob. Seed and mince the jalapeno peppers, reserving seeds if more heat is desired.

In a large bowl, mix corn, jalapeno, mayonnaise, sour cream, cheddar, and pepper jack until well combined. Add smoked paprika and kosher salt. Taste for seasoning and adjust if desired.

Chill until ready to use. Serve with classic potato or tortilla chips.

Remembering 9/11

I saw this video this morning at church and wanted to share it with you.

I have an obsession.....

Anderson Bean Boots!

I can't stop looking at them or wanting to buy another pair. It all started one fall in Stillwater OK. I found my first pair of square toe ABs. (This was before square toes were cool) The tops were denim with an embroidered Texas star. So it started. Naturally, black was needed next. The wonderful guy in my life at the time searched 1/2 of TX to find women's black AB square toes...(again, difficult since square was not all the rage) He succeeded and so the collection began.  I believe others should be cool and fashionable too so I have since bought my mom a pair. My grandpa will be getting a pair for Christmas ...ssshhhh!

ABs are all the A will wear now. Except his have to be tall stovepipes. [See below.] Again, boys and their fashion ;)

Old and New

I had a couple of round toed, a black and an elephant hide pair. My mom got those. I wore them for awhile, but they were just too big and I sold them on ebay. I do have one round toe pair left. They are more of a recent purchase, because I love wild and different shoes & boots.Here is my total "collection" Check 'em out..............

Honestly, I'm kinda embarrassed of the condition they are in. No matter the foot-gear or their purpose, I still try to take care of them. I'm definitely polishing these 5 after seeing this picture.

I'm hoping to get a pair of Rios of Mercedes to round out my collection. RoM are a close cousin or like  GMC is to Chevy. So, if any of you are looking for me last minute birthday gift, *wink, wink*

I'm a big deal.....well...

Well, not really...I guess I just have a good friend who I have know since 1st grade that thought of me.

This week I was nominated for the award for The Versatile Blogger! YAY!

Rules of the Versatile Blogger Award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you:

Thank you Zoe @ Scout's Stitches- Thank you for thinking of me.It definitely made me smile.

2. Tell Seven things about yourself:

1) I am an only child :(

2)I am super competitive, so I was excited to get an "award" in the blogging world

3) I'm 4 hours away from getting my MS from OSU.

4) I have 4 dream businesses I want to own & run; western store, thrift store, boutique, & a restaurant. Another dream job is being an event planner for a large Agriculture based company.

5) I am IN LOVE with peanut butter ( Reese's are my weakness)

6) .I can't get enough frappachinos, iced coffees, lattes, and the likes.

7) Being a cowboy's cooking, crafting, "Martha Stewart/Football Mom" wife is my ultimate goal.

If any of you have leads on the above mentioned facts (maybe 4 & 7) let me know~haha:)

3. Pass the award on to 15 blogs you like:

Well there are more that I like, but these are the ones I read and follow most often or have followed the longest.  

1) Mandi @ MandiMoo Designs

2) Kelsey @ a little birdie told me...

3) Alicia @ A mountian girl in a Kansas world

4) Jennifer @ Cow Camp Tales (private)

5) Emily @ Pararie School Farms

6) Hannah @ The Rustic Chick

7) Lindsey @ Thrift and Shout

8) Katelin @ Unruh Farms

9) Caroline @ Boho Farm and Home

10) Crystal @ Crystal Cattle

11) Karen @ A Perfect Treasure

12)Amy & Emily @ Sisters of the Wild West

13) Janet @ A Farm Wife's Life

14) Cari @ Food and Agriculture Law Blog

15) Lindsey @ Better After

Have a good day and thanks for stopping by!

Words of Wisdom Wednesday-Agriculture

"I think our governments will remain virtuous for many centuries; as long as they are chiefly agricultural."
- Thomas Jefferson

State Fair

Its fair time AGAIN, this time it is the state fair. The Kansas State Fair kicks off  this Friday Sept 9. (on my birthday). Saturday, Kansas Agri-Women will be having their state meeting at 9am. If you are in the area look us up.
We try to hold the our September meeting in conjunction with the fair to make it easier for those who will be spending the next two weeks there. It is also a good excuse for others, like myself to go have cheesecake on a stick, deep-fried cheese curds, a ProntoPup, grilled corn on the cob, and fried green tomatoes just to name a few.

Do you have any favorite fair foods?

Peanut Butter Chocolate Bars!

OH MY THESE ARE GOOD!!!!
Combine:

1 pkg. plain yellow cake mix

1 stick melted butter

1 c. creamy peanut butter

2 eggs

Press this into a 9X13 pan reserving 1 1/2 c. of the mixture to crumble on top.


Melt:

1 (12 oz) pkg. chocolate chips

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 T. butter

Melt on low heat in a small pot. Remove from heat and add:

2 tsp. vanilla

1 c.coconut (optional)

Spread chocolate mixture over the mixture pressed in the pan and then crumble the 1 1/2 of reserved cake mixture on top. Bake for 20-25 minutes at 325 degrees. Cool completely before cutting into bars. *** Very important to wait. I thought I didn't have to and learned otherwise.

Football Fashion Friday

One of the newest fashions for sporting events are Gameday Dresses. I haven't seen many, in- fact the first one I saw was a year ago and had been made in Texas. They are gradually making their way north. So my business partner and I decided to take advantage of the fact that KS hasn't seen many. We started making them. Here are a few.................

Our 3 "models" at Purple Power Play on Poyntz.

Kickoff....

It is that time of year....Football Season has arrived and so has the busy season for 2Chick Couture. This is the day we have been preparing for, sewing for, getting anxious for. Today is our first big event...



Come see us at the corner of 5th and Poyntz! We will have game day dresses, powercat military hats, purple MandiMoo totes and bags as well as PURPLE Gypsy Gewelz.