WE EAT | {Oven Fried} Asian Orange Chicken

When I talk about Asian foods with Jordan, he names Orange Chicken and fried rice.. or Shrimp Pad Thai as his favorites.  I gladly high-five him in agreement.  About 98% of the time he is kidnapped by the Food Court toothpick guy.  You know, the one that hands out the free buffet-style-chinese-chicken-something or other.  Usually, I’m walking myself right over to a sandwich place or other fare and he dissappears off to the buffet line.  Those toothpick guys bee-line right for him.  Such an easy target.

I asked Jordan for a sweet 'honey-do-what-I-tell-you-because-I'm-pregnant' favor the other day.. to bring me home a family size order of Orange Chicken from Panda Express.  I'm having a hard time with portion control right now.  Portion control being - I want everything in sight, but in the very same moment I absolutely HATE everything in sight.  It is a hard road and fine line to walk.

Well, this night I made my own Chinese chicken that actually made it to the dinner table.  

No toothpicks needed.

Asian Orange Chicken
adapted from: gimme some oven 

Chicken

1/3 cup honey

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice (about the juice of one lemon)

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

2 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce

2 teaspoons dark sesame oil

1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into bite sized pieces

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

Sauce

3 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 cup orange juice (pulp free)

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup low sodium soy sauce

1/4 cup rice wine vinegar

3 tablespoons cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger

1/2 teaspoon white pepper

zest of one orange

pinch of crushed red pepper flake
--
Combine first 6 ingredients in a large zip-top plastic bag; seal and shake well. Add chicken; seal and toss to coat. Refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight, turning occasionally.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.  Remove chicken from the marinade.  Add in flour to a medium sized bowl and toss to coat, shaking off excess. Line a jelly roll pan with parchment paper and add the chicken, spacing evenly across the pan. Bake 20 minutes, stirring once halfway through.

While the chicken is baking, combine sauce ingredients in a medium sauce pan, whisking to combine.  
Bring to a low boil and heat until thickened; about 4-7 minutes.   

Remove chicken from the oven and place in a large mixing bowl.  Toss with the thickened sauce, stirring to coat each piece. 
Serve over hot cooked noodles, rice pilaf, or quinoa!

It usually takes some coaxing for new foods, and while oven fried chicken (ahem..chicken nuggets..) are nothing new, it was the sauce that was questionable for these two.  Dr. Brown's makes these amazing stacking dipping cups - making the perfect place for the orange sauce.  We often use these spill-proof containers along when I'm out running errands and want to bring fresh fruit or snacks.

 After first tastes..Jolie attempted to talk us all out of the sauce.

 And then she actually tasted it.. well I think this face says it all.  So, the chicken won out over the sauce in Jolie's book of picky foods and I was thankful to have the dipping cups rather than just pouring the sauce over the chicken as Jordan and I enjoyed it.

Parker was all like 'mmmmmmmhmm' after every bite.  Something she picked up from her daddy recently.

Can we talk about their new bibs for a second?
If these snap bibs didn't make dinner time more colorful.. we were in DESPERATE need of new bibs and these have fulfilled my hearts desire for meal time.  I was worried I would be disappointed without the pocket catch-all that I'm used to, but really I don't miss it.  You know what else I don't miss? Cleaning those nasty pockets.  Mushy cereal. Squished peaches.  Ew- banana!

I could go on, but then the rest of today's meals would be ruined by pregnancy food aversions and I would be stuck with saltines YET AGAIN.  Thank you to the nausea gods for overlooking me, but while I'm not nauseous, I just don't like food right now.  But then the times I do, I want all the food (like, all of it).  A lot.  And here were are walking the fine line again.

Did I mention this is better than Panda?

toddler plates / circo for target (similar)

toddler utensils / oxo tot

dipping cups c/o dr. brown's

bibs c/o snap bibs

13 Weeks

banner / little dovie 

leather earrings c/o nickel & suede

tee / gap maternity

cardigan / groopdealz (similar)

How far along? 13 weeks 

Total weight gain: 5 pounds, but I feel like I've gained about 15.  I don't feel bloated or anything like that, but I noticed the thickening of my waistline a lot faster this go round. (pre-pregnancy 118lbs)

Maternity clothes?  No, not really.  I say no, but I never stopped wearing several of my favorite maternity tanks - they doubled as nursing tanks..and now I just don't have a good excuse.  This belly has popped out like a mother, so it won't be much longer before my regular tops are a no-go.        

Sleep:  I struggled with insomnia starting in the second trimester with Parker and Jolie.. and there have been few nights I've struggled to stay asleep the entire night.  I am exhausted and nap here and there whenever I can get one in (Jordan has been amazing in allowing this).                      

Best moment this week:  Getting to see our little sprout!  We went in for the First Trimester Screen on Monday this week and got to get a peek. So much has changed in just a couple weeks!  I loved getting to see he/she wiggle around.  The baby did an extra long stretch and rolled over on he/she's side.  I nearly teared up to watch.  Gender prediction was also made.. and we will be finding out with our friends and family at a Gender Reveal Party in a few weeks!  Can't wait!      

Worst Moment this week: My entire house has been so, so, so, sick.  We have been battling upper respiratory infections, and now strep, and basically feeling like crap.  Congestion has made me so uncomfortable its unreal.      

Miss Anything? Sangria and Sushi.  I could go for a glass of the red stuff and an entire Tuna Tower to myself right about now.                 

Cravings: Aside from seafood (in the raw!), I have been going to the store 2-3 times a week to replenish what I eat through in fruit and vegetables.  Mango, strawberries, apples..and the biggest salads you can think of.  In the early weeks, all I wanted was a Big Mac (or three).           

Symptoms:  Typical first-trimester exhaustion. Food aversion at its finest.  I've made dinner multiple times - and the smell that consumes my house of anything in the crock pot totally ruins any chance of eating dinner that night.  Cereal it is! If you aren't a fruit or a salad of some kind, move along.  My boobs have exploded through my shirts and are incredibly sore (no thanks to the occasional boob punch to make sure they still hurt..)  I thought for a half a second that I was getting my energy back over the weekend, but getting back into a regular workday grind proved otherwise.  I have been WIPED out this week. 

Looking forward to: Finding out gender!  We are hosting a party with our family and friends, and chose to find out in front of them all - I did warn Jordan that there is a 50/50 chance of this baby being a GIRL.. Jordan is predicting girl..and so am I. He was correct in his intuition about Parker and Jolie, so we shall see.  I had a girlfriend call the office to get the confirmation as well as send a short message to the Etsy shop making the confetti bombs for the reveal, and I was fine until I realized those bombs were ship yesterday and they'll be at my fingertips in just a few days time.  I'm such a snooper, but I will refrain.    

13 weeks / twins

leggings c/o white plum

boot socks / grace and lace

boots / carlos santana

In Toddler News | Part 25

It has been a full month since we celebrated Parker and Jolie's 2nd birthday with a PJ party with all our friends and family.

When I a full month swings by like 'no big deal' and comes up out of nowhere to be like "look how fast time flew!' Ya, I know.  Thanks for that.

I have to say these two have changed and advanced MORE in this 25th month of life than any other time since they were like 9 months old and starting to walk.  

Remember the wobbly walking Parker?  She was so bald, too.

This month my kiddos went from using just abut a handful of words to full on sentences.  I brought up their vocabulary use to their pediatrician, and she was unfazed by my concern.  These two were busy chatting amongst themselves to care to notice mom and dad sitting in the room.  They wouldn't even say 'milk' or 'please' or 'thank you' or ANYthing.  They had all the words and I had heard them say them a time and again, but regular use was a no-go.  

Literally on the weekend of their second birthday Jolie spit out her first sentence "BB go home in car"

Wait.  What? 

It spiraled from their.  Jolie talks in full conversations these days - She hopped up on the couch last night and snuggled under my favorite blanket with me right before bed.  She casually mentioned 'my toes, mama' as she peeked them through the crocheted cover.  I've never heard the word 'toes'  come out of her mouth.  You better believe Parker isn't far behind.

'Drink, pease!'

'Mahk (milk), pease!'

We keep a candy jar on top of the counter.

'carry?'  (well, of freakin' course.)

'canneey (candy), pease?' (how on God's green earth do I say NO to that?!) 

..and the 'thank you's' are even cuter, you guys. 

 They are the greatest little bestie each other could e v e r ask for.  The best little built-in playmate and friend.  I don't even have to be in the same room with them anymore (I was beginning to think they would never gain the independence to play 'on their own').  I find myself wandering through my too quiet house looking for the mischief that these too are up to.  

Usually I can find them..

 In my makeup drawer apply each other's eye shadow..

Brushing their teeth with my toothbrush..

'ch, ch, ch, ch' (the sound they make when they are pretending to hair spray their hair)..

..or the most common of them all - with sleeves soaking wet all the way to their elbows after playing in the dog's water bowl (busted every time).

 The once 18 month old sassy Parker that spent 45% of her day in time out has turned into the most laid back, chill little girl ever.  

Now, she still has that spunky personality we all adore about her, but her behavior has changed quiet a bit - and for that we are all thankful.  Her fit throwing and tantrums are very few and far in between, and her time out tally is practically at zero.  She is patient with her sister (until she isn't), and since deciding to use a few more words besides 'mama' and 'no!', her frustration with mom and dad for misunderstanding what she is requesting has all but dissipated.  

Care-free and nonchalant about most things.

Could watch television all day if I let her.

Eats like a horse - but doesn't prefer vegetables (unless dipped in hummus) or pasta.

But carbs of the cracker, chip, cereal, and bread kind sing to her heart.

 Miss Jolie - HUGE leaps and bound this month with vocabulary and her own sense of sass with mom and dad.  She is testing her limits the way Parker did just a few months ago (praise glory they did not go through this together).

Her answer to everything is NO (with a random YES throw in to mix it up).  Testing limits is the way she learned (and so did mom and dad) that she could climb out of her crib.  I have no idea what caused a tantrum at 2am, but this tantrum was outrageously obnoxious and she ended up on the floor after being so mad .  After that the climbing out thing became a breeze.  It took just a full day of this nonsense before Jordan lowered her crib to the floor (literally - removed the nuts and bolts and the mattress was on the floor.)  The little girl's face hardly could see out of the railing because the top of the crib rail came to her nose!

The next morning she met me at the bedside.  

Really.  How? 

For fear she would break her arm or come out with a bloody nose, we took off the front of the crib.  A make-shift toddler bed.  Something Jordan or myself were NOT ready for.  We went a week with Jolie's crib like this before we removed Parker's rail.  Parker could CARE LESS about any of it, but any time since I have mentioned 'big girl bed' Parker lights up with the biggest smile her her face. 

There is nothing in this entire world greater than that girl's cheesy squinty eyed smile.

We are on day 8 for Jolie and Day 3 for Parker with their beds like this, and its going pretty okay, and much better than either of us thought.  

 We talk about the baby here and there, and Jolie totally gets it.  You can ask her where's the baby and she will sweetly reply 'mama belly baby' while pointing to my stomach.

My favorite little momma.
| use code twins2love for 25% off your entire order of toddler accessories at ladybeccabee on etsy | 

 iPhone dump of pictures from this last month... 

 Mom says yes to jumping on the bed until dad says no. 

 Our New Year's Eve was spent at Sam's clearing them out of all produce.

 ANY mention of 'the ducks' creates minor chaos until we see them.

 The most wonderful time of the year, and this tree (NOT Santa) was the star of the show

 Delivering Christmas cookies to Daddy's fire station in our Christmas jammies

 Girl time while Dad was away deer hunting

 Part I: The moment I walk in the door, I take my shoes off and the girls bee-line to put them on.  They almost follow me around out of habit to wait until I take them off.

Part II: Any time Jordan lays on the floor, he becomes a human jungle gym.

Part III: Jolie's hair (insert all the heart eyes..)

 Pre-bath || Post-piggies

 On our way to visit Daddy!  Parker is calling all the boys and Jolie is in a terrible mood.

 Rooting the Cowboys for what we feared was the last game of the season.

 Sam's Club shenanigans

'Jolie, get your mouth off the cart' .. times one hundred.

 So many changes in such little time - these girls keep me on my toes, pulling out my hair, and laughing until my side hurts.

Exactly how its supposed to be when raising two aged TWO at once, right? 

WE EAT | Mealtime Favorites

I KNOW I have been slacking on the Meal Plans these last couple weeks.  I have pretty incredible food aversion, and while I've attempted to meal plan and have dinner on the table, it is rare that I'm actually eating it. So, meal planning has fallen to the bottom of my list, because, frankly, I can't even so much as look through my magazines without getting grossed out by something. 

Unless you are a fruit, or end with the word SALAD, I'm not interested.

2014 was the start of Parker and Jolie eating table food - and for us to start sitting down as a family. 

WE EAT was born and I've had the most fun opening up our dinner table to you for sharing our meal time as a family in the evening.

I've decided for this 2nd Day in January of 2015 (<< still typed out 2014 before I corrected myself) to share TEN of our Mealtime Favorites!   

Mexican Chicken Casserole

Turkey Meatballs

Black Bean Cakes 

Cinnamon Rolls with Cream Cheese Icing

Chicken Sausage & Spaghetti Squash Pie

Crock Pot Chicken Taco Soup

BBQ Chicken & Cheddar Stuffed Sweet Potato

Chicken & Wild Rice Casserole

White Bean Chicken Chili

Caprese Mac & Cheese

..and not just one, but TWO more for 2015 good luck;)

One Pot Mexican Quinoa

Apple Chicken Sausage Meatballs with Smashed Butternut Squash