Orange Teriyaki Beef with Noodles

Adapted from good ol' Betty Crocker

This recipe had all the components of a great dinner- inexpensive, took less then 20 minutes to cook, was delicious, AND low fat! Plus it was fun and different then what we normally have for dinner. Enjoy!

INGREDIENTS:
-1 lb. beef boneless sirloin, cut into thin strips
-1 can (14 oz) beef broth
-1/4 cup teriyaki stir-fry sauce (I used Kikkoman Teriyanki Base and Glaze with Honey and Pineapple- it was perfection!)
-2 tablespoons orange marmalade
-Dash of ground red pepper (cayenne)
-2 cups of uncooked fine egg noodles.

DIRECTIONS
1. Spray 12 inch skillet with cooking spray, cook beef in skillet over medium heat 2 to 4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until brown. Remove beef from skillet and keep warm.
2. In same skillet, mix broth, stir fry sauce, marmalade, and red pepper.  Heat to boiling.  Stir in noodles. Reduce heat to medium. Cover and cook for five minutes or until noodles are tender.
3. Stir in beef.  Cook uncovered 2 to 3 minutes or until sauce is slightly thickened.

7 done! 17 to go! 

Game Night Help

My best friend is getting married this summer and I am the MOH.  This, in my mind, means everything I do has to be perfect.  She has a themed engagement party in the coming weeks where everybody is getting the couple "first" gifts. I was assigned to get them a gift for "their first game night."

Can I get some help on what I should get the happy couple? What are your favorite games to play on "game nights"?

OSCAR BEST DRESSED

 

 In my opinion...

Vera Farmiga from "Up in the Air" in Marchesa

Source

Runner Up

Penelope Cruz

Donna Karan

Source

Wine Prints

You know me and my love for wine decor. Its not necessarily the emphasis on the wine that I love but rather the colors in wine pieces make me so happy. I like vibrant, bold, and dramatic...so while watching the red carpet I did some Etsy computer shopping...

The Joy of Wine

by Claudia Kay Photo

 

A Splash of Red

Rob Eastman

Merlot

CammyDavis

Line of Corks

Amelia Kay

French Acccent

PaintingPrints

Pouring Wine

MarianaMP777

Weekend Linkage

As of today I have officially been sick for a week.  It is one of the most annoying and terrible illnesses I have ever had in my life.  Not bad enough to go to the doctor, not good enough to make me feel like doing anything other then lay in bed and watch Bethany verbally bitch slap the Countess on the premiere of Real Housewives New York.  As a result of feeling terrible I have been drinking my fair share of tea to sooth my fiery throat.  While in London I became a card carrying tea drinker (which should not be confused with being a member of the TEA PARTY nonononono), but when I got back to the States I slowly found myself slipping back to my coffee drinking ways.  I am embracing the tea experience this time around, and have decided to officially replace a non-caffeinated cup of tea over a cup of coffee everyday.  Notice how I had to pull out the old school "blink-and-you'll-miss-it" first year law school mug because its the only one not stained with coffee smell.

Now on to your Weekend Links!

-What can I say? I am a sucker for ladybugs and puppies. (Cute Overload).

-Corporette recently did a great feature on the things to think about when you have a skype interview.  In this economy, a lot of companies are not flying you out for an in-person interview and rather electing to conduct the interview via skype.  I was THIS CLOSE to having to do one, but luckily I was able to do it in person instead. (Corporette).

-Damn! Jessica Strickland is one lucky women as she got one hell of a baby shower. (Jessica Strickland Photography).

-My parents got Dan a wine aerator for Christmas and he is obsessed.  Every single glass of wine that man drinks has to go through the aerator, and if I get him a glass and don't put it through he always can tell.  Ours is one glass at a time, but we might have to consider buying this whole bottle aerator for when guests visit. (Design Milk).

-This banana bread recipe looks amazing! (Elizabeth Anne Living).

-I was really, really touched by this very personal account of what is going on Haiti. (Amelia Lyon Photography).

-I loved this tutorial on how to line the inside of your dresser.  So smart! (Young House Love).

-Tam, over at Tam's Thoughts, did a great piece on THESE adorable aprons from Anthro. Must have NOW!

-Ever get sick of people asking you questions they could just google themselves? Well here's a new server just for you. (Thanks Ryan!)

And the video of the week is this incredibly creative music video by OK GO that dooce featured on her blog yesterday.

Country Style Chicken Kiev

Since I started this little cooking project I have tried a ton of great recipes, all of which I would recommend. I do, however, have a couple that I really, really love - and this recipe is going to be put on my REALLY REALLY love list. My friend Emily is quite the cook, and recently sent me over some of her favorites. I decided to try this recipe for Country Style Chicken Kiev as my first undertaking and we about died. Not only is it delicious and easy to make, it filled the house with the best aroma ever. If you try one new recipe in the coming weeks- make it this one.

INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup butter
1/2 cup bread crumbs
2 tbls parmesan cheese
1 tsp EACH basil and oregano (or 2 tsp Italian Seasoning)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp pepper
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
1/4 cup white wine
1/4 cup chopped green onions

DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Melt butter.
3. Combine bread crumbs, parmesan, and spices.
4. Dip chicken in butter then in bread crumbs.
5. Place in greased baking dish.  Bake 50-60 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, add wine and green onions to reserved butter.
7. Pour over chicken and cook 5 more minutes.

DELICIOUS! Thanks Emily!

Book 4: The Help by Katheryn Stockett

 

February was a great month for reading.  Not only did I get the pleasure of reading Committed, which I loved, I also read The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  On my trip home my Mom gave me the book vowing that I would love it, and when my Mom loves a book I know that it must be good. She is a perpetual book skimmer, and my entire life she would skip to end of books to read the ending to determine whether she would keep reading.  This used to drive me and my siblings nuts, but in truth I think she was just never willing to waste her time on something that was to be an inevitable let down.  She swore while reading The Help that she read the entire thing and loved it, so I was anxious to understand what all the fuss was about.  

The Help is a story about three women living in Jackson, Mississippi in the early 1960's. The first character introduced is Aibileen, a black maid working for a young southern family.  Then there is her friend Minnie, who just got fired from another job for doing something she is unwilling to disclose.  And finally, Skeeter, an awkward white girl fresh out of college with a modern view of the world and a passion to become a writer. Skeeter approaches Aibileen to help her with a secret project, to write a book about what it feels like to be a maid in southern Mississippi.  A dangerous endeavor especially during the height of the civil rights movement.

Things that I love about the book:  The characters!  Normally when a book skips from one point of view to another there is at least one character I favor above the others.  Not in this book, I loved all three of the storylines and was always anxious to get to the next one to see how everything would fit together.  I also love the not-so-important characters.  I love to hate Hilly, and was pleasantly surprised at what the the author did with Skeeter's mother.  This book also had everything that comes in a good story.  It has a fresh perspective with a purpose, it really makes you think, and it is a page turner.  

That being said, the only thing I didn't like about this book was a personal pet peeve of mine.  You see, I like my books to be all wrapped up at in the end in nice little bows.  I want finality, and I want to be able to foresee what is going to happen to my beloved characters in the future.  I was a little let down by the ending.  Not enough to not recommend the book, but enough to make me a little disappointed and wish Stockett had gone a different way.  What's going to happen to Aibileen and Minnie?  When I got to the last page I was really concerned, and I am still concerned because I don't know! That being said, I think they ending was very realistic...so maybe my desire to have this grandiose ending is out of line.  

What did those of you who have read it think of The Help? 

Next up is Indefensible by David Feige. Dan has been trying to get me to read it forever as Feige was the creator one of our favorite legal dramas "Raising the Bar," so I thought I'd give it a shot. 

Add me as your friend on goodreads.com, username duolynoted.