Changing a Blog

I've decided to make a few changes on my blog. Nothing mind blowing, but a blog designed for the salon has quickly turned into a personal blog for me. Everyone in the salon has their own hobbies and interests outside of work, and I'm finding my creative outlet to come in the form of writing stuff down.

Those of you that know me also know I love to cook...a lot. I'm affectionately known as a Food Snob at work (hence the new blog name). What many probably don't know is that well, I've gained a few pounds in the past few years, which has changed my relationship with food and how I eat.

Most of my adult life I've maintained a healthy weight that I've been happy with. I enjoy eating good quality food and opt for healthy choices over quick and unhealthy. I also enjoy working out and staying active, even though owning a salon and raising three teenage girls has made long gym workouts virtually impossible.

So I'm trying something a little new on this blog. I may seem a little discombobulated at times, but I'm sure I will figure it out as I go along, which is how I do most things.

I will continue to share my stories and views from the perspective of a hairdresser, friend and parent, but I will also be incorporating more recipes and sharing some of my ups and downs. My goal is to lose some of this weight and still be able to enjoy some of the food I love without losing my sanity. I know, that's a little dramatic, but have I mentioned to you how much I love food?

In closing, I want to share with you a simple recipe for sesame chicken stir fry that my husband made. I am the primary cook in our family, but I also work late two nights a week. We also have three girls in three different activities, (That's what I get for promoting individualism!) and Tuesday and Wednesday we are running girls to tumbling and swim practice. This is a quick and easy stir fry, and I love it because it's light and not my usual heavier sweet ginger brown sauce I whip up for stir fry meals. I hope you enjoy!

Sesame Chicken and Vegetable Stir Fry

Sauce:

garlic, minced
1 tsp ground ginger
red pepper
2 tsp sesame seeds
1 can (14.5 ounces) chicken broth
2 Tbsp cornstarch
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1 Tbsp brown sugar
1 tsp sesame oil

Mix sauce ingredients together with a whisk and set aside.

For the stir fry you can add whatever you like, but this is my personal favorite.

Chicken Breast, cut into strips
snow peas
red bell pepper, sliced
green onions, sliced into fourths
broccoli

The trick with good stir fry is to get your skillet really hot and cook everything separately before you put your sauce in. Get your skillet really hot and put in the chicken strips. I use a good non stick pan and I dont spray any oil in the pan. This sears the meat and gives it a good brown "crust". Brown your chicken and set aside. At this point I like to put a little sesame oil in the pan. I find that it adds flavor to my vegetables. Stir fry your veggies one by one, making sure you dont overcook the vegetables. You still want them crunchy. Remove vegetables, and add your sauce and lower your heat, slowly whisking. Bring the sauce to a light boil and add your chicken. Let the chicken simmer for a few minutes and then add your veggies. Do not overcook. Salt and pepper accordingly. Serve over rice.

I don't use precise measurements with my cooking. This irritates my husband when he's trying to recreate one of my recipes, but for me it's common sense and understanding your ingredients. Plus, who has time for measuring when your family is ready to eat? I hope you enjoy this meal as much as I did!