Someone out there must have known me because a few weeks ago I was offered coupons to try Crazy Cuizine's Orange Chicken. If anyone knows me they know I am a Chinese food freak. I will opt for that nine out of ten times when asked what I want to eat (the other one thing I would choose over Chinese would be dessert). So as soon as I got my coupon for a free box in the mail I went out hunting for them.
I was able to find them at my local BJ's and when I asked one of the workers if they carried the brand the women could not stop raving about all the different types especially the orange chicken.
So I got this glorious box home and figured I should flip this bad boy over and see what kind of damage this food was going to do....and honestly It was as horrific as I was expecting. Now mind you as good as it is you can't be eating this everyday otherwise....I see weight gain in your future. But is most likely not as bad as if you got the same orange chicken from your local take out place.
So this past weekend I was in a pinch for something for lunch and I had orange chicken on the brain. So I made half of the box up. Super easy, throw it in the oven cook away then nuke the sauce and toss. OMG did my house smell good. Plus they did something with the better to make is extra crispy when it was cooked, in a way that most frozen and breaded chicken isn't. It was a huge hit, in fact Papa H barley left me any!
I decided to put my over some salad rather than with rice (trying to be at least somewhat healthy) and it was a suggestion on the box. It was heaven. Saucy little chicken bites over baby greens. No dressing needed. Only problem I totally want to hit up the other half of that box in my freezer! I am saving them though because I think that they would make a great appetizer for an upcoming party. So if you have a chance and you see these little gems at the store, why not pick up a fun change of pace and get some chinese take out from your freezer case!
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Those who know me know I can't shut up....so here is an attempt at wordless Wednesday
How I spent my very short February Vacation
Enjoying My Kids!
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Painting Pottery |
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Shoe Shopping |
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Snuggling (and playing with our phones mine and Josie with a Mickey Mouse cell) |
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I have been a reading fool lately, mainly due to really good books. Over the last two weeks I was given the opportunity to review the historical fiction novel called "The Whip" by Karen Kondazian an award winning theatre actress. For this book being Kondazian's debut novel it was a great one.
The novel is based on the true story of Charlotte "Charley" Parkhurst. I agreed to review this book because I wanted to start reading more historical fiction and more non fiction. I honestly wondered what could an author write about a stage coach driver that I could actually be interested in. Well, it was fascinating. Not only did the book look into the early years of Charlotte and her years in an orphanage in Rhode Island and how she came to be a whip (stage coach driver). Not only did this book explore larger themes like societal roles of women in the 1800's but also the racial tensions, poor conditions of children, gender identity, and the wild west all rolled into one.
This was an well written story with lots of great details and well developed characters that sucked you into the story. For me the one thing that struck me the most was that this was a real story. Of course I know that is was historical fiction yet, to keep reflecting back on that the facts of Charley's life were real was what made this story so gripping.
Overall I would give this book four stars, the two reasons for it not being five stars is simply because I know that not everyone would really like this type of book and there were a few story lines and characters I would have like to be discusses more. Then again if those things were explored this book would not have been 289 pages it would have been 489.
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Despite things being crazy at home I have been reading. Although not as much as I would like and only at night before bed, but I have been reading. A few months ago Papa Hunt read the first book in the Hunger Games Trilogy and couldn't stop talking about how amazing it was. When he discussed them with me I thought...ugh science fiction. Yet, he swore up and down that I would love them so I indulged him and began reading this beloved series of his.....well hot damn he was right (here is where I would want me to tell all my readers that he is always right so I should know by now that he is always right). Well anyways.....
It was so friggin good. I mean I stayed up to one o'clock during Christmas vacation to finish the first one and the next night immediately started reading the second one. They are that good. Not only are the characters so well written, you find yourself deeply caring about them. You are find that you are invested in them and experience the ups and downs of their lives with them. Without giving away too much of the book it is set in a world where we are now broken up into districts with one Capital District in charge. Each year to remind the districts of the war and how they lost each of the districts must supply one male and one female teenager to be brought to the Capital to compete in a death match with the other districts children. The winner of this competition not only gets a lot of honor but they will bring much needed food and supplies back to their district.
I loved this because you find yourself connecting with the main character Katniss, her family, and the love triangle that she gets herself into. In fact those who have read the books start getting geeky like those who love twilight with team Jacob and team Edward. Except with the Hunger Games its Team Peeta and Team Gale (for the record I was team Gale for two books then firmly moved into team Peeta for the third).
These books are a quick great read and I would suggest them to anyone....my only two complaints about them is in the third book there are two deaths which I did not feel were given adequate print time considering who they were. The second complaint I do not feel that these books were young adult. I think the would be great for high school kids, but for middle school I think the subjects that are dealt with are a bit too heavy.
If you haven't already go buy these books and read them....Have you left yet???
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