Thursday Favorites: My Mom

Dear Mom,

 Here I am, almost 3 weeks as a new mother. As I adjust to my new life taking care of a new life, I catch myself thinking about you a lot. I just keep thinking how amazing you are as a mother. Growing up, I always had your love embracing me no matter how much of a brat I was being. You always had my best interest at heart and you guided me through some very difficult times in my life. On top of all that hard stuff, you ALWAYS had a warm, delicious meal on the table, a clean house, and kept a full time job to provide for me and Kuya. HOW did you do all that? I stare at Baby Joaquin and just pray that I can care for him and love him like you did with me. I pray that I can build a home where my son will feel safe and surrounded by pure love. I'm trying to channel everything you ever taught me so I can be half the woman you are. You are truly a blessing to me and everyone you meet.

I have to mention that I'm also grateful for the genes you passed down to me. You not only passed the cooking, cleaning, and organizing gene to me, but you also passed on the.....hmmm what should I call it...the sexy gene! Hear me out. I have the youthful glow of a teenager and Sergio will always look like he's dating a younger gal. Score for the both of us! You also passed on the gene of bouncing back after pregnancy. 2 weeks in and I've already dropped 25 pounds. Thanks to you, my pregnancy didn't leave a trace on me. Thanks to you, I will always look young and fit. Right? :)

In all seriousness, I love you. When you see me loving my new baby, just remember that you instilled in me that ability to love. I'm perpetuating that cycle that you started. Thank you.

Love,

Joanna



Smell-o-vision and Thursday Favorites!

If there was such a thing as Smell-O-Vision, this post would make you wanna lick the screen.

Who wants to invent this?  Where's Willy Wonka and his little minions when you need them?

Tonight I made one of my FAVORITE Chicken dishes. I got the recipe from a friend who I went to Grad School with. During my Credential Program, each of us were required to make lunch for our group. She made this...and changed my life forever.

Kimi's Mochiko Chicken

Ingredients
2 lbs. of boneless chicken thighs
4 Tbs. of Mochiko Japanese rice flour
4 Tbs. of corn starch
4 Tbs. of sugar
5 Tbs. of soy sauce
1/2 tsp. of salt
2 garlic cloves; minced
1/4 cup of green onions; chopped
2 slightly beaten eggs
2-3 cups of Panko (Japanese breadcrumbs)
Oil for frying

1. Start by cutting the chicken into small, bite size pieces.

2. Mix  the rice flour, corn starch, sugar, and salt together and then add the soy sauce and eggs.

Question: Dear Me, I'm feeling lazy today. I don't want to take out a knife and board. Can I cut garlic with Kitchen Scissors?

Answer:  Can you BE any lazier?

Probably...

3. Add the minced scissored garlic and green onions, stir, and pour over chicken.

4. Marinate for (I've tried as little as 30 minutes and as much as over night.) X amount of hours. The longer the better!

Because I'm a LOSER, I left out the next step. I ran out of Panko and I was not about to make another trip Ralph's this week.
5. Coat in Panko.
6. Fry on Medium until cooked. (Pretend there is a layer of Panko Coating on these bad mamma jammas.

7. Remove and let oil soak into a paper towel. Serve and ENJOY!

The flavor on this chicken is sooo magical and delish! Cross my heart.

Now on to my Thursday Favorites! ::cue the bells, whistles, and dancing monkeys::

It's no secret, my favorite day of the week is Thursday! Why? Because I know that Friday will soon be here! It's like the ring finger  of the week. Don't ask me why Friday isn't my favorite... I can't explain this love affair.

Snack of the Week:
Itsy-Bitsy Ice Creams!!

Product of the Week:
Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Therapy Oil


















I was literally EATEN ALIVE by mosquitoes on my Honeymoon 4 months ago. Now I have battle scars all over my legs. I'll take it as a compliment Mr. Mosquitoes.

 





















You can Thank me later for sparing you the butt shot.
And then you can slap me after for showing you these horrific bug bites.

My point being...this oil is clearing my scars rather nicely. I'm praying that in a month it'll be even more faded.

Favorite Pet:
Sonic. I feel like if I don't pick him he'll pee on my bed or something...brat.

And that my friends...are a few of my Favorite things. Random? Yes...but that's me, Ms. Random McRandomson.

And lastly, Happy Birthday again to my amazing Husband. You are a wonderful person. How lucky am I to find someone so caring and kind? Your heart must be made of gold, my Love. I will shower you with hugs and kisses, and feed your belly for many more years to come. You are the ketchup to my french fries. You make my life sooo delicious.