Doggie At The Dinner Table: August 2013

It was back to school this week for us in the Fuller home. Unlike most families who's kids go back to school giving parents a break, we homeschool so time in the kitchen becomes even more scarce! We like to make things as quick and easy as possible on busy school days and can be found turning to home made freezer meals or 20 min or less dinners.

This after work stir fry is a favorite on our home. You can even prechop the meats and veggies days before for an even quicker meal prep on the day!

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons peanut oil
1/2 lb thinly cut sirloin (or protein of choice)
1 cup green beans cut into 1-2 inch pieces
1 carrot thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 cup beef stock (or chicken/veg depending on chosen protein)
1/4 cup black bean sauce
4 green onions thinly sliced
1 can bamboo shoots, drained

Directions:

Heat half of oil in wok or pan. Stir fry protein until browned all over. Remove from pan and set aside. Heat remaining oil in same wok/pan. Stir fry beans, carrot, bell pepper, and garlic until tender. Return beef to wok/pan with remaining ingredients and stir fry until hot.

Back to School Time is a time when we are busier than ever! I am excited to turn to our other #weekdaysupper contributors for help with Easy Weekday Supper Meals:

The Weekend Gourmet - Easy Cheesy-Chicken Enchiladas
The Foodie Army Wife – Creamy Farfalle with Peas & Carrots
Doggie At The Dinner Table – After Work Chicken Stir Fry
Daily Dish Recipes – Roasted Vegetable and Chicken Pesto Penne
Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks - Baked Orange Chicken

Hope everyone has a great Back to School season with all your family and friends and may your last days of summer be filled with fun!

I have a confession. Daddy F and I are obsessed with heat. I mean, we have competitions all the time to see who can eat hotter things. Habenero, Thai, even Ghost chiles....yep we are nuts. The hotter the better and we sit there and cry and sweat to our delight. Did I mention I am pretty sure we are also now poster children for peptic ulcer aggravation?

Our family has lived in a lovely little home for about a year and a half now. The first few days we lived here we didnt have all of our furniture and were forced to venture out and find places to eat. The first night we happened into this little Thai restaurant and it was the best thing ever! We ended up eating there 3 nights in a row and for the last year have eaten there about once a week. They know all our kids names and know my "regular" order. Yeah, it's an addiction. Earlier this year we hit hard times in the Fuller home and our income was scarce so eating out was no longer an option. I begged the owner to give me the recipe and she finally obliged but would not tell me her secret ingredient. So to the best of my guessing, here is the recipe we have been using and loving the last 6 months to feed our habits!

Ingredients:

2 tablespoons peanut oil
2 chicken breasts thinly sliced
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1 teaspoon fresh grated ginger
4 thai chiles thinly sliced (more or less for personal heat level)
1 medium onion thinly sliced
1/2 cup mushrooms thinly sliced
1 red bell pepper chopped
1 green bell pepper chopped
1/4 cup dry roasted cashews
1 large carrot thinly sliced
1/4 cup oyster sauce
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon fish sauce
1/2 cup chicken stock

Directions:

Heat half of oil in wok or large pan. Stir fry chicken in small batches until cooked and browned.
Heat remaining oil in wok. stir fry vegetables until onion softens and mixture is fragrant (about 2 mins). Return chicken to wok with sauces and stock and cook until sauce slightly thickens. Serve over jasmine rice! For even more spice you can mix in hot oil by the teaspoon until the desired level of heat is achieved.

Our Ratings:

Mama F - 10 - It is one of my favorite dishes for a reason! We love the heat and cooked ours with 6 chiles and plenty of hot oil!

Daddy F - 10 - Wow! That was so good! I am pretty sure I sweat out any toxins I may have had in my body!

Fuller Girls - 3 - Only Middle E was brave enough to try this dish. She started to chew and then spit it out screaming and crying and then wanted her drink. The 3 rating is mostly for the laugh we got as parents after she said "it's not too hot, I will like it". We recommend omitting any spice if you will be feeding this dish to children!

Lucky the Dog - 0 - Although she sat and did her best at begging, I was not about to give her some and then endure the aftermath of doggie indigestion at 3 am. :/

For more great recipes to spice up your life - check out these other great dishes from my fellow #sunday supper contributors!

Snappy Starters & Snacks

Hatch Chile, Grape & Grilled Onion Salsa from Shockingly Delicious

Spicy Tempeh Chips from The Urban Mrs

Sriracha Popcorn from The Girl In The Little Red Kitchen

Cheese, Smoked Paprika and Fennel Crackers from What Smells So Good?

Baked Banana Pepper Poppers from Daily Dish Recipes

Spicy Black Bean and Corn Stew from Mama's Blissful Bites

Caldo de Camaron y Pescado (Shrimp & Fish Soup) from girlichef

Bajia with Tomato and Chili Chutney from My cute bride

Buffalo Chicken {shredded} Salad from Casa de Crews

Baked Sriracha Potato Chips (Crisps) from Mess Makes Food

Smoky Salmon Chowder from Cindy's Recipes and Writings

Hummus with Spicy Turkish Ezme Salad from Neighborfood