Spy Thai Beef - A back to School Recipe and $50 Visa Giveaway - Winner Announced!

So around here school is back in session and that means life is busy once again for many moms, and if you are like me, last thing you want to do after a long day of work the last thing you want to do is spend all evening in the kitchen fixing a meal. 

Since we have a freezer full of beef I was excited when I was contacted by the Kansas Beef Council about trying and sharing some new recipes that are not only quick, but also easy and tasty. Today I am gonna share the Spy Thai Beef Recipe and when I am done I will have link to it as well as the other recipes that the Beef Council came out with.

I had to change just a little in the recipe, because the original recipe called for wonton wrappers and since Caleb and I are gluten free we can't eat those. But that was an easy fix and it still turned out good.

Al right here's what you will need: Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner), Creamy Peanut Butter (reduced-fat if you have it or regular sunflower seed butter), Soy Sauce (reduced-sodium or Gluten free if you are like us), Garlic Powder, Ground Ginger, Fresh Lime Juice, Crushed Red Pepper, and Stir Fri Rice Noodles.

Start by browning your hamburger (ground beef) over medium heat in a non-stick skillet.
 

You will need to break the hamburger into small pieces. Once it's cooked you will need to drain any grease you may have from the pan. If you are using lean beef then there shouldn't be very much grease.
 

In a separate bowl combine the water, 
 

Peanut Butter,

Soy Sauce,
 

Lemon Juice,

Ground Ginger, and

 Red Pepper Flakes

And whisk them all together.

Meanwhile you need to be cooking your noodles.

Once the meat has browned pour all the mixture in with the hamburger.

Now stir it to combine and...

allow it to cook over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.

I then plated it with over the cooked rice noodles and topped with slices of red peppers and lime wedges. I actually liked adding more lime juice over the top if it to give it a little more zip of flavor.  

The original recipe calls for placing it over baked wonton wrappers, but I think it would also be good if you placed it in a tortila shell with some sliced red peppers and carrots. 

Ok so here is the original recipe for it.

Ingredients

• 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner)
• 1/4 cup water
• 3 tablespoons reduced-fat creamy peanut butter or regular sunflower seed butter
• 2 tablespoons reduced-sodium soy sauce
• 2 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 3/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 3/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
• Baked wonton wrappers (optional) or Rice Stir Fry Noodles

Directions

• Heat large nonstick skillet over medium heat until hot. Add Ground Beef; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 1/2-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally. Remove drippings.
• Meanwhile, combine water, peanut butter, soy sauce, lime juice, garlic powder, ground ginger and red pepper in a separate bowl and whisk together.
• Stir peanut butter mixture into cook ground beef. Continue to cook over medium heat 2 to 3 minutes or until heated through, stirring occasionally.
• Evenly divided beef mixture over six wonton triangles or rice noodles, if desired. Garnish with toppings, as desired

 Optional Toppings


Red bell pepper strips, shredded carrots, cucumber slices, sliced green onion, sliced fresh pea pods, sliced basil or cilantro leaves, shelled edamame, pickled ginger, lime wedges

Here's some links to not only this recipe as well as some other new, quick and easy recipes.

Easy-to-pack Lunch Collection:

•   Sweet Potato Beef Mash Up: Ground Beef and sweet potato chunks get wrapped up in a whole-wheat tortilla.
•   Rock and Roll Beef Wrap: A colorful way to introduce quinoa to your kids with ranch-seasoned Ground Beef and slaw.
•   Mu Shu Steak & Apple Wraps: Hand-held and perfectly portable, these Steak, apple and slaw wraps are great on the go.

Nutritious Dinner Collection:

•   Spy Thai Beef: Peanut butter, soy sauce, ginger and garlic introduce ethnic flavors to picky palates.
•   Sweet and Sloppy Joe: This recipe incorporates lots of veggies for a nutritious take on a kid favorite.
• Hoisin BBQ Steak-On-A-Stick with Pineapple Salsa: Little and big hands alike can enjoy bite-sized beef cubes, topped with a colorful four ingredient salsa.

If you are looking for more tasty beef recipes check out the BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com website, they have all kinds of tasty ideas!!! Also if you are on Pinterest be sure and follow Kansas Beef Pinterest Board to get more great ideas. 

OK Now for the Giveaway....

The Kansas Beef Council is wanting to give you guys a chance to try one of these recipes too without costing you much of anything. They are gonna give away one $50 Visa Gift Card to one of my lucky readers!!!

To enter just leave a comment telling me what your favorite beef meal is...

For Caleb it would be "Chicken Fried Steak".....for me I like a good steak and beef pot roast, but I Love when my momma makes "Fried Beef Liver and Onions"  Yummy!!!!

Ok what's your's??

Entry's will be open till Saturday night September 7, 2013. I will pick a winner on Sometime on Sunday and announce it on Monday.

*You can earn  second and third entry by sharing this contest with your friends via Facebook or Twitter! Be sure to share the link, then come back and let me know you did with another comment and link to your post.

Good Luck!!!

And the winner is.....Nicole W. who love a good steak....if you haven't checked out her blog Life's a Beach you need to...it's wonderful and I love keeping up with her and her family! 

Congrats Nicole!!! If you could shoot me an e-mail with your address so I can get the gift card headed your way! 

Thanks to all who entered and a special thanks to Kansas Beef Council for this opportunity!

Winners and One Month

Yea, so I was suspose to announce the winners last Friday, but well I got a little busy and it really hasn't slowed down since then.

But before I announced them here are some more pics of stinker who turned 1 month old...

gosh how time flies!!

Here's our just born photo again so you can see how much we have already grown!

Here's Stink in his Halloween outfit.

So we really need a shirt that say's "Spit Happens" cause it happens a lot arounf here!!!

Caleb thought this photo was gross...I just thought it was funny!!

OK now for the winners...

Gail

It's Our Life

Giant Sis

Congrats to all the winners.

Shoot me e-mail to me @

jphillipsblog@hotmail.com

and I will e-mail you the code for your 25 Free Shutterfly Cards.

Have a GREAT Weekend!

JP

Shutterfly Christmas Cards and A GIVEAWAY!!

Christmas....

Say What?!?!

Seriously Janet Halloween isn't even here yet, not to mention Thanksgiving.

I know, I know, but If you are like me and like doing the Photo cards then you need to be thinking about that now, cause before you know it Christmas will be here and if your not on top of things you won't have your Christmas cards and all your friends and family will be sad that didn't get one from you. :(

So, years ago my sister told me about Shutterfly and our family has been using it ever since! I have ordered Photos, Photo Books, Christmas Cards, a Canvas Print, and even Stinkers Birth Announcements, which I will share with you when I share his birth story...which is almost done, I promise!

So this year Shutterfly has some wonderful templates for Christmas Cards and here are just a few of them...

Seriously how do you choose?!?!

I'm not sure how I will pick one for our card this year, cause I had a hard enough time picking the ones to share with you on here! Needless to say there is one for everybody out there, so check them out!

Now  I got to get into gear and get a picture of Caleb, Chester and I together for our card, then all I will have to do is pick a design...

And to make things even better, if you remember my title had the word GIVEAWAY in it...

Well Shutterfly has given me three sets of 25 cards to giveaway to three of my wonderful readers!

Wahoo!!!

So here's what ya got to do...

Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite holiday food is.

Mine is homemade noodles...yummy!!

One entry per person

*You can earn a second entry by blogging about my giveaway and then leaving a second comment with a link to you post.

* You can also earn an entry by sharing a link for this giveaway on Twitter and Facebook just leave a comment for each that you choose to do.

Entries will close at midnight on Thursday, November 3rd at midnight and the winners will hopefully be announced the following Day.

Good Luck,

Janet

And the Winner is....

Sorry I didn't get this posted sooner, it's been a busy day here around the farm.

Thanks for all the complements. I had a question as to if I sold these or not and....

I tried selling them for a while but really didn't have much luck, but I really do enjoy making them. 

My dear friend Nicole asked about where to get stuff to make these...

I would buy things from about everywhere.....

Michael's, Hobby Lobby, eBay, I even got a few glass beads a Wal-Mart a time or two...

Oh and Nicole by the way you are the Winner!! Shoot me an email with your address and the necklace of your choice and I will get it too you!!!

The 2nd necklace goes to Gale.

 So Gale you can send me an e-mail with your top two choices and your address and I will send you your first choice if Nicole didn't take it and your second choice if she did.

And....

Because I'm feelin' froggy today I am gonna give a third necklace a way as well.....

Oh Heck Yeah!!!

So Lucky number 3 is...

The Newly engaged Crystal.

So Crystal, shoot me an e-mail with your top three choices and your address and I will do my best to get you your top choice!

My email is jphillipsblog@hotmail.com ...

So let me know what you want Ladies and I will get it out to you!

And since every post needs a pic...

Here's me and stinker today out in one of our corn fields.

Thanks to all of you who entered!! I love ya all...

And Congrats to the winners!!!

JP

Girly Giveaway - x2

So it has been way too long since I have done a giveaway.  So after doing some cleaning out of some closets I found some of the jewelry that I made and have just been setting there collecting dust so I thought I would give 1...

No 2 of them away to a couple of my lucky readers.

So here's a look at your options...

#1 Simple turquoise multi-strand necklace

I like the simplicity of this necklace. I will see other people wearing similar ones, but I never think it looks as good on me as it does on others.

#2 Turquoise and crystal chain

I think this one is soo pretty, but I have so many different turquoise necklaces that I would never wear it so there is no need in me keeping it around.

#3 Red, White, and Blue Flower

I think this one is just pretty it would make a great one for the 4th of July.

#4 Turquoise Crystal Cross

I'm kinda in love with this one and almost hate the idea of it going, but I have others that are similar and I can make me another one if I really want to...

And for all you K-State Fans out there...

#5 Purple and Black Crystal Cross.

I love this one so you might think that I would want to keep it for myself...

But I already have one that is similar and I wear it all the time so I don't need two that are almost exactly alike.

(BTW - that's me with my brother and one of my sisters last summer when my hair was still long)

I know that this is kinda a girly giveaway, but Guys these would make a GREAT present for your momma or your favorite girl.

OK Here's the Rules:

Just leave me a comment telling me which necklace you would choose.

The first person I choose will get first choice at whichever necklace they would like and the second will get to choose between the other four.

One entry per person

*You can earn a second entry by blogging about my giveaway and then leaving a second comment with a link to you post.

* You can also earn an entry by sharing a link for this giveaway on Twitter and Facebook just leave a comment for each that you choose to do.

Entries will close at midnight on Tuesday, May 31 at midnight and the winner will hopefully be announced the following.

Good Luck!!

Janet

Farm Eggs (and a Winner)

So yesterday evening Caleb had been out checkin' the cattle and he stopped by his grandparents house where they gave him the eggs their chickens had produced that day.

So Caleb does what he normally does and sticks them in his pocket and then he goes about his business.

When gets home and comes in I hear all this hollering goin' on from his direction.  I'm really not sure what all he said, but somewhere in all of it I get the words "forgot the eggs were in my pocket" and "I smashed them."

Well about this time I am cracking up (pun soo intended) and Caleb is telling me that it's not funny!

Seriously....

it was soo very funny!! 

He was just mam because it was his chore coat and it was cold outside and he was going to need it the next day.

It was then that I informed him that we had a washer and a dryer and I'm sure it can get all the egg nasty out of his pocket and dry his coat by morning.

As he's headed outside to dump the scrambled eggs out of his pocket I did what any good blogger does and I grabbed my camera so you all could see it too.

Cookin' up a Giveaway

So if you have ever been in my kitchen or had some of my cooking you would know that I am a cast iron queen. I was raised cookin' in a cast iron skillet and that's what I still use.

Fact: When I moved into my own place while in college I "stole" a skillet from my mom cause I didn't think I could use a non-cast iron skillet. I still have that skillet and use it more than any other pan in my cupboard.

Fact: My mom collects cast irons and doesn't even miss it.

Fact: I replaced it this year with another cast iron skillet that I picked up at an auction.

Ok now lets get back to why you are all here...

it's for one word...

GIVEAWAY

It's ok, I do the same thing.

Because I have such a strong love for Cast Iron Cookware I am giving away.....

1 - 8" Lodge Logic Cast Iron Skillet

It's already seasoned and ready to start cookin'.

I wanted to give away a bigger skillet but I figured it would cost me an arm and a leg to ship it and this one was on sale, so there ya go.

But just cause its smaller doesn't mean you still cant use it. I use mine to cook bacon bits for my creamy potato soup ... it works great for this. I also fry potatoes, and toast the bottom side of hamburger bun in it. I love this little beast!

Also 1 Package of Hot Handle Mitts. There is one red one and a one black one in this package.  These are a must for anyone using cast iron skillets.

Here's my skillet my momma GAVE me a few years ago for Christmas as you can see I have put the miles on it too.

Yes that is bacon grease in the pan.

Yes I save my bacon grease and cook with it.

Things just taste better in bacon grease.

My handle mitt has seen some wear and tear too.

Funny thing about this one. A few years back when I was a poor college student, my mom gave me some things she had bought for herself to give her for Christmas. Included in that stuff was a package of the handle mits. Well anybody that knows my mom knows that she loves the color red. It's everywhere in her kitchen, in her house and in her wardrobe. Well among the other things I was to give her was some red Kitchen Aid towels well to continue with the 'red' theme of the gift I thought I should keep the black mitt out of the gift, and since her kitchen was full of red stuff, then I should just keep it in my kitchen instead. Well and as you can see it has been well used in the past 6...7...8 years that I have had it.

OK Back to the GIVEAWAY...

Here's the Rules:

Just leave me a comment telling me your favorite Christmas tradition or memory or anything that's on your mind

One entry per person

*You can earn a second entry by blogging about my giveaway and then leaving a second comment with a link to you post.

* You can even get a third entry by sharing this contest with your friends via Facebook or Twitter! Be sure to share the link, then come back and let me know you did with another comment.

Entries will close at midnight on Sunday, December 12th and I will announce the winner on Monday morning.

Ok my favorite tradition would have to be going to my grandmas house and making and eating banana splits before we have our dinner.

Good Luck,

JP

And the Winner Is.....

Sorry I didn't get this posted yesterday, it was a crazy busy day filled with fixin' fence, chasing cattle, working cattle, and drivin' to Joplin, MO to pick up my much needed new toy...

...an Electrolux washing machine!! Yeah, I'm ubber excited about it!

...my washer crapped out on me last Wednesday and I wasn't finished with the laundry when it did. 

...and Caleb is running out of pants so needless to say I was needin' to get my washer 

...get it installed

...and put it to work!

I would have had Lowes do all the installing, but we live way too far away for them to do it for free, so I had to go and get and also do some errands while I was over there.

I didn't get home till 11 last night, so needless to say I didn't get to post the winner, cause I was tired and wanted to sleep!

I would have had a picture of my new toy, but  my card reader pooped out on me yesterday, so I got to get another one before I can get pictures on my computer.

Seriously, if it's not one thing, it's another!

So without further ado, the winner is......

Weekend Cowgirl!

Congratulations to the winner!! Send an email to jphillips32@hotmail.com with all the info of where to send your prize.

Thanks to all who entered, stay tuned I have another give away idea up my sleeve.

Now I'm gonna go sit and watch my washer at work!

JP

Bag Lady - GIVEAWAY

Because it's my birthday month...

Because we are finished harvesting soybeans...

Because I love purses and handbags...

Because I love things that make my life easier...

Because I can...

And because I love ya'll...

I am giving away one of my most favorite things...

...a Pouchee.

This is something that I have and use and LOVE!!

They are a kind of purse organizer, and even though it's not that big it can hold a lot of stuff such as...

...wallet

...cell phone

...check book

...make-up

...pens

....and soo much more!!

So for those of you who have an addiction to handbags and purse, but hate having to move all your stuff every time or if you need some help keeping everything together you will love this.

They come in a large variety of colors but today I am going to giveaway one royal blue one.

It's a beauty and I know you'll love it!!

To Enter:

Just leave me a comment telling me your favorite Thanksgiving food...or whatever you want to say.

One entry per person

*You can earn a second entry by blogging about my giveaway and then leaving a second comment with a link to you post.

Entries will close at midnight on Sunday, November 7th and I will announce the winner on Monday morning.

Ok I will get this started...I love my Grandma's baked sweet potatoes...oh how yummy!!!

JP