Vegetable Stir Fry with Scallops

Jared was on dinner duty tonight! He made vegetable stir fry with scallops. It was pretty yummy.

We're new to scallops, I actually googled scallops just to know what I was really eating. Basically they taste like clam chowder without the chowder. If you're interested here is what you'll need to do.

What you'll need:
Broccoli
Carrots
Snap peas
Garlic
Onion
Scallops
Olive Oil
Butter
Dry white cooking wine
Flour

What you do:
Place scallops in a bowl and soak in dry white cooking wine, don't fully cover, for about 10 min
In a large skillet warm olive oil
In a medium skillet melt 3 tbls butter
Place cut up vegetables in large skillet and cook until tender
Drudge scallops in flour and place in melted butter - about 2-3 min per side (you want them a nice shade of golden brown)

Once everything is cooked plate your vegetables and top with scallops

Easy breezy and the best part.....NO FISHY SMELL!!

Enjoy!
-AKL

Updates

Life has been busy at the Leffler household. Jared and I got back Sunday night from a leadership conference with my team in Dallas, TX. What an amazing time to get to spend together and with the wonderful people I work with.

I'll be honest, I wasn't thrilled to be going at the beginning. Why you might ask...well:

1. I HATE flying! Now for those of you who know me really well and know all the traveling I've done you might think that statement is incorrect....it's not...you read it right. All it took was one bad flight and honestly I'd be ok with never flying again.

2. I don't like leaving Shy and Chan for long periods of time. Crazy...I know, but really they're my kids right now.

3. I had so much to get done at work. Having a major tour start in March equals tons and tons of orders and letters to get out.

4. I don't really like getting out of my daily routine. I love my home and my bed....hotels just aren't the same.

5. I knew that when I got to the conference I'd have to get out of my comfort zone and meet a lot of people face to face that I only knew through email.

But I went and I'm so thankful I did. God was in this conference from the moment we stepped on the plane in Colorado Springs to the moment we landed back in Colorado Springs.

1. Both flights we were on were incredibly smooth and we were able to sit together at the front

of the plane (I don't do well in the back of the plane).

2. Shy and Chan did really well with the new dog sitter. No acting out, no potty messes, no keeping him up all night crying.

3. Work was still waiting for me when I got in on Monday morning, but I have been able to plow through and keep the stress level to a minimum.

4. I'm slowing getting back into the daily routine. Dinners are still hit and miss but it's coming.

5. I can't say enough about the people at the conference. Amazing men and women with such a heart for Compassion and the volunteer work they do. Wonderful conversations, lots of laughing and serious discussions. We all left with a renewed vision for Compassion and passion for the work we do.

We were privileged to have the Aaron Ivey Band lead us in worship while we were out there. They were great! Aaron and the band have such a heart for Haiti and adoption and the work that Compassion does. I would encourage you to listen to some of their music....they won't disappoint!

We had our very own team member Jim Ed Hardaway lead our session on Sunday morning. This guy has the gift of speaking. He was so honest in what he had to say and didn't sugar coat his struggles in life. He was so real and at the same time encouraging to get through those rough patches in life.

It was great!

Now we've been trying to get back into the swing of things just in time for Jared to take off next week for a training in Atlanta.

Still going strong with no Starbucks. I even managed to resist Monday morning when Jared stopped at Starbucks to get a mocha before work. Woo hoo!!

-AKL

Beef Stroganoff

On the Leffler menu tonight...Beef Stroganoff. This is the second time I've made this meal and by far tonight was the best. I changed it up a bit with how I cooked the beef and I think that made all the difference. Here's what you'll need...if you want to try this meal.

Ingredients:

4 Tbs olive oil (I used 2 Tbs garlic infused olive oil and 2 Tbs basil infused olive oil)

1 lb cubed beef stew meat

5 Tbs flour

3 Tbs dried onion flakes

Salt and Pepper to taste

1 can cream of chicken

1 lb egg noodles

What you do:

Over medium high heat warm the olive oil. Place flour in ziplock baggie. Toss stew meat in flour and make sure the meat is completely covered. Once meat is covered and olive oil is warm add meat to pan. Allow meat to begin to brown. As meat is browning season with salt, pepper and onion flakes. Continue to toss until meat is fully cooked.

As meat is browning, boil 4 Qts of water in separate pan and follow directions on egg noodle package for cooking time. Make sure to salt your boiling water before you add the noodles so they don't stick together.

When you have about 5 minutes left of cooking the noodles add entire can of cream of chicken to browned stew meat. When you do this it will be VERY thick. Either add a bit of water or chicken stock to loosen mixture. You don't want a soup mixture but you want the stew meat to be able to move around.

Drain the noodles and put back in hot pan. Add your beef to the noddles and mix.

Serve alongside fresh vegetables and warm bread. YUM!

-AKL

Jared

Let me introduce you to Jared. Full name, Jared John Leffler. Nicknames, honey, G-rad, and my personal favorite which I'll leave out so as not to embarrass him publicly. I've know Jared for 11 years now and have spent the last 6 years, 4 months, and 4 days married to him. Here are some interesting facts about him:

His favorite color is blue

He's color blind

He loves cars and electronics

He's worked for the same company for almost 10 years

He's battled cancer (cancer free for 9 years and 310 days!!)

He started, stopped, and started again college due to heath reasons and now has his bachelors

He wants to get his masters

He grew up in Yuma, AZ

He has 3 younger brothers all with the same initials as him (J.J.L)

He loves kids

He doesn't like nuts

When he gets an idea there's no stopping him

His nostrils flair when he's mad

He could live off of soda, meat, potatoes, and dove dark chocolate (if he had too)

He's not afraid to speak his mind

He takes care of his family

There is one other thing I'd like to share....I LOVE JARED!!!!! I love how he's grown since we've known each other. I love how he takes the laundry basket up and down the stairs for me every weekend. I love when he randomly tells me he loves me. I love his smile. I love how he supports me. I love how he lets me vent to him when I'm having a stressful day. I love his odd sense of humor. I love our lazy days of spending time together with he dogs. I love dinner dates with him. I love that he lets me be me!

Love you, Jared!

-AKL

Chicken and Corn Chowder

What do you make for dinner on a cold February night? Chicken and corn chowder! Here's what you'll need:

Ingredients:

8 slices bacon

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts

2 shallots

3 cloves garlic

6 yukon gold potatoes (less if large potatoes)

3 Tbls butter

3 cups chicken stock

1/2 cup dry white wine

3 large scallions

2 1/2 cups fat free half and half

3 tps thyme

3 cups shredded sharp cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

Here's what you do:

In a large dutch oven brown your bacon on medium high heat until crispy. Remove with slotted spoon to paper towel covered plate. Cut boneless skinless chicken into bite size pieces. Cook chicken in bacon drippings. Once chicken is fully cooked remove to plate. Cut potatoes into small pieces and place into dutch oven with butter. Let cook for 4-5 minutes allowing the potatoes to brown just slightly. Add chicken stock, dry white wine, chicken, and corn to dutch oven and bring to a boil. Cover and let cook for 5-7 minutes. Once potatoes are soft add thyme, scallions, and fat free half and half. Allow to simmer and warm through. Slowly add sharp cheddar cheese and stir continually. Salt and pepper to taste. Ladle into bowl and top with bacon and fresh cheddar cheese.

Enjoy!

-AKL

Starbucks Update

It's officially been one month since I began my "no Starbucks for a year" idea. How did the first month go? I had times when I really wanted to cave and enjoy that wonderful extra hot, non-fat, no water, no foam chai, but I didn't. I have more drive today to continue my quest for the next 11 months than I did when I first started! For the most part I don't crave Starbucks, however, on those cold gloomy days my mind and tastebuds start backtracking but I feel like I've got it under control. It'll be summer before I know it!

How about you? Did you make a goal for yourself this year? Have you been able to keep that goal so far?

-AKL

Conditions Like These

So at some point, everyone who has a blog eventually says something about where they work. But what if where you work isn't really work? What if you go to this place for 8 hours a day and you feel like you should be paying them? It just so happens that both Abby and I work for such a place. It's called Compassion International. Disclaimer time: this blog contains our views and only our views and the do not necessarily depict the views of our employer. That should hold HR over...At any rate, you're probably intrigued and wondering if there are any openings at this "so-called" place to work. As a matter of fact, there is. In the meantime, what is Compassion? Glad you asked. I'll tell you.

Compassion International is a child development organization. Releasing children from poverty in Jesus' name. That's what we really do. I invite you to visit the Compassion blog, linked over there on the right of the screen for more blogs. Through sponsorship, children are provided with the skills they need so they may have a quality, sustainable life. They learn to follow Jesus in faith and deed and learn to support themselves and maintain their own physical wellness. Today more than one million children are in our programs over the span of twenty-five countries. It just so happens we recently decided to call one of these children our own.

Living in one of the newest additions to Compassion's list of countries, our little girl hails from Togo, Africa. Her name is Ayoko Edeme Amakoue. She is eight years old and her schoolwork is considered above average. She loves her dolls, jumping rope, hide and seek, and playing with friends. Thankfully, she still has both parents and they live in the same home.

While sponsorship may not be for everyone, Compassion does accept one time donations for numerous funds found here. There are so many funds you could choose from. The highly vulnerable children fund is one we like. Children who have lost one or both parents often live in deeper poverty. Food and homes are less prevalent in these conditions.

This fund places these children in Compassion cottages which are head up by Christian caregivers. They are provided with their nutritional supplements, psychosocial support, clothing, and much more.

At any rate, we both welcome any questions you have and in the meantime, come visit Compassion's website!