Sometimes I wonder!

Sometimes I wonder about people...

This week at work has been a wreck. It's been frustrating. I've gotten to check in mean people, get yelled at on the phone, and get chewed out by people who, by their own mistake, didn't have a pet friendly room reserved and needed one.

Working at a hotel can be fun. You meet so many different types of people and can have the chance to be so nice to them for just five minutes and lift up their day. Working at a hotel can also mean that you are the cause of the guest's problems, no matter what it is, and you will bear the brunt of the anger and wrath of the disgruntled guest.

I wonder how people get to the point where they can treat someone so cruelly, so harshly, and without any tact or care. Is the world really becoming that cold of a place? I feel sometimes as if I lose patience with these types of people but know that I must maintain composure and be kind.

The only thing I've baked lately is a chocolate cake with a peanut butter frosting. I used my original chocolate cake recipe and made up a peanut butter frosting with heavy whipping cream, powdered sugar, butter, and some peanut butter. It turned out quite well. People at work who tasted it (who claim they dont like cake) ate two big slices!

Family is coming this weekend! Pretty tootin' excited about that!!

P.F. Chang's Orange Peel Chicken

Whew. Been busy.

Took time out this weekend to go to the Royal Gorge Bridge and to invite friends over for dinner! For dinner I made Orange Chicken---SO YUMMY! After I had prepared it I told Sam dinner was ready. I suggested we eat outside since it was such a lovely evening. Little did I know he would take that to the extreme! Within minutes, we were carrying our table and chairs, plates and silverware into the open field in our back yard. Yes. We had a picnic!

Picnic in the field.

This is the only picture I have of the orange chicken--- It was so delicious!

Sam enjoying the picnic.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Orange Peel Chicken

Adapted from Todd Wilbur, Top Secret Restaurant Recipes

1 tbsp veggie oil

2 tbsp garlic

4 green onions

1 cup tomato sauce

1/2 cup water

1/4 cup sugar

2 tbsp chili garlic sauce

1 tbsp soy sauce

peel from 1/4 orange, julienned (into 1/8 inch strips)

a squeeze or two from said orange.

1 pkg pancit kanton noodles (sub spaghetti noodles if you must!)

1/2 cup veggie oil

4 chicken breast fillets cut into bite size pieces

1/2 cup cornstarch

Heat oil. Add garlic and onions (sliced). Add sauce and other ingredients. Stir to boiling. Once boiling turn heat to low and simmer for 7-10 minutes to thicken.

Boil a large saucepan full of water. Add pancit kanton noodles. They are done when the noodles are soft. Drain and set aside.

Coat chicken chunks in cornstarch ( I mixed them in a tupperware bowl ). Heat oil. Add chicken to oil. Stir chicken in oil to turn so it evenly cooks. Cook til all pink is gone and drain chicken on a few paper towels.

Add sauce and chicken to noodles. Stir well.

Enjoy!

Tips:

--I found the chili garlic sauce and noodles in the oriental section of my grocery.

--Don't skimp on ingredients! I added baby corn and water chestnuts as well as red peppers to the mix and those ingredients did nothing but add to the flavor.

---------------------------------------------------------

We had so much fun at the picnic. It was so lovely out there and such a great change from the usual "dining room table" scene. I'd recommend a picnic or even enjoying supper outside with loved ones and friends! Try something new. Go crazy!

Royal Gorge Bridge!

Our friends Jenna and Spencer and Sam and I.

Love, Love, Love

Life happens.

The Air Force Life Song Competition is officially over. Now I wait for the results. I have no clue how long it will take to get the results. I'm so excited! Winner will be notified by email.

I've never done anything like this---it was quite invigorating. It gave me a bit of confidence. It helped me realize I can do what I set my mind to, that I can achieve my goals, and that I might have a winning chance at this.

I've realized recently how many excuses I make. "I don't have time to work out," or "It will take too long to bake a cake." A friend told me "Stop making excuses for what you're not willing to do" and "If you want it, you'll make time and effort for it." Food for thought. What have you been procrastinating on? What things do you avoid doing because you are covered with excuses? Live life and live it to the full, dear friend.

Chin up.