What's for Dinner [Fried Rice]

Hubby and I came across this dinner on accident as we threw some leftovers and pantry items together one night, but it's quickly becoming a go-to when we don't feel like cooking or when we have a crazy evening and just need to whip up something quick.  It really does work well when we have leftover bits of protein: roasted chicken, Asian pork tenderloin, etc.

The best part about this recipe is that all ingredients are to taste.  If you like carrots in yours, by all means throw them into the pan! 

Fried Rice
Ingredients:

• 2 cups rice, leftover and cold
• 1/2 cup shelled edamame, steamed (or peas, if you prefer)
• 2 T peanut or vegetable oil
• 1 cup chicken, pork, shrimp or beef, cooked (or you could use tofu, but Hubby wouldn't...)
• 1 scallions, thinly sliced
• 2 eggs
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 t fresh ginger, minced
• 2 T soy sauce
• 1 t sesame oil

Directions:

•  Heat 1 T oil in large wok or skillet over medium high heat.
• Pour in eggs and allow to cook.  Once set, remove from pan and cut into pieces.
• Heat remaining 1 T oil in same pan and heat over high heat.  Add scallions and stir-fry for 1 min. Add remaining ingredients and cook for a few minutes until heated through.  Return egg to pan and serve immediately.  
• Enjoy!

Happy Cooking!

Five on Friday [10.14.16]

Happy Friday!!  Hope you have had a terrific week!  Although it seems like a really long week, there were many moments at school that I consciously thought about just how happy my heart was.  It was a good week with the kiddos. (And let's hope that I didn't just put the whammy on today, ha, ha!!)  On that note, here's this week's five:

ONE
We enjoyed Hubby's favorite crock pot meal, pepperoncini beef, one night this week.  What made it even better was the fact that with these beef and blue cheese sliders that we made from the leftovers we had two delicious meals!  So yum and so easy.

 

TWO
Just a little PSA - Pottery Barn has their plaid throws on sale!  I especially love the buffalo check....

 

.....or this one for Christmas!



THREE
I know I mentioned a big match last week, but the state finals are this weekend!  My tennis boys are competing for their fourth consecutive state tennis title this weekend.  It will be a tough road (three big matches) to win the title, but I'm so proud of them and excited for the weekend!

FOUR
If you follow me on Instagram you may have noticed my most recent impulse purchase from Tar-jay....I couldn't resist this mug!  While I'm a self-professed morning person and claim that I love mornings, what I really love is the quiet of the morning....disrupt that and I become pretty crabby, pretty quickly.

FIVE
Speaking of Instagram, this sweet verse popped up on my feed the other day, and was such an important, timely reminder.

 

Wishing y'all a terrific weekend!  Today I'm linking up with:

Oh Hey Friday! / High Five for Friday / 5 on Friday

Happy Friday!

 

*This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for supporting The Happy Little Hive.

What's for Dinner [Beef and Blue Cheese Sliders]

It's been a pretty busy week around our happy little hive....a good week, but busy.  So, I employed the crock pot and made Pepperoncini Beef, one of the few meals Hubby likes cooked in it.  While doing the dishes that night it occurred to me the leftovers just might be really yummy with some blue cheese and in sandwich form....and it was...awfully yummy.

Beef and Blue Cheese Sliders

Ingredients:

• Left over beef from Pepperoncini Beef roast
• blue cheese crumbles
• slider buns or dinner rolls
• 1/4 c mayonnaise
• 2 t. horseradish
• 1 T butter, melted
• poppy seeds or dried onions

Directions:

• Place bottoms of slider buns on cookie sheet (I lined with Silpat liner).
• Mix mayo and horseradish together and spread a little on each bun.
• Top with shredded meat and sprinkle with blue cheese.
• Top with top bun and additional mayo mix, if desired.
• Cover and bake in 350 degree oven for 10 minutes.  
• Uncover, and drizzle with melted butter topped with poppy seeds or dried onions.
• Bake additional 10 minutes, or until heated through and cheese slightly melted.
• Enjoy!

Happy Cooking!

On My Bookshelf [The Couple Next Door]

Well.   It's back to school this morning.  Fall Break was absolutely wonderfully relaxing though.  Accomplished some projects around the house, had an incredible girls' getaway with Bestie KP, and read....a lot.  So I'm back with another edition of "On My Bookshelf".

The Couple Next Door was this month's pick for my book club and was interesting, to say the least.  It's classified as a psychological thriller and  has a similar feel to Gone Girl. Although while I couldn't put it down and was anxious to figure it out, I think the one word that would best describe the book is disturbing, to the point I had some pretty wild dreams after reading it. 

Amazon says:

It all started at a dinner party. . . 

A domestic suspense debut about a young couple and their apparently friendly neighbors—a twisty, rollercoaster ride of lies, betrayal, and the secrets between husbands and wives. . . 

Anne and Marco Conti seem to have it all—a loving relationship, a wonderful home, and their beautiful baby, Cora. But one night when they are at a dinner party next door, a terrible crime is committed. Suspicion immediately focuses on the parents. But the truth is a much more complicated story.

Inside the curtained house, an unsettling account of what actually happened unfolds. Detective Rasbach knows that the panicked couple is hiding something. Both Anne and Marco  soon discover that the other is keeping secrets, secrets they've kept for years.

What follows is the nerve-racking unraveling of a family—a chilling tale of  deception, duplicity, and unfaithfulness that will keep you breathless until the final shocking twist.

As always, I would love to know what's on your bookshelf, especially since this is the perfect time of year to cozy up with a good book!

Happy Reading!

*This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for supporting The Happy Little Hive!

Sip and Shop Sunday [Throws]

Happy Sunday!  It's been a wonderful, relaxing week of Fall Break.  I'm so sad that tomorrow it's back to the grind.  But before that I'm snuggled up dreaming of a fire in the fireplace, a mug of salted caramel mocha in hand, and a warm snuggly throw.  (It's a little chilly in our hive this morning....Hubby and I are debating on when to turn on the heat.  I'm actually the one holding out.)  So without further ado.....

I'm sipping a homemade Salted Caramel Mocha....

.....and shopping for the perfect throw.

Pottery Barn Plaid
I'm a sucker for plaid and these throws seem to be perfect for all the colder months, not just Christmas...and it's on sale!



Pottery Barn Cable Knit
I can envision this cable knit throw in nearly every room of our home, in a different color.   It's also on sale!



Target Fuzzy Blanket
My youngest brother gifted us one of the softest blankets ever last year.  Hubby had just gotten out of the hospital and Brother #3 knew it would be perfectly comforting -- and it was.  So much so that Hubby doesn't really like to share.  I'm 99% sure this is the blanket. 

 

Happy Sipping and Shopping!

Friday Five [10.7.16]

Happy Friday!  First of all, I'm thinking of all those along the East Coast bracing for Hurricane Matthew.  We're sending our prayers!  I've heard through the grapevine that it doesn't appear to be as bad as predicted and I'm hoping that's truly the case.

I've been off of school all week and it's been delightful!  I haven't accomplished nearly what I had hoped, but I've been able to relax and enjoy which, for me, is probably the biggest accomplishment of all!  So, without further ado, here are this week's five:

ONE
Bestie KP and I enjoyed a quick little girls' getaway to Lake Wawasee in Northern Indiana.  We had the most beautiful weather and the resort was darling.  More to come on that next week, but first check out this spectacular rainbow after a quick little sprinkle.  Stunning.

TWO
I've finally perfected the homemade Salted Caramel Mocha.  Such a special little treat.  So yummy and perfect for fall.

THREE
We've enjoyed this cowboy dip all week.  I whipped up a batch on Monday and we've had it as a dip, a side, and I threw in some chicken for lunch one day.

FOUR
I'm trying to decide about this tunic.  I *think* I like that it has a little more defined front, but the back is still loose and swingy...or would I just look pregnant?  I can't decide, but think it would be one or the other: perfect or pregnant.  Thoughts??

 

FIVE
Our boys have played a couple good, solid matches on their quest for a fourth consecutive state championship.  They play again tomorrow in Semi-State.  We are a different team this year, as we lost several seniors last year, but they've worked hard.  Go 'Thers!

 

 Wishing y'all a terrific weekend!  Today I'm linking up with:

Oh Hey Friday! / High Five for Friday / 5 on Friday

Happy Friday!

*This post contains affiliate links.  Thank you for supporting The Happy Little Hive.

Salted Caramel Mocha

If I'm being completely honest, this time of year my true love is the pumpkin spice latte....but, this salted caramel mocha is a pretty close second.  The best part about it - you can make it yourself at home.  No need to spend $5 a pop, when that could buy you the ingredients to make as many as you would like.  I use the same method as I do for my other homemade lattes with a stove-top espresso maker.  Such a special treat, without having to change out of your pajamas.

Salted Caramel Mocha 
Ingredients:

• espresso
• milk
• caramel syrup
• hot chocolate mix (we like the dark mix in this little hive)
• 1 T turbinado sugar
• 1 T sea salt
• whip cream, if desired

 Directions

• Mix sugar and sea salt and set aside. (I store in a mason jar.)
• Make espresso (or you can use really strong coffee, but I promise it's better with espresso).
• While espresso is brewing pour milk into mason jar.  Cover and shake until milk has doubled in size.  Remove lid and heat in microwave for one minute.
• In bottom of coffee mug add caramel sauce and hot chocolate mix.  We prefer 2 T of caramel and 1 T of hot chocolate mix, but use according to your personal taste.
• Pour hot espresso into mug.  Stir to combine and dissolve the caramel sauce and hot chocolate mix.  
• Add heated milk, top with froth.
• Garnish with whip cream and sugar and salt mixture.
• Enjoy!

Happy Cooking!