Vegetable Fried Rice

sometimes [not often] I have happy accidents in the kitchen. yesterday I was trying to come up with something [without going to the store] to have on hand for my husband and I to have for lunches. I had veggie burgers, a couple of ready rice options, frozen broccoli, and eggs. with some quick thinking and my "go-to" ingredients, I came up with a delicious and fast fried rice recipe.

and it goes a little something like this...

Vegetable Fried Rice 

• 2 veggie burgers
• 3 cups frozen broccoli
• 1 package Uncle Ben's Ready Rice -- Teriyaki Style , cooked 
• 2 eggs
• 4 tbsp EVOO, separated
• 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce 
• 2 tbsp honey
• 2 tbsp soy sauce, separated
• 1 tbsp minced ginger
• 1 tbsp cornstarch mixed in 1/2 cup [cool] water

1. heat 2 tbsp EVOO, chili garlic sauce, honey, and ginger over med-heat in a large pan.
2. blend mixture with whisk. 
3. when it begins to bubble--add cornstarch liquid and whisk together until well blended. 
4. then add broccoli and toss in sauce. 
5. reduce heat and cover. let cook [stirring occasionally] for 8-10 minutes, or until broccoli is no longer frozen and cooked through. 
6. empty cooked broccoli mixture into a separate bowl.
7. return pan to high heat.
8. add remaining EVOO and veggie burgers to pan.
9. sprinkle 1 tbsp of soy sauce over veggie burgers.
10. break apart veggie burgers into small chunks as you cook them. 
11. when veggie burgers are browned, add rice to pan. 
12. saute until rice begins to brown and crisp a bit.
13. push rice + veggie burger mixture to one side of the pan, and scramble eggs in free pan space. 
14. once eggs are scrambled, fold into rice mixture.
15. add broccoli mixture to rice mixture and saute together. 
16. remove from heat and serve it up! 

thinking of switching up your daily lunch routine? 

check out these great sandwich solutions I spotted on Pinterest! 

xoxo 

TGIF + Honey Chili Chicken

good gracious I'm glad it's Friday. what a looooooong week it has been. didn't really feel like I got my head above water until about uhhh Thursday?! yeah-- great timing. anywho- at least I did get above water...there is that. 

tonight I ran around town getting primped-prepped-aaand pampered for what is bound to be an epic weekend. tomorrow I am reuniting with some of my oldest + most favorite friends I have. some I haven't seen in almost 2 years!! we're celebrating one of my best-fran's recent engagement. I could go on for days/pages about how happy I am for them, how excited I am for this weekend or how much I neeeed this getaway- but I will just leave it to the simple statement of: I.CAN.NOT.WAIT. flight leaves tomorrow bright + early. fingers crossed this silly snow doesn't mess and cause stress!

on the menu this evenin' I made one of my "standbys"...


Honey Chili Chicken with Jasmine Rice

ingredients:

• 3-4 frozen chicken tenders
• 1 medium onion, halved and sliced
• 1 tbsp minced ginger
• 1 tbsp chili garlic sauce
• 1 tbsp sesame oil 
• 1 tbsp EVOO
• 3 tbsp honey
• 1 tsp cornstarch 
• 1/3 cup water

directions:

1. pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.
2. cook chicken tenders according to labeled directions.
3. mix cornstarch with water and reserve.
4. meanwhile, in a large pan heat EVOO, ginger, chili garlic sauce, sesame oil, and honey.
5. stir until mixture begins to bubble then add cornstarch liquid.
6. toss in onions and saute until onions begin to soften, then remove from heat. 
7. slice cooked chicken tenders and add to pan, turn to coat. 
8. cook rice [[Uncle Ben's-90 seconds]], spoon rice onto plate, scoop honey chicken on top and dig in!

found some lovely accessories at my local Target this evening.
obviously was feelin' some prints + patterns.
also was feelin' the ability to wear gloves AND use my iphone. [[score!!]]



alright--gotta scoot.
my epic weekend is callling!



I leave you with one of my favorite Sex + the City quotes...
seemed quite apropos.
xoxo
“Maybe mistakes are what make our fate... without them what would shape our lives? Maybe if we had never veered off course we wouldn't fall in love, have babies, or be who we are. After all, things change, so do cities, people come into your life and they go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart... and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away”