The best possible end to our Summer!!

Today is one amazing day for our family! My sweet boy was BAPTIZED!! This summer, Gavin attended Pine Cove's Base Camp and gave his life to Jesus.  It was awesome! He told his counselor and then we had a huge discussion about it that night!

This is Gavin with his counselor Whoa Nelly

Today we finalized his commitment to the Lord with his scriptural baptism.  Our sweet friends gave us the use of their pool (Thank you, Lester family, again!). So, after some wonderful fellowship with our friends and some yummy favorite foods of Gavin's...we gathered to see one of Chad's and my proudest moments!

 The kids gathered along the side listening intently to Pastor Cory

 Pastor Cory is explaining the ABC's of Baptism

 Gavin telling Pastor Cory that YES he is ready to follow Jesus for the rest of his life!!

 ...and all his sin is washed away! (tear)

He is truly as happy as this picture makes him look!!

YAY, GAVIN!!

Vestal version of Mongolian Beef w/ Bell Pepper & Fried Rice

I have no picture of the yumminess we enjoyed tonight, but if I don't write about it now, I will lose what I did.  You see...I'm an adaptive cook.  I mostly make a meal from what I have.  I found a yummy looking Mongolian Beef recipe on Pinterest. It looked spectacular but I wanted one that I could put in the crock-pot and let cook without much work.  I googled and found this one on food.com. I didn't have all the ingredients and felt I could make something tasty from less.  So...here it goes!

This is Easy Peasy...

Mongolian Beef

Ingredients 

• 2 lbs thin sliced stir fry meat
• 1/4 cup corn starch - 1/4 cup flour (mix)
• 1 medium onion thinly cut
• 2 cloves of garlic minced
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup of water
• 1/2 cup low sodium soy sauce
• red pepper flakes (this is up to you)
• salt and pepper to taste
• 2 bell peppers chopped

In a gallon bag put corn starch/flour mix and meat cut into 3in long strips and shake, shake, shake! Once meat is lightly coated set aside.  In the crock pot line the bottom with slices of onion, then garlic, ginger, and brown sugar.  Next, throw in the meat!  The corn starch with help thicken the sauce as it cooks.  Once the meat is in the pot, pour in water and soy sauce and red pepper flakes.  Let cook for 5-6 hrs on low.  An hour before serving add chopped up bell pepper and let cook some more.  YUMMY!!

Easy Fried Rice

Ingredients

• 4 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1/2 medium onion
• 1 1/2 cups shredded carrots
• 1/2 cup frozen thawed peas
• 1/2 cup soy sauce 
• 4 cups cooked rice (We like lots of rice...also, I used 5 min rice)
• 1 tbsp salt

First, cook your rice and set aside to get good and cool.  I did this about an hour before I actually cooked the fried rice.  When your are ready the the yummy stuff, heat your pan...I don't own a wok :(, so, I used my trusty big cooking pan that I use for everything.  Heat oil in the pan...add onion and carrots to saute.  I think this is where the doneness is up to you.  We enjoy a little crunch.  Add thawed peas and cooked rice.  Pour soy sauce all over rice and mix.  I just kept folding it into itself as it cooked.  Salt to desired saltiness. 

I have never made "Chinese" food at home.  Probably out of fear that I would FAIL...but according to my husband and friend Rebecca, this was a major PASS! 

~Marlee