Microwaved Chicken Stew

Here's another easy peasy recipe for lazy busy mums. Its Chicken Stew you can cook in 30 minutes (including preparation time) using the microwave oven.

I was done by the time I finished cleaning up the mess I left behind from cutting the vegetables so after eating there was very little cleaning up to do, only our plates. :) I hate cleaning up the dishes all at one time. Spacing it out like this makes it seem like less work.

Here's the recipe for my Microwaved Chicken Stew:

Incredients for Chicken Stew:

Chicken Thigh
Potatoes
Carrots
Bombay Onions
Brocolli
Cinammon Stick
Star Anise

Tip: You can add any vegetable you like eg baby corn, or those frozen carrot, peas and corn if you have no time to cut vegetables.

Seasoning and Sauce for the Chicken Stew:

Salt
Sugar
Pepper
Oyster Sauce
Light Soya Sauce
Dark Soya Sauce
Sesame Oil
Corn Flour
Water

How to Cook the Chicken Stew:

1. Cut everything into bite sized pieces
2. Place everything in a dish suitable for microwave
3. Pour sauce incredients over it
4. Microwave for 20 minutes
5. You're done!

Tip: Stop halfway through to stir and add cornflour to thicken stew as desired.

Go to my Mumsgather blog to view pictures of the Chicken Stew.

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For you mothers, when you're feeling down

I had started a category for Inspiring Quotes for Mothers a little while back. So I would like to take a moment to share this inspirational site which I often refer to for inspiration especially when I'm feeling down.

I love this inspirational site which plays beautiful inspirational flash movies. I found it when I first started blogging about 2 years ago on another blogger's sidebar. I always refer to it when I am feeling down and in need of some inspiration. I have recommended it to many of my online friends or I would sometimes send them a link to cheer someone up when they are feeling blue. The motto on the site is "One flash movie from this site is all it takes to leave a heartprint." It has certainly left and imprint on mine.

One of the inspirational movies I refer to often when I am feeling blue or when I am overwhelmed by my job as a mother is this one. Its called Mom's Journey. Although its more relevant for someone mourning the loss of their mom, I like to refer to it every now and then to remind me of my own journey as a mother. It is very beautiful and touching. I love the words and the music. I hope you enjoy it too.

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Time Saving Tips for Mothers

The other day I wrote about Money Saving Tips. Today, I want to touch on Time Saving Tips. Here's a few of mine. I have put them in no particular order or category, only whatever comes to mind.

1. Have a place for everything and a everything in its place. This reduces clutter and prevents things from being lost especially small things like keys, spectacles, handphones etc.
2. Wrap your oven toaster tray with aluminium foil. I learned this very useful tip from my dad. Previously I used to have to scrub my oven toaster tray and it still looked burnt. It was difficult to clean after each use. Now, I just wrap it up with aluminium foil. After use, I just throw the foil away and wrap the tray with a new foil. It saves me time from having to clean the tray out.
3. Minimize your house decorations. A clean look makes it clutter free and you will save time on wiping and cleaning all your little decorations and picture frames so try to maintain a clean clutter free look.
4. Do your filing as it comes it. Pay your bills on time as it comes in then file them away immediately. This reduces last minute rush and lost bills and fines. Once you have paid it and filed it away, you can move on to other things. Otherwise your todo list will just get longer and longer and overwhelm you.
5. Pay your bills online. Need I say more? This is self explanatory. Its definitely a time saver.

Thats all I can think of for today. If you have a tip to add to this. Please send it to me via email or leave a link on my comment. I will include your tip with a link back to you. Thank you.

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Chicken Rice Recipe for the busy mom

Its been forever since I posted or shared any recipes. Well, here's a simple chicken rice recipe thats too good not to be shared with other busy moms. Its really easy and tastes nice too.

Since I had a seizure and was diagnosed with epilepsy, it would not be safe for me to cook on my own using open fire over the stove so I had to find other ways to cook. My sister taught me to cook this all-in-a pot chicken rice that requires only the rice cooker to cook. Here's how to make the chicken rice.

Ingredients:

• Ginger
• Shallots or Small Onions
• Garlic
• Boneless Chicken Thigh
• Uncooked Rice

Seasoning for the Chiken:

• Salt
• Sugar
• Pepper
• Sesame Oil
• Oyster Sauce

Here's how you cook your chicken rice:

• Peel and smack the Ginger, Onions and Garlic to bring out the aroma
• Cut the chicken into bite size pieces and season
• Wash the rice and dump everything into the rice cooker, add water as you normally would when cooking plain rice and press cook
• Voila! You've got lovely smelling chicken rice in about 20 minutes.

Tip: You can leave a little bit of skin on the chicken if you're not super health concious. It makes the rice a little bit more oily and fragrant. If you like the smell of sesame oil, you can sprinkle some into the cooker just before dishing out and serving.

Sorry no photos. I'm a busy mom, remember. You can cook this simple chicken rice dish when you're really pressed for time. Frying some green leavy vegetable and a quick egg dish to go along with it will give you a complete meal for your family.

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Money Saving Tips for Mothers

Little clothing and toys costs so much these days. Why, those cute little clothes sometimes costs much more than adult clothing. I wonder why. Afterall, it requires less material!

Here is my money saving tips for mothers. Perhaps you would like to share yours too?

1. Don't buy branded. They grow up so quickly and little branded clothes and shoes will still look brand new when they have outgrown them. Well, ok, just indulge in one or two if you must. They are pretty pricey.
2. Shop during sales. You can buy bigger items in bulk during sales when they are being offered up to 70% off its normal prices.
3. Apply and use membership cards. You can do these for places you frequent. I have membership cards for eateries (usually fastfood when it comes to kids), bookshops, department stores, toyshops. They take up wallet space but thats ok if it helps me save 10-20% for each transaction. Plus you benefit from members only days.
4. Use discount coupons. You can get them from the leaflets provided by the stores. Cut them out and make use of them.
5. Buy larger sizes. You can do this for clothes but not shoes. Little feet need properly fitted shoes. Its ok for clothes though, especially pyjamas. You can fold up the sleeves and trouser bottoms.
6. Homemade is better. You can make toys instead of buying. However I'm lousy at this as hubby and I love to buy toys!
7. Accept hand-me-downs. I get a lot of lovely hand-me-downs books, toys and clothes. All still brand new. And they get recycled and passed around the family to the younger kids.
8. Eat in not out. Eating out is so expensive sometimes its more economical to eat in. The baby will be easier to handle too. I used to stay home when the kids were younger as it takes more effort to bring them out to eat but now that they are older we take them out more to experience new foods and places.
9. Breastfeed!!! Its free. Besides saving on not having to buy formula, you are also saving $$$ from needing to hit the gym as breastfeeding helps you burn more calories. (This great tip was contributed by Shireen Loh (Momsie Tales). Now, how could I have forgotten that! That should have been first on my list. :) Thank you Shireen.

Anyone out there would like to share your tip? I will include it in this post with a link back to you. Thanks.

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