Japanese Curry with Beef

I have been in the mood for curry lately, but my kids really don't like it that much and I didn't want to take them to a restaurant.  Today I found a kit in the meat section of our grocery store.  Had everything in it, but also had the recipe so that I can make it again later. You'll need:

1 3.5 oz Golden curry sauce mix

1 1/2 lbs. lean meat- it can be chicken, beef, pork, etc. or none at all if you prefer. 

-trimmed and cut into bitesize pieces

1medium onion chopped

1 medium, carrot peeled and cut into bite sized pieces

1-2 medium ptatoes, cut into 1/2"dices

2 T vegetable oil

2 1/2 cups water

(You can also add any veggies you would like, depending on your preference)

Pour the oil into the pan, heat

then add the onions and beef cubes.  Cook until the meat is browned and the onions become translucent.

Add the potatos and carrots.

Add your water.

Bring to a boil, reduce heat, put lid on and let simmer for 10 minutes.

Or until potatos are tender.

Of course stir it every so often.

Break up your curry and mix it into pot, stirring until it is all disolved.

This is what it should look like.

 (I put mine into a crockpot to keep it warm until we were ready to eat.)

Make rice, then serve over rice.   Tastes just like you walked into a restaurant and ordered it. 

Enjoy!!!

Gift idea for Grandma's

I bought a few of these flat canvas's and decided to have each of my monsters paint something for my mom.  They had fun doing it.

Monster 3 used pretty much every color and then ended up with a hand print in the middle.

Monster 2 says this is an Owl.  Can you see it?

Monster 4 started out nice, but now it is a huge gray something.  I think I'll let it dry and have her add a few handprints tomorrow.

Monster 1 is my artist and painted a hummingbird with a flower.  My mom has a butterfly bush in her front yard and he loves to sit by the window and watch the hummingbirds flying in and out of it.

So just a quick fun idea for a gift for Grandma. :)

Recordable books at A story Before Bed

http://www.astorybeforebed.com/military

This is a wonderful site that I found.  You can pick a book, record yourself reading it and send it to someone.   They have specials for military members who are deployed so that they can record books for their families.   This one goes straight to the military part, but you can also pay for books to do on your own.   I am planning on doing a few for my kids and hoping that my husband will do some as well so they can see their daddy while he is away.

Mars Needs Moms movie review

Today I took my 4 little monsters to the movies. (It was cold outside, so the park and beach were out)  They have been wanting to see Mars Needs Moms.  I hadn't heard good reviews about it, but thought heck why not.   I actually liked it.  It was cute, didn't have any cuss words or sexual inuendos in it. (like Rango).  I didn't cringe once.   I thought the story was interesting, what I got from it was that you need families to teach love.  Anyway, if you have kids they'll enjoy this movie.   I also liked the fact that the Characters looked like the actors/actresses that were playing them, Joan Cusacks facial expressions for example. 

A Fun Suprise

My friend and her family just traveled stateside.  She brought me back a little something.  Some fun fabric.  I am so excited to make some stuff with these.  I so miss getting to walk into a fabric store and fondle the fabric.   There is one here, but it is a little overwhelming, they are super nice, but everything is in Japanese (duh :) ) and I hate going with my kids.  Hopefully I'll get a chance to go without them soon. 

How to Get a Few Free Books

My kids and I love to go to the library.  You can't beat "renting" movies and books for free.  Most libraries have a section of books that are free, this is where people can bring in books they no longer want, can get new ones, or where the library puts books they no longer want on the shelf or that were donated and they can't use.  I of course check out this section everytime we go.   This is what I found today.  I am so excited.  I love books, I love finding free stuff, so both together is even better. 

Now if you are military you can go to: http://www.militaryonesource.com/home.aspx?MRole=&Branch=&Component=

this is the Military One Source Website.  You can borrow books on tape for free, you download them straight to your computer.  They also have a program that you can get 10 free books a year.  You can either get books or playaway's.  Just in case you aren't sure what a playaway is you can look at this site.   http://www.playaway.com/.  I know that our library here has them to borrow as well, they are great when you want to listen to a book but don't want to have to take the time to import all the CD's onto your computer and then onto your MP3 player.   It is well worth the time to scan through the site to see what they offer.  

I also go to our thrift shop here on base and pay 25 cents for books.  I like to collect them and send them to my husband when he is deployed, that way it gives him something new to read and he can leave them their to share with all the other guys, plus I don't care if he brings them back when I only pay 25 cents for them. 

Plus if you have it in your area, check out used book stores that take tradeins for money or trading for other books.  I know that sites like Powell's: http://www.powells.com/home.html?header=Logo  you can go on and sell your books to them.  I love Powell's it is a huge bookstore in Portland, OR.  I took my husband there on our honeymoon. (he is a bookworm too).  You can pretty much find any book you would ever want there.

What am I reading now?  The Secret Garden By Frances Hodgson Burnett 

So far there are little variations from the movies that I have seen.  I love it, even though it is hard to read some of the "dialect" that some of the people speak.  I am getting the hang of it though.

Craft Group

I started a craft group a few months ago.  It is something that I have been wanting to do and I figure that it will  keep my busy while my husband is deployed.  On thursday we had our 3 group.  The other times I only had 3 people come to, this one I had 13 women and there were about 20 kids here.  It was a little busy.  We made the signs with last names on the Canvas.  Everyone had fun learning how to use a cricket and they all went home wanting to buy one.     Next month we are making the plastic bag holders that I posted about earlier.   It's so fun to help others be "creative".  Is there anything you do to teach people your talents?