Archive for October, 2009

This is another of our favorite make at home Chinese recipes. It tastes delicious is easy to make, and also allows us to modify food for the sensitive tummy of our 2 year old.

Ingredients:
2 boneless skinless chicken breast (could use different meat of your choice)
1/4 c. soy sauce
1 c. water
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp garlic powder
5 tbsp brown sugar (for sweet version) or 2 tbsp honey (for less sweet version)
1-2 tbsp cornstarch (depends how thick you like it)
1/4 c. cold water
1 tbsp sesame seeds, optional

Directions:
1. Cook chicken breasts thoroughly and slice into small strips.
2. Mix all but cornstarch, 1/4 c. cold water, and sesame seeds together in saucepan and heat.
3. Add cornstarch and cold water to a tight sealing container and shake to mix.
4. Pour cornstarch water to warmed mixture. Heat until thickened.
5. Toast sesame seeds by either putting them in a hot oven for a few minutes or placing on a small baking stone and microwaving for a minute.
5. Pour sauce over chicken and top with sesame seeds.

We like to serve this with Fried Rice (see previous recipe) or over plain cooked brown rice with salad or veggies. To serve this to the 2 year old we leave the sauce off and season his chicken (or serve with a dipping sauce like BBQ)

You could also add hot sauce to make it spicy or leave the cornstarch water out and use as a marinade.

Teriyaki Chicken Phoenix Portrait Photographer

You may have noticed some changes and updates around here. The blog is getting closer to it’s final (for now ;) ) look and the Splash Page (where you land when you visit http://kaylarenckly.com) has been updated to show…drumroll please…an HTML site :) Don’t get me wrong I LOVE my Flash site, I think it looks fantastic with it’s large pictures and all that jazz (did you know you can turn the music on while you browse? bottom left corner, it’s purdy music if you like that sort of thing). But not everyone has a fast/reliable enough internet connection to view a flash site. That’s where the HTML site comes in (you can also view it on your smart phone, think Blackberry, iPhone, Palm, etc). It’s not quite as fancy as Flash but everyone can view it, plus anyone that knows about SEO and all the behind the scenes fun (sarcastic there I might add) knows it’s a good idea to have html. And of course a link to this here blog where you can see all the latest goings on, any sales, and my weekly recipes-things you don’t want to miss out on! You’ll also see that a Boudoir site is in the works and in the next week or so I’ll be announcing a special portfolio building sale to celebrate the new branch of my business-if you want to the special man in your life something for Christmas that will knock his stockings off, contact me to book your session!

http://kaylarenckly.com/html
Kayla Renckly Photography Phoenix Portrait Photographer

Check it out and let me know what you think!

My family loves Chinese food, but with a child that can’t eat most of it we don’t get to have it often. So instead of take-out I’ve learned to modify recipes at home for his sensitive tummy so we can still enjoy our favorite foods. It allows me to make it a little healthier (not to mention less expensive) and even better, not have to deal with hungry children at a restaurant :) .

**This recipe can be egg and soy free**

Ingredients:
1 c. uncooked long grain brown rice (please don’t use minute rice, it does not taste the same)*
3 c. hot water
1/2-3/4 c. hot water
1/2 c. chopped carrots
1/2 c. frozen peas
1 tbsp oil (I use extra-virgin olive oil or you can use sesame oil to be more authentic)
1 egg
soy sauce

Directions:
1. Microwave rice and 3 c hot water covered for 25 minutes or until cooked (moisture absorbed and tender). Take lid off while cooling.
2. Boil carrots in about 1/2 c water for 3-5 minutes (until almost tender). Drop in frozen peas and cook about 2 minutes (until peas are warmed through).
3. Drain water and add oil; cook for about a minute on medium heat.
4. Add egg and stir until egg is thoroughly cooked in stringy pieces.
5. Stir in rice and cook a minute. Remove from heat and add soy sauce to taste.

**To make egg and soy free**
1. Follow instructions steps 1-3.
2. Add rice and cook for a minute.
3. Remove portion and follow steps 4-5 if desired.

*Fried rice is best when using one day old rice (cook the rice the day before making fried rice), but I never remember to.

Phoenix Portrait Photographer Fried Rice Recipe Photography

You can also add in leftover meat to make it a meal or serve as a side dish. We love to eat this with Teriyaki Chicken (see recipe).

These little guys are going to give mom a run for her money! Not only were they a surprise but they are so adorable! Give them a few years and then moms better lock up their daughters ;) Even their gorgeous older sisters adore them (look for them in a future post).

Surprise Twins Newborn Photographer

Surprise Twins Newborn Photographer
Look at all his hair! He was so easy going and seemed to enjoy having his picture taken (or maybe it was the warm, fuzzy blanket)

Surprise Twins Newborn Photographer
His brother doesn’t have quite as much hair but he’s definitely a redhead like one of his older sisters.

Surprise Twins Newborn Photographer

Surprise Twins Newborn Photographer

Surprise Twins Newborn Photographer
Congratulations on a beautiful family mama, those boys are getting so big already!

Back in July, Houston-based photographer Christie Lacy was here in Phoenix visiting family. Christie and I know each other from a photography forum we both are part of and invited me to join her for an engagement session she was shooting for a family friend and of course I said yes. We met in the Copper Square District of downtown Phoenix and scoped out locations. It was surprisingly quiet and empty until we realized that there were no events going on which made it so much easier to get great shots without strange people ending up in them. She was even kind enough to take a few head shots for me (see them here) that I love (thanks again Christie!).

These two were so much fun to capture-they were constantly laughing and cracking each other up and were obviously very in love!

Phoenix Engagement Photographer
I love the hazy soft colors, I think it adds to the romance.

Phoenix Engagement Portrait
Trying a different black and white, I really like the newsprint feel to it. Let me know what you think in the comments!

Phoenix Engagement Portrait

Phoenix Engagement Photographer
We were in the right place at the right time for a fantastic portrait opportunity!

Phoenix Engagement Photographer

Phoenix Engagement Portrait

Phoenix Engagement Portrait
Look at that gorgeous ring!

Phoenix Engagement Portrait

We had so much fun even on a hot and muggy afternoon during the July monsoon. Can’t say I didn’t break a sweat but it was worth it!

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