Recipe Remake: Panda Express Orange Chicken

I am a big fan of Panda Express. Their entrees are great, the chow mein yummo! Of course the frugal woman I am I always use my coupon in the back for doing the survey. :)

I always see online the recipes for items to be able to recreate it at home and have wanted to see if it was possible. I have been trying to save even more money and sharpen my cooking skills so I attempted to remake the Panda Express Orange Chicken at home. I did some google searching and found a recipe at Panda Express Orange Chicken at Food.com.

The directions seemed long, the list of ingredients too but I love this item and really wanted to see how close I could get to matching the texture and flavor of their Orange Chicken.

I gathered all the ingredients and had the computer close by to be able to read the long instructions.

Preparing the chicken

The scent of Orange filled the kitchen

 The final result was delicious! The chicken tender with a light crunch. Not exactly Panda Express but close! Next time I make this I think I will add more orange flavor and less crushed red pepper for more of a orange chicken flavor. I like spicy but I did not want it to over power the orange flavor. A few people on the Food.com site said they did an only cornstarch batter for the chicken and no flour making it a bit crunchier. I will try that next time too. For now all I need it a fortune cookie!

I had my orange chicken with jasmine rice. So good!

Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Review #hosted

While vacationing in California we were lucky enough to go to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom in Vallejo/Northern California. Six Flags has so many fun rides but we were there to check out the New Superman Ultimate Flight ride. My boys are too young for the ride but that did not stop my husband and I. We love "real" roller coasters, not the ones that just spin around and around over and over again. The Superman Ultimate Flight was awesome! As our feet dangled down we flipped, twisted and turned all around while screaming and laughing. It was fun for the grown ups to feel like kids again and ride the rides. We love Superman around here so the little ones cheered us on from the ground!

Here we are at the ride!

So "super" are we in front of the ride.

The ALL Superman/Superhero gift shop right next to the ride!

There were lots of other shows and attractions we enjoyed. It was a busy day at Six Flags with lots of fun things to do. Here is a peek at the other attractions in pictures-

My husband and Liam enjoying the Aquarium and shark watching!

One of our favorite shows was the dolphins. There were six dolphins so it was action packed!

JJ and his cousin waiting in line for the Train.

Liam carefully watching the Tiger up close and personal.

If your in Northern CA or planning a visit we recommend taking your family to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom for a whole day of fun.

You can buy your tickets online here and stay up to date on all things Six Flags by following them on Twitter and being a fan on Facebook.



We also wanted to share a current contest to be a TV Video Host for got2b Six Flags Magic Mountain in Southern CA with you:

got2b a TV Host Video Contest

Think you have what it takes to be a HOST of Six Flags TV? PROVE IT! got2b is sending one lucky winner to Six Flags Magic Mountain to shoot an exclusive Fright Fest TV segment this September, where you'll be the host of Six Flags TV. Plus you can take three friends to cheer you on! To enter, simply register and upload your video for the chance to win! Camera up and get the details here.




*We were guest of Six Flags Discovery Kingdom for our visit. I was not compensated for this post.

Simple Fun, Movies and Themed Food

I love watching movies! I often rent ones people might pass up and am delightfully surprised by them. On Friday and Saturdays nights I really like to try to make dinner fit in a theme of the movie. It can be hard most times but last night was perfect!

I found a cute somewhat political mixed with romantic comedy called Salmon Fishing in Yemen with Ewan McGregor and Emily Blunt. I served Gorton's Grilled Salmon and purple potatoes. It was fun for me to have the meal and movie go together!

When the movie Midnight in Paris first was released on DVD we ate french bread and eclairs while we watched.

Do you ever try to have a movie and dinner theme? If so what movie did you watch with what food?

Snyder of Berlin Chips 65th Anniversary Snyder SnackShots Photo Contest

Chips are a summer food we always enjoy in my house. This year my son has loved to say "Chips" for some reason the word cracks him up. He will point to the cupboard and ask for chips with his lunch.

My son loves these ones. I like that they are tasty and dont get his hands coated in cheese powder

These were my favorite!

We had our chips as a snack during the afternoon while we played video games and watched cartoons. I really enjoyed the plain potato chips too. They had a great crunch and were not greasy. We served some with a clam dip for dinner with steak. It was a hit.

Enter The Snyder SnackShots™ Photo Contest!

Each month the judges will select one photo entry that will be qualified for inclusion in the final judging of the Snyder SnackShots™ Photo Contest. Here's a Press Release (PDF) with some more details.

Eight semifinalists will be chosen: one each month, June 2012 - January 2013, for the final selection among all entries received. Each semifinalist will receive a Snyder of Berlin Party Package of Snyder products. Check back with the Synder of Berlin contest page see the monthly winning photos and for the announcement of the Grand Prize winner.

Your photo should include Snyder of Berlin products in some way.

 

I am putting on my creative thinking cap to make a fun photo to enter the Snyder SnackShots Photo Contest. I would love to win any of the prizes!

GRAND PRIZE:

The one Grand Prize Winner receives: $1,000 in cash, a digital camera (valued at $150) and free Snyder of Berlin snacks for an entire year delivered to their door.

RUNNER-UP PRIZES:

The three Runner-Up Winners will receive: $500 in cash and free Snyder of Berlin snacks for an entire year delivered to their door.

I soooo want to try these ones!

You can buy Snyder of Berlin Chips online if you cant find them in the store.

HISTORY:

1920s

The Snyder family starts cooking kettle chips in their home kitchen on Centennial Avenue in Hanover, PA.

1920s

With a growing reputation, chip operations move to a new brick building at the back of the homestead.

1920s

Edward Snyder II and brother-in-law Barb Sterner work nearly around the clock to keep up with demand.

1930s

William Snyder takes over operations from his father as the company moves into its third generation.

1940s

Snyder works with manufacturers in the development of the aluminum foil bag and automated packaging machines.

1940s

Distribution spreads across Pennsylania — from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh.

1944

Jacob Stutzman, a storeowner in Berlin, PA, assists in sourcing chipping potatoes in Cambria and Somerset counties.

September 18, 1945

Stutzman and William Snyder meet with local farmers and business owners to discuss joining together to open a potato chip factory. The Berlin Brothersvalley Industrial Association of Berlin, PA, is formed.

March 1946

Stock is sold to finance construction of our original 120 x 100 foot building at the East End of town.

October 1946

Sent to learn the chip making operations, Norman Handwerk of Berlin returns from the Hanover plant with surplus machinery that he and his mechanics refurbish for use in the new factory.

February 9, 1947

Operations begin in Berlin with seven employees.

1950

Snyder operations in Hanover and Berlin part ways. The Sterner family assumes ownership of the Berlin operations.

1963

Upon the death of her husband, Edythe Snyder Sterner becomes president. Edythe and Barb's son, Gary Sterner, becomes general manager marking the fourth generation in the family's business.

1960s-1980s

Eleven additions are constructed around the original factory with new offices, manufacturing lines, storage and distribution facilities. The added space and success leads to the introduction of new product lines — including corn chips, corn curls and popcorn.

1965

Continuous roll packaging machines begin the trend toward high speeed automation.

1972

Snyder is acquired as a division of Curtice Burns of Rochester, NY. Its association with the Pro-Fac Cooperative (Producers-Facilities) garners the commitments needed to satisfy market demand; farmers get a guaranteed market for their produce.

1994

Curtice Burns Foods becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Pro-Fac Cooperative.

1997

Curtice Burns changes its name to Agrilink Foods, Inc. to underscore the close relationship between farmers and processors.

1998

With the acquisition of the Birds Eye brand, Agrilink Foods doubles its size. In 2003 Agrilink changes its name to Birds Eye Foods, Inc. building on the prestige of the nationally recognized brand.

2009

Pinnacle Foods Group LLC completes the acquisition of Birds Eye Foods. Pinnacle Foods is a private equity portfolio company of the Blackstone Group.

* I was not paid or compensated for this post. I was provided for free the products pictured in this post for my review by the Company/PR company. The opinions are 100% mine and may vary from others.

Larkspur Landing Hotel Roseville CA Review

I told you about how excited we were to stay at the Larkspur Landing Hotel in Roseville CA in this post and now I just as excited to tell you about our stay! The hotel is beautiful with lots of great additions that made our stay so wonderful. The staff was very welcoming as warm. We stayed in the Executive Suite that has a separate bedroom and living room complete with 2 flat screen LCD TV's, one for us and one for the kids. Here is a peek at our stay in pictures-

The breakfast area, so cute!

Love the chalkboard menu.

The "Living Room" area with a desk.

Our Kitchen with appliances, dishware, cookware and silverware!

Our welcome basket, so sweet.

They weren't lying when they boast they have the finest linens. Their signature FeatherBorne®  Bed with high thread count sheets, a quilted down comforter, a premium duvet cover and a large selection of pillows was amazing!

My children had plenty of space to play and have fun. That was the central part of the Executive Suite that each "room" branched our from.

Me enjoying a cup of coffee out on the balcony, it was so beautiful and quiet. That was right off the bedroom so I was able to sneak out there before anyone else was awake!

The only bummer was that The Larkspur Hotel in Roseville does not have a pool, which my kids love. But as busy as we were on vacation, it did not seem to matter too much to us. If you are looking for a way to relax or unwind they do have a whirlpool spa and a fitness center. A great hotel that is family friendly and we will definitely be coming back.


 You can learn more about Larkspur Hotels on Facebook and Twitter.



*I was not compensated for this post. We will be guest of the Larkspur Landing Hotel in Roseville on our Road Trip Summer Vacation Event.