Olde Ducks and Chow Mein

Quite a contrast of topics, eh?  Well the last loop of Olde Ducks was pulled today ......maybe.  Although I try to stay kinda true to Magdalena's colors in her rugs (using what is in my stash) sometimes I need to make changes to suit me.  This might occur with this rug.  Here is a picture with a flash.

Here is a picture without a flash and it looks somewhat better in this photo.  The area of concern is around the mother duck's beak. 

If you look at the two pictures of Magdalena's original rug you will see there was a lot of light wool around the beak.  At first I did hook darker wool between the beak and chest of the duck but pulled it out to stay truer to Magdalena.  Now I'm second guessing my decision.  I'll look at it again tomorrow and decide later.

Now, to the yummy Chow Mein lunch.  Going to the trouble to make a meal pays off in the long run as I've now lunches or dinners to pop in the microwave for a couple days. 

Before even chopping the onions and celery I started my brown rice since it takes 45 minutes for that to cook.  Could have had Chow Mein noodles but figured brown rice was a healthier choice.  Here is the recipe:

CHOW MEIN
3 cups sliced onions
1 1/2 cups sliced celery
1/2 cup butter (I used less of olive oil)
   SIMMER 10 minutes

ADD
1 1/4 cups chicken broth (I used frozen turkey broth from Thanksgiving)
Can of Bean Sprouts (fresh is better and what I used)
1 small can bamboo shoots (drained)
1 small can mushroom pieces (I used fresh)
    SIMMER 5 minutes

You can add left over chicken, pork, turkey, etc.  I added left over turkey from Thanksgiving which I'd frozen. 

THICKENING
2/3 cups chicken broth
4 TBS. corn starch
4 tsp. Soy Sauce (I used lower sodium)
2 tsp. sugar (I used 1 pk Sweet and Low)

If it gets a little thick then just add a little water to make measurements come out to your desired palate.

After cooking it I was too hungry to take a picture of my plate so just chowed it down.  However, before scooping the delicious leftovers into a container this is a picture taken in my electric wok.  Oh, this is a great gift to yourself or someone else.  I love my electric wok.  No, I don't sell them but if you still have gifts to buy it might be a good choice along with a recipe book. 

Tomorrow I'll add a little more turkey since there was some left over but it started getting too thick and I was hungry THEN.  Tomorrow I'll add a little moisture when the turkey is mixed in.

Have a great evening everyone.

Saundra