Good afternoon! It’s a beautiful one here in NC 
And guess what? Matt is here AND we’re actually staying in town this weekend! Crazy talk. I’m excited Especially because I’m going out of town AGAIN on Wednesday! Any guesses where I’m going? Hint: I was there in January… but not for the same reason 
So — before I get to my fun lunch recipe — would you like to know who won my Quaker Amazing Morning Kit giveaway? This was my most popular giveaway yet, with a whopping 474 comments! I loved reading how all of you take care of yourselves in the morning. I might need to steal some of your ideas — especially starting the day with some stretching!
The winner is…
Commenter #158, April!
Here’s what April said:
Yum! Green smoothies (especially my Banana & Spinach Smoothie) make my mornings better, too Congrats, April — please email your name and address to me at anne @ fannetasticfood.com and Quaker will send your package on its way!
Thank you to everyone who entered
Anyway! I was craving Thai for lunch and since Matt is around (he gets back from DC on Thursday night and works from home on Fridays) I was more motivated than usual to cook something more involved
Enter: Thai Chili Garlic Chicken with Veggies and Brown Rice!
Yum.
My old friend Fish Sauce came back out to play for today’s creation — remember when I bought it at an Asian grocery store for my Project Food Blog Challenge #2 entry, Fresh Thai Summer Rolls? Those were so good. Fish sauce kind of grosses me out but it sure does taste good in recipes.
Thai Chili Garlic Chicken with Veggies and Brown Rice
Ingredients:
- 1/4 cup liquid honey
- 2 Tbsp. fish sauce (pictured above — don’t worry the other side of the label says “fish sauce”!)
- 1 Tbsp. fresh lime juice
- 2 Tbsp. chili garlic sauce
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- Sliced veggies (bok choy, green beans, squash, peppers, etc.)
- 1 package of chicken breasts
Instructions:
1) Mix all the ingredients except for the chicken together in a medium sized bowl. Slice the chicken into bite sized pieces and place it in the bowl to marinate while you prepare the veggies.
2) Cut your veggies (I just used bok choy but a mix would have been more fun).
3) Place the chicken, marinade and all, in a pan and cook over medium high heat until chicken mostly cooked.
4) Add in your veggies and sauté until they are cooked to your liking and chicken is fully cooked.
5) Plate and enjoy!
I love the base of the bok choy — it looks like a flower
Matt added extra chili garlic sauce to his, because he’s obsessed with spicy food. Boys.
Dessert was some of these amaaaaazing enormous and juicy grapes I got from the co-op near where we live. Yum!!
And now — I’m off to rejoice, because after FAILING the stupid NC written drivers test on Wednesday (the questions were SO random and oddly worded) — I took a few practice tests this morning and was able to pass it this afternoon, no problem! Go me My new license picture was cute, too — I’ll show you guys when my official new NC license arrives in 10 days or so.
Have a wonderful night!
YUM! That looks amazing!
That looks like an awesome giveaway! Congrat to April!
wow – that dish looks amazing!
Are you going back to California? I can’t remember where else you were in January but I think I remember you went to visit Jenna.
April is one lucky girl but Matt is also one lucky boy. That Thai dish looks so inviting!
Ding ding ding!
But not to San Francisco…!
that looks good! sorry about your drivers test! that’s crazy you have to wait 10 days to get your license…when i got mine in Asheville a couple years ago I got it that day! and yes, the test is ridiculous. My parents took it before I did so I got the inside scoop
Have fun in town this weekend! you should check out downtown raleigh some time too…so fun 
Do you think I could make that thai dish with fish or tofu and it would work? I don’t eat chicken, but it looks wonderful.
Absolutely! I’d try it with either extra firm tofu or with shrimp
Your photos of the leaves today are just beautiful.
Her goes: Tampa, San Juan Island, Seattle, NYC (Pssst, I cheated, I looked back in January blogs:
Congrats April.
Soooo close… but you missed a state
I was there right after New Years…!
If it is California, my goodness, don’t you ever get tired of traveling? I believe that is where you met up with your cousins. If it is California, have a great time.
It is! And yes, I am VERY tired of traveling. But I’m not one to pass up on cool opportunities
i wouldn’t pass it up either dear. Have a great time and take plenty of pictures.
Congrats on passing the “redneck” test (DMV) just kidding, tee hee.
I have a sister that lives near Bryson City and she complained about the same seemingly silly questions.
Nice photos, nice chow, and great contest! Congrats!
Fish sauce is awesome ;] But then again I am Vietnamese and grew up eating it. Teehee.
Looks tasty; I am still not brave enough to purchase my own bottle of fish sauce though… I know I like it in other people’s creations, so maybe I need to be more adventurous myself! Congrats on getting the new license
Dooooo ittttt!!
The dish looks tasty! I may have found a way to use the fake (and weird!) veggie chicken in my freezer!
The pictures of the leaves are so pretty! We don’t get fall here in Florida… I can’t wait to move to DC (hopefully) next year for grad school!
Haha glad you passed. Hi from the exciting atlanta airport! Im only a few states away!!!
Aw I wish you could come play! I miss you!!
You sure have one popular/successful, blog Miss Anne
Great pics and the post is just captivating. Kudos