“Growing up, my mom cooked dinner, and we sat at the table as a family every night, no matter what was happening. That was so ingrained in me, and I try and emulate that with my family. I saw how important it was to have that time together, just the four of us, to share a meal and our time with each other,” shared Courtney Martin of Gulf Breeze, FL.
Courtney and her husband Jared have been married for 12 years and together have two children – Amelia Kate (10) and Harry (8). They also have a Bernadoodle whose name is Bogey. He is named after Jared’s favorite sport – golf!
Courtney left a 16-year career in medical sales and started her own business in 2023 called Courtney Martin Mindset (CMM). The business was birthed after identifying her own struggle in balancing her work and home life. Now, she assists in helping men and women in sales-based businesses focus on the right habits to help them succeed. Under the CMM umbrella, she is an author, speaker, and course creator.
The Martin family stays busy, especially with the kids’ extra-curricular activities, but they still manage to eat at home most weeknights and enjoy plenty of time with friends and making memories on the water.
“We love traveling – one of our favorites has been Harbour Island, Bahamas. Also, during the summers, we enjoy boating, crabbing and tubing with friends,” shares Courtney.
Stir fry meals are a staple for dinner in the Martin home, and this 15-minute Chicken Stir Fry was an easy share because it uses their kids’ favorite starch – noodles! Plus, the easy clean-up makes it a winner for mom, dad, or whoever is doing the dishes.
“As a mother, I love cooking healthy, yummy meals for my family and sitting down, reflecting on our day, and hearing everyone’s favorite parts,” Courtney shared. “I found that we learn so much about our children just in those 30 minutes because, many days, it’s the only uninterrupted time the four of us have together. I hope I’m setting an example for my two children when they have families of their own.”
15-Minute Chicken Stir Fry
Ingredients:
- 1 lb (450g) skinless, boneless chicken breast, cut into strips
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 garlic cloves, finely minced
- 1 medium carrot, julienned or shredded
- 8 ounces (225g) spaghetti noodles
- 3 cups broccoli florets, rinsed
- Fresh chopped scallion, for garnish
- Toasted sesame seeds, for garnish
Ingredients for the Sauce:
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated ginger or ground ginger
- 1 TBSP brown sugar (or honey)
- 1/4 cup (60ml) low-sodium soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, optional
- Fresh cracked black pepper, to taste
Directions:
- In a large pot with boiling salted water, cook the spaghetti according to package directions. Add the broccoli florets the last 5 minutes of cooking and let them cook with pasta until tender. Drain the noodles and broccoli and set aside.
- While pasta is cooking, whisk together the brown sugar, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, sesame oil, ginger, red pepper, and black pepper in a small bowl.
- Season chicken strips to taste with salt and pepper. Add olive oil to a medium-sized skillet and cook chicken in an even layer over medium heat, turning from time to time for 2 or 3 minutes, until slightly golden. Stir in the garlic, and carrots and cook for a minute more, until cooked through but not overdone.
- Transfer the cooked spaghetti and broccoli to the skillet and pour the sauce on top and toss until fully incorporated. Reheat for a couple of minutes and serve the chicken stir fry noodles, garnished with scallion and toasted sesame seeds. Enjoy!
- Recipe from Eatwell 101
Gabriele has been married to her husband Daniel for 17 years. Together they have three incredible children – two boys, ages 16 and nine, and a sweet girl who will be two in August. Gabriele is a full-time Sales Director for Mary Kay Cosmetics. When she isn’t spending time with family or building her business, she supports her husband who is the Lead Pastor and Planter of Forward Church in Gulf Shores.
