Orange Chicken

Surgeon General's Warning: This is not a healthy meal. If you are looking for a healthy meal do not read on. Avert your eyes of all yummyness involved in the making of this blog post and come back to this blog another time.

If you love Panda Express' Orange Chicken then you will be amazed with this recipe. It is so good that I can no longer eat Orange Chicken from Panda without being thoroughly disappointed. It is not a hard recipe but is time consuming so plan on at least an hour. Trust me when I say it is well worth the wait though!

2 lbs. boneless skinless chicken cut in approx. 2 inch pieces
1 egg
white pepper
oil
1/2 c. plus 1 tlbs. cornstarch
1/4 c.. flour
1 tlbs. minced ginger root (or powdered ginger)
1 tsp. minced garlic
1 dash crushed hot red chilies
1/4 c;. chopped green onion
1 tlbs. rice wine (I use white vinegar if I don't have rice wine)
1/4 c. water
1 tsp. sesame oil

*Orange Chicken Sauce
1 1/2 tlbs. soy sauce
1 1/2 tlbs. water
1/4 c. plus 1 tlbs. sugar
1/4 c. plus 1 tlbs. white vinegar


Cut Chicken into 2 inch pieces and place in large bowl. Stir in egg, salt, pepper, and 1 tlbs. oil. Mix well. Stir cornstarch and flour together. Add to chicken pieces stirring to coat.

Cut up, meaure out, and mix up remaining ingredients, prepare orange sauce, and put all aside.

Heat oil for deep-frying in wok or deep fryer to 375 degrees. Add chicken pieces in small batches at a time and fry for 3 to 4 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. (do not overcook or chicken will be tough. I cook my chicken 4 minutes and no more) Remove chicken from oil with slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside.

Clean wok and heat back up. Add 1 tlbs oil, ginger and garlic and fry for a few seconds. Add and stir crushed chilies and green onion. Stir. Add rice wine and stir. Add orange sauce and bring to boil. Add cooked chicken back into wok. Stir chicken until well coated. Stir water into remaining 1 tlbs cornstarch until smooth. Add to chicken and stir until sauce is thickened. Add 1 tlbs. oil and sesame oil.

I serve with stir fried veggies and rice. This particular meal we didn't have veggies so we served with pot stickers instead.

Poppy Seed Chicken

This is a dinner that my kids actually get excited about eating.
Mix the following together and pour in the bottom of a 9x13 pan:

4 chicken breasts cooked and cubed
2 cans cream of chicken soup
16 oz. sour cream

Mix the following and spread on top of chicken mixture:

1 roll of crushed Ritz crackers
1 Tablespoon poppy seeds
3/4 cube butter melted (6 Tblsp)

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Serve over rice or angel hair pasta.

BBQ Chicken over Rice.

About 2 lbs chicken

Sauce:

4 T. EVOO

6 cloves garlic

1 c. onion

1 16 oz. can tomato sauce

1 12oz. bottle chili sauce

1/4 c. vinegar

1 1/2 c. brown sugar

4 chicken boullion cubes

1 1/2 t. pepper

Best if sauce made the night before. Saute onion and garlic in olive oil. Add all other ingredients, boil gently, uncovered for 15 minutes- not less. Preheat oven to 350 and cut up uncooked chicken and salt and pepper. Put in baking dish and pour and mix sauce with the chicken. Bake for 50 minutes covered and an additional 10 minutes uncovered. Let stand 5 minutes then serve over rice. Sauce can also be used with coutry style boneless pork ribs slow-cooked all day in the crock pot.

Category: Dinner

Summer Strawberry Spinach Salad

Toasted Almonds (I do my own with just acouple tablespoons of sugar and almonds. On low-medium heat till browned. Do not Burn!)

1 Bag Spinach

1 Pint Strawberries (Sliced)

Dressing

1/3 c. sugar

2 T. sesame seeds

1 T. poppy seeds

1 1/2 t. minced onion

1/4 t. worsch.sauce

1/4 t. paprika

1/2 c. veg. oil

1/4 c. cider vinegar

Mix all together right before serving. (I don't usually use all the dressing so just use enough to cover the salad, or you each put it on individually.. but stir it really well!!) Does not keep so eat up!!

Category: Salads

Zucchini Bread

This is Heather's recipe that I haven't actually tried yet- but everything she makes is great!

3 eggs

1 c oil

2 c sugar

Mix

Add: 

2 c grated zucchini

3 tsp vanilla

3 c flour

1 tsp salt

1 tsp soda

3 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp baking powder

1/2 c nuts if desired

For 3 large loaves 325 degrees for 60 minutes

For many small loaves 275 degrees for shorter time

Yummy Lemonade with a Twist.

This is the one I made for that shower at Lindsay Nielson's house. I do not have a picture, Sorry!!

The Juice from 8 lemons
1 lemon zested
1 T. lemon extract
3 c. sugar
4 c. milk

Mix with club soda to taste.

I know it sounds a little funny but really it is good!

Category: Drinks

Balsamic Glazed Pork Chops

This is a yummy recipe that is sooo easy and even my 3 year old really likes it.

Prep Time 5 minutes; cook time 10-15 minutes. Serves 4.

6-8 boneless pork loin chops 1/4"-1/2" thick - trim fat
1/2 tsp Salt (I use kosher)
1/4 tsp pepper
1 T. olive oil
3 T. chopped green onion
1/3 c. balsamic vinegar
1/4 c. packed brown sugar

Pat pork with paper towel. Sprinkle chops with salt and pepper. In non-stick 12"skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat until hot. Cook chops 4 minutes on each side till no longer pink. Transfer to another dish and keep warm. Increase heat to high; stir onion into pan juices for one minute. Stir in vinegar and sugar and cook an additonal minute. Pour sauce over chops.

Category : Dinner