Chinese Orange Chicken and Fried Rice

One of my husband's and my favorite things to do is to stay in, order Chinese food and watch a good movie (or more recently the Republican debates), but unfortunately it is just too expensive to do all the time. So, I set out to create my own Chinese food at home. It is surprisingly easy with pretty simple ingredients. This recipe has quickly jumped into being one of our favorite dishes. If you love Chinese food, but have never made it yourself, I encourage you to try this recipe- you'll want to make it all the time once you try it!

Just like yesterday, I am using chicken thighs. I have considered doing this recipe with beef, so substituting beef brisket or something similar would work in this too, I think. Obviously you can use chicken breasts in place of the thighs- use whatever you have on hand! One ingredient in this recipe, rice vinegar, you may or may not have in your pantry. You can sub cider vinegar or even red wine vinegar (just add a bit of sugar too), you just need that acidic punch that the vinegar adds. Don't be afraid to experiment!

Orange Chicken

2-3 T Veg Oil
3 Chicken Thighs cut into strips
3 T flour
1 pkg Baby Bella Mushroom (or shitake) sliced
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1-2 tsp ground ginger
2-3 T green onions chopped
pinch salt
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1/2 Medium Onion thinly sliced
3 T Orange Marmalade
2 T Rice Vinegar
3 T Soy Sauce
1 T Citrus Juice
Dash or Ground Ginger
1 tsp Sugar to taste

In medium bowl, combine 2nd half of ingredients and refrigerate for 1 hour and up to 1 day. When you are ready to begin cooking, in a medium bowl, combine flour, red pepper flakes, ginger, green onions, and salt, stir to combine. Pour over chicken strips in zip top bag. Shake to combine. In wok, or large skillet heat veg oil over high heat. Add the floured chicken. Saute until brown. Add mushrooms and toss to brown, about 1 minute. Add the soy/vinegar mixture. Stir until the sauce has thickened. Serve with Asian Fried Rice.

Asian Fried Rice

1 T Butter
1.5 Cups Cooked White Rice
1/2 Onion chopped
1/3-1/2 C Frozen Peas and Carrots
1 Egg
Soy Sauce
Garlic Powder
Black Pepper
Sesame Seeds (if desired)

In saute pan, heat butter over medium high heat, add onion and saute until onions are translucent and just beginning to brown slightly. Add the rice and stir to combine with onion. Add just enough soy sauce to turn the rice brown and give it a salty flavor. Saute for about 30 seconds. Add the frozen peas and carrots and saute until heated through. Add more soy sauce if needed. Make a well in the center of the pan, and crack egg into pan. Scramble the egg and combine with the rice. Season with garlic powder, black pepper and sesame seeds to taste. Serve and enjoy!

I can't wait to see if any of you try these recipes. Chinese food made at home is just as good (or better!) than getting take out. Its definitely cheaper and in this economy, cheaper is ALWAYS better. I hope you enjoy!

Taco Tuesday!

Welcome to Taco Tuesday 2.0. Tonight I am making Chicken Tacos with a mango salsa. Its been so cold lately (even though today is in the 60s) that I have been craving something to remind me of summer. This is such an easy recipe to make that you can make it whenever you need that pick me up in the middle of winter.

I use chicken thighs in this recipe because I love how they stay moist even if you cook them a little too long. However, boneless, skinless chicken breasts would would just as great here too. I also am using a homemade taco seasoning here as well (recipe to follow) but you can use a store bought one if you have one on hand- I just prefer the homemade version because I can control how much salt is in it and I can add more or less of certain spices that I like. The salsa is customizable to your liking as well. You can add peppers or chilis or other spices- its entirely up to you!

Beat the Winter Blues Chicken Tacos

(serves 4)
3 Chicken thighs
2 T Taco seasoning
3 T All Purpose Flour
1 T Veg oil

Slice chicken thighs into 1/4 inch strips. Heat oil over medium heat. Combine taco seasoning and flour in a zip-top bag, add chicken and coat well. Saute chicken until cooked through and golden brown.

Mango Salsa

1 Mango- chopped
1 Yellow or Red Onion- chopped
1 Avocado - chopped
2 T chopped cilantro
2 tsp citrus juice (lemon or lime)
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine all ingredients except for avocado unless you are ready to serve. If making in advance leave the avocado out beacuse it will oxodize and turn brown. Just add it at the last minute. This salsa does taste better if made in advance and left to sit in the fridge for a few hours.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

1 T chili powder
1/4 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
Pinch of cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp paprika
1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Combine all ingredients and store in an airtight container, use as needed.

Serve these tacos on four tortillas or corn tortillas with the mango salsa and sour cream. Serve with chips and your favorite salsa for a complete meal and let this dish take you away from winter and into a summer paradise!

Freezer Friday: Sausage, Peppers, and Onions

Its Friday and that means I am slightly tired of cooking and planning (and too excited since I have a candle order coming today!!) so I am taking tons of help from my freezer and making sausage, peppers and onions. I found these fully cooked Italian flavored chicken sausages at the grocery store last week. We had a coupon for them, so I thought, why not?

Tonight I am cooking these according to the package directions (essentially just steaming them in a pan with a bit of water and then browning them up when the water evaporates) but I am going to top them with sauteed bell pepper and onion. You can serve them on a hot dog or hoagie bun or just eat them without the bread if you are doing the low-carb thing (it is January, right?).

I am also serving these along side sweet potato fries. Normally I would make them myself- just slice, salt and pepper, toss in oil and roast in the oven until brown and crispy- but like I said, its Freezer Friday and I have a bag of ready made ones which makes my life easier.

That's whats on the menu tonight! Let me know if you have tried these chicken sausages from Johnsonville and what you think of them!

Look out for my candle review later :)