Orange Chicken

I almost hesitated to post this one because it uses another random ingredient, but I couldn't resist, it's way too good to not share! I was really impressed with how well this turned out. I just didn't expect it to be so good and it really wasn't as labor intensive as I had thought either. Anyway this was totally a five star meal to me and I will definitely make this one again.

Recipe found at favfamilyrecipes.com

Chicken:
2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast, cut into 1 1/2 in cubes (I used 2 chicken breasts which was enough for 4 servings.
1 ½ c. flour
1 eggs (beaten)
¼ t. salt
¼ t. pepper
Oil (for frying)

Orange Sauce:
1 c. water
2 Tb. FRESH orange juice
¼ c. FRESH lemon juice
1/3 c. rice vinegar
2 ½ Tb. soy sauce
1 Tb. orange zest
1 c. packed brown sugar
½ t. ginger root, minced (I just used a little powder)
½ t. minced garlic
2 Tb. green onion, chopped
¼ t. red pepper flakes (this doesn't make it hot at all, so if you want more spice add more)
3 Tb. cornstarch
1/4 c. water

Add flour, salt, and pepper and place in shallow dish. In separate bowl add egg. Dip chicken into egg and then roll in flour, repeat until all chicken is coated. Deep fry chicken in fryer or I just used a deep skillet. Cook until no longer pink and golden brown. Remove and set aside. Meanwhile add water, vinegar, lemon juice, orange juice, and soy sauce to small saucepan. Heat through for a few minutes then add brown sugar, orange zest, ginger, garlic, green onion, and red pepper and cook until boiling. In a separate bowl mix water and cornstarch and slowly pour into orange sauce and cook until thickened. Serve sauce over chicken and ENJOY!

Asian Beef Stir Fry

I don't buy steak too often, but when I can find it for a $1.99 a lb (thank you savvyshopperdeals.com:) then I don't feel so bad buying it, and almost every time I do I usually end up making this with the last 2 steaks. I love that it's a one dish meal and turns out great every time. The original recipe is meant to be made in a wok, but of course I don't have one so I just make do with what I got. Anyway here it is!




1 lb steak, cut into bite size strips
1/2 c. cold water
1 1/2 t. corn starch
2 packages Oriental flavored Top Ramen
3 carrots, peeled and cut into match sticks
1 lb broccoli
2 c. water
oil for stir frying

Combine cornstarch, cold water, and seasoning packets from Ramen. Add steak to hot pan and cook until no longer pink. Add cornstarch water and cook until thick and bubbly. Remove steak from pan and keep warm. Add oil and vegetables and stir fry for about 5 minutes. Add a 1 1/2 c. water and cook until noodles are done adding more water if needed (you don't want it soupy, just enough to cook the noodles) Add the steak back in and enjoy!

Fried Rice

So some people consider fried rice as just a side, but for me I make it for a main dish fairly regularly, usually to use up left over ham. The recipe I did last night was not my usual recipe, it called for sausage instead and few other things I don't typically cook with. Honestly I liked the change, but Frank thought it tasted funny. It had bean sprouts in it which I think gave off kind of a different flavor. I think next time I might use my usual recipe and just try sausage instead of ham for a change. So instead of giving the recipe I did last night I'll give you my usual Ham Fried Rice recipe.

1 c. minced carrots
2-3 T. cooking oil
2-3 eggs scrambled
3 c. rice, cooked and cold- I have used warm rice it just tends to want to clump together a little but it's really not a big deal
1 c. ham, cubed
1 small can sliced water chestnuts, chopped
1 c. frozen petite peas
3-4 T. soy sauce


Saute carrots until cooked to your liking (I leave them a little crunchy.) Add ham, eggs, and then cook on medium high heat until eggs are completely cooked. Add remaining ingredients and cook until completely cooked through. This is kind of a no fail recipe. I think I kind of do it a little different every time so really just do whatever works for you, add whatever you have or like. If you check out ourbestbites.com she has a good fried rice recipe but with some different chicken recipes you can do with it instead of ham.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

There are few recipes that I ever do more than once, and this is one of them. We love this recipe! It takes a little more time than some of the other recipes I've posted, most of which is just cooking time, but it's worth it. Enjoy!

2-4 chicken breasts cut into large chunks or chicken tenders would probably work (I only use 2 and that makes about 2 servings each for me and Frank, unless you just want lots of chicken:)
garlic salt
1 c. flour

Sweet and Sour Sauce
3/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. vinegar
1/4 c. chicken broth ( I just make this using chicken bouillon granules)
1/2 t. salt
4 Tb. ketchup
1 Tb. soy sauce
1 Tb. seasoning salt

1 can of chunk pineapple, drained
1 onion minced-optional
1 green pepper minced-optional

Sprinkle garlic salt on chicken. Pour flour into large ziploc bag along with chicken. Shake bag until chicken is completely covered. Heat frying pan with 4-5 Tb. oil. Remove chicken from bag shaking off remaining flour. Cook chicken in oil just until the outside turns white, don't worry about cooking all the way through, it will continue cooking in the oven. Place chicken in greased 9x13. Mix together ingredients for sweet and sour sauce (sugar through seasoning salt) until sugar is mostly dissolved. Pour over chicken. Add pineapple, onion, and green pepper. Cover with tin foil and cook at 350 for one hour. It isn't necessary but I flip my chicken every 20 minutes or so just to keep it tender. Serve over rice.