Orange Chicken and Veggies

Today I was in the mood for something not too heavy, some veggies, and of course, my beloved rice.  I would serve rice every single day if I thought Thom would go for it!  This recipe fit the bill perfectly and bonus - everybody loved it!!  Of course, most of the fam didn't eat the vegetables but I'm no nitpicker.  That is a battle I'm not choosing; they will eventually learn to love them, like I did!  And if they don't, then they will be really unhealthy.  Anyway!  This is good, make it!!


Orange Chicken and Veggies
Recipe from Jamie Cooks It up!

4 chicken breasts

3/4 cup flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2 tbsp. olive oil
5 large carrots (I am bummed because I forgot to add these)
1 onion
2 bell peppers (red, green or orange...you choose)
6 stalks celery
salt and pepper to taste

Sauce:

3/4 cup orange juice

1/4 cup soy sauce
1/2 tsp. ginger
2 tsp. rice vinegar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. sesame oil
pinch red pepper flakes (I added two pinches and it still wasn't hot enough for us)
2 tbsp. corn starch
1 cup chicken broth

Cut the chicken breasts up into 2 inch cubes. Combine the flour and the 1/4 t salt in a small bowl. Throw the chicken around in it until all of the pieces are covered.

Heat up a large skillet. When it's hot add 1 tbsp. oil and throw your floured chicken into it. Cook your chicken until it is golden all over. (About 10 minutes)  While your chicken is cooking up, chop up your veggies. Make sure they are about the same size. When your chicken is pretty and golden, take it out of the pan and place it on a plate.  Add another tbsp. of oil into the hot skillet. Add your veggies and cook over medium high heat until crisp tender...about another 10 minutes.  While your veggies cook add all sauce ingredients to a medium sized sauce pan. Whisk them together until they are all combined nicely. Bring to a boil. Once it boils it should thicken up.   When your veggies are crisp tender add your thickened sauce and chicken into the pan. Stir it all around and there you have it.  (I personally kept everything seperate, so you could take as much chicken, veggies or sauce as you wanted.)  Serve over rice.

Spaghetti with Garlic, Olive Oil and Red Pepper

Sometimes I just want a simple meal.  This recipe looked so good to me, I couldn't wait to try it.  I was worried that it would be too plain for Thom, but he loved it.  I wanted to eat about 5 helpings but I exercised some self control.  I sauteed some shrimp in garlic and butter and put it on top of Thom's pasta.  I think next time I make it I would like to saute some veggies and maybe pancetta to add to it.  Then watch out, its 5 helpings time!!

Spaghetti with Garlic, Olive Oil and Red Pepper
Recipe adapted from Yum Sugar

Ingredients:

7 ounces of spaghetti
2 large or 3 small garlic cloves, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons of chili pepper flakes
1/4 to 1/3 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
Freshly grated pecorino romano cheese to taste (this made it SO GOOD)

Directions:

Cook spaghetti according to the directions on the package, until it is al dente.  Strain spaghetti and place in a large serving dish.  Add minced garlic, chili pepper flakes, olive oil, salt, and pepper, and mix together well.  Serve warm or at room temperature.  Just before serving, top with pecorino romano cheese.

Making it Work

Sometimes your big dinner ambitions don't work out, but you can't give up.  Just make it work somehow!  Tonight I was looking forward to making chicken taquitos.  I tried about 5 times rolling different tortillas up, but they kept falling apart into a million pieces.  Frustration!!  I was about to give up and say "Let's grab some take out!"  when I decided I would see what happened if I tried to make them into tacos instead.   I didn't think it would work, but for whatever reason, they didn't fall apart!  So I fried up a bunch of tacos, and holy yum, I'm pretty sure they were better than the taquitos would have been!  Oh yeah, I'm definitely sure!  I crammed mine full of fresh salsa and avocado slices - taco heaven.  No recipe, I just shredded chicken and seasoned it with salt, pepper, garlic and cumin.  Put some on a tortilla, folded it and fried those babies up in some hot oil.  Delicious!!