“A good cook knows that it's not what's on the table that matters, it's who is in the chairs.”

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Cream of Anything Soup

Ok, so really? Could I love the Family Feasts for $75 a week book anymore? i don't think so! it's my favorite gift to give, you'd think that seriously I get a kick back, but NO i don't, but I love love love it!

Today I made the mix for Cream of Anything Soup. I like a lot of things about this.
#1 its $.40-$.50 a 'cans worth' cheaper than the 'regular store'
#2 I know what's in it. The more I make my own 'stuff' the more I taste chemicals in the stuff I buy. YUCK! Really? That can't be good for you!!

3 c powdered milk (I got a big box at Aldi's for $4.99)
1 c cornstarch (1 16oz box is around a buck)
1 c powdered chicken boullion (just picked it up at Kroger, used 1.5 containers, $1.89 each)
2 T onion powder
1 t dried thyme
1/2 t dried basil
1/2 t black pepper

Combine all ingredients in large bowl, mix well. Store tightly covered at room temp for a year.

To make soup, in a pan mix 1/2 c mix with 1 1/4 c water, 1T butter, blend well and bring to a boil cooking 2-3 minutes. Thickens as it cools

Cream of Chicken: as directed
Cream of Celery: add 1/2 c minced celery. YOu can puree soup when it cools if you wish
Cream of Mushroom: 1/2 c minced mushrooms

Sunday, May 2, 2010

Panda Style Orange Chicken

I got this recipe from here! YUMMY!!

Chicken

2 lbs chicken, cut up in bite size pieces
1 egg
1 ½ t salt
½ t pepper
1 T oil, plus additional for frying
½ c cornstarch
¼ c all purpose flour

Sauce

¼ sugar
¼ white vinegar
2 T soy sauce
2 T water
zest from orange
1 T from above orange (I added this!)


Stirfry

1 T grated ginger
1 t minced garlic
dash red pepper flakes
¼ c green onions
¼ c water
1 T sesame oil




Place the cubed chicken in a large bowl. Stir in the egg, salt, black pepper, and 1 tablespoon oil. Mix well. Stir 1/2 cup of the cornstarch and the flour together in a large shallow bowl. Add the chicken pieces, a handful or two at a time, and stir to coat evenly. Tap off any excess

Pour about 1 inch of oil in a wok or deep, heavy skillet and heat to 375 F. If you don’t have a thermometer, heat the oil until it starts to ripple in the pan. Add the chicken pieces, a small handful at time, and fry until golden and crisp, 3 to 4 minutes. Remove the chicken from the oil with a slotted spoon and drain on paper towels. Set aside. When cooking the next batch, you will probably need to turn the heat down to keep the chicken from cooking too fast and possibly add a bit more oil.

Once all the chicken is cooked, reserve a couple tablespoons of the oil remaining in the wok in a separate bowl (I just used fresh oil because the excess oil I had was gross with burnt chiky crust in it). Clean the wok.

Combine the sauce ingredients in a large measuring cup and whisk until the sugar dissolves.

Heat the wok for 15 seconds over high heat. Add the reserved oil back into the pan.

Add the stirfry ingredients to pan. Heat through.

Add the sauce and bring to boil. Add the cooked chicken, stirring until well mixed.

Serve with rice or low mein noodles