Monday, May 24, 2010

Kung Poa Chicken

Dear readers,

Just a quick apology for not blogging enough lately. Trying to keep up a new thing for dinner everyday is harder then it seems. I've limited my ambition to a couple times a week. I do however, have a new favourite that my family enjoys and I've made a couple times now to share with friends.

I came across this one while I was watching "Chef at Home" and boy is it easy to make. Maybe ten minute prep and ten minute cook, not even!

He calls this one Kung Poa Chicken and he shares one secret ingredient that I find makes the WHOLE meal. The only thing is, if you are allergic to peanuts at all then this is not suitable for you. It involves peanut oil as well as peanut butter.

Here are the ingredients. Take note that he doesn't give you the measurements. So adjust accordingly and use your own discretion. If I can do it without turning it into slop, then I am sure you can do the same!

Prep:
Be sure to prep everything first. You're using a wok and it cooks real fast. So to get everything in the pan as soon as possible without burning, prep your food!
-Cut chicken into even chunks, and cover in cornstarch. This will make it a nice glossy brown.
-Cut veggies to your liking. Mixed veggies (peppers, garlic, ginger, celery, leaks, sprouts, peanuts)

Sauce:
Chicken broth
Oyster sauce
Rice wine vinegar
Soya sauce
Brown sugar
Cornstarch
Peanut butter (secret ingredient… helps emphasize the peanuts that will get sprinkled on top)

Wok Tips:
1. Be sure to get organized first…
2. Preheat your wok
3. Stir!

How to Cook:
Add oil then your aromatic ingredients first
Add chicken
When chicken has browned, add harder vegetables first
Add sauce (let it simmer for a moment to thicken up)
Add the tender stuff last
 
I sure hope you enjoy this as much as I did. The second I tasted the peanut flavor, I flew to heaven! Though, I am a big peanut lover!

One further tip. Add rice to your dish, but don't mix it in! Save it for the remaining sauce left over on your plate!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Technical Difficulties

Due to technical difficulties, I have yet to post any new recipes on my blog. Please be advised that I am trying to solve the problem and will post very soon.

James

Friday, May 7, 2010

Food Journal Revisited

How can we become more food conscious? Well the answer is simple. Keeping a daily food journal is one way to watch what you eat. Can you even remember everything you ate yesterday? Or the day before? What about that one cookie you had between every meal? Well... that cookie has now become 5 within one day.

You wouldn't think about it, but keeping a food journal and writing down everything you ate will help you become more food conscious. I'm not a nutritionist or a dietitian so I can't tell you what not to eat, but I am sure you can realize what's good and what's bad for you!
(Here's a tip the next time you go grocery shopping. To avoid bad processed foods, shop on the outside area's of your local grocery store. Did you know that most of the processed foods are in the middle aisles.)

So if you decide to make your own journal, go to a cheap dollar store and grab a note book. Write things down like what you ate, the size (or even the number of cookies you ate!), what time you ate it and just simple things like that!

Good luck! I will keep you up to date with my food journaling!