Panda Express Copy Cat Orange Chicken

Ingredients

Chicken:

• 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs (or chicken breast) cut into 1-1/2” cubes
• 1 cup cornstarch 
• 1/2 teaspoon salt 
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper 
• 1 egg beaten
• Oil for frying

Orange Sauce:

• 1 cup water
• 2 tablespoons orange juice
• 1/4 cup lemon juice 
• 1/3 cup rice vinegar 
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce 
• 1 tablespoon orange zest grated
• 1 cup pack brown sugar 
• 1 teaspoon giner root minced
• 1 teaspoon garlicminced
• 2 tablespoons green onion hopped
• red pepper flakes
• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water

Instructions

• Combine cornstarch salt, and pepper. Dip chicken in beaten eggs and shake in cornstarch mixture to coat.
• Deep fry chicken in batches at 375 degrees in a deep fryer (or use a wok) until completely cooked.
• Meanwhile, in a large saucepan combine 1 cup water, lemon juice, orange juice, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Blend well over medium heat for a few minutes. Stir in brown sugar, orange zest, ginger garlic, and onion. Bring to a boil.
• Combine 3 tablespoons of cornstarch with 1/4 cup of water and mix thoroughly. Slowly stir cornstarch mixture into sauce until it thickens. 
• Pour sauce over breaded chicken, and if desired add red pepper flakes and garnish with green onions.

Egg roll in a bowl

 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 lb (16 ounces) ground pork or beef
• 1 teaspoon minced garlic
• 14 ounces shredded cabbage or coleslaw mix
• 1/4 cup low-sodium soy sauce (or liquid aminos)
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 2 teaspoons sriracha 
• 1 whole egg
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil
• 2 tablespoons sliced green onions

(Optional: added a little ponzu and hosin sauce to the skillet)

INSTRUCTIONS

In a large skillet, brown the pork or beef until no longer pink. Drain the meat if it's really wet. Add the garlic and sautee for 30 seconds. Add the cabbage/coleslaw, soy sauce, ginger, and sautee until desired tenderness. You can add a little water if you need more liquid to sautee the coleslaw down.

Make a well in the center of the skillet and add the egg. Scramble until done over low heat.

Stir in sriracha. Drizzle with sesame oil and sprinkle with green onions. Add additional soy sauce and sriracha if desired.

Mediterranean Baked Cod with lemon/garlic

 

• 1.5 lb Cod fillet pieces, 4-6 pieces
• 5 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
• ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley leaves

Lemon Juice Mixture 

• 5 tbsp fresh lemon juice
• 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
• 2 tbsp melted butter

For Coating

• ⅓ cup all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp ground coriander 
• ¾ tsp sweet Spanish paprika
• ¾ tsp ground cumin
• ¾ tsp salt
• ½ tsp black pepper
• 
  

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
• Mix lemon juice, olive oil, and melted butter in a shallow bowl. Set aside
• In another shallow bowl, mix all-purpose flour, spices, salt and pepper. Set next to the lemon juice mixture.
• Pat fish fillet dry. Dip fish in the lemon juice mixture then dip in the flour mixture. Shake off excess flour. Reserve the lemon juice mixture for later.
• Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a cast iron skillet over medium-high heat (watch the oil to be sure it is shimmering but not smoking). Add fish and sear on each side to give it some color, but do not fully cook (about a couple minutes on each side) Remove from heat.
• To the remaining lemon juice mixture, add the minced garlic and mix. Drizzle all over the fish fillets.
• Bake in the heated oven for until it begins to flake easily with a fork (10 minutes should do it, but begin checking earlier). Remove from heat and sprinkle chopped parsley. Serve immediately.

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad

• 1 large eggplant, thinly sliced (no more than 1/4 inch in thickness)
• Salt
• oil for frying, preferably olive oil
• 1 cup cooked or canned chickpeas, drained
• 3 tbsp Za'atar spice, divided
• 3 Roma tomatoes, diced
• 1/2 English cucumber, diced
• 1 small red onion, sliced in 1/2 moons
• 1 cup chopped parsley
• 1 cup chopped dill

FOR THE GARLIC VINAIGRETTE:

• 1-2 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 large lime, juice of
• 1/3 cup olive oil
• Salt+Pepper

1. Prepare Eggplant (optional) Place the sliced eggplant on a large tray and sprinkle generously with salt. Let it sit for 30 minutes (the eggplant will "sweat out" its bitterness as it sits.) Now line another large tray or baking sheet with a paper bag topped with paper towel and place it near the stove.
2. Cook Eggplant (optional). Pat the eggplant dry. Heat 4 to 5 tbsp extra virgin olive oil over medium/medium-high heat until shimmering but not smoking. Fry the eggplant in the oil in batches (do this carefully and do not crowd the skillet). When the eggplant slices turn golden brown on one side, turn over and fry on the other side. Remove the eggplant slices with a slotted spatula and arrange them on the paper towel-lined tray to drain and cool.
3. Once cooled, assemble the eggplant on a serving dish. Sprinkle with 1 tbsp of Za'atar.
4. Prepare chickpea salad. In a medium mixing bowl, combine the tomatoes, cucumbers, chickpeas, red onions, parsley and dill. Add the remaining Za'atar, and mix gently.
5. Prepare the dressing. In a small bowl, whisk together the dressing. Drizzle 2 tbsp of the salad dressing over the fried eggplant; pour the remaining dressing over the chickpea salad and mix.
6. Add the chickpea salad to the serving dish with the eggplant.

Crock Pot Pulled Pork

 Crockpot pulled pork

2 - 2.5 lbs. boneless pork loin

1/2 onion sliced

1 Tbsp paprika

1 tsp black pepper

2 tsp salt

1/2 16 oz. bottle BBQ sauce

2 cloves garlic minced or pressed

1/2 cup water

Instructions

• Add all ingredients to the slow cooker.
• Cook on medium for 6 hours or low for 8-10 hours.
• Shred and enjoy!

Rosemary Ranch Chicken

 Rosemary Ranch Chicken (30m marinate time) 

• ½ cup olive oil 
• ½ cup ranch dressing 
• 3 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce 
• 1 tablespoon minced fresh rosemary 
• 2 teaspoons salt 
• 1 teaspoon lemon juice 
• 1 teaspoon white vinegar 
• ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, or to taste 
• 1 tablespoon white sugar, or to taste (Optional)
• 3-5 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves - cut into 1 inch cubes
  

  Directions

  • Step 1

    In a medium bowl, stir together the olive oil, ranch dressing, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary, salt, lemon juice, white vinegar, pepper, and sugar. Let stand for 5 minutes. Place chicken in the bowl, and stir to coat with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

  • Step 2

    Preheat the grill for medium-high heat. Thread chicken onto skewers and discard marinade.

  • Step 3

    Lightly oil the grill grate. Grill skewers for 8 to 12 minutes, or until the chicken is no longer pink in the center, and the juices run clear.

Creamed Corn

 Creamed Corn

2 (10 ounce) packages frozen corn kernels, thawed 

1 cup heavy cream 

1 teaspoon salt 

2 tablespoons granulated sugar 

¼ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper 

2 tablespoons butter 

1 cup whole milk 

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour 

¼ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
In a skillet over medium heat, combine the corn, cream, salt, sugar, pepper and butter. Whisk together the milk and flour, and stir into the corn mixture. Cook stirring over medium heat until the mixture is thickened, and corn is cooked through. Remove from heat, and stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted. Serve hot.