Chinese Food- Sweet and Sour Chicken, Vegetable Chow Mein and Ham Fried Rice

For New Year's Day we normally do like a ham or a prime rib but this year I decided to mix things up a bit.  We decided to do Chinese food per request of my 3 boys.  

 

First gather all your ingredients and prep everything because you have to work fast when you start cooking.  I had everything chopped and separated into bowls in the steps they needed to be added.  I also had all my sauce mix ins out and spices. 

 

 

Vegetable Chow Mein

 

Your noodles need to be cooked before you start anything so they can be added at the right time.

Get your skillet hot add your oil and your cabbage, carrots, bean sprouts green onions. Saute them until the cabbage starts to wilt.

 

After your cabbage has wilted alittle bit add half of you chicken stock and your cooked noodles.  Stirring constantly cook for about 45 seconds. 

Add in the rest of your chicken stock, soy sauce, sesame oil, and lo mein sauce. Cook for 1-2 minutes until the liquid has dissolved.  After the chow mein is done I actually put the whole pan in my 200 degree oven so it will stay warm while I am doing the rice and sweet and sour chicken.  After I was done cooking everything I took it out of the oven added a little more chicken stock to freshen up the noodles and sauce. 

Ham Fried Rice

 

First step you need to do is cook you long grain brown rice, you can make with whie rice.

 

Get your pan hot and add your oil, green onions, carrots, peas and ham.  I add in 1/2 the sesame oil also. 

After you have cooked the vegetables and ham add in the eggs, Push everything to make a hole in the center of the pan.  Scramble the eggs after they are cooked combine with everything else.  Add the rice to the skillet mix in then add in soy sauce and sesame oil to taste.

 

 

Sweet and Sour Chicken

Ingredients:
3-4 chicken breasts cut into slices or chunks
Salt
1 cup flour
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cup cold water
Vegetable oil

Rub salt into chicken pieces.  Mix flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and cold water in a medium size bowl set aside Heat oil to 350.
Dip Chicken into batter and deep fry until brown. 


Sauce:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup water
4 tablespoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons rice vinegar
6 tablespoons Catsup (I just used Heinz brand ketchup)
1 1/3 cup sugar

Place all ingredients in a sauce pan and bring to a full boil stirring constantly until thickened. 

Ham Fried Rice

 

 

3 cups cooked long grain brown rice

3/4 pound ham diced

1 tablespoon sesame oil, divided

1 tablespoon canola oil, divided

1 1/3 cup frozen peas and carrot blend

3 green onions, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 large eggs

3 tablespoons soy sauce

salt and pepper

 

In a large skillet heat 1 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil and 1 1/2 teaspoon canola oil over medium high heat. Once hot add carrots, peas, green onions, and ham and sauté 1 minute then add garlic and sauté 1 minute longer.  Push veggies to edges of pan and add eggs in center and cook and scramble.

Add rice to skillet.  Add in soy sauce with salt and pepper to taste.  If need to add in more sesame oil. 

 

 

Vegetable Chow Mein

 

 

1 tablespoon oil

4 cups shredded cabbage

1 cup shredded carrots

1/2 bunch green onions

1 pound fresh steamed thin chow mein noodles

1 cup chicken stock

1/4 cup soy sauce

1/8 to 1/4 cup sesame oil

1/4 cup panda brand lo mein sauce I couldn't find lo mein sauce but it is pretty much the same as oyster sauce on the Chinese aisle.

 

If using dried noodles, cooking them first remove about 1 minute before package directions.  Drain them rinse with cold water. 

 

In a large skillet or wok heat oil on medium high and add green onions, cabbage, and carrots.  Stir fry for about 2-4 minutes or until cabbage is wilted. 

 

Increase temperature add in noodles and 1/2 cup chicken stock.  Cook stirring and tossing constantly for about45 seconds and then add the remaining chicken stock.  Cook for another 1-2 minutes or so until all the liquid is dissolved. 

 

Add the remaining ingredients, soy sauce, sesame oil, and low mein sauce.  Continue to cook for another 2-4 minutes.