Sweet & Sour Chicken, Mongolian Beef, and Fried Rice

The questionable chinese food establishments in NY have me a little uneasy (is that really chicken inside all that breading?) so I decided to try re-creating my favorite dishes at home, using all organic meat and quality ingredients. This was truly a mouthwatering take-out fake-out meal and worth the effort.  Our favorite was the sweet and sour chicken but the mongolian beef pretty amazing and the fried rice turned out perfect.

Mongolian Beef
Straight from Confections of a Foodie Bride

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Sweet and Sour Chicken
Chicken
Ingredients:

• 2 large chicken breasts
  
• 2 cups flour
  
• 4 eggs
  

Directions:

1. Heat 1 cup vegetable oil in large pot on med-high heat. You will know the oil is hot enough to fry when you stick a wodden spoon in the middle of the oil and the oil bubbles around the spoon.
   
2. Cube chicken in 1 inch pieces
   
3. Set up dredging station. Poor flour into shallow bowl and whisked eggs into a seperate mixing bowl.
   
4. Coat each piece of chicken with with flour, shake off excess flour.
   
5. Dip each piece of flour coated chicken into egg.
   
6. Dip once more back into flour.
   
7. Set all chicken aside.
   
8. With tongs, carefully set each piece of chicken into hot oil. It is ok if the chicken pieces are touching just as long as it is not too overcrowded.
   
9. Fry until golden brown.
   
10. When done, place chicken pieces on a plate covered with paper towels to drain some of the oil.
    
11. Place chicken in serving bowl, pour Sweet and sour sauce over chicken and very lightly toss to coat.
    
12. Garnish with sesame seeds (optional)
    

Sweet & Sour Sauce
From All Recipes


Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup white sugar
  
• 1/3 cup white vinegar
  
• 2/3 cup water
  
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
  
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
  
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
  

Directions:
Place the sugar, vinegar, water, soy sauce, ketchup and cornstarch in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Stir continuously until the mixture has thickened.

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Vegetable Fried Rice
Ingredients:

• 2 cups cooked white rice
  
• 4 cups vegetable broth
  
• 2 tbs. butter or olive oil
  
• 4 eggs, slightly whisked
  
• 1 cups peas
  
• 1/4 cup small dice carrot
  
• 1/4 cup bell pepper (any or all colors)
  
• 1/4 cup red onion
  
• You could also add broccoli, mushrooms or any other veg.
  
• 4 tbs. soy sauce
  

Directions:

1. Cook rice according to package, using vegetable broth instead of water. Set aside.
   
2. Heat 1 tbs butter or oil in wok or large pan. Scramble eggs until done. Remove from wok and set aside.
   
3. Heat 1 tb.s oil or butter in same wok or pan. Add veggies and stir fry until just soft.
   
4. Add rice and eggs to vegtables, add soy sauce and mix until completely combined.
   
5. Serve warm.
   

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