Recipe

Orange Chicken

It has taken me a few tries perfect and way too long to share this recipe, but here it is in all of its orange-y, spicy, and simple glory.

A few notes about this recipe: the sauce part of the recipe would be great on tofu (hey, hey vegetarians!) and the chicken pairs well with rice and stir-fried vegetables.

Orange chicken

Orange Chicken

Ingredients
1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch pieces
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 large oranges
1 tablespoon honey
2 cloves minced garlic
3 tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup chicken broth
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions
1. Heat a large skillet to medium high and add olive oil. Cook chicken in oil until just done, about ten minutes or until lightly browned. Set chicken aside on a paper towel-lined plate.
2. Peel two large strips of zest from the oranges with a vegetable peeler and use a grater to zest one of the oranges. Juice the oranges and combine the juice with the peeled zest, grated zest, honey, garlic, soy sauce, and broth in a medium-sized bowl. Whisk until fully combined and add to the skillet used to cook the chicken and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to simmer and stir frequently.
3. While sauce is simmering, combine the cornstarch with with one tablespoon cold water and mix until combined. Add to sauce and cook until mixture is thickened.
4. Add chicken to sauce and stir until the chicken is fully coated. Add crushed red pepper, salt, and pepper and enjoy!

Sloppy Joes

I love a good sloppy joe. My favorite kind is the type that is tangy and saucy, and well, sloppy! A few years ago, I learned how to make my own sloppy joe sauce and haven’t looked back since.

Sloppy Joe with corn on the cob and quinoa

Being able to make homemade sloppy joe sauce saves me a trip to the grocery store when I have a pound of ground beef and no idea what to make for dinner. I’ve tweaked my recipe over the years, and now I’m ready to share it!

Ingredients
1 pound ground beef or turkey
salt and pepper, to taste
1 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
2 tablespoons worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons honey
2 tablespoons yellow mustard
4 hamburger buns

Directions
1. Combine the ketchup, apple cider vinegar worcestershire sauce, honey, and mustard in a bowl and whisk until a smooth sauce forms. Set aside.
2. Brown the meat in a nonstick skillet over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, or until cooked through.
3. Drain the meat in a strainer and add back to skillet.
4. Stir in sauce and simmer for about five minutes, or until thickened.
5. Place a large spoonful of the sloppy joe mixture on a bun and enjoy.