Orange Chicken

Since this month our challenge is to make something that begins with the letter "O," I thought it was the perfect time to try this recipe for Orange Chicken.  It's actually titled Panda Express Orange Chicken (find the original recipe here) but I didn't think it really tasted like Panda Express nor did I follow the exact recipe. I  was hoping to go a tad bit healthier  and didn't want to fry the chicken in batter so I just lightly tossed the chicken pieces with some sesame oil and did a quick cook on the frying pan.  I followed the sauce directions as per the recipe, but I think I would make some changes to it next time using some orange juice in place of the water.  Even without the deep frying of the chicken this turned out quite good.

Orange Chicken

2 pounds boneless chicken pieces, skinned

1 tablespoon minced ginger root

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 dash crushed hot red chilies

1/4 cup chopped green onions

1 tablespoon rice wine

1/4 cup water

1 tablespoon sesame oil

1 tablespoon cornstarch

***Orange Chicken Sauce***

1 1/2 tablespoon soy sauce

1 1/2 tablespoon water

5 tablespoons sugar

5 tablespoons white vinegar

Directions:

Cut chicken pieces into bite sized pieces, toss with sesame oil and cook in a large frying pan (or wok, which I don't have) lightly sprayed with cooking spray, until cooked through; do not over cook.  Add ginger and garlic and stir-fry until fragrant. Add and stir-fry crushed chilies and green onions. Add rice wine and stir 3 seconds. Add Orange Sauce and bring to boil. Stir water into remaining 1 tablespoon cornstarch until smooth. Add to chicken and heat until sauce is thickened. Serve with rice or noodles.  Yields 6 servings

(another) Overnight Oatmeal - 3 of 3

This one is by Alton Brown. I have made it a few times before, but with the cooler weather, it seemed like a good opportunity to make it again.

My only change is that I only used about 1 cup craisens total. I started it at about 10pm.



This is what it looked like at 7am.



I let my kids choose their toppings. This was James's.



He was excited:



Andy wanted nothing to do with it. Not even the chocolate chips!

Oregano and Orange Salad aka Tiger Paw Salad - 2 of 3

The recipe this post is based on is actually orange and oregano salad, but I feel like I have done too many orange things.

It has been my dream to do a great tailgating meal. You would think I would have already done this, but it takes quite a bit of planning and you have to have a good game time. Finally this year, I did a pretty good one. I had made that Rachel Ray salad a couple of years ago, liked it, and kept it in mind for exactly this purpose.

My changes:

- Used some mixed greens as a base.
- Used a white wine vinegar for the dressing and chopped up the oregano and put it in the dressing.
- Mixed dressing and greens.
- Arranged orange slices and red onions over the greens then sprinkled Clemson Blue Cheese (at $11.99 a chunk!)

I served it with Giada's Italian Muffletta. It was impressive. I should have took a picture before cutting into it.



All in all, a great lunch for a 3:30 game.



The game ended about 7...should have prepared dinner as well. Ooops!

Orangey- Herb and Oat Crusted Chicken Tenders 1 of 3

I really thought I had posted these before, but nothing came up on a search. I really like these. They are super easy, and they are a recipe that with the same amount of time, I make a batch to freeze for later. Direction for the freezing and recipe is here. I served this with some acorn squash.

Smoky Orange Barbeque Chicken Sandwiches

Hopefully it is ok that the smoky is before the orange.



I heard some good reviews of this recipe awhile ago and figured this challenge was a good opportunity to give it a try.

I used thin sliced chicken instead of making it as directed and only used 1 chipotle in the sauce. The sauce was very easy to put together, although I had to specifically buy orange juice concentrate and the recipe only used part of it. It ended up being worth it...the sauce was delicious! I am not sure if I would make the sandwich the same way, but I can use using this sauce for other things.

Oven Roasted (Sweet) Potatoes

I found a number of Oven roasted potato recipes and asked my husband to choose which one he wanted the most...he choose this Oven Roasted Potatoes recipe and I thought it said "sweet potatoes", but it didn't...

Luckily!!!! These potatoes were delicious anyways...sweet or not!!!

Oriental Baked Salmon

Found this recipe for Oriental Baked Salmon...It's a little random, but I enjoyed it. It was a pinch spicy(which I loved), but not so much the kiddos. I feel like it was extremely healthy as well:) I did not make the coconut rice...

I almost spilled all the liquid...

The directions said to cook for just 15 minutes at 200 degrees...WHAT? I cooked it longer and ended up raising the temperature...IDK? Is that normal for Salmon?
Finished product...

Overnight Honey Almond Multigrain Cereal

Michelle's recent post reminded me about this recipe I saw in a recent issue of Cooking Light. I pretty much followed the directions for the first batch (James and Andy's), except cooked it in a larger bowl. It turned out ok, and I allowed James to top his with cashews and chocolate chips.



Andy dissolved into a screaming/crying puddle on the floor when I suggested he get into his chair, so he did not eat any.

I made a second batch for myself, except added a little more honey and a little more salt. I topped my with just almonds.



I hope to try Michelle's version because I think it will be easier to make on the stove top.

Orange Avocado Sorbet

Got this recipe from my VitaMix cookbook. It tastes just like what I remember Orange Julius tasting like - that creamy, vanilla, orange, almost dreamsicle like flavor. The color is very definitely green, so no hiding the avocado.

Orange Avocado Sorbet

2 oranges, peeled

1/2 avocado

1/2 lemon, peeled

1in x 1in piece of orange peel

1/4 c honey

1/2 tsp vanilla

3 cups ice

Mix in a high-speed blender until it forms a sorbet- like consistency.

Chicken O'Neil

Found this recipe for Chicken O'Neil! Love the Irish dishes!!!

This was a pretty good dinner for a week night. I didn't give our kiddos any of the pepper, onions and mushrooms, but B and I thought it was pretty good!!! I actually didn't know what to do with the chicken. I baked it in the oven and then just sliced it as a side to the pasta.

What do you think? Does this count as starting with O? I am using a little artistic interpretation.

Orzo, Cheesy

This one from Rachel Ray is not the kind of recipe I normally make because I don't think it has any nutritional value. However, both my husband and I are recovering from being sick and it sounded like good comfort food. It was pretty good. Andy ate it up. I think next time I would like to add fresh herbs, or at least some chopped spinach to make it a bit healthier.

I served it with Super Sloppy Joe's, also from Rachel Ray.

Oats (and Overnight at that!)

Do I get points for Double O alliteration? I started with this recipe as inspiration and then pretty much changed it all. Because I'm cool like that.

Overnight Oats with Pumpkin, Apples and Walnuts

1/3 cup steel cut oats

1 c water

1/4 c canned pumpkin

1/2 c diced apple

cinnamon to taste

sprinkle of walnuts

1. Mix water and oats and let soak overnight.

2. Add pumpkin, apples and cinnamon to oat/water mixture and bring to a simmer on stove top. Cook 10 -15 minutes, or until all moisture is absorbed. Stir often.

3. Top with walnuts.

Orange Roughy Italian Style

We have started having fish on Sunday or Monday's because trash day is Tuesday. For "O for October" I decided to try Orange Roughy and C and B(my son and husband) said this was the best fish they ever had...literally:)

The recipe is actually for Bake Orange Roughy Italian Style.

Again, My husband and my son kept saying that it was the best fish they ever had!!! I bet it was because it was marinaded in butter...

O is for October

I totally stole this one from my sister, and it is already the 6th, so I better use it. For October, the challenge is to make foods that start with the letter O. Of course, you can be super creative in interpreting that rule. Over and Out.