Orange Pork (or Chicken)

This tastes a LOT like what you would find in a Chinese restaurant. Is soo yummy! When i next make it I think I am going to add some pineapple chunks and it needs a bit of salt and pepper.

Ingredients to make a serving for two (note we are trying to eat healthier, smaller meals so if your stomach's are larger just use more meat, cornstarch, veggies and rice) :

• 1/2 pound pork or chicken 
• 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon oil
• 1/3 cup fresh orange juice
• 2 tablespoons dark hoisin sauce
• 1 1/2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1/2 pound  broccoli (optional)
• 4 ounces sugar snap peas 
• 1/2 cup cooked rice

Directions:

Cut the meat into bite sized pieces. 

Heat the oil in a skillet over medium heat. 

Dredge pork in cornstarch and saute until lightly browned and cooked through, tossing frequently. (should take around 3 minutes if the meat is small enough)

In a small bowl, whisk together orange juice, hoisin sauce, vinegar and ketchup, then pour into skillet and bring to a boil.  Saute vegetables in sauce until they are slightly soft, or whatever texture is your favorite for stir fry.

Put rice in bowls and top with the meat and veggie sauce, and enjoy while using chopsticks at a candle-lit table! ( or use forks like most Americans and try to scarf down before going to next thing on your list. Still I suggest enjoying this with someone special. )

If you make this, please comment and tell me if I am crazy in thinking the pork was squeaking while dredging in cornstarch. I think it has something to do with the powder adhering to the moisture.

<3 WEFA

Halibut Alyeska

I got a new cook book! Its tried and true recipes from Alaskan women. Title of "Eagle River 1st Ward 2002 coobook". The reason I choose this book was for this recipe. I really really wanted to try it, though I had no idea what Alyeska was. I have not cooked fish much, maybe once or twice and it is usually okay. The recipe is as follows:

1 lb halibut (large chunks)
3/4 cup sour cream
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup chopped onion
1 Tablespoon Lemon Juice
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8th teaspoon cayenne pepper

bake 1/2 hour at 325, then sprinkle with 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese. Bake 5 more minutes. Serves 2.


But I doubled the sauce because I had two pouches of frozen halibut I was using, I knew they had to be atleast 1 pound each. I also added a bit more cayenne pepper and some parsley, paprika, and black pepper because I thought it was just a bit too tart. and I love cheese. I mean I really love cheese. So I used well more than that, I grated up the rest of the half block of cheese and used all but a baggie full on this dish. Because the fish was frozen and not thawed completely, I added 10 minutes before the cheese and melted the cheese for 7.

Oh, and I beg beg beg and plead that anytime I make fish again, I hope to heaven above it has been scaled already. I chunked up the halibut that was just skin but it is really hard to fillet half frozen fish when there are scales all over the cutting board. I had to carefully take off the skin layer on those ones, I guess it was because I used fish from two different batches.

Results: I discovered I dont like Halibut Alyeska. I don't like gravies and sauces too much ussually, but white ones even less I guess. I did use the right amount of sour cream and lemon juice for the recipe, but I just don't fancy it.  Todd LOVED it scarffed a ton down, and others like it, but I tried a small bit after taking out of oven and decided it wasn't my thing. I am not making this again, unless Todd specifically asks for it or something. Logan never would because of the onions hahaha!

Oh and a little tidbit of whats in store... soon I will get a camera! I bought a cheap new one on ebay, so then will be able to show you the dishes I am cooking! Just waiting for it to come in! Maybe when we make the planned layer carrot cake with caramel and cream cheese frosting I can have Jo bring hers over for that recipe since I doubt my camera will be here fast enough...