Sweet and Sour Chicken Over Rice

The Chinese New Year marks a grand celebration and an important Chinese holiday. Traditionally the festival honored deities and ancestors. Today it's somewhat different because Chinese New Year involves centuries-old rituals, home decorations, celebrations, food and social customs. It's customary for every family to cleanse their home, sweeping away the bad luck and making room for the good fortune in the coming year.

The horse is one of Chinese favorite animals. Horses provided good and quick transportation for people before automobiles. Horses can give people a ride to their destination. Therefore, horse is not only a symbol of traveling, but also a sign of speedy success.

2014 is the Year of the Wooden Horse -- a horse that's bright, intelligent, friendly, energetic.

Celebrations begin January 31, 2014 and end February 18, 2014

____________________________________________________________

Cook's notes: You can get a jump start on the Chinese New Year celebrations with this stir fry dish.The recipe comes from a Minute Rice ad. The recipe was adapted and serves 4-6. The dish was served over rice (equal parts white and brown). Winter time can be a stretch to find fresh pineapple. Trying to avoid using canned pineapple I splurged and found pineapple already cubed in the produce section.   

Shrimp or beef can be substituted for the chicken.

Ingredients:

• 4 cups cooked rice
• 1 can pineapple or 2 cups fresh
• 2 large chicken breasts cut in chunks   
• 2 minced garlic cloves
• 3 TB. cornstarch
• 1 TB. sesame oil
• 1 cup red or yellow pepper
• 3/4 cup diced carrots
• 2/3 cup prepared sweet and sour sauce
• 1 TB. soy sauce
• 1 cup snap peas
• 1 cup grape tomatoes cut in half
• 3/4 cup diced green or yellow onion
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1/2 cup pineapple juice
• cashews

Directions:

• Stir fry chicken pieces, minced garlic, carrots, peppers,onions in 1 TB. sesame oil about 10 minutes
• Mix cornstarch with orange and pineapple juice, add to chicken mixture
• Add in sweet and sour sauce and soy sauce
• Cook on low till thickened about  20 minutes
• Cover add in snap peas, tomatoes and pineapple chunks,cook 6-8 minutes longer
• Serve over rice and top with cashews 

 Bon Appetit!

Some men dream of fortunes, others dream of cookies