Moo Goo Gai Pan

 

As I'm typing, the Whippets are sound asleep on the couches in our living room. They appear totally exhausted, though I'm not sure from what. Actually this is how they look most of the time, except for the couple of times a day when they are either racing around the backyard, or having a howl fest. I was very excited the week after we put up the Christmas tree that they had not removed and destroyed any ornaments for the first time ever. But, I shouldn't have bragged too quickly to the puppy's Uncle Steve because that very day I came home to find destroyed ornaments in the middle of the living room floor! Thankfully they are cheap plastic ornaments and not priceless family heirlooms. I keep thinking every year that surely they have grown up enough not to care about the Christmas tree, but each year I am of course, wrong. It's true, boys never grow up!

Now why in the world would I combine a Chinese food recipe with a story about Christmas? Have you seen the Christmas Story? It's one of my favorite holiday movies. I'm posting this recipe just in case your Christmas turkey gets eaten by the Bumpus' hounds. You can make Chinese food. Be sure to have the ingredients on hand!

Seriously, this is a great, easy recipe. You should try it soon.

Ingredients
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1/4 pound sliced fresh mushrooms

1/4 pound broccoli florets or snow peas

1 (8 ounce) can sliced water chestnuts, drained

salt and black pepper to taste

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 teaspoon minced garlic

1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger root

3/4 cup skinless, boneless chicken breast meat - thinly sliced

1 teaspoon white wine

1/4 teaspoon white sugar

1/4 cup chicken broth

1 tablespoon cornstarch

2 tablespoons water

 

Directions

Heat 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in a wok or large skillet over high heat. Stir in the mushrooms, broccoli, and water chestnuts; season to taste with salt and pepper. Cook and stir until the vegetables are just tender, about 5 minutes. Remove the vegetables from the wok and wipe the wok clean.

Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon of vegetable oil in the wok. Stir in the garlic and ginger; cook a few seconds until the garlic begins to turn golden brown. Stir in the chicken and cook until the chicken is no longer pink, about 5 minutes. Add the wine, sugar, and chicken broth; bring to a boil. Dissolve the cornstarch in the water and stir into the simmering sauce. Once the sauce returns to a simmer, stir until thick and clear, about 30 seconds. Return the vegetables to the wok and toss until hot and coated with the sauce.