Sticky White Rice {YUMM!}

Since some of you asked (after my Orange Chicken post),

here is the white rice I use.

It makes DELICIOUS sticky white rice!

You can get it at Walmart.

Score!

I use a rice cooker.

Equal parts rice and water, plus 1/2 cup water.

SO, for two cups of rice, I use 2 1/2 cups water.

Three cups rice, 3 1/2 cups water.

You get the idea!

I think you'll love it.

Orange Chicken

Having an arsenal of quick and easy go-to meals is essential in a large family.

Swinging by McD's with the whole crew just isn't an option, at least not for us!

Because even the cheapest of fast-food places, are still expensive.

(Not to mention so unhealthy in every way!)

So here is an easy dish that is semi-homemade.

Heavy on the semi.

Orange Chicken with Broccoli!

Here's what you'll need:

Orange Sauce (recipe below)

Steamed white rice 

(don't skimp on quality here...you gotta have delicious sticky white rice!)

Frozen Broccoli

Popcorn Chicken

Yes, that's right.

Store-bought popcorn chicken.

Judge me, if you must.

(If you have some homemade, well you are way on top of things, now aren't you?)

As I was walking out to my freezer to take the above picture of frozen chicken,

I saw  my chickens in the driveway.  I just thought that was ironic.

Although, there are always chickens in my driveway.

And on my front porch, in my garage, under my car...you get the idea.

ORANGE SAUCE!

Sesame oil

Garlic clove

Orange zest

 Orange juice 

Chinese vinegar

Soy sauce

Honey

Garlic Chili sauce

Water

Corn starch

In a saucepan, warm about one tablespoon of sesame oil with one garlic clove.

Add the zest of one orange, and the juice of one orange.

Let that simmer for a few minutes.

Add honey (about 1/4 cup...depending on how sweet you like your sauce),

1/4 cup Chinese vinegar (rice wine vinegar will suffice if you don't have something more exotic!),

1/4 cup of soy sauce, and about 1 tsp. of garlic chili sauce.

Now.

As you know, I don't measure anything!  So all of the above is approximate.

Add more or less as you see fit.

Let all that simmer for a short bit.

In a separate bowl, add about two tablespoons of cornstarch to 1/2 cup cold water.

Mix well and add to simmering orange sauce.

Blend and let simmer until thickened just a bit.

(Remove from heat until you are ready for it so it doesn't get too thick!)

Give it a taste!

If you need more of anything, add it now.

(Toss out the garlic clove.)

Steam some broccoli.

Fry or bake your chicken.

Then plate it all up with your sauce poured over the chicken! 

It's super yummy!

bi-lingualness

Well, my goodness.

I was sure surprised to have so many of you come out of hiding yesterday! Ya'll need to stop in and say 'hello' more often!

As far as my blog goes, we'll just play it by ear. But I will definitely let you know if something changes, ok?

As you know, I'm always trying to figure out ways to build my relationship with Macy, without cramping her teenage-style. It occurred to me that we have been working hard on her English...but what about my Chinese?? So I broke out the dusty R*setta Stone (Mandarin) last night and we got started. Macy was a HUGE help to me!!! Plus, it helped her English because I had her translate for me. It was really great. We laughed (actually, we both laughed at me) and I realized that this situation was so good in so many ways! We both were learning a new language (some of us learned more than others), we bonded a bit, and it gave her a sense of empowerment...she was in a position of being the one "in control." I think it boosted her confidence. Yay!

We will definitely continue our lessons for all those reasons. And before you know it, I'll be wow-ing you with my bi-lingualness!

Well, something like that.

prodigy child...well, so it appears

Would you take a look at how advanced my child is?? Lucy is so smart and is even writing in Chinese characters....



Ahem. Well, so SHE thinks. And I dare you to convince her otherwise (believe me, we've all tried).

She also insists that the new words she makes up to say are Chinese words and that only she and Macy can understand them.

Poor delusional Lucy (I feel really bad that in reality she doesn't know a lick of Chinese, beyond Ni Hao).

POOR MACY (who just shakes her head in wonder...and is probably a tad *jealous* of Lucy's English!).



**And no, Macy doesn't seem the least bit interested in teaching Lucy any Chinese. Perhaps down the road a bit she will.