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Menu Plan for Fall II: Week 11, Day 5

Stir-Fried Sesame Chicken

Cooking time:  30 minutes for menu          Cooking schedule: see below for instructions

     A quick stir-fry during the start of a busy season.  If you have any mushrooms left, add those as well.  Even if you don't regularly eat peanut butter, it's a good pantry staple, as we use it through-out the year.

Stir-fried Sesame Chicken

Total time: 30 minutes
    Peanut butter adds a creaminess to stir fries, as well as a subtle, almost sesame flavor.  The finish of toasted sesame seeds carries the flavor through.  You can buy toasted sesame seeds or toast them yourself in minutes.

 Ingredients:

• 2 chicken breasts
• 2 ribs celery
• 2 carrots
• 1 onion
• 2 cloves garlic
• 2 tsp minced, fresh ginger
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tsp sesame oil
• 1 tbs soy sauce
• 1 cup (8oz, 240ml) chicken stock
• 1 tbs cornstarch (corn flour, maizena)
• 2 tbs sherry
• 2 tbs peanut butter
• 2 tbs sesame seeds, toasted
• Basmati rice:
• 1/2 cup (3.3oz, 95gr) Basmati rice
• 1 tsp butter
• 1 cup (8oz, 240ml) chicken stock

 Instructions:

• Toast sesame seeds in a dry, nonstick skillet, over medium-high heat, 3 - 6 minutes.
• Start flipping them or shaking the skillet after 1 - 2 minutes and remove as soon as light brown.  Set aside. 
• Slice celery at an angle. 
• Cut carrots into matchsticks. 
• Cut onion into quarters, lengthwise, then slice thinly. 
• Mince garlic and ginger.
• Cut chicken into bite-size pieces.
• Heat oils in large skillet. Add onion and sauté 3 minutes. 
• Add garlic, ginger, celery, carrot and sauté 5 minutes longer. 
• Remove to a plate. 
• Add chicken to skillet and sauté 5 minutes. 
• Return vegetables to skillet. 
• Add soy sauce, stock, cover and simmer, 5 minutes.
• Basmati Rice:
• Melt butter in small saucepan over medium heat. 
• Add rice and sauté, stirring for 2 - 3 minutes.  Add stock, cover and simmer for 15 minutes, or until done.
• When done fluff with fork..
• To finish:
• Dissolve cornstarch in sherry.
• Increase heat under skillet.  Add peanut butter and stir until dissolved. 
• Add cornstarch and stir until thickened.  
• Add half of the toasted sesame seeds, stir. 
• Spoon over rice, sprinkle with the remaining sesame seeds and serve.

Cooking schedule: 30 minutes Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives, large skillet with lid, small saucepan with lid Thinly slice onion Mince garlic Slice celery Cut carrots Sauté rice Cut chicken Add stock to rice, cover, simmer Toast sesame seeds Remove sesame seeds, set aside

Heat oils in skillet Add onion, stir-fry Add garlic, ginger, celery, carrot; stir-fry Remove vegetables, add chicken; stir-fry Return vegetables, add soy, stock, cover, cook Dissolve cornstarch in stock Check rice, when done... Add peanut butter to skillet, stir Add cornstarch, stir and thicken Arrange rice on platter Spoon sesame chicken on rice Top with sesame seeds Serve...

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By Katie Zeller

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