Chinese Style Steamed Chicken

Chalk this one up as super easy, super quick, and super yummy! 

 I did this in my rice cooker with the steamer basket, but a steamer basket in a pot with boiling water would work as well. 

Chinese Style Steamed Chicken (South Beach Diet Cookbook)
2-4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp ginger (fresh or powdered)
2-3 Tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp red pepper flakes
4 cups broccoli florets

Fill bottom of steamer bowl with an inch of water and bring to a boil.  Combine chicken with garlic, ginger, soy sauce & red pepper flakes.  If you have time, let marinate for 30 minutes or longer.  Place chicken in steamer basket, pour remaining soy sauce over the chicken, close the lid and let cook for 5-7 minutes (the breasts I used were about 6 oz each and they took closer to 7 mins a side). 

Turn the chicken, add the broccoli, and steam for another 5-7 minutes.  Definitely use a meat thermometer if you can, the chicken is done when it reaches 165 degrees. 

The chicken turned out super moist and yummy, I was amazed at how easy this was!  Maybe next time I'll try steaming some rice at the same time....  as you turn the chicken and add the broccoli, leave the lid closed as much as possible so the heat does not escape.

Peking Pork Chops

I got the original recipe from allrecipes.com but made a few modifications... a million thanks to Molly for the suggestion to buy Hoisin sauce. I used it in this dish and LOVED it!

Peking Pork Chops

• 6 thick cut pork chops (1 inch)
• 1/8 - 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 clove garlic, crushed
• 1-2 tbsp Hoisin Sauce
  
• salt and pepper to taste
  

1. Trim excess fat from pork chops and place in slow cooker. Mix brown sugar, ginger, soy sauce, ketchup, garlic, Hoisin Sauce, salt and pepper in small bowl and pour over meat. Cover, turn to low and cook 4 to 6 hours, or until tender. Season with salt and pepper, if needed.

Serve over rice.

I'd suggest putting a meat thermometer into the meat, and take it out when it reaches 155 degrees, otherwise the meat will get too dry.

Please ignore the sweet potatoes in the picture, I was trying to use them up :)

Egg Rolls

NOTE: I usually don't measure ingredients, I just dump. However, I will do my best to give estimations. If I don't - know it is a dash (which for me is less than a tsp.)

Ingredients
* 6 cups cabbage, shredded
* 1 carrot, shredded
* 2 TB. chopped onion (I used dried onion)
* 1 lb. ground pork
* 2 TB. soy sauce
* 1 TB. Hoisin Sauce
* 1/4-1/2 tsp. sesame seed oil
* Garlic Powder to taste
* Black pepper to taste
Saute pork in pan, add onion and veggies for remaining 5 minutes. Add soy sauce and seasoning. Remove from heat to cool a little before you wrap them.
NOTE: This go around, I didn't have pork or carrot - so I used ground beef and corn instead. They were still very tasty. My 2 1/2 year and 18 month old LOVE these.

Next you will need:
* 1 egg, beaten
* 1 pkg. egg roll wrappers
* olive oil
Stuff egg rolls - direction are on the back of the egg roll wrapper. I brush all edges with the beaten egg. Then, instead of deep frying, I brush the outside with olive oil and broil them for 3-4 minutes on each side. Much more healthier!!
Serve with sweet and sour sauce. (sorry, not a very good plate to display.)

Sweet & Sour Sauce
* 1 c. sugar
* 1/2 c. white vinegar
* garlic powder
* onion powder
* ginger
* pepper
* apple cider vinegar
* pineapple juice
* red & yellow food coloring
Bring to a boil, thicken with corn starch, reduce and simmer. Serve with Rice on the side (not shown)

There is a better picture on my blog - and also features an idea for a dessert roll with left over wraps. They were yummy!

Also - if you don't think you'll ever use Hoisin sauce - think again. If you like Chinese food - BUY IT. I always make lettuce wraps - which I will feature next time I make them.