Saturday 7/31 "Stir-fry"

Quick fix with Robin Miller

Ingredients
• 1 tablespoon sesame oil (already purchased)
• 2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced (already purchased)
• 1 tablespoon minced ginger (on hand)
• 1 pound boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into strips ($8.43--will last 3 meals)
• 1 medium onion, diced ($0.65)
• 2 cups sliced carrots ($0.82)
• 1 red bell pepper, seeded and sliced into thin strips ($1.99)
• 2 cups sugar snap peas ($2.29)
• 1 (15-ounce) can baby corn, drained ($2.29)
• 2 cups broccoli florets ($2.29)
• 1/4 cup reduced-sodium soy sauce (already purchased)
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch (on hand)
• 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth (already purchased)

Directions
Heat oil in a wok or large skillet over medium-high heat. Add garlic and ginger and cook 1 minute. Add chicken and cook 3 to 4 minutes, until starting to brown, stirring constantly. Add onions, carrots, and peppers and cook 1 minute. Add snap peas, corn and broccoli and cook 2 minutes. Add soy sauce and cook 2 minutes, until vegetables are crisp-tender.
Dissolve cornstarch in chicken broth in a small bowl and add to wok. Simmer 2 minutes, until sauce thickens. Serve over rice.

Rice
• 1/2 cup slivered almonds ($1.89)
• 2 cups reduced-sodium chicken broth (already purchased)
• 1 cup basmati rice ($1.99--I bought instant brown rice)
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions
Place almonds in a medium saucepan and set pan over medium heat. Cook 2 to 3 minutes, until lightly golden brown, shaking the pan frequently to prevent burning. Add chicken broth, rice, salt, and black pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 20 minutes, or until liquid is absorbed.
Fluff with a fork before serving.

Verdict: I served this for friends and they seemed to enjoy it. I thought it was really good. It was not hard to put together. The cost to make is initially high, but all the vegetables were frozen packages that I can get at least 3 more meals out of. I bought 3 lbs of chicken, so they will also last for 2 more meals. $22.64 (take into account just what was used for this meal: $11.63).