Take-Out!!
 
Take-Out evokes eating lots of different things with two wooden sticks in little and big containers.  They even come with handles!!  If you really love Chinese Take-Out, do your own thing.  Start with those cute containers.  Yes you can buy them in different colors at hobby stores, but they are costly.  Buy the white ones at restaurant supply stores, i.e., Sam’s, Smart & Final.  I always find them at Smart & Final.  They are inexpensive and  (kids will love this part) you can decorate them.  Just give them some markers and they can decorate while you get the meal together.  (by the way, you don’t have to have kids to have fun with this).
 
Start by:  steaming a pot of brown Jasmine or the brown rice of your choice.
 
Chicken Thighs with Five Spice and Vegetables
Serves 4
 
8 drumsticks
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 (16 oz) package, frozen, stir fry vegetables, or what you love
1/3 cup plum sauce or sweet and sour (Asian part of the market)
1 clove garlic, minced
1 1/2 teaspoons five-spice powder
 
Spray a 13x9x2 pan with oil spray.  Brush the chicken with oil; sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of the five spice powder.  Bake uncovered in a 400 degree oven for 25 minutes.
 
While the chicken is cooking, in a large bowl, combine the remaining five spice and plum sauce.  Add your frozen vegetables.  Mix well and set aside.  When the timer for the chicken goes off, take the chicken out of the oven and move all the pieces to one side of the dish.  Add the frozen vegetables and bake for another 15 to 20 minutes. After 10 minutes, stir the vegetables and continue cooking.
 
I like to saute sliced green onions and if you have it, fresh minced ginger for a few minutes then add the rice and stir well.  Pour in a container.  Put the vegetables and chicken in another container OR you can take the meat off the bone and chop and then add to the vegetables.  You could serve with a 100% whole wheat tortilla.
 
Sometimes I chop the chicken and add to the rice and vegetable mixture.  
Hand out the chop sticks and enjoy your very own take-out.
 
 
 
Take-Out!!
Thursday, November 9, 2006