Beef & Broccoli

It is no secret that my husband and I love some good 'take out' Chinese food and this beef & broccoli definitely hits the spot! I found a recipe for beef & broccoli on the Pioneer Woman's television show a few months ago and had to give it a shot. We have since made this dish several times with only a few small changes to the original recipe. This beef & broccoli will definitely be making an appearance at our dinner table again soon!

This recipe will make about 4 servings of beef & broccoli:

• 1/2 cup LOW-SODIUM SOY SAUCE
• 1/4 cup CORN STARCH
• 2 Tbs BROWN SUGAR
• 1 Tbs GINGER, minced
• 2 cloves GARLIC, mined
• 1 lb. FLANK STEAK, sliced very thin
• 2 Tbs PEANUT or OLIVE OIL
• 1 lb. BROCCOLI FLORETS, chopped
• 1/4 cup BEEF BROTH
• 2 Tbs OYSTER SAUCE
• Optional: RICE or CHOW MEIN

Mix the soy sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic in bowl. (...or in the case of the picture below, a measuring cup!)

Pour half of the sauce mixture into a separate bowl and toss the steak in it. Set both bowls aside.

Heat a tablespoon of oil in skillet (preferably cast iron) over high heat and cook the chopped broccoli until just tender. Then remove the broccoli from the skillet and set it aside.

Heat the skillet with another tablespoon of oil for a minute or so to allow it to get very hot again. Lay the slices of steak along the bottom of the hot pan in a single layer (as much as possible depending on the size of your pan). Let the slices of steak cook for a minute or two without moving them to allow the meat to brown.

Flip the slices of steak and cook for another 30 seconds before removing the steak from the heat.

Pour the second half of the sauce (that didn't have the steak in it), the beef broth, and the oyster sauce into the skillet and cook over high heat until the sauce begins to thickens. Add the beef and broccoli back into the skillet and toss with the sauce. Season with salt and pepper as needed.

Serve over rice or chow mein!

Yum!

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Beef & Broccoli

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup LOW-SODIUM SOY SAUCE
• 1/4 cup CORN STARCH
• 2 Tbs BROWN SUGAR
• 1 Tbs GINGER, minced
• 2 cloves GARLIC, mined
• 1 lb. FLANK STEAK, sliced very thin
• 2 Tbs PEANUT or OLIVE OIL
• 1 lb. BROCCOLI FLORETS, chopped
• 1/4 cup BEEF BROTH
• 2 Tbs OYSTER SAUCE
• Optional: RICE or CHOW MEIN

Directions:

1. Mix the soy sauce, cornstarch, brown sugar, ginger, and garlic in bowl. 
2. Pour half of the sauce mixture into a separate bowl and toss the steak in it. Set both bowls aside. 
3. Heat a tablespoon of oil in skillet (preferably cast iron) over high heat and cook the chopped broccoli until just tender. Then remove the broccoli from the skillet and set it aside. 
4. Heat the skillet with another tablespoon of oil for a minute or so to allow it to get very hot again. Lay the slices of steak along the bottom of the hot pan in a single layer (as much as possible depending on the size of your pan). Let the slices of steak cook for a minute or two without moving them to allow the meat to brown. 
5. Flip the slices of steak and cook for another 30 seconds before removing the steak from the heat. 
6. Pour the second half of the sauce (that didn't have the steak in it), the beef broth, and the oyster sauce into the skillet and cook over high heat until the sauce thickens. 
7. Add the beef and broccoli back into the skillet and toss with the sauce. Season with salt and pepper as needed. 
8. Serve over rice or chow mein!

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I got this recipe from the Pioneer Woman: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/beef-with-broccoli.html

Orange Chicken

Ok guys, I'm really excited about this one. This is probably one of the best dishes that I've ever made! Yeah, it's that good. This orange chicken reminds me of the orange chicken at Panda Express, except it's better because it's fresh and you know where all of the ingredients came from!

To make roughly 2 servings of this orange chicken you will need:

• 2 Tbs & 1 tsp CORNSTARCH
• 3 EGG WHITES
• 1 CHICKEN BREAST (roughly 10-12 oz.), cut into small chunks
• 1/2 cup ORANGE JUICE
• 1 Tbs SOY SAUCE
• 1 Tbs BROWN SUGAR, packed
• 1 Tbs RICE VINEGAR
• 1/4 tsp SESAME OIL
• Pinch of RED PEPPER FLAKES (you can always add more if you like spicy food!)
• 1 clove of GARLIC, minced
• About 1/2 inch of freshly grated GINGER
• VEGETABLE or PEANUT OIL, for frying
• Optional: 2 GREEN ONIONS, to top

Start off by whisking up the egg whites with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch using a fork in a medium sized bowl until it begins to get frothy. 

Add the chicken pieces and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes. 

While you are waiting on the chicken start heating about 2 inches of oil to 350 degrees F in a pot. 

Then mix the orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, salt, crushed red pepper, garlic, and ginger in a nonstick skillet.

Heat the sauce on the stove for about 5 minutes over medium heat until it starts to thicken. While the sauce is thickening up, whisk together 1/4 cup of cool water with the remaining teaspoon of cornstarch. After the sauce has been heating for 5 minutes, turn off the stove and mix in 1 to 2 teaspoons of the cornstarch slurry. Stir for about 1 minute to further thicken the sauce. Then set aside.

Once the oil reaches 350 degrees F, use a pair of tongs to gently place each piece of chicken into the oil individually. If you try to add more than one piece of chicken at a time the chunks will stick together and you will have clumps of chicken pieces rather than individual pieces. Cook the chicken in the oil for 3-4 minutes.

Once cooked, take the chicken out of the oil and place it onto a paper towel to drain and cool for a few minutes.

Then, drop the chicken back into the oil for another minute to get it extra crispy! 

Remove from the oil and allow to drain on a new paper towel.

Lastly, toss the chicken in the sauce and give it a taste! (You're welcome!)

Serve the chicken over some noodles or rice and top with green onions! 

Writing up this post makes me want to go make it again! It was so good! I hope you enjoy!

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Orange Chicken

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbs & 1 tsp CORNSTARCH
• 3 EGG WHITES
• 1 CHICKEN BREAST (roughly 10-12 oz.), cut into small chunks
• 1/2 cup ORANGE JUICE
• 1 Tbs SOY SAUCE
• 1 Tbs BROWN SUGAR, packed
• 1 Tbs RICE VINEGAR
• 1/4 tsp SESAME OIL
• Pinch of RED PEPPER FLAKES (you can always add more if you like spicy food!)
• 1 clove of GARLIC, minced
• About 1/2 inch of freshly grated GINGER
• VEGETABLE or PEANUT OIL, for frying
• Optional: 2 GREEN ONIONS, to top

Directions:

1. Whisk up the egg whites with 2 tablespoons of cornstarch using a fork in a medium sized bowl until it begins to get frothy. 
2. Add the chicken pieces and allow to sit for 5 to 10 minutes. 
3. While you are waiting on the chicken, start heating about 2 inches of oil to 350 degrees F in a pot. 
4. Mix the orange juice, soy sauce, brown sugar, rice wine vinegar, sesame oil, salt, crushed red pepper, garlic, and ginger in a nonstick skillet. 
5. Heat the sauce on the stove for about 5 minutes over medium heat until it starts to thicken. While the sauce is thickening up, whisk together 1/4 cup of cool water with the remaining teaspoon of cornstarch. After the sauce has been heating for 5 minutes, turn off the stove and mix in 1 to 2 teaspoons of the cornstarch slurry. Stir for about 1 minute to further thicken the sauce. Then set aside.
6. Once the oil reaches 350 degrees F, use a pair of tongs to gently place each piece of chicken into the oil individually. If you try to add more than one piece of chicken at a time the chunks will stick together and you will have clumps of chicken pieces rather than individual pieces. Cook the chicken in the oil for 3-4 minutes. 
7. Once cooked, take the chicken out of the oil and place it onto a paper towel to drain and cool for a few minutes. 
8. Then, drop the chicken back into the oil for another minute to get it extra crispy! Then, remove the chicken from the oil and allow to drain on a new paper towel. 
9. Lastly, toss the chicken in the sauce and give it a taste!
10. Serve the chicken over some noodles or rice and top with green onions! 

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I got this recipe from the following website: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ree-drummond/orange-chicken.html