I know I mentioned that I have the same 4 New Year resolutions every year…well tonight I decided to add one more to that list. I would like to plan our meals better. There are so many nights that I just have no idea…or I am floundering around the kitchen trying to throw together a must try recipe and am out of everything I need. (Sounds like this may be related to the “get organized” resolution?)
Anyway…I’ll take any suggestions from you on how you plan your weekly menus…if that’s what you do. I just bought my new 2009 weekly planner today and I’m ready to rock and roll.
I want to share with you this AWESOME dinner I made the other night. This will definitely be making it to our weekly menu more often. My sister in law passed it on to me with rave reviews. I couldn’t wait to try it out…I love Asian food and have little experience cooking it at home. This is definitely a start for me, it was extremely basic and tasted just as good, if not better, than any bourbon chicken you would get at a restaurant. I was a little unsure about using all of that sugar, I think next time I will reduce it down to 1/4 cup…also, I made sure to use the low sodium soy sauce. I served it with a healthy medley of stir fried vegetables with chopped garlic and ginger and some Kashi 7 Whole Grain Pilaf.
Recipe found on Receipezaar
2 lbs boneless/skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-size pieces
1-2 tablespoon olive oil
1 garlic clove, crushed
1/4 teaspoon ginger
3/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/4 cup apple juice
1/3 cup light brown sugar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup soy sauce
Heat oil in a large skillet. Add chicken pieces and cook until lightly browned. Remove chicken. Add remaining ingredients, heating over medium Heat until well mixed and dissolved. Add chicken and bring to a hard boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 20 minutes. Serve with stir fried vegetables and brown rice.
{ 23 comments… read them below or add one }
ah this sounds soooo good. Josh and I would love this meal! I have to put it on my list of to makes!
For planning, I sit down once a week and determine what 6 meals I’m going to make that week (we go out for dinner 1 night a week), what snacks and lunch items we need, and then I make my food list off of that. It saves me a lot of time and money (it helps to keep a giant running list of recipes you like to make and ones you want to try).
Mmm, this looks so delicious! Will plan on making this tomorrow…so yummy!
I lovve bourbon chicken!! I’ve never attempted to make any Asian foods because they just kind of intimidate me..this looks fairly easy!! I will be making this very soon!!
Happy New Year! Great recipe for Bourbon Chicken, and that Kashi Pilaf looks good, too! I try to plan about 4 days worth … beyond that doesn’t seem to work. One of the neighbors down the street cooks like a fiend every Sunday, then arranges and packages stuff, and then just reheats and compiles stuff. She’s done it for years. She loves it. I just keep plugging along with my four days at a time thing!
What a great combo of ingredients, looks fabulous as usual Aggie.
Aggie! You are making me want to really make this now! I have looked at this recipe so many times but just never did it. It looks great! The entire meal!
Back to normalcy here too. Its been nice, but I guess its best I get back to work!
I have to try this, this would be the recipe I would not be able to stop thinking about that the next day. Also, your green lightning shrimp – look amazing!
This looks AWESOME! It’s been starred and I can’t wait to make it soon!
This sounds so delicious and I love the color it has. I can just imagine the taste!
Great meal!! I try to cook a lot on the weekends so we have leftovers or things to put in the freezer. I also look at the ads to see what is on sale and plan our meals around the bargains!
This looks like its straight from the restaurant! So professional & what a great dish. I love your Shrimp too! I am a big fan of shrip & those pics are getting me hungry.
I used to get Bourbon chicken all the time for lunch when I worked in downtown DC. This looks delicious!
This really looks wonderful.. I love dark sauces and poultry. Coq Au Vin.. YUM….. Savory and I love chicken…
This looks yummy. What I try to do is plan out my meals that I want to make for the week and when I go food shopping I buy specifically what I need for each of those meals. Another thing that helps me is on Sundays a lot of times we will grill up a bunch of different meet. Especially chicken. Then I can make a few quick meals off of them. I also pull out meat from the freezer and put them in marinades to cook later in the week.
ok I meant meat not meet. I really do have an education I swear!
Wow, that looks awesome! I’m snagging this recipe.
That looks fabulous Aggie! I hope things settle down and you have some luck planning meals. I’d love any tips! I read about someone who has assigned days for the week- Chinese monday, breakfast-for-dinner tuesday, new recipe wednesday, pork thursday, crockpot friday, etc. I’m thinking of trying that since it makes for a pattern (and less things to decide from) but still allows variety. I’ll let you know if it pans out for us!
This looks so incredibly good, and it is made with ingredients I usually have at home — added bonus! Can’t wait to try this! I am terrible about menu planning and end up either going to the grocery once a day, or throwing something random together to use up what I have in the house. I would love to get better at planning so I’ll be following to see what great tips you get!
What a beautiful color this chicken has. It looks and sounds really good.
Funny you posted this, we are having it for dinner tomorrow. I think I will try your recipe instead since I just got one from a random website. Thanks!
PS, We do a weekly menu also, but it is based on the sales at the store. I know it’s kinda weird, but last year my sister in law got me into couponing. Like, on mon we saved $50 and MADE $12. yUP, We got paid to get our groceries. Anyway that’s how we do it. Don’t worry though, we still eat fresh, but it works better for me this way. I save money and the menu is flexible in case sales change or we feel like something else. Hope it works out!
I like this bourbon chicken recipe. It can be made as a fresh dish or with leftover chicken. Thus no food will be wasted.I am going to make them on my next party. It will be a crowd pleaser. Thanks a lot!!
We had this last Thursday – LOVED IT!! Thanks for posting – me and my husband are having success with every one of your recipes we try – yay!