by Doug Hartill | Dec 14, 2020 | Main Courses, Recipes, Sauces
Orange Chicken and Panda Express go together like the Big Mac and McDonald’s and the Whopper and Burger King. When you pick up your Combo Plate, you always have to fill one of your entrees with the delicious sweet and tangy, Orange Chicken.
Panda Express seems to be a staple in most strip malls or shopping centers. Currently as of the writing of this post, they are only in 45 states with the only holdouts in the North East of the US. (Sorry Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts and Rhode Island.)
Finding this recipe was a difficult task and took a while to perfect, but this is my best guess and I think it comes pretty dang close.
Print Recipe
Orange Chicken from Panda Express
The timeless classic that is Orange Chicken from Panda Express. It is quick and easy to make and sure to please everyone.
Instructions
Cooking and Serving
Trim the Chicken into bite sized chunks. Throw the chicken bites into a couple ziplock bags and add the egg, salt, pepper, flour, corn starch, and soy sauce. Slowly add water to make this an even coated batter. Let this sit in the fridge for 1 hour.
Heat up some oil for frying (enough to cover the chicken). Fry the chicken until golden brown. Drain the chicken and wait 3 minutes before adding them into the sauce.
Sauce Prep
Add all sauce ingredients into a pot and heat until a slow simmer, constantly stirring. Cook until a dark golden brown.
by Doug Hartill | Dec 21, 2019 | Appetizers, Recipes
Holy Guacamole is a perfect addition to any Mexican meal. Put it in your burrito, on top of your enchiladas, or just directly inject it into your veins. All are perfectly acceptable.
Why does Guacamole turn brown?
It starts with a little chemical called polyphenol oxidase which is present in Avocados. When that chemical is exposed to oxygen, it oxidizes and causes a reaction that develops a pigment, turning the avocado brown.
How you combat that, is to keep the Guacamole in an airtight container and introduce some type of acidity such as lime or lemon juice.
Print Recipe
Holy Guacamole
Holy Guacamole is the perfect addition to any Mexican food dish and it is super simple to make. Why pay the extra $1 when you can make so much more from scratch.
Instructions
Peed and mash the avocados into a paste. Add all other ingredients into a bowl and viola! Perfect Guacamole!
by Doug Hartill | Nov 25, 2019 | Recipes, Sauces
Today we are going to be taking a look at a KILLER Spicy Marinara Sauce. Nothing says Italian Cuisine more than a classic tomato marinara sauce. Nowadays we are saving time by opening those bottled or canned marinara sauces at the cost of flavor. Who makes the best spicy marinara sauce? I have to say that the best marinara sauce is the one you slow cook at home!
Most American’s have no idea what true, homemade marinara sauce tastes like. So let me be your genuine Italian Guido and fix that. NEVER EVER buy canned marinara sauce again. It’s expensive, you lose flavor and nutrients, and this one tastes much much better.
Sure it will add some time to your day, but YOLO right? Why waste your life with crappy marinara sauce?
Now this recipe is going to take some time, so buckle up partner, I never said it would be easy, I just said that it would be worth it.
Check out our Rattlesnake Bites Copycat Recipe to pair with this marinara.
Print Recipe
Killer Marinara Sauce
A classic tomato sauce with a spicy kick that is not overpowering. This will be an instant classic in your home and can be made in large batches and saved for later.
Instructions
-
Take your tomatoes and steam them for 10-15 minutes. This is to release the skin from the tomatoes. Peel the tomatoes and set aside.
-
Heat up the oil and saute the onion for about 5-6 minutes on medium heat. Add the Basil, Garlic, and Spices and add the tomatoes one by one smashing them with a potato masher or your hands, whichever you prefer.
-
Let the pot simmer for as long as you can let it simmer. Normally, this is about an hour so that all the flavors can marry.
by Doug Hartill | Nov 23, 2019 | Main Courses, Recipes
Today, we are going to take a look at an amazing recipe for my favorite pasta dish, the Spicy Chicken Chipotle Alfredo Pasta from The Cheesecake Factory. This thing is loaded with flavor (and calories) so keep that in mind. It is super simple to prepare, even though there seem to be a lot of moving parts, it all comes together in the end. It is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet and savory.
Introduction to The Cheesecake Factory
If you have never been to The Cheesecake Factory, you are definitely missing out. The huge menu is rather intimidating at first, but you soon realize that most of the menu is Cheesecake. I think that is why the Cheesecake Factory is so well-liked. No matter what everyone is craving, there is something for everyone. From Cuban Sandwiches to Asian Salads, to Burritos there is something for even the pickiest of eaters.
What is the Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta from The Cheesecake Factory?
Made using Penne Pasta, the Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta has Chicken breast sauteed in honey. The sauce is a unique sauce made from Alfredo and Chipotle peppers in Adobo Sauce. This gives it a beautiful mild kick that you crave as well as a deep smokey flavor. The sweetness of the honey combined with the spice of the sauce makes an amazing dish that can be enjoyed by everyone.
Make sure to check out how to make the Salad Dressing from the Olive Garden or how to make a Cuban Classic, Picadillo, which is a cheap and flavorful addition to your families dinner rotation.
Print Recipe
Spicy Chicken Chipotle Alfredo Pasta
A spicy chicken pasta with chipotle flavors with a sweet undertone. A sure crowd pleaser.
Instructions
Prepare Vegetables and Pasta
Add the asparagus to the pasta water and boil for 2-3 minutes or until slightly tender.
Pull out the asparagus and run under cold water to shock it and stop it from cooking.
Add your pasta to the water and remove when al-dente, normally 12-13 minutes rolling boil.
Combine lemon juice, salt, pepper, and chicken and let it marinade.
Prepare your skillet with butter on medium heat.
Add bell peppers and onions.
Leave on the heat until translucent, stirring occasionally to make sure they do not char, then add the garlic cloves, saute for 1 minute.
Cook Chicken and Serve
Remove the veggies and add olive oil to your skillet
Add chicken to the pan and turn the heat up to medum-high.
Keep on the heat until browned on all sides.
Add in the honey and stir until the honey loosens up.
-
Puree the Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce can and set aside.
Brown the chicken on both sides and remove from heat.
Cook for an additional 3 minutes, then add all other ingredients (Veggies, Adobo, Pasta)
Make a basic Alfredo sauce (Butter, Parmesan, Heavy Cream, Black Pepper, Garlic Powder) and add in the Pureed chipotle peppers. Let it come to a simmer. Add your frozen peas to thaw in the sauce.
Add sauce, pasta, chicken in your pot adding the asparagus last or as a garnish. Add Cilantro or parsley and grated Parmesan as a topper. Tortilla strips if you want to be really authentic.
by Doug Hartill | Oct 11, 2019 | Appetizers, Main Courses, Recipes
Who doesn’t like a good Broccoli Cheese Soup? Well, my wife for one, but that isn’t the point.
It’s no-frills, easy, and you can add Jalapeños and bacon to it to send it over the top.
If you want another amazing recipe, try this Spicy Chicken Chipotle Pasta.
Print Recipe
Broccoli Cheese Soup
This right here is a soup for winners. Sometimes you just need a thick and hearty soup to warm the soul after a day chasing Polar Bears through the Arctic. This Broccoli Cheese Soup is super easy to make and tastes great.
Instructions
Place the butter along with the chopped onion and celery into a pot and sweat these bad boys off. Once translucent, add the flour making sure to keep stirring. If you think you can stop stirring, you are wrong. Keep stirring.
Add the broth and continue to stir. Add in the pepper and salt. After about 2 minutes, you are going to add the rest of the ingredients and let them cook down for about 7-10 minutes. Add in the milk and cheese. Make sure to keep the temperature on a solid 4/10 on the heat scale or you will scorch it and no one likes scorched soups.
Garnish with some Jalapeños and some more cheddar and you got yourself an amazing soup.
