Make Your Own Take-Out

I love chinese food. My earliest childhood memories consist of Chinese take-out on Sunday nights and watching “All in the Family” (we called it “Archie” in my house). My father would go to his menus that were organized like napkins in a napkin holder, hand it to us and demand that we each choose our dinner. We eat so much Chinese food that if you name a member of my family I can tell you exactly what they will order now and what they ordered then. I can even tell you what Beth, Uncle Mark and cousin Eric will order after making them eat a bit more Chinese food than they would’ve had I not visited.

However, as I get older I tend to go for healthier Chinese options. For example, chicken and broccoli without oil and brown rice has replaced a lo mein combination (why do people need lo mein and fried rice?); Moo shoo chicken with the sauce on the side has replaced chow fun…you get the idea. Chinese take out is a good cheap option when I don’t want to cook. But I still like to try what Rachel Ray deems “make your own take out.” So the other day I saw a “Simply Asia” flavor packet for General Tso’s chicken. You just add the seasoning with a little soy sauce and sugar and shake the chicken in the handy plastic bag they include in the package. Then, you punch some holes in the top of the bag and stick it in the microwave for nine-13 minutes.

The directions say to use about a pound of chicken breasts, but instead I used boneless chicken thighs. Also, I only used half the marinade because I do not like things very saucy (I’m a big sauce on the side person, so I figured if the chicken required more sauce I’d just add it after). I also made this with some chicken-flavored cous cous. If you are trying to cut calories, cous cous is a good side dish. A cup and a half of cous cous is only 180 calories and three points on the old Weight Watchers system.

It was pretty tasty. Especially on a Friday night after my first week back at work!

I can’t decide what the best thing was about this dish: the fact that it was only $6 to make for two people or that there was only one pot to clean up.