Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry

I’m a sucker for stir-fry so this Sesame Chicken Stir-Fry was a no-brainer. The original recipe from Cooking Light is actually a beef stir-fry but since I don’t eat beef, I adapted it to my liking and boy, do I like it! Thin slices of chicken are cooked and then mixed with a salty, sweet, spicy sauce and then with baby spinach. Yum! If you are watching your carbs, or even if you aren’t, please consider making this. You could easily serve it over rice to make it an even heartier meal but I like it just the way it is. The stir-fry sauce is very tasty with ginger, garlic, soy sauce, brown sugar, and crushed red pepper. Because crushed red pepper doesn’t give me the kick of heat that I usually want, next time I make this (and there will be a next time!) I’ll probably substitute it with hot chili sauce like sriracha or cayenne pepper but if you have a sensitive tongue, you can leave it out altogether. If you don’t like spinach, the versatility of this recipe allows you to switch up the ingredients. Try making it with broccoli, or if you want it make it vegetarian, try this sauce with any of your favorite veggie combinations.

The ingredients:

Slice the chicken into thin strips and cook in a pan with sesame oil.

While chicken cooks, make the stir-fry sauce by mixing together soy sauce, ginger, garlic, dark brown sugar, and crushed red pepper in a small bowl.

Remove cooked chicken from the pan and set aside. In the same pan, add green onions and stir-fry sauce and cook briefly.

Add cooked chicken slices back into the pan and mix until well coated.

Into the pan, add baby spinach and cook until wilted.

Sprinkle with sesame seeds before serving.

Additions: None

Omissions: None

Substitutions:

  • Chicken for beef

Overall Rating: Love It

Source: Cooking Light Magazine

Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes

Dessert and a cocktail in one? With ice cream?! Oh. My. Goodness.

I got this recipe for Bourbon Pumpkin Pie Milkshakes from another food blog I like called How Sweet It Is. And my oh my, how sweet this is! Ice cream, milk, pumpkin, and bourbon? Who knew? Is it a dessert? Is it a cocktail? Who CARES?! It’s yummy!

Pumpkin week has come to an end :(. I think I can officially stick a fork in it. It’s done. Have a great weekend!

The ingredients:

Place all the ingredients in a blender.

Pour into your favorite glass with sprinkles, whipped cream or just keep it naked.

Additions: None

Omissions: None

Substitutions:

  • Fat-free milk
  • Fat-free half-and-half
  • Light ice cream
  • Vanilla wafers

Overall Rating: Like It

Source: How Sweet It Is Blog

Pumpkin-Honey Beer Quick Bread

I’m a big fan of pumpkin bread and usually the simplest pumpkin bread is good enough for me.  But this Pumpkin-Honey Beer Quick Bread is a nice alternative to normal pumpkin bread because it includes honey beer and flaxseed.  The recipe actually calls for ground flaxseed but I already had flaxseeds on hand (from previously making Bananas Foster Bread) so I decided to use them.  Not only is flaxseed good for you (it’s good for the ol’ ticker!) but whole flaxseeds add a slight crunch and nutty bite which tastes good in soft, creamy bread like this.  The honey beer doesn’t overpower in this bread but instead adds a slight depth that rounds out the flavor.  I’d say give this a try with pretty much any beer you might have on hand (or consider substituting cider to keep it alcohol-free).  Eat this warm with a smear of butter and I challenge you to not go back for a second slice.

The ingredients:

Combine flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice in a bowl.

In another bowl, mix together sugar, oil, beer, eggs, flaxseed, water, and pumpkin.  Is it just me or does it look like there is a wicked old witch in the pumpkin in this picture??  Weird!

Blend wet and dry ingredients together with an electric mixer.

Pour batter into bread pans and bake at 350°F.

Additions:  None

Omissions:  None

Substitutions:  None

Overall Rating:  Love It

Source:  Cooking Light Magazine