This was supposed to be Stir-Fried Chicken with Fennel…. but we ate all the fennel in the Shrimp Risotto.
As I had promised mon mari I would do a chicken stir-fry I had to search the pantry and freezer.
Since I can only buy them in 1 kilo bags, and we don’t ever eat a kilo of them at one time, I always have frozen peas and spinach (plain, no sauce) in the freezer. They’re the only frozen veggies I buy and are nice to have on hand.
Pimientos are also a nice emergency addition to almost anything. I stock up whenever we go to Spain.
It was tasty and colorful – the two hallmarks of a good stir-fry.
And quick – almost forgot quick.
Stir-fried Chicken with Peas
Total time: 30 minutes
Ingredients:
- 1/2 cup (3.3oz, 95gr) brown Basmati rice
- 1 cup (8oz, 240ml) chicken stock
- 2 chicken breasts, cut into small pieces
- 1 rib celery, sliced
- 1 onion, quartered, then sliced
- 1 whole pimiento, (app.3oz, 90gr), cut into strips
- 1 cup peas, frozen, no sauce
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp minced, fresh ginger
- 2 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- 1 tbs soy sauce
- 2/3 cup (5oz, 150ml) chicken stock
- 1/3 cup (3oz, 90ml) sherry
- 1 tbs cornstarch (corn flour, maizena) dissolved in 2 tbs water
Instructions:
- Cook rice in stock according to package directions, usually 18 minutes
- Heat oils in large skillet. Add onion and sauté 3 minutes.
- Add garlic, ginger, celery, and sauté 5 minutes longer.
- Remove to a plate.
- Add chicken to skillet and sauté 5 minutes.
- Return vegetables to skillet.
- Add soy sauce, stock, cover and simmer, 5 minutes.
- Add pimiento, peas, cover and simmer 5 minutes longer
- Add cornstarch and stir until thickened.
- Spoon over rice and serve.
I can’t believe all the tests and inspections we have to get done in order to sell our house!
Today we had the septic system inspected.
There is now one more job on my list of things I will never do.
Four guys came to do the job. I have no idea why. It appeared that two of them were just along to keep the other two company….. Although they all signed the document when it was finished.
We have a separate septic tank for the kitchen. I don’t know why.
I have never concerned myself with the septic system.
Ever.
So it was with some surprise that I saw all of the little square concrete slabs that were lifted up and inspected today. To be honest I never gave a thought as to why they were there…. Paving stones?
I did, out of curiosity, look into the tanks…. at least, the two main tanks.
I’ll have nightmares for weeks.
The joys of country life.
It just occurred to me that this was really not an appropriate topic for a food blog.
Still…. it’s a step up from the current political situation.
:O Selling? We go back and forth on fennel, but I do like sneaking in fennel blossoms. The foodies say it brings “umami” to a dish; I say it helps my weak sauces from time to time.
Ha Haaaa Katie…this reminds me of when we had to go from septic to city pipe systems. We got an amazing deal at the time (friend of a friend…poor guy) They had to come and empty the septic field, then crush up the tank and hall it away, and clear out the field before they could lay pipe to the main street pump access. Well they quoted us a price (very reasonable again friend of a friend) only to discover 2 days later they found a 2nd whole new septic field/tank. No one knew it was even there. Because they quoted us a “price” he could not charge us for the 2nd field and tank! We were happy, although I did feel a bit sorry for the guy for all the extra work/costs on his end. (by the way, he also recently did another job elsewhere in our area…do you know he actually found an old 60’s Volkswagen bug inside the septic tank!!!) Unbelievable. I think he went home crying that day! 🙂
I grew up with septic tanks …..gross and unpleasant things I agree…on a par with the US political situation.
Have you already found your next project, or will that wait until you have sold this one? And do you hope to stay in France? I am struck by how comfortable I am asking such personal questions of someone I have never met – just one of the amazing things about the interwebs.
Selling?? I think that requires its own post!
I grew up with a well and septic, until I was 17 and the city forced everyone onto the ‘city water and sewer system’. I remember the horrors. Now, we’re back on a well and septic and I worry about how much toilet paper we use and what kind is best. *sigh*
have you picked out your next area?
on a side note your most recent post the one on slow cooker veal? it won’t open for me gives me a bunch of gibberish
Dan – time for a new project! I may even try to grow some fennel…. I’m really starting to like it lots.
Ina – what a story!!! I grew up with septic tanks…. I remember having to have a new one dug when I was a child (no idea why…)
Kate – exactly, on both counts.
Zoomie, it will wait until spring and yes, we’ll stay in France. Couldn’t afford to move back (hubs being T1 diabetic and looking at the scary costs of drugs there) We’re debating areas…. some of us would like to be closer to the beaches. – And ask away. I have more ‘web friends’ now than real ones lol
nightsmusic, what goes around…. We never thought we’d be hauling wood to heat with either. Keeps us young, right?
Gayle, not yet…. the debate will go on until be buy Ah – now I have a start date for my problems….