Ground Orange Chicken

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Corona Kitchen, Week 10.

Funny thing. I wrote this post on Thursday, March 12. Later that day, we were told that the kids would have school the following day, March 13, and would not return indefinitely. There were no instructions for online learning. No plan. Just complete unknown. This was the day that the world as we knew it changed. I remember rushing off to the supermarket on Friday morning. I stocked up as best I could without really understanding what we would need and for how long I should prepare. I filled my SUV tank with gas, for no reason other than panic which was the same reason why I filled our empty propane tank from the garage. I hit the liquor store to fill in any holes in our already well-stocked bar. Gary prides himself on bar preparedness and sent me off that Friday with a list of obscure “must haves.” And finally, I went to our bank make a deposit only to be told by the tellers that the branch would be closing and they did not know where I should continue banking. It felt like the apocalypse.

Just that morning in the original draft, I wrote, “We are in full Spring scramble over here with after-school lacrosse practices and games, off-season hockey, EMT classes, evening meetings, and the list goes on. It seems unimaginable that things may come to a halt at any moment because of coronavirus but for now, life as we know it is action-packed. I love everything about this chaos, possibly because it is all too clear to me that if this pandemic doesn’t affect a change, looming high school graduation(s) will. Our Spring season has been this way for what seems like forever and when you take away the dread of driving to just one more field, the long days and late nights, you realize that the camaraderie of talking with parents on the sidelines, that one-on-one time with your child in the car, and those circuitous trips around the neighborhood with a carload of kids are the moments that you will remember.”

Now that chaos seems so far away and I was correct in thinking that I would miss those things. Especially the casual, impromptu social interactions with people whom you just happened to come in contact. What I didn’t realize is that those moments would be replaced by quality time with the people closest to me. Yes, my immediate family for sure. I could never have envisioned the projects my kids would have come up with, the meals we would make together or the fact that they would have the inclination to binge watch “Survivor” as a family. But I also would never have imagined weekly Zoom calls with the women I met as a brand new mother, during the year our oldest children are finishing up high school. I would not have anticipated having the luxury of long, unrushed phone conversations with two of my original elementary school friends. And then there’s my family, scattered throughout the West. Why hadn’t we previously had any video phone calls (FaceTime? Skype?) let alone group ones? I didn’t realize that the camaraderie of family could be resurrected on a computer screen and the joy it would put on my parents’ faces.

Yes, I miss many aspects of our old life but I truly appreciate some elements of this new one. I think that we can all agree that this pandemic has given us a sense of perspective that had been lost. Will we allow our lives to become that action-packed again? Who will draw the line? While I am fully aware that everyone’s situation during this crisis is different and that I’d be incredible naive, if not borderline offensive, to think that I understand what others are experiencing, I will admit that for me this slow down has been a reflective period. I am immensely appreciative of this found time and the opportunity to breathe–and moreover, I am aware of and grateful for these breaths. Now if only we could incorporate just the right touch of chaos.

Reminiscent of chaos, this recipe for Ground Orange Chicken was originally pitched as one that can be made ahead and reheated in individual portions as a solution for the staggered dinner dilemma. Still true, but this meal is also great to eat as a family and comes together with some pantry ingredients + a pound of ground chicken. It can be doubled (or tripled) for the freezer or to have lunches ready for the taking thoughout the week. Ground Orange Chicken hits all the right notes–quick, easy, flavorful and completely reheatable. My autocorrect just turned “reheatable” which I suppose is not a word, to “repeatable” and this recipe is that, as well.

So go ahead and make Ground Orange Chicken and serve it scooped over rice and alongside these Szechuan Green Beans if you are so inclined. Enjoy!

Ground Orange Chicken
Print Recipe

Ground Orange Chicken

Servings: 4

Ingredients

Orange Sauce

  • 1 Tbls mirin (rice wine)
  • 2 Tbls water
  • 1/2 tsp sesame oil
  • 4 tsp soy sauce
  • 2 Tbls sugar
  • 5 Tbls rice wine vinegar
  • zest of 1/2 orange

Cornstarch Slurry (thickener)

  • 1 Tbls cornstarch
  • 1 Tbls water

Chicken

  • 1 Tbls vegetable oil
  • 1 lb ground chicken
  • 1 Tbls minced ginger
  • 2 tsp minced garlic
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • steamed rice for serving optional

Instructions

  • To make the orange sauce, in a small bowl combine the rice wine, 2 Tbls water, sesame oil, soy sauce, sugar, white vinegar, and orange zest. Set aside until ready to use.
  • To make the cornstarch mixture, dissolve 1 Tbls cornstarch in the remaining 1 Tbls of water and set aside.
  • To a large pan heated over medium-high, add 1 Tbls oil and ground chicken.
    Cook until a good crust forms before breaking apart, then finish cooking by breaking it apart with a spatula and cooking for an additional 2-3 minutes.
  • Once the chicken is cooked add the ginger, garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for another minute.
  • Add the orange sauce to the chicken and bring to boil.
  • Add the cornstarch mixture to the pan and cook for just a few minutes more, stirring until it thickens. Serve over rice, if desired.
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