Copy Cat Panda Express Orange Chicken

There is this game I play, all by myself, every day on my way home from work--it's incredibly fun.  It's called See if you can come up with something good for dinner based on only what's in your house, before you pass the last grocery store.  Ever heard of anything that sounds funner?  It consists of scouring recipes/Pinterest at stoplights, and perpetually reminding myself that while I call salad dinner, the sir in my life does not.  Yesterday I planned on having sandwiches for dinner, but then I realized I didn't have satisfactory bread on hand, or really anything to make it more exciting than bread, meat, & lettuce.  And, while an average sandwich like that is acceptable for lunch, I have this notion that a sandwich for dinner needs to be exciting.  Like fancy cheese, avacado, arugula, heirloom tomato-exciting.  So alas, if I made sandwiches I would have to go the the grocery, and lose my game (which I do on pretty much a daily basis.... but I was feeling motivated yesterday!)  Thus, orange chicken was born.  It consists of mostly pantry staples (and because of my inexplicable affinity for Asian food, I had it all on hand...) and comes together pretty quickly.  Plus, it earned a high-five from the sir, so you know it's good.

Orange & Black Sesame Cookies

Don't tell my ultimate chocolate chip cookie recipe, but I think I have a new favorite cookie.  I realize putting sesame seeds in a cookie sounds, well, strange, but just try it!  (Plus, black sesame seeds are sweeter and lack much of the bitterness found in white sesame seeds.)  These cookies have just the right level of sweetness, crumble, and texture.  Divine, that's a good word to describe them.  And if exquisite taste isn't enough to sell you, the sesame seeds add protein and fiber to this cookie :)

Chocolate Ginger Mousse with Orange Whipped Cream

I'm pretty sure "chocolate" is one of my most used labels... by a lot.  But really, who doesn't love a good chocolate recipe?  Chocolate plays so well with others, I can't help that I resort back to it as soon as I need to whip up a 'fancy' dessert.  In this instance the bitter dark chocolate harmonizes perfectly with the warm, spicy ginger, creating a uniquely satisfying mousse.  Dollop on some orange whipped cream, and this simple concoction screams gourmet.  It's awesome.  And who doesn't need another chocolate recipe in their repertoire?  I know I do- especially one that takes only 3 ingredients.  Sign me up.

Classic Cranberry Sauce

 Nothing like a tart, tangy cranberry sauce to top off all that Thanksgiving goodness.  I grew up with a family who thought those canned cranberries (the kind that you dump out of a can and are still shaped like a can...) were a sufficient compliment to turkey.  After leaving home, and discovering there were bigger and better options for cranberry sauce, I now apologize to all those turkeys I have disgraced with gelatinous cranberry solids. 

• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 cup orange juice
• 12 oz fresh cranberries
• 2 cinnamon sticks

1. Sort through cranberries removing any stems or bad berries, set aside.
2. In a medium saucepan, dissolve sugar in orange juice over medium heat. Add cranberries and cinnamon sticks.  Cook for about 10 minutes, or until cranberries pop.
3. Remove from heat, and transfer to a serving dish to cool.  Sauce will set upon cooling.

Yields ~2 1/2 cups.

Citrus Buddies

I stumbled upon inspiration for this recipe on Pinterest, only to go buy all of the ingredients and realize that the original idea belongs to Chex... and is on the back of their box.
And I thought I was on to something...  I however, am incompetent at actually following a recipe, so I tweaked it just a little.  And in my humble opinion- I improved it :)

• 9 cups Chex cereal
• 1 1/4 cups white chocolate chips
• 2 Tbs fresh lemon juice
• 1/4 cup butter or margarine
• 4 tsp lemon zest (~3/4 of a large lemon)
• 2 tsp orange zest
• 2 generous cups powdered sugar

EVERYTHING you need (+1 lemon..)

1. In a microwave safe bowl heat the chips, lemon juice, zest, and butter for 1 minute.  Stir well, and heat in 20 second increments, stirring between, until the mixture can be stirred smooth.

2.  Pour the mixture over the cereal in a large bowl, and stir gently until evenly coated.  Then transfer to a gallon storage bag and add powdered sugar.  Seal the bag and shake gently until pieces appear evenly coated- I always add additional sugar because I like mine to be uniformly white.

Notes:

• Rice or corn chex will do- or the off-brand chex cereal.
• Mix it up with lime, orange juice, or whatever you have on hand! 
• This makes cute gifts- fill a cellophane bag and tie with cute ribbon- to really jazz it up you could coat some with colored vanilla candy coating instead of white- in happy citrus colors like orange, yellow, and green.

Yields 9 cups.

Orange-Glazed Asparagus

• 1 bunch asparagus
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 1 Tbs olive oil
• Salt & pepper to taste
• Orange zest (optional)
  

1. Snap the tough ends off the asparagus.
2. In an approximately 12" skillet (with a lid) add the asparagus, orange juice, and oil, and turn the heat on high.
3. Once the asparagus begins to steam, cook it for about 4 minutes, or until desired doneness.
   
4. Remove asparagus, and if desired add orange zest.
   
5. Allow the juice to reduce another 2-3 minutes, or until volume has reduced by about half. Drizzle the sauce over the asparagus, and serve.

Notes:

• If you find the orange flavor to be too strong, use half orange juice, half chicken stock.
• If your asparagus is particularly woody, use a vegetable peeler on the lower stem, and peel the harder outside down.
  

Yields 4 servings.