Toddler Friendly Chinese Chicken

This dish always makes us sing, always and with no fail.  My tween knows all the words to this song and can sing with the beat.  It is a great song.  So repeat after me:

Chickity China the Chinese Chicken

Have a drumstick and your brain stops tickin’…….. Barenaked Ladies, One Week.

When you are signing or humming remember that this meal is really nice and a great alternative to take out.  Loaded with veggies and chicken and not with salt and grease like the ones you get delivered.  I do not mean You personally but it is definitely better then the ones We get delivered.

You will need: 1lb chicken cut into pieces, box of Mung Bean Sprouts (if you can’t find them in the fresh vegi section check the oriental one for canned option), 2 handfuls of shiitake mushrooms (approx 15 of them), 3 cloves of garlic, 2 cups of snow peas, 4 green onions, 1 red pepper, 1 yellow and 1 green zucchini, 1 (15oz) can of Baby Sweet Corn, 2tbs brown sugar, 1tbs hoisin sauce, 1/4 cup soy sauce, Sesame Seed oil and Chow Mein Noodles (feel free to substitute).

If this is not enough vegies for you feel free to add, substitute, subtract (just not too much).

Cook the Noodles according to the package directions.  Pour 1/4 cup soy sauce into cup add to it 2 tbs brown sugar.

Add 1 tbs Hoisin Sauce.  I love Hoisin Sauce which traditionally is made with Sweet Potatoes.  Maybe that is why it is so good.

Mix until the sugar disolves.

Pour over the chicken, cover and marinate for 10 minutes.  This does not mean resting.  We have some chopping to do.

Slice the Zucchini into even pieces.

Chop the mushrooms.  For the toddlers I usually chop them really fine since shiitakes can be a little chewy.

Cut up the red pepper.

Mince the 3 garlic cloves or press them if you have one of them those presses.

Cut the ends of the snow peas and cut them up into 3rds or if your kids are older into 2.

Drain the baby sweet corn and chop.

Now we are ready for the chicken.  Warm 2 tbs of canola or vegi oil in the pan.  When hot add the chicken reserving the marinate for later.

Cook the chicken for about 5 minutes until cooked through.  I always figure that with chicken it is better to be safe then sorry.

Remove the chicken from the pan and set aside.

Add 1 tsp of sesame oil to the pan

throw in the garlic and saute for about a minute till it softens.

Now it is time to add the mushrooms, pepper, peas and corn.  Saute another 3 minutes till soft.

In the meantime chop up the scallions.

When ready throw in zucchini, bean sprouts and scallions.

Cook for about a minute until the sprouts are softer (looking almost like noodles).

Talking about noodles.  At this time add the noodles, chicken and reserved marinate.  Toss around.

You are ready to serve.  Even with all this chopping I am sure that it took less time then 45 min it takes for Chinese Food to get here.