General Tso

I found this recipe while up in Wisconsin.  We couldn't afford to eat chinese out, so I would make it at home. My husbands favorite is General Tso chicken. I first marinade the chicken in oyster sauce, cooking sherry, and cornstarch. While that is sitting I chop my veggies. I use what ever bell pepper that I can find or is cheeper.Celery, some times baby corn. Then I make the sauce that goes in later. It has Honey, rice vinegar, cooking sherry, soy sauce, asian sesame oil,corn starch and water. I use 2 tablespoons of everything.  Then in a frying pan /wok I use 2 table spoons of canola oil and fry the chicken just so its not pink. Add vegetables, 1 tablespoon of minced garlic, and minced ginger and crushed red pepper to taste. I cook everything for 3 minutes then I add the sauce and cook for another 2-4 minutes. Sauce should thicken. Its best if served over rice.

Taco Salad

I have had many taco salads in my life. I have found its usually the same stuff. I was blown away by this one. Its huge. I was doing a show in Lisle, IL and Chef Tim Carden (sorry if I butcher it) had made this salad. It a small little cafe inside a corporate building. I had the choice of Chicken or beef. I went with chicken. I had told them to put everything on it. Figuring it would be the normal lettuce, beans tomatoes and olives. To my shock there was salsa, jalapenos, sour cream, corn, rice, and the other ingredients. It was great. A little spicy for me. I am not a fan of jalapenos with seeds. Overall, if I ever get a chance to go back, I would order it again, without the peppers. 

Places to eat out

Its been a cray couple of weeks, so I'm behind on posting, again. I have a few places in our travels that we have stopped and ate. Grande Jakes,in Lindnhurst has always been a favorite. I had their bbq burrito. Awesome. Could not finish it all. My husband had something called steak oax. It was good, you could taste the garlic in the steak.

The other place we visited recently was called Crandall's its in Hebron,IL. I had a grilled chicken sandwich. It was a nice place. I heard the fire place there in winter is great. I wasn't too impressed with the sandwich. It was good, but nothing that stood out and grabbed my attention.