Kung Pao Chicken

Cube chicken, marinade for 15 minutes or so in:

1/3 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoon soy sauce

2 teaspoon sherry or rice wine

1 teaspoon cornstarch

1 tablespoon egg white

1 tablespoon peanut oil (keeps chicken from sticking when you eventually cook it)

Cut 4 scallions into round bits, but separate the white and green parts.

Heat a wok until hot, add about 4 tablespoons peanut oil.

Add 2 cloves garlic, chopped, and 4 slices ginger root. Cook for about 10 seconds. Add the whites of the scallions, cook for another 10 seconds.

Add the chicken, stir fry for 30-40 seconds. Add whatever Chinese veggies you want, including those green scallions.

Add the following sauce:

1 tablespoon thick soy sauce

1 - 2 tablespoon chili sauce

2 teaspoons vinegar

1 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch

6 tablespoons water

As the sauce boils, the water evaporates and the cornstarch causes the sauce to thicken into a glaze. That takes maybe a minute and a half.

Add peanuts.

Note if your pan isn't scalding hot, then the chicken will not be completely cooked. I recommend overcooking the chicken in the 30 - 40 second part just to be safe. Small chicken cubes helps, too.

-Liz Kellner