Garlic Noodles

My husband and I both love the Garlic Noodles at P.F. Chang's. So I decided to search the web and try to find a copy cat recipe for these noodles. My search turned up this recipe from cdkitchen.com, which was similar to the P.F. Chang's version, but not quite as good. My husband loved them though, I thought they were ok.




Garlic Noodles (from cdkitchen.com)

Ingredients:
3 teaspoons minced garlic
3 teaspoons sugar
2 teaspoons white vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoon red chile flakes
2 teaspoons canola oil
1 pound fresh Chinese noodle or vermicelli
1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
4 ounces Cantonese stir fry sauce (see recipe below)
1 Japanese cucumber or English cucumber (I omitted the cucumber)
2 teaspoons chopped cilantro

Cantonese Stir Fry Sauce
3/4 cup water
1 teaspoon chicken base powder (no MSG)
1 teaspoon sugar2 teaspoons shaohsing wine or sherry
1 teaspoon oyster sauce
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cornstarch

Directions:
Cook pasta. Rinse and cool down. Set aside. Toss in red chile flakes and cilantro. Wash cucumber. Slice diagonally into 1/4" thick slices. Slice into strips. Set aside. Heat wok thoroughly, add oil, then minced garlic. Stir fry briefly. Do not burn garlic or it will take on an acrid smell and taste. (If this happens, throw it out and start over.) Add sugar and vinegar. Add noodle to wok, stirring and tossing to mix until noodle is heated through. Place on plates and surround with cucumber strips.

Garlic and Cheddar and Chicken, Oh My!

Three of my favorite things. This recipe was very simple to make and had a lot of flavor. I've made a similar style chicken before, adding crushed pretzels to the bread crumb mixture, but this was a nice light breading and the chicken came out very moist and flavorful. I served it with some steamed veggies and Pioneer Woman's mashed potatoes (this is the only way I make mashed potatoes now, the cream cheese makes them so creamy and yummy and mmmmm.)

The recipe is from Jaime at Good Eats 'N Sweet Treats and can be found here. My modifications are below because I made a little more so we would have some leftovers to bring to work for lunch today.

Garlic Cheddar Chicken (modified from Good Eats 'N Sweet Treats)

Ingredients:

1 stick butter

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 cup Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs

1/2 teaspoon Lawry's Garlic Salt

1/2 teaspoon black pepper

3 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese

1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese (pulsed in food processor until small pebbles)

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced or pounded thin

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

Melt butter in a saucepan over low heat with garlic for about 5 minutes.

In a bowl, mix bread crumbs, garlic salt, pepper, parmesan cheese and cheddar cheese. Dip chicken in garlic butter to coat, them press into bread crumb mixture. Place in a large baking dish and drizzle with a little more butter. (Use all the butter if you like, or save a little and drizzle it over the mashed potatoes.)

Bake for 30 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink.

My husband declared this meal "amazing" and declared me the "best wife he has ever had." Being the only wife he has ever had, I'm not sure if that is a compliment or not, but I'll take it nonetheless. ;)