Cashew Chicken

This is the last full week before Christmas, are you ready?  I am mainly ready, but I have lots of little stuff that needs to get done.  Like wrapping presents, getting groceries, and getting the house clean.  Hopefully most of that can get done this week, because school break and family arrives on Friday.  We are almost coming to the end of the 12 days of giveaways.  This is day 10, so only two left 🙁 Don’t worry though, I have an amazing giveaway for you today!  Just in time for Christmas I am giving away an 8-piece set of Calphalon Contemporary Cookware Set!  Trust me, you are going to love these pans.

So let’s take a quick break from all of the sugar that has been around here lately, and focus on dinner.  I mean, even in December you need to eat dinner, right?  That is where Calphalon cookware comes in.  I have had these pans for years, I love them.  They are non-stick, which I love.  It means I can use just a little spray or olive oil in my cooking; I don’t need to add a lot of fat to the pan so my food doesn’t stick.  I have been asked by a few friends over the years which cookware I recommend, I always say the Calphalon Contemporary.  I have to credit my mom with turning me on to them.  She had them a few years before I got mine.  Now my mom, myself, and my mother in-law all have them.

We are all busy, but this time of year is even worse.  So no one wants to spend tons of time in the kitchen making dinner.  Calphalon’s theme is “The Time You Will Save”.  What a better time to focus on this.  The Contemporary series is dishwasher safe.  So you don’t have to stand over the sink and wash dishes, when you could be spending time with your family, or finishing that last minute Christmas shopping.  Having an 8 year old who is involved in activities, means our evenings are short.  I really don’t want to spend my whole night cooking and doing dishes, I want to be able to play with him.  So this cookware is perfect.

And you can’t talk about new cookware without having a great recipe to make in it.  I found a recipe for Easy Cashew Chicken from my friend Amy at Very Culinary.  I adapted it slightly, and it is now a staple in our house.  My 8 year old isn’t a fan of rice, but he loves the cashew chicken part.  He didn’t know what the water chestnuts were, so he kept asking why some of the chicken was so crunchy.  I had to wait until he was almost finished before I told him it was actually a vegetable.

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Cashew Chicken

Prep Time

5 mins

Cook Time

10 mins

Total Time

15 mins

 

Quick and easy cashew chicken. Great for a quick weeknight meal.

Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 to 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs (or breasts), cut into 1 inch pieces
• 1 Tbls cornstarch
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• 2 Tbls canola oil
• 4 cloves garlic , grated or minced
• 1/2 cup onion , finely chopped
• 1 (8 oz) can sliced water chestnuts, chopped
• 2 Tbls rice wine vinegar
• 5 Tbls Hoisin sauce
• 1/3 cup water
• 3/4 cup roasted cashews
• Green onions , optional garnish

Instructions

1. In a bowl combine chicken, cornstarch, salt and pepper. Toss to coat.
2. In a skillet heat oil over medium high heat. Add chicken and onions. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Mix in garlic and water chestnuts. Saute for 3-5 minutes until garlic is fragrant.
3. Mix vinegar into the chicken mixture. Cook for 1 minutes.
4. Add hoisin sauce and water. Cook for a few minutes until the chicken is fully cooked.
5. Remove from heat, stir in cashews and garnish with green onions.
6. Serve over rice.

Recipe Notes

Slightly Adapted from Very Culinary

Now for the GIVEAWAY!!!  Calphalon is going to send one (1) lucky winner the Calphalon Contemporary Non-Stick 8 piece Cookware Set.   A retail value of $300.  

**Disclosure – I contacted Calphalon because I love their product. They sponsored the giveaway, and sent me a couple samples for a review.