Most of the time, recipes are planned in advance, and all the ingredients carefully chosen at the store. Most of the time, but not always. This is one of those “What do I have in the pantry and fridge that I can fix for dinner?” meals. “Hmm, I’ve got a frozen chicken breast, some frozen tiny whole beans, a package of Somen noodles… I can work with this…” I think it turned out pretty good.
Our ingredients are:
1 - boneless, skinless chicken breast, thawed and sliced into thin strips
1 - medium onion, Frenched (cut in half and then into thin strips)
1 cup - frozen tiny whole beans
2 - “bundles” - Somen noodles (they come packaged in little bundles. It makes measuring easy. I have no idea how much is in a bundle, just use two…unless they’re, like, huge or something…)
And, for our sauce:
½ cup of chicken broth
2 tablespoons of Teriyaki sauce
2 tablespoons of olive oil (I used a garlic infused olive oil)
1 tablespoon of corn starch
¼ teaspoon of cayenne pepper (Mrs. Squirrel said this was too much, so…)
Prepare the noodles according to the package’s directions. (“Bring 4-5 cups water to a boil and add Somen. Cook noodles for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally. Rinse with cold water and drain well.”) Set aside.
Preheat your cast iron skillet over medium-high heat & stir-fry your chicken pieces in 1 tablespoon of oil until white all the way through (about 3 to 4 minutes), remove from skillet and set aside. Add a bit more oil and stir-fry the onion (about 2 minutes). Add the green beans & cook for about another minute. Then return the chicken to the skillet, and give everything a good stir.
Now add your noodles to the skillet, and toss with a pair of tongs to get everything mixed in with the noodles. Take your time; you’re not in a big hurry, as you’re also frying the noodles at this point. The process should take about 1 to 1 ½ minutes.
Combine your sauce ingredients in a jar with a tight lid and shake well until combined. Pour the sauce into the skillet and stir until it thickens. Serves two. Enjoy!
The Squirrel shall not live by
