No Whine with Dinner: Make-Your-Own Stir Fry

by The Meal Makeover Moms on July 3rd, 2009

Summertime in New Jersey means sunny days on the famous Jersey Shore and a bounty of locally-grown produce from farmers markets, pick-your-own farms, and backyard gardens.  New Jersey is a long way from Boston, but from time to time, we get a taste of the Garden State when we visit one of our favorite food blogs, Jersey Girl Cooks. Written by Lisa, a foodie and mother of two (11-year old Nicole and 7-year old Eddie), this blog is filled with mealtime inspiration (and plenty of desserts too)! We asked Lisa to share some mealtime tips and a recipe her family eats happily (i.e. without complaint).  Here’s what she sent us:

stir-fry-ingredients 

Make-Your-Own Stir Fry (AKA Picky Family’s Stir Fry)
Makes 4 to 6 Servings

  • 12 ounces soba noodles
  • 2 tablespoons chili or sesame oil
  • 1 pound trimmed green beans that have been blanched
  • 1 large red bell pepper, seeded and cut into bite-size pieces
  • 1 pound chicken tenders, cut into bite-size pieces (or 1 pound shrimp, cleaned, peeled and deveined)
  • 10 ounces sliced mushrooms
  • 1 cup chopped mango
  • 1/2 cup your favorite stir fry sauce
  • Crushed red pepper flakes
  • Sesame seeds

1. Cook noodles according to package directions. Rinse with cool water and set aside.

2. In a large wok, heat oil and toss green beans and peppers for a few minutes or until they start to become tender.  Add the chicken and cook until it is cooked through and no longer pink, 5 to 7 minutes.

3. Mix in mushrooms, mango, cooked noodles and sauce. Cook for another few minutes, stirring until sauce starts to bubble.

4. Add red pepper flakes to taste, and garnish with sesame seeds.

stir-fry-recipe

Tips from Lisa:

> To make this stir fry your own, substitute with the vegetables, sauce, noodles, and meat (chicken, beef, shrimp) of your choice.

> Frozen veggies can be used, but make sure they are slightly defrosted first.

> Make sure all the vegetables are cut into bite-size pieces so they cook quickly.

> If you have children have different meat and vegetable preferences, each portion can be cooked separately with different ingredients since it cooks up so quickly.  We tend to mix and match.

> If you have vegetarian family members or friends, you can easily make this a vegetarian meal. Enjoy!

jerseygirlcookskidshelping

Q:  Where did you get the recipe and what do you like about it?

A: I created this recipe based on the ingredients I had on hand.  I like it because it’s easy and versatile and takes less time than ordering take out.  You can prep everything in advance so dinner can be on the table fast!

Q:  What do your kids think about this recipe?

A: “Mom, can I stir in the noodles?”  The kids especially love it because they can choose what goes in it. My daughter is a good eater and likes lots of different food but depending on the day, my son might just go with just the chicken and noodles.

Q:  Other than the fact that this recipe makes everyone in your family happy, do you have any other “Lisa” tips you’d like to share for taking the “whine” out of dinner?

A: Let the kids help.  That way they’ll be more likely to eat something because they created it themselves

Q:  Can you tell everyone about your blog?

A: Jersey Girl Cooks is a blog about a mom that loves to cook and experiment. I make a lot of family-friendly foods and love using fresh local ingredients. On the blog, I sometimes write about my food adventures visiting festivals and local markets.

| |
1 Comment | Filed Under Dinner, NoWhineWithDinner, Poultry, Vegetables 

One Response to “No Whine with Dinner: Make-Your-Own Stir Fry”

  1. Lorraine Antosiewicz, MS, RD on July 9th, 2009

    Hi Liz and Janice-

    As a Jersey Girl myself….I have easy access to the wonderful locally grown produce here in the Garden State. And as a mom and Registered Dietitian, I’m always in search of healthy, great tasting dinners for my family – and to share with my clients.

    Thanks for recipe. I never tried adding mango to a stir fry before. It was delicious.

    Keep up the great work…Lorraine

Leave a Reply