Winter Wonders: Cranberry Orange Chicken Stir Fry

A winter inspired stir-fry that's a little sweet, a little tart, and a little spicy.  Done in under 30 minutes this Cranberry Orange Chicken Stir Fry will tingle your taste buds!

Cranberry Orange Chicken Stir Fry

I know how you all love stir frys so I'm bringing you a new and unique one I adapted from the Half Baked Harvest blog today.  Aren't they the best for easy go-to weeknight meals?  You can literally whip them up in under 30 minutes.  This winter flavor inspired dish stars tart cranberries and sweet oranges.  We typically combine oranges and cranberries when we bake so why not in savory dishes too?  They are the perfect combination of sweet and tart to go along with a stir fry chicken dish.  

Juicy chicken breasts are cut into bite sized pieces and cooked along with tender broccolini, mandarin oranges, and fresh cranberries.  Add in some spices and cashews then douse everything with a sweet/spicy Thai chili sauce mixture and you have a scrumptious, yet easy, weeknight meal!

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• boneless skinless chicken breasts
• broccolini
• fresh or frozen cranberries
• mandarin oranges
• fresh ginger
• powdered ginger
• Thai sweet chili sauce
• soy sauce
• whole cashews
• sesame seeds (optional)
• hot cooked rice (optional)

Substitutions and Variations

• Switch out the broccolini with broccoli, green beans, snap peas, or bok choy

• Use peeled oranges or tangerines (seedless) 

• Serve over lo mien noodles or rice

• Leave out the cashews or use whole peanuts

• If you use dried cranberries: 

1. use unsweetened

2.  reconstitute them in hot water before adding them to the dish.

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• I whisk up the sauce first so that is ready to go when needed.

• It's best to have all your ingredients prepped before you begin to cook because stir fry come together very quickly.

• I would try to use fresh cranberries (or frozen)  If you must use dried see my tip above in the Substitutions and Variations section.

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Cranberry Orange Chicken Stir Fry

serves 4

2 tablespoons canola oil

1 pound boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger
10 oz. (1/2 lb.) broccolini 
1 cup fresh or frozen cranberries
1 11 oz can of mandarin oranges, drained
1/3 cup whole cashews 

optional topping:  sesame seeds 

Sauce:

1 1/4 cups sweet Thai chili sauce
1/3 cup low-sodium soy sauce
1/2 teaspoon ginger paste (or ground ginger)

Optional side dish:  hot cooked rice

Mix the sauce ingredients together in a measuring cup and set aside.

Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add 1 tablespoon oil. When the oil is hot, add the chicken and cook for 5-6 minutes, stirring frequently until browned all over and cooked through. Remove to a plate and set aside.  

Add the remaining oil and the broccolini, cook for 4 minutes.  Add the minced ginger and the cashews, stirring to combine.  Cook until the cashews start to roast and turn brown, 1-2 minutes.   Add the sauce to the vegetables along with the cranberries.  Return the chicken and any accumulated juices back to the skillet and allow the mixture to come to a boil.  Cook for about 5-7 minutes until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens.  Remove from heat and stir in the mandarin oranges.  

Serve the stir-fry over a bed of rice and garnish with sesame seeds. 

adapted from:  Half Baked Harvest

Mango Pina Colada Smoothie

Add of bit of tangy sweetness to your typical pina colada flavors of pineapple and coconut all in a healthy smoothie.  You will swear you are on a beach somewhere!

 

Mango Pina Colada Smoothie

A great way to start the day is with a healthy smoothie and what better than one that takes you away to a tropical beach.  With flavors of mango, pineapple, and coconut you'll be whisked away to a tripical island in the carribean.

Full of healthy ingredients like pineapple, mango, banana, and coconut milk this smoothie comes together in a few minutes and is full of vitamins and protein.  A satisfying breakfast that tastes like heaven is on the horizon.

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• banana
• frozen mango
• frozen pineapple
• coconut milk
• greek yogurt

Substitutions and Variations

• Use coconut flavored greek yogurt for a stronger coconut flavor

• Use any non dairy milk - or use regular milk in place of the coconut milk

• Add a dash of vanilla for a boost of flavor

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• freeze your ripe bananas for making smoothies

• place the liquid in the bottom of the blender to assist in the mixing

• Using frozen fruit make your smoothies slushy and there is no need for ice.

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Mango Pina Colada Smoothie

serves 2

1 cup greek yogurt

1/2 banana
3/4 cup frozen pineapple
3/4 cup frozen mango
1/2 cup lite coconut milk

In a blender add coconut milk, yogurt, and the fruit.  Blend on high until blended.  If the mixture is too thick add an additional splash of coconut milk and blend again.  Serve immediately.

Skillet Dish: Sirloin Tips with Bell Pepper and Onion

Tender and juicy seasoned sirloin tips mixed with sweet onion and bell peppers and ready in 20 minutes with this quick weeknight skillet dish!

Sirloin Tips with Bell Pepper and Onion

It's hard to make good on my New Year's intension to eat healthy after the holiday indulgence when it is freezing cold outside.  Cold healthy food (i.e. salads) aren't cutting it on these cold days.  So I opted for a low carb skillet dish that is easily made in 20 minutes.  Now you will see rice in these pictures, whihc will satisfy my carb loving husband, this is great just as is to keep the carbs at bay.  

You'll get juicy tender seasoned steak tips that are tossed with a mixture of bell peppers and onions. This sure is good cold weather comfort food!    This is a great weeknight meal, or for any day you don't want to spend a lot of time in the kitchen.  Leftovers will surely taste heavenly in a salad or wrapped up in a warm tortilla for lunch, but you probably won't have any leftovers anyway.

Enjoy!

What Ingredients do I need?

• sirloin steak 
• olive oil
• steak seasoning - I use the Montreal 25% less sodium steak seasoning or Weber's Chicago steak seasoning
• red bell pepper 
• yellow bell pepper
• sweet onion
• fresh garlic
• Optional : Hot cooked rice for serving

Substitutions and Variations

• For an Asian flavored dish marinate the meat for several hours in a Teriyaki Sauce.

• Switch up your seasoning blend for variation.  Try cajun, adobo, or a lemon pepper seasoning.

Kitchen Tips and Notes

• Don't overcrowd your beef in the skillet or it will steam instead of sear the meat.  Cook in batches if necessary to get a good sear on the meat.

• Use a good cast iron skillet like this one.

• Using a hot skillet and stir fry method the meat will cook quickly since it is cut into small pieces.  Don't overcook.  

• Buy sliced bell peppers and onion in the grocery store to save time.

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Sirloin Tips with Bell Pepper and Onion

serves 4

2 lb sirloin steak cut into 1-inch pieces
3 tablespoon olive oil, divided
2 teaspoon steak seasoning, divided 
1 red bell pepper seeded and sliced
1 yellow bell pepper seeded and sliced
1 large sweet onion, sliced

3 clove garlic minced

Optional : Hot cooked rice for serving

Rinse, pat dry and cut the sirloin steaks into 1-inch pieces.

Heat 2 tablespoons of olive oil in a large cast iron or heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sirloin tips. Sprinkle with 1 teaspoon of steak seasoning and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and to your preferred doneness. Season with 1 teaspoon of steak seasoning.  Remove from the pan to a platter to rest.

Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil if needed.  Add the sliced bell peppers and onion to the skillet. Season with remaining 1 teaspoon steak seasoning.  Cook for 5 minutes scraping the brown bits from the bottom of the skillet. Once crisp tender add in the minced garlic and return the beef back to the skillet.  Toss to combine and until heated through.   Serve as is or with rice if using.