FUNKY CHICKEN WITH SESAME NOODLES

This is a recipe I stumbled across on RecipeZaar.com. It was in the list of their top-rated recipes. The notes with the recipe said to make it and stand back and watch as your family devours this dish. Well, that part was true! Even my picky little man wolfed down two big bowls of this! This recipe is definitely a keeper. I made a couple of modifications to the original recipe and the recipe below is what I made last night for supper. We had zero leftovers, and I'm not eating that much these days! This is a great one-pot meal that your family will love! Give it a shot and let me know how you like it.



FUNKY CHICKEN WITH SESAME NOODLES

1 lb. linguine
½ cup soy sauce
¼ cup toasted sesame oil
1/3 cup white sugar
¼ cup peanut butter
3 green onions, sliced diagonally (green & white parts)
½ cup thinly shredded cabbage (purple or green)
8 oz. sliced mushrooms
¼ cup sesame seeds, or more to taste

¼ cup soy sauce
¼ cup Hoisin sauce (or ¼ cup teriyaki sauce + ¼ cup brown sugar)
3 garlic cloves, minced or pressed
2 tsp. fresh ginger, minced (or ½ tsp. dry)
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Oil for sautéing

In a bowl mix the soy sauce, Hoisin sauce, garlic, and the ginger. Add the chicken, making sure it's all coated with the sauce. Cover and refridgerate for 2-3 hours. Remove the chicken from the marinade, and toss out the marinade left at the bottom of the bowl.

Cook the linguine according to package directions; drain, return to pot. In a microwave safe bowl, add the soy sauce, sesame oil, sugar, and peanut butter. Microwave 30-45 seconds, then whisk until well-blended and the sugar and peanut butter has dissolved. Pour this over the cooked pasta. Set aside while you marinate and then cook the mushrooms and chicken.

On high med-heat, add 2 Tbsp oil in a large non-stick pan. Add mushrooms and sauté until tender, about 4-5 min. Remove mushrooms from pan and add to noodles. Add 2 Tbsp oil to skillet then add chicken breasts. Saute over high heat, about 6-8 minutes per side (depending upon thickness) until cooked through. Remove chicken to cutting board, and slice into thin strips. (If you happen to see any uncooked meat in the center, you can add it sliced back to the skillet to cook a bit more.) Toss chicken with mushrooms and noodles; add cabbage, green onions, and sesame seeds, and serve in bowls.