How-To Make Homemade Chicken or Beef Chow Mein

I love country cooking...MODERN country cooking, that is!

I was born and raised in the country, but I'm here to tell you, I'm really happy to have passed through the days of outhouses, pumps and old wringer washers...

Cooking is much easier when appliances are run by electricity...and a lot more fun!

I love to cook, bake and entertain...This is the first of the recipes that I am working on sharing with you...

As my daughter was growing up, I discovered many of her friends didn't know how to cook!

I find it completely unacceptable that young girls miss out on the joys of cooking...we all need to eat healthy meals; and the time spent preparing meals as a family is one of the healthiest activities for creating tight family bonds that can never be unraveled!

I've been a Betty Crocker fan since I was a child! I won the Betty Crocker Award when I was a senior in high school...

The criteria included a test of homemaking skills and knowledge, as well as an essay about how to handle a moral dilemma.

I've always loved planning meals, trying out new recipes...I especially love the trips to the market; selecting fresh fruit, veggies, meats and poultry rank high on my list of favorite things to do.

2-3 Large Chicken Breasts or 1 1/2 Pound Beef Cubes
Onion
Bell Pepper
1-8 ounce can of Mushroom Stems & Pieces
1-8 ounce can of Water Chestnuts
Celery
Fresh Garlic or Garlic Powder
Ginger
Kroger Brand (r)Soy Sauce
1- 26 ounce can Campbell's Cream of Mushroom Soup (r)
1- 26 ounce can La Choy Chop Suey Vegetables (r)
La Choy Chow Mein Noodles (r)

Cookware:
1 large dutch oven
1 large skillet (I prefer cast iron)

Thoroughly wash two to three large chicken breasts
(or a 1 -1 ½ pound package of beef cubes)

Place into the dutch oven and cover with cold water...
Cook on medium heat, about 45-60 minutes for chicken;

4-6 hours for beef cubes(Beef cubes need to be simmered slowly in order to be tender, not tough...)

Clean a bell pepper by cutting off the top and scooping out the middle

Cut the top and bottom off the onion and remove the outer skin

Rinse thoroughly...

Cut the bottoms off the entire stalk of celery

Cut the tops off the entire stalk of celery

Rinse thoroughly and cut diagonally (Chinese Style) into pieces (larger than bite size)

Sauté in oil in a pre-heated iron skillet
(medium heat)

While the celery is cooking, cut the bell pepper into larger than bite size pieces

Cut the onion into 8ths...

(Chinese Style: larger than bite size)

If your celery gets soggy, place it into a glass of cold water with a tablespoon of vinegar...in just a few hours it will be nice and crispy again!

Shred the chicken or beef

Place the cooked chicken (or beef) into a casserole dish will make it easy to shred (not so hot on your fingers!)

Oh...so easy!

Drain the water chestnuts and sauté with the celery...

If you'll notice; you are beginning with the veggies that take longer to cook....

Add the onions and bell pepper and continue to saute on medium-low heat

Place the Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup into a large Dutch oven with one can of water

Drain the liquid and add the mushrooms

Drain and add the La Choy Chop Suey Vegetables ® to the soup

Chop suey in the soup mix...

or the beef!

It didn't seem to have enough gravy, so I added another can of soup!

Add the sautéed vegetables to the soup and veggie mix

(When you saute, you cook the veggies until they are "tender crisp"...not completely tender, so they won't get soggy in the soup!)

Season to taste with soy sauce. garlic and ginger

I was out of fresh garlic the day I made this batch, so I used garlic powder

A little ginger goes a long way, so add it in small portions!

Season to taste.

Simmer slowly til hot and bubbly...

Season to taste with soy sauce, garlic and ginger

(Soy is strong, so begin with just a little and season to taste...)

If you use fresh garlic, sauté it with the fresh veggies...or you may use garlic powder

Ginger is strong, so go easy!

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