Sometimes I Get Crazy Motivated

The problem with living alone is that I get lazy when it comes to cooking.  I start out great, and then I lose patience and decide that it is easier to just eat fruit, and then when I get hungry microwave the frozen chicken pot pies.  Next comes the inevitable:  I lose track of time with all I've got going on and forget to eat.  I get tired and start to hurt and wonder why, and as I'm falling asleep after classes it occurs to me that I haven't eaten.  By that time, though, I'm much too lazy to get up and make something, so I just sleep.  And, when I wake up I forget why I was tired in the first place because I feel better, and go on with my day.  This is a very large problem, and I know it, especially when I'm walking around all day on campus and then decide that I want to go exercise for fun.  So, I'm going to try and cook one meal each week that will last me a couple of days, and actually eat the leftovers.

There are, however, some problems with this as well.  When I cook, I refuse to cook with anything but the most quality ingredients, no matter what the price.  This makes my meals a little more costly.  I should probably change my ways some, but it is hard to break a habit that you've been taught by your mother.  Then there's the fact that I have to take time out of my studying/exercising/hanging out with friends to make the meal.  Once I get past that obstacle, it always is that I'm eating alone and there's lots of cleanup and leftovers that may or may not get eaten.

Still, I know that when I don't eat well my fibromyalgia gets worse because I'm not taking proper care of my body.  Really, it is a testament to how lazy I get that I would rather be in pain than go make something to eat.  I find that, as I write this, the main problem is the amount that I cook for what I actually eat.  I've always cooked for multiple people, and find that it is more economical to do so, and it's hard to break that habit.

So, today I decided to make some Orange Chicken Stir Fry for dinner.  I think it turned out rather well.

It isn't as spicy as I would have liked; if I make it again I'll definitely add another serano.  Want to make it?  You'll need:

• About a pound of chopped up chicken
• broccoli
• carrots
• 1/2 bell pepper
• 1-2 seranos or jalepenos
• mushrooms
• vegetable oil
• 1 clove garlic
• 1/4 of an onion
• water chestnuts
• 1 package of sun luck chuka soba noodles (you can substitute rice)
• Panda Express Orange Chicken Sauce (or whatever flavor you like best.  There's teriyaki and Kung Pao, among others.)

I always just guess on how much vegetable oil I put in the pan.  Make sure it's enough to cook your chicken in.  Use a garlic press to smash your garlic and add it to the vegetable oil.  Chop up your onion and add it to the vegetable oil and garlic.  Turn your stove on high and add your chopped chicken.  You can chop up your vegetables while the chicken is cooking.  Don't forget to stir your chicken, though!  

When the chicken is about halfway cooked, add your hot peppers (seranos/jalepenos) and your carrots.  The carrots take the longest to cook.  After a couple minutes, turn your heat down to about a five.  It doesn't matter so much what order the rest of the veggies go in, but make sure to add the broccoli last.  It cooks the fastest.  Once all your veggies are in, let the mixture simmer for awhile, letting the moisture cook the veggies through.  

While the veggies are simmering, fill a pot 1/2 full of water and follow the directions for the chuka soba noodles.  Once the water is boiling you put them in and it takes two minutes for them to cook.  If you've substituted rice for the noodles, then you should've had that cooking a long time ago!  After that put them in a strainer to drain while you go back to your chicken.

Add your sauce of choice into your mixture.  I usually put 1/2 the bottle in.  If you want things a little saltier, add some soy sauce.  Serve and enjoy!

Don't count on this kind of post ever happening again.