Panda Excess

During my last trip to the grocery, I came across Panda Express brand cooking sauces (on the Asian food aisle). Since we love the orange chicken but detest the cost of eating there, I decided the $4 price tag was worth a try. We were not disappointed.

Today I made the simplest lunch ever by tossing some frozen chicken poppers in the oven and some Minute rice in the microwave. When the chicken came out, I just drizzled the sauce over the top and stirred to coat. It tasted like we were eating at the restaurant, only it was a good deal cheaper. Especially since there is plenty of sauce left to coat two or three more bags of the chicken poppers. (A bag more than feeds all three of us - even the 15-year-old bottomless pit. The sauce is spicy and sweet, just like eating out. I think this would also be good over shrimp poppers or as a glaze for shrimp kabobs - especially with some onions, peppers, and pineapple chunks. I'm also considering pouring a bottle over a baked ham at Christmas.

At the same time I picked up the orange sauce, I bought a bottle of Panda Express mandarin chicken sauce. This is another restaurant favorite because the guys love the tender bits of chicken in the dark, rich, slightly sweet sauce. I can't wait to try this one, too. Not only will it be good with chicken breast strips, but I think it would also go well with fish. Awhile back we picked up some salmon "burgers" at Sam's Club which we have enjoyed quite a bit. I'm thinking the mandarin sauce might be good with those - either as a basting sauce during cooking or slathered on a toasted bun as a sandwich.

While I know Panda Express has offered frozen versions of some of its entrees for several years, I had not previously noticed the sauces. I'm guessing they've been out for quite awhile, but may just be showing up on our local retail shelves. Whatever the case may be, I'm happy to have discovered them since my son often wants to eat at Panda Express, but Jeff and I feel it is a little pricey. (I think last time the three of us ate there it ran about $28, which is a good deal more than most fast food places.) In addition, our local restaurant is not known for its service or food quality. So, now, I can make orange chicken at home for less than a third of the cost and in less time than it takes to get it from the actual restaurant. This is indeed good fortune,