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PORK CHOW MEIN

This is a simple Pork Chow Mein recipe I developed using a La Choy canned chow mein meal.  We used to just use the canned chow mein as is, but as our tastes have changed, we wanted more flavor, more complexity.  So, by adding fresh pork (chicken or beef would work, too) and some fresh veggies, we made a much better meal!

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds pork loin (we use whatever is cheapest, have tenderloin and even pork chops)
1 can La Choy Chicken Chow Mein
1 can Water Chestnuts
3/4 stalk of celery
1/2 carton fresh mushrooms
2 jalapeno peppers (could use green peppers or other peppers)
1 onion
Minced Garlic
Teriyaki sauce
Soy sauce
Sweet and Sour sauce
Sesame Oil
Olive Oil
Rice Wine Vinegar
Pepper
Ground Ginger
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Garlic Salt
Salt
Lime Juice

Drain canned veggies.

Dice and chop onion, jalapenos, mushrooms and celery.

Cut pork into bite size pieces.

Add olive oil (1 tbsp) and sesame oil (1/2 tsp) to hot pan and add pork.  Add 1 tsp minced garlic.  Season with dry seasonings to taste.  Brown until no longer pink on the outside.

Add soy sauce (1 tsp), teriyaki sauce (1 tbsp), sweet and sour sauce (1 tbsp), lime juice (a couple of squeezes) and rice wine vinegar (1 tsp).  Measurements are approximate, as I don't really measure when making this, just trying to make it easier for less experienced cooks.

Cook until pork is cooked through.  Remove pork from pan and set aside.  There will be juice, save it with the meat.

Here I put some in a bowl for my son, JJ (he's 20).  He doesn't like the chow mein (or so he thinks).  He has never tried it, being a little picky.  Because we eat it with rice, he just assumed years ago that he didn't like it (KIDS!).  He will eat all kinds of things at a Chinese buffet, but not this-UGH!  Maybe someday I'll make some lo mein noodles and mix some of this in and see if he would try it then.  For now, all he gets is a little meat (he's lucky he gets that!).

Add some more olive oil and sesame oil to the pan and add in peppers, onions and minced garlic. Cook for a few minutes.

Add mushrooms and cook a little.

Add in celery.  Start adding dry seasonings and cook for a few more minutes.

Add in the canned veggies and season some more.

Add sweet and sour sauce, teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, lime juice and rice wine vinegar (same amounts approximately as before).

Add pork back in, including juice.

Prepare rice per directions.  I actually cooked this as I was chopping veggies and meat so that it was done and set aside when I cooked everything else.  You could also use Minute Rice.  We used it for many years, but just switched to the real stuff about a year ago.  Years ago (like when I was 20) I tried to make real rice and it was a disaster.  So much so, I was afraid to try again until recently.

Add canned brown sauce to the pan with the veggies and pork and mix together.  Simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Voila - Complete!

Serve over rice.  We add hard Chinese noodles to ours.

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