fried rice and orange zucchini

I am obsessed with Panda Express's orange chicken, but I rarely get to eat there because it's a half hour away. Jeff loves it, but due to his recent vegetarian ways, he hasn't been able to eat there either. We found the perfect substitute. I told you about this awesome Panda Express product sold at most grocery stores. I love it. I know it's processed and probably not the healthiest, but it's quick, easy, and so delicious I think I could drink it from the bottle.

One of our new favorite meals is fried rice and orange zucchini. Here's how you do it:

Fried Rice

(adapted from here)

{ingredients}

• 3 cups cooked rice
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/2 medium onion, diced
• 3/4 cups diced carrots--very small so they cook faster
• 1 cup frozen peas
• 2 eggs
• olive oil
• cayenne, to taste
• thyme, 1/2 teaspoon
• Fresh cracked pepper
• 4 Tbsp soy sauce
• 1/4 cup water

{directions}

Warm up 1 Tbsp olive oil on a skillet. Add the onions and carrots. Sautee until the onions begin to soften. Add the garlic. Sautee until fragrant. Add 2 Tbsp soy sauce. Mix and let it cook for 4-5 minutes. If the carrots haven't softened up much yet, continue cooking until they do. Unless, of course, you don't mind a little crunch. My husband likes them very soft.

Next, move the vegetables to one side of the skillet. Crack two eggs and cook them on the other side of the pan. Scramble them slightly and let them cook until almost cooked through (2-3 minutes).

Mix the vegetables in with the scrambled eggs and then move to one side of the skillet.

Add the rice with 1 Tbsp soy sauce and 1 Tbsp olive oil. Flatten out the rice and let it fry. If it looks a little dry, add a little more soy sauce or olive oil, or both.

After three minutes, add the spices (pepper, cayenne, thyme). Turn the rice and vegetables occasionally to keep from burning. Add water if it becomes too dry.

Combine the rice and vegetables. Add the peas and 1/4 cup of water and a little more soy sauce if desired. Continue cooking until the water is absorbed.

It's so good!

Orange Zucchini

{ingredients}

• 2 zucchini, cut into thin strips
• 1/2 Tbsp olive oil
• 3 Tbsp Panda Express orange sauce

{directions}

While the fried rice is cooking, throw the above ingredients into a sautee pan. Let it cook down. It will take between ten and twelve minutes for the zucchini to become really soft and soak in the orange sauce. At first it seems like it won't. Just be patient because it takes time.

If you can't help yourself (I usually can't), add a little more orange sauce. I always have to remind myself that I can add more on top when the dish is finished cooking (I always do).

Finished

When both dishes are completed, you have a couple options.

1. Divide it on your plate and eat separately. (I don't recommend this, but to each his or her own.)
2. Pile the orange zucchini on top of the fried rice, add more orange sauce, and devour. (I highly recommend this option.)