Is there anything that hits the spot better on a busy school night or over-scheduled weekend than takeout Chinese food?
It’s fun to eat, and usually it’s quick from counter to table, with minimal cleanup because it comes with the requisite rice. And who doesn’t love learning their fortune — good or bad — after breaking open the crisp and sugary wafer cookie that’s always included with an order.
Yet with a little planning and some modest knife skills, it can be almost as easy to make your favorite Chinese takeout dishes at home.
This saucy cashew chicken stir-fry is but one example. Both the marinade for the chicken and the garlicky sauce it’s dressed in take less than a minute to whip together, and it presents an opportunity to use up any celery you’ve forgotten about in the refrigerator crisper.