BRUSH
Keeping It Clean

Another great visit to the Great North meant another trip to our favorite food store (aside from Wegman's of course), Russo's of Watertown, MA. There is so much inspiration in this one-of-a-kind market. And while the phrase "Asian food" wouldn't spring to mind when visiting a place called Russo's, there it was, a great Asian dinner just waiting to be found...Chicken Lo Mein. Russo's even carries fresh lo mein noodles alongside its gorgeous produce, so the Cookie Lady was able to concoct this warming dish a few days before our first winter snowfall.

So here is our version of Chicken Lo Mein. Please read entire recipe through before you go to the market.

• 3 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp. light or dark brown sugar
• 1 c. chicken broth, cold
• 3 Tbsp. rice-wine vinegar
• 2 Tbsp. cornstarch
• 1 Tbsp. Coleman's dry mustard or Chinese mustard from Chinese takeout
• 2 or 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts cut in thin slices. Place in the sauce mixture to marinate.

Prepare and set aside until ready to cook:

• 1 medium onion, sliced from top to root
• 1 inch fresh grated (peeled) ginger
• ½ c. shredded or julienned carrots
• 2 cloves of garlic pressed or mashed to a pulp
• ½ to 1 lb. button mushrooms, sliced
• ½ c. string beans or long beans sliced on an angle into ½ to ¾ inch pieces
• 2 Tbsp. cilantro, chopped (optional)
• 3 scallions sliced thin (white and green parts)
• 12 oz. package of lo mein noodles, follow package directions

Heat your wok or pan (I used a 10-inch frying pan) with 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil on medium-high heat.

Add the sliced onion to the oil and cook 1 minute. Drain the chicken, reserving the marinade, add to pan. Cook until the chicken becomes opaque. Remove to a platter with the onions and juices.

Add remaining vegetables to pan and stir-fry on medium-high heat until tender crisp.

Stir in the cooked lo mein noodles and the chicken with the reserved marinade and cook until thickened.

Notes:

1. Many of the vegetables are available on your local supermarket salad bar. Also, broccoli slaw or even cole slaw will work very well in this dish.
2. Substitute angel hair pasta or spaghetti if you can't find lo mein noodles at your local market.
3. If you do not have time to marinate the chicken, do not worry, just stir-fry the chicken. It will still turn out delicious.

a Cookie Lady recipe