Before I launched my blog, I cooked and cooked. I took pictures and I wrote. Of course, all the first pictures I took are not all that great. Some are not too terrible but most are pretty bad. But the worst part, all those first posts are all my favorite recipes. Family recipes. Friend recipes.
I love being a recipe developer and food blogger. I absolutely love it. There is one downside. Since I am always working on new things, I rarely have time to make my old favorites.
But my silver lining came when I was redesigning my blog and had to look at all my old posts (many of which still aren’t reformatted). These old posts needed new pictures…DESPERATELY.
So, as time permits, I will, one by one, go back to my first posts and update them. I’ll link back to the original so you can see what I originally created. The recipes will be exactly the same, only new pictures.
Here’s the link to the original post: https://thecompletesavorist.com/daily-savorings-blog/sweet-n-sour-chicken
Ingredients
- 3-4 chicken breasts; cubed
- Olive oil
- 1-2 garlic cloves; grated/minced
- 1 large green pepper; diced (or 1 small green and 1 small red)
- 2 carrots; diced
- 1 large onion; diced
- 1 cup apple cider vinegar
- 1/2 cup ketchup
- 1 cup brown sugar; firmly packed
- 1/2 tbsp soy sauce/tamari
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- Salt; to taste
- 4 tbsp corn starch
- 1 can chunk pineapple; juices reserved
Instructions
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Heat a deep skillet/wok with olive oil, add cubed chicken seasoned with salt and pepper; cook.
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Once cooked, set aside.
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In same wok/skillet using a small amount of olive oil add, bell peppers, carrots, garlic and onion and quickly sauté.
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Cook and set aside.
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In same skillet, add apple cider vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, black pepper, and brown sugar; mix well.
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Open pineapple, drain juice into another bowl, reserving pineapple for later.
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Add cornstarch to pineapple juice, whisk until smooth.
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Slowly add the pineapple juice/cornstarch mixture to the sauce cooking in the skillet, taking care that it is thoroughly combined.
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Add veggies, chicken, and pineapple; mix well. Heat until bubbly.
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Serve over warm rice.
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The sauce could be made without meat and veggies for use in other applications like dipping egg rolls or as a glaze over pork. Endless options.
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**if you like it really tangy, add 1/4 cup of apple juice to the sauce during the final stage.
55 Comments
Renee's Kitchen Adventures
October 27, 2014 at 7:44 pmThat is all so true what you said about not making our favs! haha This looks like it needs to become one of my new favs! yum!
Michelle
October 27, 2014 at 9:29 pmThank you Renee, I hope your family enjoys it. I have plans to remake several of my early posts (personal favorites).
Ellen @ From Scratch
October 28, 2014 at 7:57 amThis looks so good! I’m not a huge fan of take-out sweet and sour chicken, but I think this one would be much better!
Michelle
October 28, 2014 at 11:29 pmEllen, I think mine is much better than take out. Still lots of sugar, but at least you know everything in it.
peter @feedyoursoultoo
October 28, 2014 at 9:00 amLooks so simple but flavorful. The peppers give this dish great color.
Michelle
October 28, 2014 at 11:28 pmThank you Peter, I do love color in my food!
christine
October 28, 2014 at 11:55 amsounds like an easy weeknight meal. Love the pineapple addition.
Michelle
October 28, 2014 at 11:28 pmThank you Christine. The pineapple helps with the tanginess.
Healing Tomato
October 28, 2014 at 1:06 pmYour pics keep getting better and better! Love the colors in this recipe. I would love to try a tofu version of this recipe. Will send you pics.
Michelle
October 28, 2014 at 11:27 pmOh please do. I look forward to your version. And thank you. I hope to acquire a DSLR soon.
Anetta
October 28, 2014 at 9:50 pmA recipe after my own heart!!
Michelle
October 28, 2014 at 11:26 pmOh thank you Anetta.
The Food Hunter
October 29, 2014 at 9:17 amI need to practice my chop stick skills!
Michelle
October 29, 2014 at 9:40 amI learned by having to eat a huge bowl of peanuts using chopsticks. My neighbor said I couldn’t move from the table until I ate every peanut with them. I was 15…I learned, took a bit of time, but I got it. Nothing like slick plastic chopsticks picking up smooth peanuts.
Erin @ Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
October 29, 2014 at 9:03 pmThis looks way better than take -out. Tastier and way better for you!
Michelle
October 29, 2014 at 10:29 pmWay tastier! Thank you Erin!!!
Robyn
October 30, 2014 at 6:58 amSuch a great meal for busy weeknights, Michelle. I’m always looking for new ways to change up a chicken dinner and this is perfect. I like the addition of pineapple as well. Wonderful recipe!
Michelle
October 30, 2014 at 9:02 amThanks Robyn, I sure hope you enjoy it.
Maggie
November 1, 2014 at 3:00 amLove the new photos! I totally agree with you about going back and fix some old posts. I have a few recipes that I like a lot, but the early days photos are poor. It’s a great idea to update the photos 🙂
The sweet and sour chicken looks super delicious! I need to cook those soon!
Michelle
November 1, 2014 at 12:07 pmA bloggers work is never done.
Foodies Network » Sweet & Sour Chicken
November 1, 2014 at 6:27 pm[…] Sweet & Sour Chicken […]
Shinee
January 3, 2015 at 10:03 amMichelle, this looks delicious. I love sweet and sour chicken, but not take -out. I will add this to my dinner menu. 🙂
Michelle
January 3, 2015 at 10:32 amI agree with not take out, why is it bright pink…that can’t be natural?!
Mary Bostow
January 3, 2015 at 6:22 pmI love this recipe, your pics are delicious! Saving this one to make!
Michelle
January 3, 2015 at 7:02 pmThank you Mary. You should see the first round-terrible.
Sharon Nut Free Wok
January 3, 2015 at 10:43 pmWhoa, what a mouthwatering sweet and sour that’s healthy to boot! Can’t wait to try your recipe. Thanks!
Michelle
January 3, 2015 at 10:48 pmAh thank you Sharon, but healthy is a sorta stretch with the amount of sugar, but still far better than take it. I hope you al enjoy it.
Katerina
January 24, 2015 at 5:53 amIt looks exactly the same as the one I usually have in the Chinese we go! Perfect!
Michelle
January 24, 2015 at 9:40 amThank you Katerina! Looking the same and tasting great is my aim.
Arman @ thebigmansworld
February 25, 2015 at 1:03 amOh yes! I’ve been digging my archives to reshoot- I’m glad you did this, purely because it’s a gem of a recipe and looks delicious- I love sweet and sour chicken.
Michelle
February 25, 2015 at 10:34 amThank you Arman! It’s a tasty recipe.
Nicole (Or Whatever You Do)
February 25, 2015 at 7:38 amOh man – I am so with you on those early pictures! So many favorite family recipes shot with a point and shoot. Ha! I started going through mine and reshooting them and changing the dates to republish them. I love this sweet and sour chicken! It looks fantastic!
Michelle
February 25, 2015 at 10:35 amChanging the dates to republish them…how does that work? Doesn’t mess up SEO?
Joanie @ ZagLeft
February 25, 2015 at 8:15 amMy husband likes to joke that once a recipe makes it on my blog, I rarely make it again. That’s not really true but since I’m always working on creating new recipes, I don’t make the older ones as often as maybe he would like. I’m glad you remade this one because Sweet and Sour Chicken is my daughter’s favorite meal – this version looks absolutely delicious!
Michelle
February 25, 2015 at 10:35 amSame thing happens here. So I guess I need to be grateful for bad early pictures, forces me to remake all my family favorites.
Ashley @ Big Flavors from a Tiny Kitchen
February 25, 2015 at 11:03 amSweet & Sour Chicken is totally a guilty pleasure of mine. I haven’t made it at home in yeeeears – this version looks heavenly!
Michelle
February 25, 2015 at 7:59 pmIt’s so good. It’s one that I can stand behind 1000%, I’ve made it so many times
Kristy @ Chocolate Slopes
February 25, 2015 at 12:15 pmWhat a great replacement of sodium-filled carryout Chinese food!
Michelle
February 25, 2015 at 8:00 pmThank you Kristy! It is really good.
Joanie @ Zagleft
January 28, 2016 at 5:13 pmI’ve been slowly going through my old posts to reshoot the photos and it makes my husband so happy because I often forget about the “old favorites” from my early blogging days. This recipe is one my family would love, my daughter orders this any time she can.
Michelle De La Cerda
January 29, 2016 at 9:35 amIt’s such a process to go back, but the upside is getting to eat all the favorites again.
Michelle | A Dish of Daily Life
January 28, 2016 at 6:35 pmI love sweet and sour chicken and I haven’t had it in the longest time! Can’t wait to try this, Michelle!
Michelle De La Cerda
January 29, 2016 at 9:36 amHope you and your family enjoy it Michelle.
Megan Keno
January 28, 2016 at 7:39 pmPerfect weeknight dinner! I love this idea, its like take- IN!
Michelle De La Cerda
January 29, 2016 at 9:36 amExactly, Take-IN.
Lauren @ Hall Nesting
January 29, 2016 at 5:18 amI have been going back to update all of my pictures too! what a process! Sweet and Sour Chicken is my fav!!!
Michelle De La Cerda
January 29, 2016 at 9:09 amIt’s so good!
Dorothy at Shockingly Delicious
January 29, 2016 at 9:26 amI can relate to EVERY SINGLE THING you said in here!
Michelle De La Cerda
January 29, 2016 at 9:32 amSo glad!
Andi @ The Weary Chef
January 29, 2016 at 1:11 pmYeah, I have lots of those recipes that call for new pics, too! This sweet and sour looks delicious! YUM!!
Michelle De La Cerda
January 30, 2016 at 1:27 amThank you Andi, it really is good…and new pics…if only there were more hours in the day.
Maryanne @ the little epicurean
January 29, 2016 at 4:57 pmI get what you mean about not having time to make your favorites again. I feel the same way! Love the sweet and sour chicken! 🙂
Michelle De La Cerda
January 30, 2016 at 1:19 amThank you so much Maryanne.
James
April 10, 2016 at 6:28 pmExcellent recipe. I cut it in half, omitted the ketchup, and used red, green, and yellow peppers . Turns out beautiful every time. Great colours, great flavour. (And looks pretty in the bowl when you serve it!)
Michelle De La Cerda
April 11, 2016 at 10:09 amI’ve never thought of omitting the ketchup, I am going to have to try that. Love all the colors you used. Thank you for letting me know about your experience.