Have you ever taken a picture and then not realized until after wards that there was a detail totally off? I’ve taken pictures of my kids only to discover after I download them that there is a chocolate smudge on their face or stray hair in their eyes or a fly unzipped.
That is exactly what happened with the pictures of this Chicken Stir-Fry. I took the pictures, we ate dinner and when I downloaded from the camera onto the computer I noticed that big, glaring, piece of onion right in the middle of the plate. I can’t even begin to tell you how much that big hunk of onion gets on my nerves. So much that I almost didn’t post this recipe, but you know what? This is such a tasty and easy stir-fry recipe I just had to share it with you.
Excuse me if I never return to this post again… it is like forcing myself to listen to fingernails on a chalkboard. I do hope you can get past the hunk of onion and look at this recipe for what it is… a must have stir-fry recipe for a quick and simple weeknight dinner! Enjoy.
Chicken Stir-Fry (Adapted from Allrecipes)
1. | Cut chicken into 1/2-in. strips; place in a resealable plastic bag. Add cornstarch and toss to coat. Combine soy sauce, ginger and garlic powder; add to bag and shake well. Refrigerate for 30 minutes. |
2. | In a large skillet or wok, heat 2 tablespoons of oil; stir-fry chicken until no longer pink, about 3-5 minutes. Remove and keep warm. Add remaining oil; stir- fry broccoli, carrots and onion for 4-5 minutes or until crisp-tender. Add chicken broth. Return chicken to pan. Cook and stir until thickened and bubbly. |
Maria says
That onion doesn’t scare me:) Looks great!
SMITH BITES says
well I happen to love onions so bring it on! Chicken stir fry is one of our go-to meals when time is short but we want to eat well; lots of veggies, which we love – and you can absolutely stretch the chicken by adding a couple more pieces of broccoli or even a bit of carrot!
Sandie {A Bloggable Life} says
Thank you for being the first person to ever make chicken stir-fry hilarious. I heart you! 😉
Tickled Red says
Don’t be so hard on yourself. I didn’t notice the onion because I was to busy droolinf over the chicken & broccoli 🙂 Yum!!!
Tickled Red says
Ack! Fix me please…drooling not droolinf {lol}
Plain Chicken says
You take the most beautiful photos, but I know what you are talking about. I hate when you don’t see a “flaw” until you look at the photos. the stir fry looks tasty!
Mommy's Kitceh says
Kristen that has happend to me too!! So i know how nerve racking that can be. The stir fry looks so tasty and like Maria said that onion doesn’t scare me. I cant wait to try this recipe.
Melissa says
I’m not bothered by a glaring onion. Seriously, I really didn’t notice until you mentioned it! 🙂
Crystal's Cozy Kitchen says
I personally think your food photos are amazing! It is nice to see that even a great food photographer makes mistakes ;). The stir fry still looks (and sounds) delicious!
Pam says
I’ve done this too, many times!! It still looks good to me!
Katie @ goodLife {eats} says
Or how about times when the picture looks awesome on the camera’s LCD but it looks like TOTAL crap when you check it out on your computer. I hate that too. I love a good quick stir-fry recipe and this one sounds awesome.
Ciaochowlinda says
I love onions, so I think it’s a plus to have it smack in the center. The whole plate looks delicious.
Jessica @ How Sweet says
The onion looks good to me! 🙂
Amy from She Wears Many Hats says
Stir fry is something that always slips my mind when trying to think of a quick and tasty dinner. Yum!
marla says
I am sitting here waiting in a quiet room to get a massage & I laughed out loud with your reference to the onion. I wonder if I would have noticed had you not mentioned it. The dish looks tasty no matter what, besides I love onions! xo
Serene says
Mmmmm, onions!
Nancy @ TheSensitivePantry says
LOL. I thought you put it there for interest! I’ve taken so many photos where I’ve said later, “What is that?”. What I love about you–you posted it because the picture is just fine and the recipe is too good not to share because of a piece of onion. You’ve given me new blog courage. Thanks!
Wenderly says
LITERALLY just finished eating Chinese take out 15 minutes ago! Next time however, I will be making this! Glad you decided to share!
Barbara | VinoLuciStyle says
Somehow the strangest things happen but were meant to be? We all have those days or pictures; I actually think it’s nice to know how imperfect we all are and so honest of you to share. I love it.
Debbi Does Dinner Healthy says
I know what you mean about pictures!! I don’t notice things until they are already taken and on my computer and then it’s like “Huh, that wasn’t there before?”.
I didn’t even notice the onion until you mentioned it. I think it looks great, I love onions.
Robyn says
This looks delicious! I’m definitely going to have to make this soon!
Joanne says
Well…since I like onions so much. I GUESS I can forgive you 😛 you are so silly! The picture looks great. I’ve totally done this though, many times. But you’re right – this recipe looks way too good not to share. Plus it’s perfect for weeknight cooking now that school’s started!
Susan Mallery says
I know exactly what you mean! The onion doesn’t bother me, but I’ve learned that my eyes gloss over things in real life that bug the heck out of me in a photo. Yesterday, I made stuffed tomatoes, and there were little black spots on the casserole dish from where tomato juice had burned in the oven. In the picture, it looks like I torched the things! And yet, I’m still going to post them to my blog because otherwise I have to cook again, and that’s not happening.
Monica says
Your stir fry looks delicious, onion and all. I love that you went ahead and shared this photo. That makes this real cooking in a real kitchen where everything isn’t always perfect. It makes your post more credible. I’ve had my share of photo mishaps, and your example teaches me to just CHILL about it, already. Good for you!
Brooke@foodwoolf says
That’s hysterical. Isn’t it funny how detail oriented we food bloggers have gotten about our food photos? So much for the easy point and shoot days of early blogging! The dish looks great, regardless of the annoying onion!
Julie @ Willow Bird Baking says
I TOTALLY do this!! I feel like I get “selective vision” with photographing food — I’m concentrating SO much on getting something in focus or adjusting the exposure that I realize suddenly I’ve been ignoring an object in the shot!
That onion looks like it was placed there as a garnishy-flair, though, and I couldn’t find a THING wrong with the photo when I first saw it — until I started reading, I wouldn’t have thought a thing of it 🙂
Sues says
I saw the photo first and thought it looked wonderful. Didn’t even notice the onion! But yes, this has totally happened to me before 🙂 The stir-fry looks delicious though 🙂
The Teacher Cooks says
This sounds like a great stir fry! I could not wait to see the picture after you said something about it on twitter!
Maris says
It’s an onion “garnish.” It’s lovely. Sounds like a great fast worknight meal!
Amanda says
Ha ha ha! You crack me up! For what it’s worth, I didn’t even notice the onion until you pointed it out LOL But YES, I have totally done that before! LOL
Joyce says
Ho Ho Did anybody else do what I did? I looked at the white spot in the center and clicked on it thinking there was an imaginary arrow which would start the video. When nothing happened, I looked closer, then read the script.
Oh well, the stir fry looks great!
bridget {bake at 350} says
That is so funny about the onion! Yes…I do that all the time…there is no cropping out that onion, huh? I love onions, so it’s a plus in my book! 😉
I’ve bookmarked this for future dinners….looks delish!
Rachel S says
Perfect stir-fry! Tried it tonight… Delicious!
jeremiah osborn says
Made it my own way and heres how it went. Started the rice in rice cooker, cut up the chicken. Got the pan hot with oil then added chicken. Chopped onion when chicken was almost done put onion in and added soy sauce. Then added frozen bag of stir fry mix vegtables with a little more oil. Put the top over the skillet so it would cook fast. Rice finished around the same time, mixed the two together. Turned out to be a delicious meal. Can add a little more soy if you like for some more flavor.