As fast as this week has gone, it’s been really tiring. But just one more day to plug through! I have my second post-op appointment after work and I’m anxious to see how my vision is doing. I know I’m not seeing 20/20, but I do feel like it’s slowly improving…definitely a good thing.
Yesterday was GORGEOUS and I was crawling out my skin to get out of work and to get outside! Once I got home, I headed straight out for a run. I ended up doing another 4 mile run (that seems to be my distance lately) and it was challenging, but felt good. I was just happy to have the sun on my skin!
Once home and cooled down, I started on dinner — Chicken Lettuce Wraps (served with Lazy Microwave Sweet Potato Chips)! These came together quick and 30 minutes later, we were back out on the deck enjoying dinner. Eating dinner outside is my absolutely favorite way to spend my evenings. Mr. Prevention and I tend to slow down in warmer weather, enjoy each others’ company, and savor the healthy, homemade meal on the table.
I have only eaten at PF Chang’s a handful of times, but knowing their lettuce wraps are a crowd pleaser I tried them once and have always come back for more. These also reminded me of the lettuce wraps served at Flat Top Grill – a Midwest-based create-your-own stir fry restaurant that I worked at in college. Their lettuce wraps were always served on butter lettuce leaves, and so I adopted that idea. They form the perfectly curved shape to hold all the goodies inside!
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Chicken Lettuce Wraps adapted from Southern Plate, inspired by P.F. Chang’s, as seen on The Cooking Nurse
3 boneless skinless chicken breasts (about 12 ounces)
3 green onions, diced
6 oz can water chestnuts, finely diced
1 cup mushrooms, finely diced
2 Tbsp brown sugar
3 Tbsp low-sodium soy sauce
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 oz rice sticks
canola oil, for frying (~2 Tbsp is absorbed)
1 head of butter lettuce, or lettuce of choice
Directions:
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chicken breasts, and cook through. Remove from heat and let cool. After the chicken breasts cool, dice into small bite-sized pieces.
Meanwhile, finely dice the mushrooms, water chestnuts, and green onions. Combine the brown sugar and soy sauce, and stir well. Add the sauce, chicken, and veggies back into the skillet. Cook and stir over medium heat until heated through.
Place one inch of canola oil in a small sauce pan, and heat over medium high heat. Drop 1 ounce of rice sticks into oil. If oil is hot enough, rice sticks with immediately puff up. You may need to turn them over quickly so the other side will puff up as well. Remove from heat quickly and drain on paper towels.
To assemble lettuce wraps, place 3-4 tablespoons of chicken/veggie mixture in each lettuce wrap. Sprinkle with cooked rice sticks, and roll up. Yield: 10 lettuce wraps (about 3 servings, as a light entree).
Nutrition Information (per lettuce wrap, with rice sticks): 106 calories; 4.4 g. fat; 17 mg. cholesterol; 197 mg. sodium; 7.3 g. carbohydrate; 0.7 g. fiber; 8.7 g. protein
Result: These are very comparable to PF Chang’s – fun, light finger food. If you can’t find the rick sticks, or don’t care to fry them, you can easily leave them out or add something else crunchy on top — peanuts, bean sprouts, etc. These came together really quickly, and I loved the short ingredient list. These can be made as a light entree or be shared among many as an appetizer. Enjoy!
Price: I buy hormone and antibiotic-free, local chicken – 3/4 lb of the chicken breasts ran $3.82. The head of butter lettuce was $2.49, the water chestnuts ran $0.89 and I got a steal on the mushrooms — $0.99 for 2 cups (and I only used half). The total recipe cost was $8.55 and therefore each portion calculated out to $2.85/serving.
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And just because…here’s a funny Lily picture to smile at. I shot this last night as she was begging for some table scraps. Does she look drunk to anyone else? 🙂
Question: What are you looking forward to this weekend?
Other than sleeping in, I see pancakes and/or baked doughnuts in my weekend forecast 😉 Too bad the sun won’t be joining in…rain is headed this way. 🙁
TGIF,
After today I will be my Spring Break, so I’m just looking forward to relaxing and spending time with friends!
These lettuce wraps look just like the ones from PF Changs! Everytime I go there I order these, so it will be nice to be able to make them myself! 🙂
Spring Break?! So jealous 🙂 Enjoy!
I finally had the day off yesterday and was able to enjoy the sunny weather. All the other weekens that have been nice, I have been stuck at work 🙁
PF Chang’s lettuce wraps are my favorite!! My dad and I share a deep love for these things, and I’m impressed that yours look just as good, for only a fraction of the price. Thanks for sharing your recipe!!
Have a great weekend Nicole. Enjoy your pancakes and/or baked donuts 🙂 Boo to the rain.
Thanks, Gina! Get some R&R this weekend despite your hectic weekend work schedule!
I’ve only eaten at PF Chang’s once, but you better believe my friend that took me ordered the lettuce wraps for us because they are that amazing. She was right.
Happy weekend, girl! I’m apartment hunting all weekend… ick.
Pancakes…now THAT is what i want to eat right after my marathon. I’ve been looking for post-marathon meal inspiration and that is for sure it!
I love PF Changs, especially their lettuce wraps! This at home version sounds fantastic (and definitely way cheaper than getting an order there!).
Yes! You will have earned yourself a stack of pancakes taller than you! I can’t wait to get updates on your splits! Rest up!
Those look easy and tasty (and cheap!). We don’t eat out much, but PFC is one of the places I like because they don’t use MSG.
awe…I’ve missed seeing Lily’s sweet doggie face lately! So glad she popped in!
I just LOVE butter lettuce…probably my favorite kind….so mild and so good for making into wraps because of the shape. My store started selling hydroponically grown local butter lettuce with the root end attached…so fresh and I am all about supporting local economies. This would be an excellent recipe to make next time I buy one!
I know…I am super bummed about the rain this weekend too….we need an entire weekend of nothing but sun and warm around here already!!!!
She hasn’t been around much, has she!? Maybe since she’s had a HUGE yellow spotting from flower pollen on her face…she looked diseased. It’s finally gone! Have a great weekend, Renee!
LOve when the weather starts warming up!! We’ve been taking a stroll around the neighborbood every night this week! It’s a little cool (not warm enough to eat outside and be comfy) but we’re getting there!
Glad you like them!
Sooo good! And quick!
I love lettuce wraps from PF Changs but I’ve never made my own! 🙂
I’m looking forward to having pizza tomorrow for the bf’s birthday 😀
I just went grocery shopping this morning and planned to make lettuce wraps for a dinner this week. I totally forgot that when meal planning though. Now I’m bummed not to have them next week. Especially since yours look SO good!
Next week! Next week! 🙂
I love lettuce wraps SO much! I obviously have to try these.
haha Lily totally looks drunk in that picture, youre right. Shes SO cute though. I just love her face. 🙂
Haha, thank you 🙂 She looks tanked, I love it!
I love lettuce wraps! They really are so simple (and fun) to make.
Always love seeing Lily!
Have a great weekend, Nicole!
Thanks, Kristen..you too!
That looks like total summer food! I am so wishing we had sun here. Summer evenings sitting outside with bbq’d food is my favorite. Of course with Jacob there too 😉
If there is a dog equivalent to my Neva’s catnip, I’d say Lilly was into it! 🙂 Great shot. And great recipe, I LOVE lettuce wraps!!! Thanks for this…it’s bookmarked. (I have alot of your recipes bookmarked!) Have a great weekend Nicole.
Sleeping in for sure!
I’ve never been to PF Changs, but I keep hearing about their lettuce wraps so I’m bookmarking this 🙂
Ok so first of all wow those are sooooo beautiful! If I ever served something that pretty the hubs would probably have a breakdown!
And as for looking forward to? Having our house to ourselves again! We’ve had houseguests for way too long and I miss it just being me the hubs and the pup!
And lastly (sorry this is epically so long) I have a great recipe (I have very few recipes) for a sleep in breakfast. It’s a baked stuffed French toast if you’d like it!
I would love that recipe…sounds amazing!! Thanks for your sweet comment 🙂
Here you go:
Here you go:
I love making lettuce wraps at home! I make mine the same way but add diced carrots, broccoli, bell peppers, a little grated ginger, and i substitute fish sauce for the soy (only a few dashes cause it gets stinky!). I tend not to buy the butter lettuce because it’s too expensive in my area. I use romaine instead. And occasionally when i don’t feel like making a sticky mess of my hands, i make lettuce wrap salad.. if that makes sense.