Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Last night for dinner we enjoyed Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps.  Below is my own adaptation of cashew chicken that I am sharing.  Typically I serve it over jasmine rice, however it's summer and I was looking for a lighter option--so iceberg lettuce wraps did the trick.

Chicken

1 lb. boneless skinless chicken thighs, chopped into 1" pieces
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 T soy sauce (I prefer Tamari)
2 T cornstarch

Vegetables
1 lb. carrots, sliced in half and chopped into 1" pieces
5-6 stalks celery, diced into 1" pieces
(If you like onion and bell pepper, add as much as you like!  My husband does not like either, so I omit--what a trooper I am!)

Sauce
1 cup chicken broth
2 T soy sauce
2 T cooking sherry
1/2 tsp. sesame oil
cornstarch slurry (2 T cornstarch with 2 T water blended in); set aside

Finishing Touch

1/2 cup cashews

Iceberg lettuce, leaves separated

1. In a wok or large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil and add chicken.  (You may need to cook chicken in batches to get it browned well.)  Stir-fry until cooked.  Remove chicken from wok and set aside.

2. Add additional oil to wok if necessary, and add vegetables, adjust burner heat if necessary. Cook for a few minutes until crisp-tender.  Add chicken and sauce.  (At this point I continued to cook the chicken and vegetables a bit longer in the sauce to soften them  since our little girl is now sharing in *some* of our table food.)  Add cornstarch slurry and cook over high heat until sauce is desired consistency, coating the chicken and vegetables well.  Give a taste and adjust to your preferences--add crushed red pepper for heat, extra soy sauce if you like, etc.  Rememer that unless you're baking, recipes are just guidelines!

3. Sprinkle cashews over top and serve with lettuce leaves for wrapping.  (This recipe serves 4 people)

4. Marvel as you eat that your little baby is sitting at the table and feeding herself.  Wasn't it this time last year that I was nursing her 8-12 times a day?  (Forgive my reminiscing; this week she's officially weaned.  Makes me realize how quickly she is growing...)