Sweet & Sour Chicken with Fresh Pineapple
I’m in Jasper! I’m here doing some cooking shows for the Pajama Party, but it’s more like Christmas in November with the snow coming down and a frozen lake. And all the dancing and martinis last night. (Unfortunately for everyone here, I dance like Elaine on Seinfeld.)
So I’ll leave you with this recipe for sweet and sour chicken with fresh pineapple, which is one of the recipes I did recently for Co-op, from the series I’m doing to illustrate how inexpensively you can feed your family when you cook from scratch. Everyone in our house adores sweet & sour chicken, but the take-out stuff is battered and deep fried, with a day-glo sauce that sort of freaks me out.
But wait – speaking of chicken, guess what? I’m going on a trip across Canada this May on the Rocky Mountaineer! There is a connection, really – in the form of a contest – Maple Leaf is giving away TWO MORE trips for 2 on the same train! Which means YOU could come with Mike and I – we’re scheming already to leave W at home and have our very first trip away together. Anyone wanna babysit? If you’re not coming, that is.
I’ve always wanted to go on a train trip across Canada. (Western Canada is probably enough for one go.) This trip is billed as the “most spectacular train trip in the world”, and you get the entire package – it includes flights to Calgary (if you don’t live here already), accommodation at Fairmont hotels in Calgary and Vancouver (where we finish the trip) and Kamloops (in the middle of the trip – you don’t sleep on the train). We get 2 days on the Rocky Mountaineer to experience the “First Passage to the West”, breakfasts and lunches on board in the Gold Leaf Dining Room (prepared by their four on-board chefs), and $500 in spending money! Which covers some pretty fab dinners wherever we like (or some pretty fab shoes at Fluevog in Vancouver and some hot dogs from a stand).
It all happens on May 10-13. How am I involved? They’re not paying me, but I get to go on the trip. Pretty awesome, I think. (Look, they even put me on their website!) You can read all the fine print here, and learn about the Rocky Mountaineer here, and most importantly, because this is how you get the chance to actually go, enter the Prime Taste of the West contest here.
I’ll post the links under free stuff too. Good luck! I want to see some of you on board!
March 04 2011 05:02 pm | chicken & turkey
Cheryl F on 05 Mar 2011 at 12:10 pm #
I’m in Kamloops and would recommend either The Brownstone or Felix on Fourth for dinner. Both are within walking distance of the train station. Actually, the new brew pub downtown is meant to be good, as well, and I saw the chef buying from the farmer’s market.
Liz on 05 Mar 2011 at 12:22 pm #
So sad that it’s not open to Americans! This is one New Yorker who would LOVE to go.
The chicken looks DIVINE. Can’t wait to try it!
Kristin on 05 Mar 2011 at 12:23 pm #
Both my DH and I love trains, so that sounds like a dream come true. We live in the US, though, so we can’t enter. Sounds amazing, though! The sweet and sour looks yummy.
Tara on 05 Mar 2011 at 2:25 pm #
And just a mention that purchase is required to enter the contest. “Enter the PIN from your specially marked package” type of thing.I better get my package!
mmac on 05 Mar 2011 at 5:24 pm #
You will love it! We took it from Vancouver to Calgary a few years back and it was terrific.
Anonymous on 05 Mar 2011 at 7:51 pm #
SO disappointed that this contest is only open to people in Western Canada. That trip to the west by train in high on my bucket list, and with you, it would be unforgettable!
Lesli C-Kellow on 05 Mar 2011 at 9:58 pm #
I’m entered!
rea on 05 Mar 2011 at 9:59 pm #
brown rice. you need to make the transition to brown basmati. it’s soooo good for you.
ps. tried the new pizza place in Inglewood (assoc. with Sugo)–love it. can’t wait to take the man there on a date.
{weekend reading} NATIONAL EDITION « FROM SCRATCH club on 06 Mar 2011 at 4:16 am #
[...] with Julie has Sweet & Sour Chicken with Pineapple (fresh). [...]
Manon from Ontario on 06 Mar 2011 at 8:16 am #
I’m in Ontario and my province doesn’t show up on the list? Can I still enter? I just tried however, they are asking for a Pin number on Prime chicken?
Anyways, I’d love to win and be on a train with you guys! It’s one of my husband’s and I, “TO DO LIST” in the near future, to take a trip across Canada by train. And May would actually work for us, as it’s after sugar bush season and right kindda before apple season.
I hope I qualify
Thanks for the sweet & sour chicken recipe, it’s on my menu list for this week…just have to buy some rice vinegar!
MFO
Manon from Ontario on 06 Mar 2011 at 8:24 am #
Oh and I’ve got to win this as I really want to see you dance Elaine’s style
)))))))
Ann on 06 Mar 2011 at 9:53 am #
So sad that it’s not open to anyone east of Manitoba.
colesangel on 06 Mar 2011 at 2:21 pm #
i’m not so much interested in the train trip, but YUM for the sweet and sour pineapple chicken… and I babysit!
rose on 07 Mar 2011 at 12:35 am #
Hi Julie
How did the First Thursday event go? A friend’s son is at the U. of Calgary and recommended First Thursdays to him. Will buy the chicken so I can enter the contest. In Vancouver we hear lots about the Rocky Mountaineer and it is the best.
Rose
Manon from Ontario on 07 Mar 2011 at 5:33 am #
Crap! Do not qualify here in Ontario ;(
Lana in South Mountain (ON) on 07 Mar 2011 at 9:14 am #
Yep- just tried to enter the contest and no can do from Ontario.
Sounds like an absolute blast. Have an amazing time!
Beverley M on 07 Mar 2011 at 10:27 am #
I’m subscribed, but no PIN so can’t actually enter. Weird “no purchase necessary” rules – send us your email address and a self-addressed stamped envelope, and we’ll email you a PIN.
Soooooo what’s the SASE for?
Natalie (ga) on 07 Mar 2011 at 3:24 pm #
We never were able to take a trip alone for years. Then we happened to go on an overnight once when my parents visited. WOW – US time. Now, whenever my parents come, we leave for a day or two. It has been so helpful!
Seriously. You and Mike need a trip alone. I know W is a prince of all boys, but you’ll all be happier for it.
Hope it all works out!
Katharine on 09 Mar 2011 at 7:51 pm #
If I don’t win this one and get the chance to hang again, we’ll babysit! We love W!!