1/20/2010 Recipe of the Day: Sweet and Sour Anything!

This is a family favorite. My mom growing up had a few special recipes she would make every year or two when we had company over. This was one of them.



Here is my recipe for Sweet and Sour. We like this on Meatballs, Chicken and Pork. I don't bread and deep fry the chicken or pork. I just sautee the meat and add it back to the sauce to warm it up. I feel it is much healthier this way.


I serve this with lots of rice and a salad. There are also quite a few veggies in it. If you wanted to make it vegetarian, I would add more carrots and skip the meat. When I do meal assembly with my friends, this is always a huge hit!


Sweet and Sour Anything!
1-2 pounds of meat (Pork, Chicken, Meatballs)
1 can Pineapple tidbits or crushed in juice
1 cup pineapple juice
1/2 cup water
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup vinegar (any variety)
1 tsp salt
1 TBL soy sauce
1 TBL chopped garlic or 1 tsp powdered garlic
1-2 cups baby carrots cut in half on the diagonal
1 small onion cut into eigths (cut in half and then quartered)

• Prepare and cook meat thoroughly. You can use bone in or boneless meat.
• Remove meat from pan.
• Combine remaining ingredients in pan.
• Bring to a boil.
• In a separate container stir together 1/2 cup water with 1/4 cup cornstarch.
• Add to boiling mixture and stir well.
• Add 1 medium bell pepper cut in chunks and the cooked meat.
• Bring mixture back to a boil.
• Serve with lots of rice!

I also make this in a crockpot. I simply dump everything, except for the 1/2 cup of water and cornstarch) on top of raw meat in a crockpot. I set it on high for 4-5 hours or low for 7-8 hours. I add the cornstarch/water mixture the last hour.


The meatballs need to be done a little differently if you are doing the crockpot version as they breakdown cooking all day. So if you want meatballs, add a few hours before you are ready to eat.  The meatballs must be precooked. My son will add the meatballs when he comes home from school in the afternoon. I cheat and buy the cocktail meatballs (5/8
oz) at Sams Club (6# for $9...and no mess!)


This is what we are eating today.  I can hardly wait!


Chat later...