Inspired by a recent 2015 Soup Challenge Entry, the kitchens of Full Moon Cuisine decided to complete our Chinese dinner by making a perennial favorite, sweet and sour chicken. However, rather than the deep-fried dish that is found at many places, we decided to go back more toward a traditional approach, and instead of a goopy red sauce, allow a flavorful sauce to help infuse the chicken with the perfect amount of the titular sourness and sweetness. And the result? Suffice to say you won't be calling for take out once you try this quick and easy dish! Here's what you'll need:

- 2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts (cut into one inch/bite size pieces)
- 1 cup cornstarch
- 3 large eggs (beaten)
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar
- 4 tbsp ketchup
- 1 tbsp soy sauce
- 3/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 tsp garlic salt

To begin, preheat your oven to 325 degrees F and pour the cup of cornstarch (carefully) into a large plastic bag and add the cut up chicken pieces. Seal the bag and toss the chicken to coat with cornstarch, then set aside. Add the oil to a saute pan over medium heat. Once the oil has come up to temperature, whisk the eggs together on a plate. Dip five or six pieces of chicken into the eggs, coating them, before placing them into the pan. Brown both sides of the chicken (you won't want to cook them all the way through), which should take roughly 30 seconds to a minute per side. Once browned on both sides, move the chicken to a 9x13" baking dish. Repeat the process with the remaining pieces of chicken until you have browned them all off. You may need to add additional oil to the pan, just be sure to allow it to come back up to temperature before adding chicken. Set the baking dish aside and we'll get to making the sauce.

In a mixing bowl, combine the apple cider vinegar, ketchup, soy sauce, sugar, and garlic salt, stirring to combine. Pour this gorgeous sauce over the chicken, tossing to coat. Park your baking dish in the preheated oven for 1 hour, stirring the chicken every 20 minutes to make sure the sauce coats everything. At the end of the hour, take out of the oven and let stand for 5 minutes to cool. Serve with rice or broccoli!

Taking a familiar staple like sweet and sour chicken and making it at home allows you to control the quality of ingredients, the amount of salt, the level of heat (add some chili sauce to yours for a real kick!), and easily dazzle your friends and family. Who needs take out when you have a kitchen, a few simple ingredients, and a little bit of time? To help spread the DIY spirit further the kitchen will be staying open late. Care to place an order?