{I think} I can cook - PF Chang's Lettuce Wraps

Let me just preface this post by stating that I TRY to cook. I watch Top Chef and other cooking shows in awe. I accept that I'm not gifted in the kitchen. Any time I make a new recipe, my family knows one of the following things will most likely happen: 1) I will leave out  a (very important) ingredient,  2) I will drop it on the floor, 3) it will be either undercooked or overcooked. However- when I do find a recipe that works out for me, it's usually AWESOME. Tonight's recipe success has set the bar high- VERY high. Tonight I attempted to (re)create PF Changs Lettuce Wraps.

The Real Deal- from PF Chang's

A few years ago, I purchased Todd Wilbur's Top Secret Recipes cookbook from QVC. This recipe was in the cookbook, so I can in no way take credit for it. I can however state that I made some changes to the recipe, which I will  note below.


Special Sauce Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons rice vinegar
2 tablespoons ketchup
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon sesame oil
1 - 3 teaspoons chinese hot mustard (1 for for mild, 2 for medium, 3 for hot)
1 - 3 teaspoons garlic chili sauce (1 for for mild, 2 for medium, 3 for hot)

Stir Fry Sauce Ingredients:
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon rice vinegar

Other Ingredients:
3 tablespoons vegetable oil (* I used canola oil)
2 boneless skinless chicken breasts
1 cup (8oz) canned water chestnuts - diced
2/3 cup canned straw mushrooms - diced (* I omitted this)
3 tablespoons chopped green onion (* I forgot to buy this so I used some Tastefully Simple Spinach & Herb Dip Mix instead)
1 teaspoon minced garlic (1 clove) (* I totally forgot to add this)
1 cup fried maifun rice sticks (* I omitted this)
iceberg lettuce head
(* I also added 2 handfuls of cashews, and  made a side of brown rice)

1. Mix the Special Sauce - combine all the Special Sauce ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate.

2. Mix the Stir Fry Sauce - combine all the Stir Fry Sauce ingredients in a small bowl.

3. In a wok or large skillet, heat 2 tablespoons of the oil on high heat, saute the chicken breats about 4-5 minutes each side and remove from the pan. Let it cool a bit and then chop into dime sized chunks.

4. Add 1 tablespoon oil to the pan and then add the chicken chunks, diced chestnuts, diced mushrooms, garlic, green onion and stir fry sauce. Saute for about 4 minutes and serve atop the fried maifun noodles.

5. Cut the lettuce head in 1/2 and pull apart leaves for the wraps.

6. Assemble the wraps and spoon the Special Sauce on top. Eat like a taco.

Special Sauce, Lettuce, Brown Rice, Chicken Filling

My assembled "Chinese Taco"