Star Anise - Chicken Stir-Fry

Serve this over brown rice or shredded nappa cabbage or bok choi:

2 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into thin strips

1 cup shiitake mushrooms, stemmed and quartered

1/4 cup minced fresh ginger

2 cloves of garlic, minced

1 1/2 cups green onions

1 15 oz can chicken broth

2 whole star anise

1/2 tablespoon corn starch

Brown the chicken in a little grape-seed oil.  Set aside on paper towels.  Add mushrooms, onions, ginger and garlic and saute until cooked through.  Add back in the chicken, chicken broth and anise, and simmer for 10 mins.  dissolve the cornstarch in 1/2 tablespoon of water and add to the mixture.  Simmer for about 3 mins longer, until sauce is thickened.  Server over brown rice.

Star Anise - Brined Grilled Turkey Breasts

We bought some star anise and I've found two great recipes that use it and are delicious!  The first is brined turkey breast.  First, bring the following ingredients to a boil in a very large pot:

1/2 cup salt

3 quarts water

1 onion, chopped into large chunks

4 star anise

handful of black peppercorns, crushed

1/2 cup ginger, roughly chopped

1/4 cup honey or brown sugar

Let this cool completely (we made the brining liquid the night before) and then add one or two turkey breasts (do two if you want leftovers!  we added the turkey to the pot first thing in the morning and let it brine all day).  You can also double the amounts and do a whole bird if you're ambitious!

Next, make a glaze.  Simmer the following together in a sauce pan.

1/3 cup maple syrup

1/4 cup white wine

2 tablespoons dijon mustard

Grill the turkey breasts on low heat for about an hour (temp should be 165).  Brush with the glaze several times during the last 20 mins of cooking.