To Cindy in Snowy Nebraska

You requested a sweet and sour sauce for Chinese food in the January 27 newsletter. I searched for quite some time and finally discovered what I feel is a winner. The secret is ketchup! Sounds terrible but it is very good. I use this for both pork and chicken.

Sweet and Sour Sauce

1/3 cup vinegar
1/2 cup water
1/4 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup pineapple juice

Bring vinegar water and sugars to a boil. Combine cornstarch and pineapple juice. Add to hot mixture and cook until thickened. Add a dash or two of soy sauce – it sorta cuts the whang of the vinegar. When thickened, add a bit of ketchup until a bright red color. Arrange vegetables and fruit (I use carrot curls, green pepper wedges, onions, and pineapple chunks) around the outside of a platter, put your meat in the center, and drizzle the sauce over all.
Pat in Oklahoma

http://www.nancyskitchen