First, a silly story about Orange Chicken

Once upon a time, in a small village, there lived a chicken named Orange. Orange was a very special chicken, not only because of his vibrant color, but also because of his love for cooking. One day, Orange decided to cook a delicious dish for all of his friends in the village.

He went to the market and bought all the ingredients he needed, including a huge bag of oranges. But as he was peeling the oranges, he suddenly realized that he was allergic to them! Despite this setback, Orange didn't give up and continued to cook his dish.

To everyone's surprise, Orange's dish turned out to be a hit. It was so delicious that everyone in the village wanted more. Orange's dish was so good that it even made the grumpiest person in the village smile. From that day on, Orange's dish was known as Orange Chicken and was loved by all who tried it.

The end.

Ingredients:

• 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons of salt
• 1 teaspoon of freshly ground black pepper
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup cold water
• Orange zest, for garnish (optional)

Instructions:

1. In a shallow dish, mix together the flour, salt, and pepper. Dip the chicken pieces into the flour mixture, coating them evenly.
2. In a large skillet, heat the oil over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until golden brown, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the pan and set it aside.
3. In a small saucepan, combine the orange juice, sugar, soy sauce, and garlic. Bring the mixture to a boil and then reduce the heat to low. In a small bowl, mix the cornstarch and water together. Stir the cornstarch mixture into the saucepan with the orange sauce and continue cooking until the sauce thickens, about 2-3 minutes.
4. Return the chicken to the skillet and pour the orange sauce over the chicken. Stir until the chicken is evenly coated in the sauce. Serve over rice and garnish with orange zest, if desired.