Pseudo Chicken Chow Mein: Dear GE

January 29, 2013

Dear GE -

Please stop building stoves that no one can fix.  This is my second GE monogram stove, and after waiting 8 days for a technician to come out and repair it (for which I paid $99.95 for his service trip), I still do not have a functioning stove.  I'm assuming the length of time it took for the technician to come out is a direct result of other GE stoves not working and requiring attention elsewhere.  If your product really was superior - I'm guessing that my technician would have been there the day after my request and my problem would be solved by now.

As it is, even after my technician visit, my stove STILL DOES NOT WORK.  I explained clearly on the phone the error messages I was receiving on the stove top, explained exactly the situation, and when the technician arrived I had to explain this all over again.  Clearly the dispatch did not properly note my situation, so when the technician arrived, he had no idea of anything.  In addition, he did not have any parts to install for my stove, even when the error message my stove was giving clearly indicated that I was going to need a particular part.   With no parts, there is no repair and how one can call themselves a repairman when it doesn't get repaired is beyond my comprehension.  A better word for today's situation is to call the repairman a visitor, because all he did was VISIT with my stove.  "How are you doing today?  Oh. Not feeling well?  So sorry to hear that.  I hope you can feel better next time when I come!"

I'm disappointed in your service, your commitment to your product, and the lack of timeliness in regards to repairing my stove.  I have three children to feed and a non working stove has hindered this process.

Fortunately for me, the portable stove I paid about $20 works just fine, so please convince me as to why I should even bother having my stove repaired when I have a cheaper solution at my fingertips?

Frustrated,

Joanne Choi

P.S.  The only good that has come out of this stove situation is that I've become really inventive in the kitchen and I've learned to stir-fry one pan meals.

Now that my rant is over, let me talk about the recipe itself.  Because of my one burner situation and a non functioning stove, I've had to think carefully how to prepare meals.  This dish, because it is a noodle dish, I boiled the noodles much ahead a time and just sent them aside until I needed them.  It did not affect the flavor of the dish.  Having all the vegetables cut up, everything ready to go makes the execution of this dish fast and simple.

Pseudo Chicken Chow Mein
Serves 6

Ingredients
1 lb spaghetti or linguine noodles
⅔ cup chicken stock
¼ cup soy sauce (I use the kikkoman low sodium)
3 tablespoons Chinese oyster sauce (Lee Kum Kee brand is my favorite)
1 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
1 teaspoon sambal (Chinese chile sauce)
1 to 1¼ lbs boneless, skinless, chicken thighs, cut into 1 inch chunks
¼ cup vegetable oil (you’ll probably not use all of it)
2 tablespoons freshly minced ginger
2 tablespoons freshly chopped garlic
8 bunches of bok choy, washed, and then pulled apart into individual leaves
3 scallions, thinly sliced

Method
Cook pasta according to package directions, about a minute less than it asks for.  (9 minute pasta, cook for only 8 minutes.)  Drain, and set aside.

In a small bowl, or measuring cup, mix together chicken brown, soy sauce, oyster sauce, sesame oil, and sambal.  Set aside until needed

In a large nonstick skillet or wok, heat 3 tablespoons of vegetable oil over high heat.  Add chicken, season with salt and pepper, and cook, until golden and fully cooked, about 7 minutes.  Add ginger and garlic, and cook until fragrant.  Add cooked noodles and bok choy and begin tossing so that noodles get coated with oil and bokchoy begins to cook, another 2 minutes.  Stir in sauce and cook, stirring occasionally, until sauce is absorbed and noodles are evenly coated, about 5 minutes.  Sprinkle scallions on top and give it one final toss.

Serve right away (although the cold leftovers are also pretty good.)

Printable recipe