Kung Pao Chicken

Ingredients:
5 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 tablespoons sherry
2 teaspoons sugar
1 1/3 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

2 tablespoons white-wine vinegar or rice vinegar
2 teaspoons Asian sesame oil
2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup peanuts
2 tablespoons cooking oil
1/4 teaspoon dried red-pepper flakes
4 scallions, white bulbs and green tops cut separately into 1/2-inch pieces

Method:
In a medium bowl, toss the chicken with 1 tablespoon of the soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of the sherry, and the 1 tablespoon cornstarch.

In a small bowl, combine the sugar, vinegar, sesame oil, water, and the remaining 4 tablespoons of soy sauce, 1 tablespoon of sherry, and 2 teaspoons cornstarch.

In a wok or large frying pan, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil over moderately high heat. Add the peanuts and stir-fry until light brown, about 30 seconds. Remove from the pan. Heat the remaining 1 tablespoon oil. Add the white part of the scallions and the red-pepper flakes to the pan and cook, stirring, for 30 seconds. Add the chicken with its marinade and cook, stirring, until almost done, 1 to 2 minutes. Add the soy-sauce mixture and the scallion tops and simmer until the chicken is just done, about 1 minute longer. Stir in the peanuts.