General Tso's Chicken Basics with me

General Tso's can be more than the saccharine, gloopy sauce soaked into flabby, over-breaded chicken to which we've become accustomed. With just a little technique and a little love, the 45-minute wait for this takeout mainstay can be better spent making it yourself.

+ Ingredients & Shopping List
For the chicken and marinade:
2 egg whites
3 Tbsp dark soy sauce
3 Tbsp Chinese cooking wine
3 Tbsp vodka
1/4 tsp baking soda
3 Tbsp cornstarch
1 1/2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs

+ For the breading:
1 cup all purpose flour
1 cup cornstarch
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp reserved marinade

For the sauce:
4 Tbsp dark soy sauce
4 Tbsp Chinese cooking wine
3 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
4 Tbsp chicken stock
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp roasted sesame oil
1 Tbsp cornstarch
6 scallions
4 cloves garlic
2 inch piece of ginger
6-12 arbol chiles (optional)

+ Special equipment:
Large pot deep enough for frying