Cut chicken into 3/4-inch pieces. Coarsely chop the pea pods. For sauce, in a small bowl stir together the soy sauce, rice vinegar or white vinegar, chili oil, and crushed red pepper. Set aside.

In a large saucepan cook noodles in boiling lightly salted water for 4 to 6 minutes or until tender. Drain. Set aside.

Pour cooking oil into a wok or large skillet. (Add more oil as necessary during cooking.) Stir-fry the garlic in hot oil for 15 seconds. Add the pea pods, red or green pepper, and green onions; stir-fry for 1 to 2 minutes or until crisp-tender. Remove the vegetables from the wok.

Add half of the chicken to the hot wok. Stir-fry for 2 to 3 minutes or until no pink remains. Remove the chicken from the wok. Repeat with remaining chicken. Return all chicken to the wok. Add the sauce to the wok. Add the cooked vegetables and noodles. Stir ingredients together to coat with sauce. Cook and stir about 1 minute more or until heated through. Sprinkle with peanuts. Serve immediately. Makes 5 servings.

In a small sauepan heat 1/3 cup cooking oil and 2 tablespoons sesame oil to 365 degree F. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons ground red pepper. Cool. Strain. Cover and store in the refrigerator. Makes about 1/2 cup. Note: For milder flavor, increase cooking oil to 1/2 cup.