Happy (Belated) Chinese New Year!

The Chinese are officially into the Year of the Ox and my family is officially into Chinese food, however, I am NOT into the price of take-out.

When I was a teenager we ate at a nice Chinese restaurant almost every Sunday after church, in fact, we sat in the parking lot until they opened up the place. But our favorite Chinese restaurant, #1 Chinese, had the best food but zero atmosphere--just a counter for ordering and a room full of plastic picnic tables. I've taken my cues from #1 and don't worry about fancy Asian dinnerware or chopsticks, just stick with good food.

Here are a couple of our favorite recipes:

Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry
Makes 4 servings

2 Tbsp. soy sauce
1 Tbsp. rice vinegar
1 Tbsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. sesame oil
2-1/2 tsp. cornstarch
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp. fresh ginger, minced
3/4 lb. flank steak
1 medium head broccoli
2 Tbs. vegetable oil
1/2 cup chicken stock
2 Tbs. oyster sauce
2 cups cooked white rice

Make marinade by combining soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, and sesame oil in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add cornstarch and blend in with the back of a spoon. Stir in garlic and ginger.

Trim steak. Cut in 1/4-inch thick strips about 2-inches long. Stir meat into marinade. Cover bowl and set aside at room temperature for 30 minutes.

While meat marinates, cut up broccoli. Set aside.

Heat wok until hot. Add oil and coat pan. Add meat and stir fry 2-3 minutes. Remove meat to a plate.

Immediately add broccoli and chicken stock to pan. Cover and cook on high for 4 minutes or until bright green and crisp-tender, stirring once. Uncover pan and stir in meat, marinade, and oyster sauce. Cook uncovered for another minute or two until broccoli is just tender. Serve over rice.

Fried Rice
Makes 4 entree sized portions or side dishes for 6

Cook 1 cup of white rice ahead of time and completely cool it or you will have rice mush.

Heat 4 Tbsp. vegetable oil in a large skillet.

Add:

1/2 lb. thin pork chops cut in strips
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 large onion, coarsely chopped
1 tsp. salt
1/2 to 1 tsp. salt, depending on how spicy you want it
1 tsp. sugar
1 Tbsp. soy sauce

Stir fry until meat is tender and hot, about 1-2 minutes. Add rice and stir fry another 5 minutes.

Add:

1 cup frozen veggies of your choice. We like peas, carrots, and corn.
Small cooked shrimp, if you want it.

Stir well into rice mixture and heat.

Just before serving, push rice into a pile on one side of the pan and add:

2 beaten eggs

Scramble egg until cooked through and then stir into rice mixture. Serve piping hot with extra soy sauce.


I usually pick up a box of egg rolls at Aldi (don't forget to have really good Chinese hot mustard on hand) and a packet of hot and sour soup mix at my local market to round out our feast.