7.10.11 beef, mushroom, broccoli stir fry...yum!

We were long overdue for some homemade stir fry.  I was hoping for some kitchen inspiration...it's hard to care about cooking when it is 104 outside...I almost don't even care about eating when it is this hot...almost.

So off to Market Street I went...for stir fry ingredients and watermelon...I figure if I cook then Scott will make us a watermelon\mango margarita!

beef & broccoli stir fry (inspired by my Momma's world class stirfry recipes)

1 lb flank steak...sliced very (paper) thin against the grain (I put it in the freezer for a while which helps in the cutting)

2 heads broccoli...I separate the florets and then trim & slice the stems...they are yummy too!

8 oz baby bella mushrooms (Scott's fav), cleaned and cut in half...I remove the stems and cut them in half too

2 cloves garlic

1 tbs corn starch (mixed with a little cold water and whisk till a thin paste)

2-3 tbs canola oil (add to pan as needed to stir fry)

drizzle of sesame oil

1/2 cup each fresh basil & cilantro, roughly chopped

1/2 bell pepper (preferably red, yellow, orange), chopped

sauce: mix the following together (may need to microwave to melt the curry cube)...and cool down with a couple cubes of ice...pour over the sliced beef about 1 hr before cooking to marinate

3/4 C Yoshida's (the BEST teriyaki sauce ever...check at Costco/Sams)...if you find it, buy a case.

(if you can't find Yoshida's make your own...DON'T buy other teriyaki..always too salty...see below for alternative recipe*)

1 cube Golden Curry sauce mix...see photo...you can find at Walmart in Asian food aisle...it is the BEST curry...mild and VERY good all by itself as a sauce...addictively so.

1/4 cup water

directions:

add whole garlic cloves to oil as it heats...careful not to burn...after it steeps in the oil and is a little browned, discard garlic (you can add minced garlic for a heavier garlic flavor...I like it both ways)

stir fry mushrooms over high heat till a bit browned...3 or so minutes...remove to a bowl

stir fry bell pepper a couple minutes, remove to bowl with mushrooms.

drain off marinade from steak...set aside and stir fry steak several minutes till lightly browned...add all ingredients (except the sesame oil) back to pan including fresh broccoli...add sauce, stir and clamp on a lid...lowering heat to medium/med-low...just keep a simmer to steam the broccoli...check after about 5 minutes...stir...add cornstarch slurry...and simmer 5 more minutes or until broccoli is done to your liking...we like it to still have a bite...add all the fresh herbs, stir...taste for seasoning...add the drizzle of sesame oil...just a little bit...its strong...

Serve over fresh white rice: ( I love sushi rice, which has it's own cooking ratio...but this recipe is for regular Mahatma white rice)  Just remember its 1 part rice, 2 parts water and you can make any amount of rice.
1/5 cups white rice

3 cups water

bring to boil in a pot...stir, turn heat to lowest setting possible, cover and cook 20 min...turn off heat and let sit 5 min.

  This meal is so good...Scott even had it for breakfast the next morning.

*alternative marinade/sauce:

2 tsp cornstarch

1/2 tsp sugar

2 tsp soy sauce

4 tsp sherry

...this doesn't make as much sauce...so you can multiply the recipe and add more or less of anything to suit your taste..