SteffieFlo's
Cornucopia

The Idiot's Guide
To Preparing Killer Chinese Food

If you're a seasoned cook these recipes may not be for you.
You might want to try them, but they are full of shortcuts,
non-traditional foods and adjusted to the Western palate
unaccustomed to "real" Chinese food.
I love to cook, but I do not like to spend 3 or 4 hours
preparing a meal, which is common here in Taiwan.
My husband and our friends like what I've done and they
say it's "very close" to the real thing.

Fried Rice
This is a standard Chinese dish.  It's easy and fast.
For best results, do NOT use converted rice.

1.  Rinse and drain the rice well under cold running water.  I do this in small batches of about 1/2 cup each, 
using a close-mesh sive.
2.  Put twice the amount of lightly salted water in a heavy pan and bring the water to a boil over high heat, then add the rice, stirring for about 1 minute to prevent
it from sticking together.  For one cup of rice, add 2 cups of water.  Reduce the heat to low, cover and simmer until the rice has absorbed the water (about 10 to 15 minutes) Remove from heat.
3.  In a large skillet (or wok), over medium heat, melt about 1 tblsp of butter, margarine or bacon fat and dump in the cooked rice,  Stir constantly, coating all the rice.  Pour in about 1/2 tblsn soy sauce and 1 tspn Worchestershire sauce, and continue stiring quickly, being sure to coat all the rice.  Add a splash more soy sauce if you like the taste, but remember, it's very salty!
4.  At this point you could also add a pinch or two of cyan pepper (chili powder), if you want it spicy.  Add about 1/2  to 1 cup mixed vegetables, pre-cooked.  You could also add about 1 cup of frozen shrimp (thawed, drained and pat dry with a paper towel), diced ham, chicken, beef or lamb (if you use meat, it must be pre-cooked).

   When everything is hot, it's ready.


5.  For variety try this:  Beat one egg, turn the heat up to high and pour the beaten egg over the rice mixture and stir quickly, completely cooking the egg.  This should take about 30 to 40 seconds.  NOTE: if the heat is not on high, everything will become mushy; so it must be cooked quickly.
Try adding diced onion, minced garlic or celantro (Chinese parsley) to add a little zest.

Fried Vegetables
If you're tired of the same old vegetables, you'll like this.


Steam your vegetables using your
handy vegetable steamer rack and
drain them well, do not rinse.  Return the pan to low heat and melt about 1 tblsn butter or margarine in the vegetables and add about 1/2 to 1 tspn soy sauce. On high heat pour
in one beaten egg and cook quickly.
When the egg is completely cooked, remove from heat and stir in about 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs.  You can omit the bread crumbs if you like.

This is the universal
vegetable steamer.
Cooks vegetables just
right while keeping in
the vitamines.

More quick and easy Chinese recipes coming.

Four Lilies Sirloin Soup Grape Leaves with Lamb and Rice Filling Pork and Rice Stick Dim Sum
(Hors d'oeuvres)		 Beef and Eggplant Loaf
Turkey Pate
(Hors d'oeuvres)		 Fried Won Tons
(Hors d'oeuvres)		 Pearl Balls
(Hors d'oeuvres)		 Pork and Shrimp Egg Rolls

Coming Soon:

The Idiot's  Guide to Preparing "Killer Chinese Food" HERE The Idiot's Guide to Preparing "Knock-out Vegie Plates"
The Idiot's Guide to Preparing "To-Die-For" Hors d'oeuvres The Idiot's Guide to Preparing "Suptuous Last-Minute Deserts"
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