Steak and Broccoli Stir-fry

Another awesome recipe from Cook's Country!

I cooked this for my friend Shannon's visit last night. I wanted something I could do most of the prep for in the morning, and then just throw in the skillet when we returned from our zoo adventure. I liked it, but wasn't sure if she would be down for stir-fry. Guess what? She had seconds!

You can do all your veggie chopping in the morning, as well as cook your rice. Then, when you get home, it is just a matter of whisking up the sauce and cooking everything together. This dish is great for people who like the steaks and sauce of traditional stir-fry, but maybe not all the funkier vegetables. The first few ingredients are easy to find in the "ethnic" section of most major grocery stores.

Did you know....if you don't have a big enough non-stick skillet for stir-frying, you can use a bigger regular pot, just increase the oil by 1-2 more tablespoons to keep everything from sticking. Remember, get that oil really hot, it will make everything cook quickly and get a nice brown on the steak. Also, keeping the veggies cut into similar size pieces helps everything cook evenly.

Photo courtesy of everyday health, since I don't photograph food very well.

(also, my kitchen gets MESSY :)

Cook's Country Steak and Broccoli Stir-fry (serves 4)

Recipe courtesy of September 2010 issue

1/4 cup hoisin sauce

1/4 cup water

2 tablespoons soy sauce

1 tablespoon Asian chili-garlic sauce

2 tablespoons vegetable oil

1 flank steak (about 1 1/2 pounds), sliced thin*

1 pound broccoli, florets cut into 1-inch pieces, stems peeled and cut into 1/4 inch rounds

2 carrots ( I used 3), peeled and cute into 1/4 inch rounds

1 green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 in chunks ( I added this, yay me)

1 tablespoon grated fresh ginger (this is really important, use FRESH not dried)

1 tablespoon sesame seeds**

1. Cook your rice and toast your sesame seeds

2. Combine hoisin, water, soy and chili-garlic sauce in bowl; set aside. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking. Cook half of steak until browned, 1-2 minutes per side. Transfer to plate and repeat with additional 2 teaspoons oil and remaining steak.

3. Add remaining oil, broccoli STEMS and carrots to now-empty skillet and cook, COVERED until nearly tender, about 5 minutes. Stir in ginger and cook for 30 seconds. Add hoisin mixture, broccoli FLORETS and any accumulated beef juices and simmer until sauce is thickened and vegetables are tender, 3-5 minutes. Stir in beef and sprinkle with sesame seeds. Serve over rice.

* Slice the beef with the grain into three long strips, then cut each strip across the grain into 1/4 inch thick slices. For easiest slicing, freeze the steaks for 15 minutes beforehand.

** Toast the sesame seeds in a dry skillet for a few minutes over medium heat, shaking the pan frequently to prevent burning.

Quick Chicken Pad Thai

The Dish from Trish can't be just make-up! I will keep including fun recipes as I experiment in the kitchen.

Lately, I have been loving the 30-Minute Supper recipes from Cook's Country. I would highly suggest getting a subscription if you love food but don't have a lot of time in the evenings. Given the choice, I would gladly spend an hour in the kitchen each night, because I love to cook, but that is just not realistic for me. Since I started using these recipes, I am still able to cook from a variety of cuisines and feel like I am eating healthfully and frugally!

This recipe is super easy since it uses an already cooked rotisserie chicken. If you keep some basics on hand, you just have to pop to the shop for chicken and cilantro, and maybe bean sprouts. Because asian food items are so readily available now, you shouldn't have any trouble finding ingredients.

You can enjoy a 14-day trial subscription by clicking here:

http://www.cookscountry.com/pwlogin.asp?did=4170&area=recipe&iseason=

Last night we had Quick Chicken Pad Thai.

For my kitchen novices--did you know you should read through a recipe a couple of times before you start cooking? I have found with these quick-cooking asian-inspired dishes, having all the ingredients measured and ready to go means I don't panic when I have a skillet full of hot oil! We are not all those show-off chefs at Big Bowl, ok?

Cook's Country Quick Chicken Pad Thai (serves 4)

Recipe available courtesy of May 2007 issue

8 ounces dried rice stick noodles, about 1/8 inch wide*

3/4 cup warm water

1/4 cup fish sauce**

1/4 cup juice from 2 limes

1/4 cup packed dark brown sugar

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 rotisserie chicken, skin discarded, meat shredded into bite-sized pieces (about 3 cups)

4 garlic cloves, minced ( I used 6 cloves, Ialways add more garlic than is called for)

1/4 cup bean sprouts ( I omitted these, mine smelled funny!)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

1/4 cup chopped scallions

1/4 cup chopped peanuts

lime wedges and additional cilantro, for garnish

1. Cover rice sticks with hot tap water (I just boiled water in my tea-kettle while I started shredding the chicken, I live with an Irishman so we use the tea kettle alot!) and soak until softened but not fully tender, about 20 minutes. Drain noodles. While noodles are soaking, whisk 3/4 cup warm water, fish sauce, lime juice and sugar in bowl until sugar is dissolved.

2. Heat oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat until just smoking***. Add chicken and garlic and cook until lightly browned and fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add noodles and fish sauce mixture and cook until noodles are coated with sauce, about 3 minutes ( I tossed the noodles with rubber-ended tongs). Scatter bean sprouts and cilantro over noodles and continue to cook, tossing constantly, until noodles are fully tender. Serve, topping with chopped scallions and peanuts if desired. I also garnished with additional cilantro and lime wedges.

*I used Golden Pak Rice Vermicelli

**I used Kikkoman Oyster Sauce

(You can also substitute 4 minced anchovy fillets in 1/4 cup soy sauce)

***This is CRUCIAL! Get that skillet hot so you can really brown the chicken!

Clean up is quick! Chopping board, some bowls, skillet....not too bad! And we ate all of it-no leftovers. This will definitely go into regular rotation!

Let me know what you think!