Ham Fried Rice

My mom made this when I was growing up and it was one of my fave's. 

Ingredients:
3 C. Minute Rice
1 C. cubed ham
2 C.  frozen peas and carrots, defrosted
1/2 medium onion chopped
2 Tbsp. vegetable oil
2 Tbsp. soy sauce

Prepare rice as per package instructions.
Heat oil in pan over medium high heat.  Add ham and onion sautee until onion is transparent.  Add pea/carrot mix.  Sautee 2 minutes.  Add prepared rice.  Add soy sauce.  Sautee until all moisture is out of the rice.  Add more soy sauce to taste.

Sweet and Sour Chicken

We had this over fried rice tonight and it was so good!  Fried Rice recipe to follow.  You will want to make the sauce first.

Ingredients:
2 C.            Minute Rice (omit this if you want to serve over the fried rice)
20 oz.         pineapple chunks
2 Tbsp.       vegetable oil
1 medium    green pepper, cut into chunks
1 medium    onion, cut into chunks
1/2 C.         mushrooms, sliced
1 lb.            chicken breasts cut into 1 inch pieces
1 C.            sweet and sour sauce (see below)
2 Tbsp.       soy sauce

Prepare rice according to package instructions
Drain pineapple reserving 2 Tbsp. juice
Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat.  Add peppers, onions and mushrooms; cook until vegetable are tender but still crisp.  Remove from skillet.
Cook chicken in same skillet until chicken is browned and cooked through.  Add vegetables back to skillet with sweet and sour sauce, soy sauce, pineapple chunks and reserved juice.  Heat through.  Serve hot and over rice.

Sweet and Sour Sauce:

Ingredients:
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup white vinegar
2/3 cup water
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon ketchup
2 tablespoons cornstarch


Place the sugar, vinegar, water, soy sauce, ketchup and cornstarch in a medium saucepan, and bring to a boil. Stir continuously until the mixture has thickened.

Lo Mein

Ingredients:
2 qt. water
1 pkg (16 oz.) thin spaghetti noodles
1 Tbsp. beef bullion granules
1/2 c. celery sliced thinly
1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Soy Sauce to taste

Bring water to boil; add spaghetti noodles and bullion granules.  Cook Spaghetti to desired tenderness.  Drain and reserve 2 Tbsp. cooking water.  Return to pan with cooking water and celery.  Once all water gone, saute with olive oil and soy sauce.  Serve hot.

Any veggies can be added to this, just allow more liquid based on the veggies you add.

Mongolian Beef

I made this with Lo-Mein and it was super yummy.   The Lo-Mein recipe will follow.

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp. Spade L Ranch steak seasoning
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 tablespoon cornstarch
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound beef round steak, cut into thin strips
3/4 cup water
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon white sugar
3/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, divided
2 carrots, thinly sliced
1 bunch green onions, cut into 2 inch pieces

Directions:

Rub Spade L into beef and let sit overnight.

In a medium bowl, mix together 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, and minced garlic. Stir in beef strips. Let stand for at least 10 minutes.

In a separate small bowl, mix together water, 2 tablespoons soy sauce, 2 1/2 teaspoons cornstarch, sugar, sesame seeds, and red pepper flakes; set aside.

Heat 1 tablespoon of oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Cook and stir beef in hot oil for 1 minute; remove, and set aside. Heat remaining tablespoon of oil in the same pan. Saute carrots and white part of green onions for 2 minutes. Stir in green parts of the green onion, and saute for 1 minute. Stir in sesame seed mixture and beef. Cook and stir until sauce boils and thickens.