What I ate: Stir-Fry

Stir fry. Ohhhhhh stir fry. You basically leave me speechless.

I have such conflicting feelings towards you that I get tongue tied and confused.

On the one hand, you can be delicious, easy, healthy and fun.

On the other, my parents made you three times a week, while I was growing up, 

and I can barely stand to look at you.

All I think is "not again!" 

...even though I was the one that put you on the menu 

and that, prior to tonight, it's been at 2 years since we last met.

And yet, I can't help but cringe when I think about you, even though dinner was delicious.

Sorry guys. Stir fry and I have a very complicated relationship; I just needed to get a few things off my chest in order to move on. Stir fry is like an old reliable flame that was very prevalent in your life, for a long time, but began to suffocate you, so you broke it off. Then you guys met up at Christmas break, for old times sake, but it was a big mistake and you knew it. And yet, you just can't seem to stop giving stir fry chances because, at times, things are so perfect. Even though reality you know that things could never work out because although stir fry is great, it's only really great in small doses - otherwise it becomes dull. 

STIR FRY INGREDIENTS:	MARINADE INGREDIENTS:
1cup chopped bok choy 1cup bean sprouts 1cup chopped green pepper 1.5cups chopped mushrooms 1.5cups chopped red pepper 1.5cups broccoli 3/4cup red onion 1tablespoon ginger 2tablespoons garlic 1tablespoon chili 1 small okra, sliced 1 Tablespoon grape seed oil 1 Tablespoon sesame oil 1 teaspoon fish sauce 1 Tablespoon sweet chilli paste 2 Tablespoons water	1/2 Tablespoon garlic 1/2 Tablespoon ginger 1 Tablespoon brown sugar 3 Tablespoons soy sauce 1 Tablespoon dark soy sauce 2 Tablespoons grape seed oil 2 teaspoons fish sauce

-  Mix together marinade ingredients. Toss steak (or tofu) in marinade, ensuring everything is coated, and then refrigerate until needed.

-  Heat wok. Add sesame and grape seed oil, tossing in ginger and garlic after a minute.

-  Add mushrooms and onions, allow to cook for 2 - 4 minutes.

-  Mix chilli paste with two tablespoons of water and add to wok, following with the broccoli.

-  Fry ingredients, allowing to soften further.

-  Add steak and marinade. Cook on both sides. Mix with vegetables.

-  Add peppers and cover. Let cook for 5 - 7 minutes, or until beef is cooked to your liking.

-  Add bok choy and bean sprouts, toss and fry for another 2 minutes.

-  Serve over rice or noodles -if you're some kind of thrill seeker.

Notes:
This could easily be made vegetarian.
Swap out beef, swap in tofu.
Presto Change-o; Vegetarian!

Once you throw in the bean sprouts and bok choy don't let it cook 
much longer. Everything speeds up double time at that point causing the veggies
to lose their colour and crunch.

Sprinkle peanuts over top of the stir fry to add something extra special.