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Menu Plan for Winter I: Week 2, Friday

Egg Drop Soup
Red Sauced Shrimp
Fried Rice
Stir-Fried Broccoli

Cooking time:  40 minutes for menu          Cooking schedule: see below for instructions

    Stir-fries are best done at the last minute. The key is to be organized.... Once the prep work is done it goes together quickly.  In this menu, do all the prep, have the soup, then finish with the stir-frying - it should be about 10 minutes longer.  Have your skillets hot - but not so hot that you can't control the food.

Egg Drop Soup

Total time: 10 minutes 
    This would be best with homemade chicken stock but I'll be using 'store-bought'.  The trick is to have the egg whisked lightly and only stir once after it's in the hot soup.

 Ingredients:

• 3 cups (24oz, 720ml) chicken stock
• 1 egg
• 1 tbs cornstarch (maizena) dissolved in 2 tbs chicken stock
• 2 green onions (scallions)

 Instructions:

• Clean the green onions: slice off the root, remove 1 layer of skin.  Slice thinly, including 2 inches (5cm) of green top.  Set aside.
• Heat 3 cups chicken stock to boiling.
• Crack egg into a medium bowl and whisk lightly.
• Dissolve cornstarch into 2 tbs of chicken stock.  Add to boiling stock, stirring until thickened and clear.
• Slowly pour in egg.  Stir once gently.
• Immediately remove from heat. Ladle into 2 bowls.
• Sprinkle with sliced green onion and serve immediately.

Red Sauced Shrimp

Total time: 10 minutes 
     This is one of those dishes that can be as hot or not as you like. The ginger, garlic and red pepper flakes add the heat but you could also add other hot sauce to taste.

 Ingredients:

• 12oz (360gr) cleaned shrimp
• 1 tbs minced ginger, about 4 slices the size and thickness of an American quarter or 1 euro coin
• 3 cloves garlic
• 4 - 6 green onions (scallions)
• 2 tbs sherry
• 2 tbs soy sauce
• 2 tbs ketchup
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 tbs sesame or walnut oil
• 1 tbs cornstarch (maizena) dissolved in 2 tbs chicken stock
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (optional, I leave them out as it makes it too hot for me)

 Instructions:

• Peel, slice and mince ginger.
• Mince garlic.
• Clean the green onions: slice off the root, remove 1 layer of skin.  Slice into 1/2" (1.25cm) long pieces.  OR chop onion. 
• Dissolve cornstarch in chicken stock.
• Have everything else measured and ready.
• Heat oils in large nonstick skillet or wok over medium-high heat.  When very hot add ginger, garlic and onion (and red pepper flakes if using).  Stir-fry for 1 minute.
• Add shrimp and stir-fry for 1 - 2 minutes longer, until shrimp turn opaque and start to curl.
• Add sherry, ketchup and soy sauce.  Stir to combine.
• Stir cornstarch mixture to recombine, then add it to the shrimp, stirring constantly.
• Sauce will quickly thicken and coat shrimp.  Remove and serve immediately.

Fried Rice

Total time: 30 minutes 
   Traditional Fried Rice is made with cold, leftover white sticky rice.  This is equally good made with freshly cooked Basmati.  The scrambled egg and peas stay with the tradition, however.  Use plain, frozen peas.

 Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup Basmati rice
• 1 cup (8oz, 240ml) chicken stock
• 4 - 6 green onions (scallions) or 1/2 regular onion, chopped
• 1/2 cup peas
• 1 egg
• 2 tsp sesame oil
• 2 tsp olive oil
• 1 tbs soy sauce
• 1 tbs sherry

 Instructions:

• Cook rice in stock until done.
• Remove from heat and uncover to cool slightly.
• Clean the green onions: slice off the root, remove 1 layer of skin.  Slice into 1/3" (1cm) long pieces. OR chop onion.
• Put egg into a small bowl and lightly beat with a fork.
• Heat half of the oils in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add egg and scramble.  Remove to a plate.
• Heat remaining oils and onion, stir-fry 1 minute. 
• Add rice, soy sauce and sherry.  Stir well to combine.  Stir-fry for 3 minutes.
• Add peas and stir-fry 2 minutes longer.
• Break scrambled egg into chunks, stir into rice and serve.

Stir-Fried Broccoli

Total time: 15 minutes 
     Broccoli is often included in with beef or chicken in stir-fries, but it's excellent stir-fried on it's own as a side dish, as well.  Plus it's bright green color looks lovely on the plate.

 Ingredients:

• 1/2 head of broccoli
• 1 clove garlic
• 1 tbs olive oil
• 1 tsp sesame oil or walnut oil
• 2 tbs chicken stock
• 2 tsp soy sauce
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp sesame seeds

 Instructions:

• Cut broccoli into bite size florets and stems.
• Mince garlic.
• Heat oils in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.  Add broccoli and garlic and stir-fry about 5 minutes.
• Add soy sauce, chicken stock and ginger, reduce heat to low, cover and simmer 5 minutes.
• Uncover and cook off any liquid.  Broccoli should be crisp-tender.
• Sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.

Cooking Schedule: 30 minutes Assemble all food, utensils and serving dishes Utensils: measuring cups, spoons, knives, 2 large skillets or a wok used 2X, medium skillet with lid, small saucepan with lid, medium saucepan, 2 plates for organizing vegetables, small bowl (used 2 X), whisk or fork, small bowls for organizing ingredients, strainer Cook rice Clean shrimp if needed Put peas in strainer, rinse lightly to separate/thaw Trim, slice all green onions Organize all ingredients, pre-measuring if possible Heat the chicken stock Peel, mince the ginger, all garlic Whisk egg for the soup Cut broccoli into florets Check rice, if done uncover, remove from heat, fluff Prepare both cornstarch mixtures Add cornstarch to stock, thicken Add egg, stir Ladle soup into bowls, add green onions, serve

Done? Heat oils for broccoli Heat oils for rice Add broccoli, garlic, stir-fry Add egg to rice skillet, scramble, remove Heat remaining oils for rice Add onion to oil for rice, stir-fry Heat oils for shrimp Add soy sauce, stock, ginger to broccoli Reduce heat, cover, simmer Add ginger, garlic, red pepper , onion to oil for shrimp Stir-fry Add rice, soy, sherry, to onion, stir-fry Add shrimp to skillet, stir-fry Add peas to rice, stir-fry Add ketchup, soy, sherry to shrimp, stir-fry Add cornstarch to shrimp, stir Uncover broccoli, cook off Remove shrimp from heat Break up egg, add to rice, stir Sprinkle sesame seeds on broccoli Serve all

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