Thyme for                         Cooking

    The nice thing about stir-fries is you can put almost anything in them, depending on the season.  As it's spring we'll add edible snow pea pods instead of the usually celery.  You could serve it over rice but I like to use whole grain spaghetti.

Sesame Beef Lo Mein                                                     Time: 30 minutes
    Healthy and colorful, with red peppers and green Snow Pea Pods; full of intrusting flavors with peanuts and sesame; and quick and easy to make. Perfect week-night dinner.  If the snow pea pods are small, leave them whole

10 oz beef flank steak (300gr) or any beef suitable for stir-frying
1 onion
2 cloves garlic
1/2 red bell pepper   save the other half for Thursday
1/2 tbs minced ginger substitute 1/4 tsp dried
2 - 3 oz (60 - 90gr) snow peas, sugar snap peas, mangetout (just save a few to add to the carrots on Wed.)
2 oz asparagus - if you have it left
1 medium - large carrot
3oz (90gr) spaghetti or about - see measuring pasta  for spaghetti,  about 1" (2.5cm) circle
2 tbs sesame oil
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tbs olive oil
1/2 cup beef stock
2 tbs peanut butter
1 tbs cornstarch (corn flour, Maizena) dissolved in
   1 tbs soy sauce plus 1 tbs water
2 tbs toasted sesame seeds (either purchased or toast regular sesame seeds)

Cook pasta according to package instructions.  While pasta cooks: Cut the beef at an angle across the grain into bite-size strips.  Mix 1 tbs sesame oil with 1 tsp soy sauce.  Toss with beef and set aside to marinate.  Thinly slice onion.  Mince garlic.  Mince ginger (peel first). Cut the pepper and carrot into matchsticks.  Slice the snow peas diagonally 2 or 3 times. cut asparagus into 1" (2.5cm) lengths - if you have any left.   Heat olive oil in large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat.   Add onion to skillet and stir-fry for 2 minutes.  Add garlic, ginger, (asparagus) pea pods and stir-fry another 2 minutes.  Remove onions/garlic/peas from pan and set aside.  Add 1 tbs sesame oil to pan and heat.  Add beef and stir-fry 3 - 5 minutes, until brown.  Remove and put with onions.  Add carrots and pepper to skillet and stir-fry 5 minutes.  Add beef stock and peanut butter, stir well to combine.  Return beef, onions, pea pods, etc. to pan.  Stir to combine.  Bring to a boil, cover, reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.  Dissolve cornstarch in soy sauce.  Remove cover and add cornstarch mixture and stir until thickened.  Drain pasta and put into large bowl.  Pour beef mixture over top, sprinkle with sesame seeds and serve.   Add more soy sauce if desired, according to taste.

Note: To toast sesame seeds, put them in a dry nonstick skillet over medium heat and toast - shaking and stirring, until lightly browned, about 10 minutes.
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