Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry

When I lived in Pocatello, I had some awesome neighbors. One in particular lived right next door just 10 steps away. We both had a love of cooking and baking that had us finding, and testing recipes together. This is a favorite that she's been asking me to blog since last January.. So without further ramblings.... Morgan, this ones for you... love and miss you my friend!


Easy Beef and Broccoli Stir-fry

3 TBS cornstarch (divided)
1/2 cup water, plus 2 TBS water (divided)
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1 lb boneless round steak or chuck steak cut into thin 3 inch strips
2 TBS vegetable oil
4 cups broccoli florets
1 small onion, cut into wedges
1/3 cup soy sauce
2 TBS brown sugar
1 tsp ground ginger
Hot cooked Rice

1. In large bowl, combine 2 TBS cornstarch, 2 TBS water and garlic powder until smooth.
2. Add beef and toss.
3. In a large skillet or wok over medium heat, stir-fry beef in 1 TBS oil until beef is cooked; remove and keep warm.
4. Stir-fry broccoli and onion in remaining oil for 4-5 minutes.
5. Return beef to pan.
6. Combine soy sauce, brown sugar, ginger ad remaining cornstarch and water until smooth; add to pan.
7. Cook and stir for 2 minutes.
8. Serve over rice.


serves 4

photo from Campbells Kitchendaily.com

Chow Mein

I LOVE Chinese food. I hardly ever get it and don't get to make it often at home. This is one of those dishes I get more than others because the kids really love the noodles, not to mention it is really quite simple to make. I always add a few pea pods and take a few liberties with the veggies. I've made this with chicken, pork, beef and even shrimp. If you want a GREAT Chinese Food recipe.. this is it.

Chow Mein

1 1/2 cups bean sprouts
2 boneless chicken breasts sliced thin
2 TBS oyster sauce
2 tsp soy sauce
Salt and Pepper to taste
1 TBS cornstarch
1/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 pound dry wonton noodles
2 medium celery cut in medium chunks
1/2 medium size white onion cut in medium slices
2 cups cabbage cut in medium slices
1 green onion
2 clove garlic chopped
4 TBS sesame or olive oil

1. Cut chicken into thin strips and set aside.
2. Soften the noodles by placing them in boiling salted water. Plunge into cold water to stop the cooking process and drain thoroughly.
3. Heat a wok or frying pan over medium to high heat. Add 2 TBS of oil. WHn the oil is hot, add noodles, Fry in batches until golden. Remove noodles from the pan.
4. Heat 2 TBS oil in a wok. Add garlic and meat. Let the meat brown briefly, then stir-fry until the redness is gone and the meat is nearly cooked through.
5. Add the rest of the vegetables (except the green onions) and mix well for 3-4 minutes.
6. In a small bowl combine oyster sauce, soy sauce, chicken broth, cornstarch, and salt and pepper. Make a "well" in the middle of the wok for the sauce. Quickly stir and mix everything together. Stir in noodles and green onions.
7. Serve and enjoy!

Taco Soup

What recipe blog would be complete without Taco Soup? Here is the Go-To soup for super quick, super easy and super delicious. Another great thing about this recipe is that it is easy to modify. Sometimes we make it with chicken, sometimes we throw in olives or green peppers or even a can of green chili's, and we almost always add an extra can of beans.

Taco Soup

1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion (chopped)
1 16 oz can whole kernel corn
1 16 oz can kidney beans
1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
1 8 oz can tomato sauce
1 pkg taco seasoning

Brown ground beef and onion until brown. Drain. Add remaining ingredients and simmer for about 20-30 minutes. Serve topped with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream and corn chips.

Tater Tot Casserole

You know how you have those dishes that you make all the time and you don't even think about the recipe because there really isn't one. Tater tot casserole is one of those. I have been making this dish about as long as I remember. Recently I had a neighbor ask, "Can I get your recipe for that tater tot thing? My daughter Loves it!" (Of course. It has tater tots, what kid wouldn't?) I had to think a minute and then wrote down the 5 ingredients. So, for an easy dish that requires mostly no memory, has very few ingredients and is a snap to make, This is the dish for you.. and your tater tot loving children.

Tater Tot Casserole

Brown 1 lb hamburger. Add 2 cans cream of mushroom soup. Fill soup can halfway with milk and add to mixture. Stir until mixed through. Open 2 cans cut green beans. drain. Pour into a 9x13 baking dish. Top with hamburger mixture. Top this with 1 bag tater tots. (16 oz). Bake at 350 degrees for about 30-35 minutes or until tater tots are brown and cooked through.

* Just a note: You can easily cut this recipe in half or better yet, make the entire thing and freeze half. Also, some people add onions to the hamburger or cheese to the top before baking.

Spanish Rice

In celebration of Cinco De Mayo I am listing my favorite recipe for Spanish Rice. It's not exactly authentic spanish cooking but our family loves it.

Spanish Rice

1/2 pound bacon (cut into 1/2 inch pieces)

1/2 pound hamburger

1 medium onion (shopped

2 cups water

1 cup uncooked white rice

2/3 cup green pepper (chopped)

1 can (16 ounces) diced tomatoes

1 tsp chili powder

1/2 tsp dried oregano

1 1/4 tsp salt

1/8 tsp pepper

Fry bacon until crisp; drain on paper towels. Cook and stir hamburger and onion in large skillet until hamburger is light brown; drain. Stir in bacon and remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, until rice is tender, about 30 minutes. (Add small amount of water during cooking if necessary.)

Yield: 6 servings