Hunan Beef

• 2 cups broccoli florets
• 2 tablespoons cooking oil
• 2 teaspoons minced garlic
• 4 small dried red chilies
• 1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 teaspoons water

Marinade:

• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons cornstarch
• 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
• 3/4 pound flank steak, thinly sliced across the grain

Sauce:

• 3 tablespoons Chinese black vinegar or balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon Chinese rice wine or dry sherry
• 2 teaspoons sugar
• 2 teaspoons chili garlic sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil

1. Combine marinade ingredients in a bowl. Add beef and stir to coat. Let stand for 10 minutes.
2. Combine sauce ingredients in a bowl.
3. Place broccoli in a large pot with 1 inch of boiling water. Boil until tender-crisp, 2 to 3 minutes; drain.
4. Place a wok over high heat until hot. Add oil, swirling to coat sides. Add garlic and chilies and cook, stirring, until fragrant, about 10 seconds. Add beef and stir-fry until no longer pink, 1 1/2 to 2 minutes.
5. Add broccoli and sauce to wok; bring to a boil. Add cornstarch solution and cook, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens.

General Tsao's Chicken

Sauce:

• 1/2 cup cornstarch
• 1/4 cup water
• 1+1/2 tsp minced garlic
• 1+1/2 tsp minced ginger root
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 cup white vinegar
• 1/4 cup cooking wine
• 1+1/2 cup hot chicken broth
• 1 tsp monosodium glutamate (optional)

Meat:

• 3 lbs deboned dark chicken meat, cut into large chunks
• 1/4 cup soy sauce
• 1 tsp white pepper
• 1 egg
• 1 cup cornstarch
• Vegetable oil for deep-frying
• 2 cups sliced green onions
• 16 small dried hot peppers

Mix 1/2 cup cornstarch with water. Add garlic, ginger, sugar, 1/2 cup soy sauce, vinegar, wine, chicken broth and MSG (if desired). Stir until sugar dissolves. Refrigerate until needed. In separate bowl, mix chicken, 1/4 cup soy sauce and white pepper. Stir in egg. Add 1 cup cornstarch and mix until chicken pieces are coated evenly. Add cup of vegetable oil to help separate chicken pieces. Divide chicken into small quantities and deep-fry at 350 degrees until crispy. Drain on paper towels. Place a small amount of oil in wok and heat until wok is hot. Add onions and peppers and stir-fry briefly. Stir sauce and add to wok. Place chicken in sauce and cook until sauce thickens.

Moo Goo Gai Pan

• 4 chicken breast halves, skinned, boned and sliced salt and pepper
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 2 cups water
• 1 tb cornstarch
• 5 tb corn oil
• 8 oz. fresh mushrooms, sliced
• 4 lb. bok choy or Chinese white cabbage, chopped
• 2 tb sugar
• 4 tb soy sauce
• 6 scallions, chopped

1. In a bowl, toss chicken with the salt and pepper, garlic and cornstarch mixture. Set aside.
2. Heat 3 tablespoons of corn oil in a wok and stir in mushrooms, bok choy/cabbage and sugar for 2 minutes. Cover and cook for 5 minutes. Remove from wok.
3. Heat remaining corn oil in wok. Stir-fry chicken for 2 minutes over high heat. Add soy sauce and mix well. Cover and cook for about 6 minutes, or until the chicken is thoroughly cooked.
4. Mix in the cooked vegetables and scallions. Stir fry together for about 1 minute. Serve hot with rice.