Stir-Fried Beef and Vegetables

 

2

tablespoons soy sauce

2

tablespoons dry sherry or water

1

teaspoon sugar

1/2

pound beef top round steak

1

ounce cellophane noodles (bean threads), broken into bite-size pieces

1

tablespoon vegetable oil

2

teaspoons finely chopped gingerroot or 1 teaspoon ground ginger

2

garlic cloves, finely chopped

1

tablespoon vegetable oil

1

cup fresh snow (Chinese) pea pods or 1 package (6 ounces) frozen snow (Chinese) pea pods, thawed and drained

1

cup julienne strips jicama or 1 medium onion, cut into thin wedges

1

small red or green bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces

• 1 Mix soy sauce, sherry and sugar; set aside. Trim fat from beef. Cut beef with grain into 2-inch strips; cut strips across grain into 1/8-inch slices. (For easier cutting, partially freeze beef, about 1 hour.) Soak noodles in enough warm water to cover 15 minutes; drain.
• 2 Heat wok or 10-inch skillet over high heat until 1 or 2 drops of water bubble and skitter when sprinkled in wok. Add 1 tablespoon oil; rotate wok to coat side. Add beef, gingerroot and garlic; stir-fry about 3 minutes or until beef is no longer pink. Remove beef mixture from wok.
• 3 Add 1 tablespoon oil to wok; rotate wok to coat side. Add pea pods, jicama and bell pepper; stir-fry about 5 minutes or until vegetables are crisp-tender. Stir in beef mixture and noodles; heat to boiling. Stir in soy sauce mixture; cook and stir about 1 minute or until heated through.