Chow Fun Food

CHOW FUN

Steps:

• Slice the meat into thin slices (if you freeze the meat for about 1/2 hour it makes it easier to slice).
• Mix the 4 marinade ingredients together and stir in the meat.
• Let marinate for 15 minutes.
• Mix the sauce ingredients together and set aside.
• Heat a wok or large frying pan and add 2 Tbs.
• of peanut oil.
• Toss the noodles about in the oil until they are very hot and begin to color just a bit on the edges.
• Remove to a serving platter and set aside.
• Heat the wok again and add 3 more Tbs.
• of peanut oil, along with the garlic and ginger.
• Stir fry for a moment and add the rinsed black beans and the wine (or sherry).
• Add and stir fry the onion and green pepper, just until very hot.
• Remove all to the serving platter.
• Heat the wok a 3rd time and add the remaining peanut oil.
• When hot, add the meat.
• Stir fry until it begins to brown, and return the vegetables and noodles to the wok.
• Toss with the meat and then add the sauce.
• Toss until just heated throughout.
• Add the bean sprouts, and toss just a minute or so more, then serve.
• NOTE: If you can't get the black beans, you can substitute a tablespoon of black bean garlic sauce, which is usually easily found in the Chinese food section of the supermarket.

BEEF CHOW FUN

Steps:

• For marinade: Add steak and 1/4 cup water to a large mixing bowl. Sprinkle in the meat tenderizer and mix thoroughly. Sprinkle in the baking soda and mix thoroughly. Sprinkle in sugar, chicken bouillon, white pepper and MSG if using and mix thoroughly. Pour in soy sauce and mix thoroughly, then sprinkle in potato starch and mix thoroughly. Pour in sesame oil and vegetable oil and mix thoroughly. Let sit for 15 to 20 minutes.
• For rice noodles: Heat some water in a large pot and fit it with a steamer rack. Using a grain mill, grind the soaked rice with the soaking water, catching the ground mixture in an extra-large bowl. Add 1/2 cup water in increments if mill stone is not saturated enough with water to get a fine grind. Add oil, salt, tapioca starch, half the potato starch and half the cake flour to the ground rice water. Using a hand blender, blend all ingredients together, being careful not to splatter. Add about 1/2 cup water if the mixture is too thick. Once the mixture is blended and smooth, add the remaining potato starch and cake flour. (If the mixture is too thick, add water slowly in increments of 1/2 cup at a time.) When the mixture sticks to your blender beaters and drips a single trail of liquid back into the bowl, the mixture is ready for cooking.
• Cover a flat surface with plastic wrap and brush the plastic with oil. Put a 9- to 10-inch round cake pan into the steamer rack and cover. (Have the heat on high to ensure the water is on a constant boil.) When the pan is hot, remove the lid and brush the pan with oil. Ladle in a thin layer of the rice mixture to cover the bottom of the pan. Replace cover and steam, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove pan from the pot and flip the noodle sheet out onto the oiled plastic wrap. Fold noodle sheet into halves or thirds and set aside to cool. Continue with remaining rice noodle mixture. Cut noodles 1/2-inch thick.
• For chow fung: Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat; add 1 tablespoon oil. When oil is hot, add rice noodles. Sear each side of noodles to golden brown. Adjust heat as necessary to avoid burning or under-browning the noodles. When noodles are golden brown, turn of heat and remove noodles from skillet. Set aside.
• Mix together oyster sauce, dark soy sauce, sesame oil, salt, sugar, white pepper, MSG, if using and 1 teaspoon cooking wine in a small bowl. Set aside.
• Heat a wok (or large skillet) over high heat; add remaining 2 tablespoons peanut oil. When oil is hot, add steak. Separate steak pieces for even cooking. Add remaining teaspoon cooking wine, spreading it over the steak. Turn steak once to cook both sides to medium, about 1 minute for each side.
• Add Spanish onions, stirring, about 2 minutes.
• Reduce heat to medium-high. Add seared rice noodles and stir to mix all ingredients together. Add the sauce mixture, spreading to cover as much of the noodles and steak as possible. Toss everything so sauce will coat all ingredients.
• Add mung bean sprouts and green onions. Toss to mix all ingredients together. Turn off heat, plate and serve.

CHOWCHOW

Steps:

• Mix together the bell peppers, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, jalapeno and salt in a large bowl. Cover and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight. Drain the liquid from the mixture.
• In a large pot over medium-high heat, toast the mustard seeds and celery seeds until they begin to pop, about 3 minutes. Add the sugar, vinegar and 1 cup water, and heat until the sugar is dissolved. Add the vegetable mixture and the crushed red pepper, mustard powder, turmeric, ginger and cinnamon, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until thick, about 1 hour.
• Allow to cool. Serve over beans and cornbread or as a relish for pulled pork or hot dogs.

SHRIMP CHOW FUN

Steps:

• If using dried rice noodles, pour enough warm water over them in a medium bowl to cover completely. Let soak until softened, about 30 minutes. Drain thoroughly. If using fresh rice noodles, run under warm water and separate strands.
• Marinate the shrimp: Stir the soy sauce, rice wine, garlic, cornstarch, and pepper together in a bowl until the cornstarch is dissolved. Toss the shrimp gently in the marinade until coated. Let stand for 10 minutes.
• Prepare the seasonings: Stir the soy sauce, chili garlic sauce, and sugar together in a bowl until the sugar is dissolved.
• Heat a wok over high heat until hot. Add the oil and swirl to coat the sides. Add the soaked or fresh rice noodles and stir-fry until the noodles are lightly browned along the edges, about 2 minutes. Scoop the noodles onto a plate and set aside.
• Add the shrimp to the wok and stir-fry until no longer pink, about 2 minutes. Add both onions and the ginger and stir-fry until fragrant, about 1 minute.
• Slide the noodles into the wok, scatter the bean sprouts over them, and pour in the seasonings. Toss until the mixture is heated through and is coated evenly with the seasonings, about 3 minutes.
• Stir in the peanuts, scoop the contents of the wok onto a warm serving plate, and serve.

SIMPLE CHOW FUN

Steps:

• Combine pork, 1 tablespoon shoyu, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon sugar, and 1 slice crushed ginger in a bowl. Let marinate for 15 minutes.
• Heat oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add pork with marinade; cook and stir until pork is browned, about 5 minutes. Stir rice roll strips into the skillet; cook until edges start to brown, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir bean sprouts, celery, string beans, green onions, 2 tablespoons shoyu, 1 slice crushed ginger, 1 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon sugar, 1/4 teaspoon monosodium glutamate, and pepper into the skillet. Cook and stir until string beans are tender, about 10 minutes. Garnish with sesame seeds.

CHOW FUN

Steps:

• Fill a large pot with water, 2 tablespoons olive oil, and sea salt; bring to a rolling boil. Stir in fettuccine and cook over medium heat until tender yet firm to the bite, about 8 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Toss with butter and black pepper.
• Heat remaining 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground beef, luncheon meat, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and liquid smoke; cook and stir until beef is browned, 8 to 10 minutes. Transfer beef mixture to a plate lined with paper towels using a slotted spoon.
• Stir bean sprouts, mushrooms, scallions, carrots, and half of the cilantro into the grease in the skillet. Cook and stir until bean sprouts are wilted, 3 to 4 minutes. Return beef mixture to the skillet; stir until reheated, about 2 minutes.
• Mix beef and bean sprout mixture into the fettucine in the bowl. Garnish with remaining cilantro.