Saturday, June 22, 2013
Calzones: Broccoli, Pepperoni and Three Cheese Calzones
Monday, June 17, 2013
Stir-Fry: Sweet and Spicy Stir Fry with Chicken and Broccoli
Sunday, June 16, 2013
Beefy Broccoli Asparagus Salad
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
Quiche Recipes: Broccoli Quiche with Mashed Potato Crust
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Roasts: Broccoli in Roast Chicken Drippings
"Split breast chicken roasted with my favorite seasonings blend, taken out of the oven to rest. In its place, fresh broccoli spears and sliced garlic roasted until tender. Pure laziness, pure genius." — Kristin
Saturday, May 18, 2013
Main Dish Casserole Recipes: Broccoli Casserole II
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Quiche Recipes: Broccoli and Provolone Quiche
Saturday, March 16, 2013
Best Broccoli Soup
Friday, March 8, 2013
Chicken Broccoli Toss
Monday, February 25, 2013
Calzones: Broccoli, Pepperoni and Three Cheese Calzones
Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Stir-Fry: Sweet and Spicy Stir Fry with Chicken and Broccoli
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Don't Take Out! Stay In and Stir-Fry Chinese Beef and Broccoli
The first thing I learned to cook was scrambled eggs, followed by macaroni and cheese. I'm pretty sure the third thing I learned to cook was beef and broccoli stir-fry. My best friend growing up (who, 22 years later, is still my best friend) is Chinese, and her dad would make the most incredible stir-fries using very simple ingredients.
Growing up, we'd beg her father to tell us exactly how he prepared his beef and broccoli. How much soy sauce did he put in? For exactly how long did it need to marinate? And what's the trick to stir-frying so swiftly with chopsticks? He always shrugged at our questions and responded with ambiguous answers, so we resorted to watching him intensely to understand the process. Years later, every time we munch on our attempted beef and broccoli dish, we taste a glimmer of her father's famed flavors, but we've decided it may require a lifetime before we've mastered it.
Even this rendition is a far cry from her father's. When I called my best friend for exact details to the recipe, I realized she has inherited her father's fashion. She vaguely replied, "Oh, you could add a little of this and a pinch of that. These ingredients are optional, of course. It's whatever you feel like."
What I felt like creating is the most basic marinade, but three simple ingredients magically transform into a rich, flavorful sauce for the beef. The standout ingredient has to be oyster sauce. Despite its somewhat repulsive name, it gives dishes a salty, earthy, almost mushroom-like flavor. I adore it. Also worth mentioning is peanut oil. Although a bit more expensive than canola oil, it is so worth the splurge. Unlike neutral oils, peanut oil imparts a subtle, nutty flavor to the stir-fry. If you're allergic to peanut oil, use a neutral vegetable oil to stir-fry and splash a few dashes of roasted sesame oil into the finished dish to achieve a similar effect. Click here to see the beef and broccoli recipe.