He
who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to
perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really
cooperating with it.
- Martin Luther
King
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Simple Broccoli Beef
I like to cook Asian food and there are many ways to fix this family favorite. On a lazy evening, this is my go-to recipe for a fast, relatively easy meal.Broccoli Beef
1 pound of fresh broccoli
1/2 pound thinly sliced beef
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
vegetable oil as needed
2 teaspoons finely minced fresh ginger
1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
Dash salt
2-3 teaspoons brandy
Cut the broccoli into large, bite-sized pieces. Steam or boil until they are almost done, about two minutes. Drain immediately and rinse under cold water to stop the cooking, drain and set aside.
Toss the beef with soy sauce, cornstarch, and pepper.
In a wok or frying pan, heat 2 tablespoons of oil over high heat until it starts to smoke. Add beef and stir-fry to the doneness you prefer usually about two minutes. Remove from the pan
Add another tablespoon of vegetable oil to your cooking pan or wok and return to heat. Add the ginger and cook for two seconds to bring out the scent. Add broccoli, sugar, salt, brandy, and two tablespoons of water. Stir and cook until the water is just about gone. Return meat to the pan, toss with broccoli to heat and serve.
Jasmine rice goes great with this. I've also served it with angel hair pasta with good results. If you are into Asian foodstuffs, there are a variety of long noodles that would work with this, too.
Where does 'smart' get you . . . good quotes!
"Education is a method whereby one acquires a higher grade of
prejudices."
-- Laurence J. Peter
-- Laurence J. Peter
"The only reason for being a professional writer is that you can't
help it."
-- Leo Rosten
-- Leo Rosten
Jesus should be acknowledged outside of church, too . . .
The shooting of the young black teen in Florida has been on the news for weeks now and how can it not given the circumstances. It is a tragic mistake/accident about which the courts have yet to convene and decide. Meanwhile, tempers are flaring, racial comments are flying, and some factions like nothing better than to inflame the masses. No matter how it happened, it left questions and a young man dead.
It is heart-rending, however, that instead of learning a lesson from this and coming together to figure out a solution to all the horrible things that happen in the world, some people are taking this injustice into their own areas of life and innocent people are being hurt in the name of the young man who died in Florida. The man who shot the teen in Florida has been called all kinds of names and is basically regarded by many as a murderer, an animal . . . Someone who took it upon himself to kill another because of race.
Interesting . . . Since this all came to light over the last few weeks, there are been two reported instances of people being horribly beaten by others in 'the name' of the dead Florida teen. I'm at a loss to understand how this justifies anything. Doesn't an attack on an innocent person come under the title of attempted murder done by people acting irrationally? How does it help the family of the deceased teen or the world to deliberately beat up other people?
Just this week, a man was beat up by 20-some people and is in a partial coma and in critical condition. His 'sin'? He was white and he asked some teens at after eight in the evening if they could hold down the noise of their game. In most cities, there is a ordinance about disturbing the peace after a certain hour. From what has been reported to date, family of the teens showed up at his door and beat him savagely on his own property. According to one of the parents, they resented him complaining about the noise and that they are just happy the boys stay close to home so they will keep out of trouble, etc. Yet, the example set to these teens was anything but a good one.
People argue that the problems in the country are economics, greedly corporations, etc. when I see the basis for all this in feelings of entitlement and a tragic loss of human kindness and God in our lives. Often the big picture has it's roots in little things. Prayer can turn a hard heart faster and more surely than a gang of people intent on doing someone hurt because of their own frustrations and shortcomings. We are often told that we might be the only Bible a person every 'reads'. What book were these hate mongers representing when they used their fists instead of their minds and heart?
It is heart-rending, however, that instead of learning a lesson from this and coming together to figure out a solution to all the horrible things that happen in the world, some people are taking this injustice into their own areas of life and innocent people are being hurt in the name of the young man who died in Florida. The man who shot the teen in Florida has been called all kinds of names and is basically regarded by many as a murderer, an animal . . . Someone who took it upon himself to kill another because of race.
Interesting . . . Since this all came to light over the last few weeks, there are been two reported instances of people being horribly beaten by others in 'the name' of the dead Florida teen. I'm at a loss to understand how this justifies anything. Doesn't an attack on an innocent person come under the title of attempted murder done by people acting irrationally? How does it help the family of the deceased teen or the world to deliberately beat up other people?
Just this week, a man was beat up by 20-some people and is in a partial coma and in critical condition. His 'sin'? He was white and he asked some teens at after eight in the evening if they could hold down the noise of their game. In most cities, there is a ordinance about disturbing the peace after a certain hour. From what has been reported to date, family of the teens showed up at his door and beat him savagely on his own property. According to one of the parents, they resented him complaining about the noise and that they are just happy the boys stay close to home so they will keep out of trouble, etc. Yet, the example set to these teens was anything but a good one.
People argue that the problems in the country are economics, greedly corporations, etc. when I see the basis for all this in feelings of entitlement and a tragic loss of human kindness and God in our lives. Often the big picture has it's roots in little things. Prayer can turn a hard heart faster and more surely than a gang of people intent on doing someone hurt because of their own frustrations and shortcomings. We are often told that we might be the only Bible a person every 'reads'. What book were these hate mongers representing when they used their fists instead of their minds and heart?
Hamburgers every which way but uneaten . . .!
Every time I think about cooking dinner on the outside grill, the weather changes and we get cooler temperatures and rain. Guess what? The weather is cool and there is rain!
My family likes hamburgers very much whether they are grilled or seared in the frying pan inside the house. I thought I'd share some ideas for increasing the taste value of your next hamburger dinner and surprising your family. Remember your basic seasonings of salt and pepper to taste when you add more ingredients.
1. Put some grated sharp cheddar mixed in the meat before you form the hamburgers. It helps keep the meat juicy and add that cheese tang that is so popular.
2. My husband likes crumbled Feta cheese and dried dill in his hamburgers. I like to assemble my burger with thin slices of cucumber and tomato - kind of like having a Greek meal in a bun.
3. For a spicy burger, some chili flakes and a small can of diced green chilies with grated Monterey Jack cheese is different.
4. Add some diced onion and a packet or two of dry Ranch dressing to your mixture.
5. Add a packet of dry spaghetti sauce and 1/4 cup of grated Romano or Parmesan cheese to your ground meat. Top with a slice of Provolone cheese for the total Italian experience.
6. Add a cup of the canned, fried onions to your hamburger mix.
7. Use half ground pork and half ground beef. The ground pork is lower fat these days so you can enjoy the flavor and not worry too much about the fat.
8. I pureed a mixture of fresh cranberries, mayo, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, Basil, and a touch of mustard and used it for a topping along with the usual ones found on a hamburger.
9. You can season some Panko crumbs with your favorite herbs and some grated Romano or Parmesan and press them into both sides of your hamburgers before you cook them. It add some crunch.
10. Make meatloaf burgers by adding the seasonings for meatloaf along with bread crumbs, and a egg or two for binding it together. However you like your meatloaf, you can incorporate it into a burger.
My family likes hamburgers very much whether they are grilled or seared in the frying pan inside the house. I thought I'd share some ideas for increasing the taste value of your next hamburger dinner and surprising your family. Remember your basic seasonings of salt and pepper to taste when you add more ingredients.
1. Put some grated sharp cheddar mixed in the meat before you form the hamburgers. It helps keep the meat juicy and add that cheese tang that is so popular.
2. My husband likes crumbled Feta cheese and dried dill in his hamburgers. I like to assemble my burger with thin slices of cucumber and tomato - kind of like having a Greek meal in a bun.
3. For a spicy burger, some chili flakes and a small can of diced green chilies with grated Monterey Jack cheese is different.
4. Add some diced onion and a packet or two of dry Ranch dressing to your mixture.
5. Add a packet of dry spaghetti sauce and 1/4 cup of grated Romano or Parmesan cheese to your ground meat. Top with a slice of Provolone cheese for the total Italian experience.
6. Add a cup of the canned, fried onions to your hamburger mix.
7. Use half ground pork and half ground beef. The ground pork is lower fat these days so you can enjoy the flavor and not worry too much about the fat.
8. I pureed a mixture of fresh cranberries, mayo, 1 tablespoon brown sugar, Basil, and a touch of mustard and used it for a topping along with the usual ones found on a hamburger.
9. You can season some Panko crumbs with your favorite herbs and some grated Romano or Parmesan and press them into both sides of your hamburgers before you cook them. It add some crunch.
10. Make meatloaf burgers by adding the seasonings for meatloaf along with bread crumbs, and a egg or two for binding it together. However you like your meatloaf, you can incorporate it into a burger.
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