Tasty Noodles

1 packet not-thick rice noodles (i.e. not rice stick)
four cloves garlic
1 inch ginger
1 tbsp dark soy sauce
1 tbsp rice vinegar
2 tsp. sesame oil
1 tsp mirin
1 tbsp cooking oil
1 onion

boil the noodles for just a few minutes, until al dente

fry the garlic, onion and ginger on medium heat in the cooking oil

while frying...

add the noodles and stir vigorously

add everything else and stir some more

fry while stirring for another minute or so

then it`s done

Chili con tofu

a dry packet beans or four cans of beans
2 packages tofu (not too soft not too hard)
2 onions
1 green pepper
2 cloves garlic
2 cans tomato sauce
3 tbsp. chili powder

Soak and cook the beans if they are dry.

Chop and fry onions and green pepper along with crushed garlic.

While the veggies are frying crumble the tofu in a big bown and add 2 tbsp. soy sauce, and toss.

When the veggies are all fried up and translucent and cooked but not crispy or burnt, add the tofu, and continue stirring for a few minutes.

Add the tomato sauce and chili powder. Stir gently and then add the beans. Stir gently some more and put it all on a very low heat and wait about ten minutes for the flavours to all mix.

Serve on corn chips or rice with cheese and tabasco sauce on top.

Bqrefoot Shiraz California

Earthy black-red wine that satisfies, plus one of the cheapest at the SAQ.

+++

Oven Roasted Asparagus

From the Vancouver Province:

Oven Roasted Asparagus
Serves 4

This is an easy and elegant way to serve fresh peak of the season BC asparagus. The asparagus gets a slightly nutty flavor when you roast it.

Finish it off with a drizzle of Vancouver Island's Venturi-Schulze Balsamic Vinegar for a delicious side dish.

Ingredients:

1 lb asparagus
1 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon kosher salt
3 teaspoons balsamic vinegar

Preheat oven to 425°F.

Cut off the woody bottom part of the asparagus spears and discard.

For even more tender asparagus, with a vegetable peeler, peel off the skin on the bottom 2-3 inches of the spears

Place asparagus baking sheet and drizzle with olive oil.

Sprinkle with salt.

With your hands, roll the asparagus around until they are evenly coated with oil and salt.

Roast for 10-15 minutes, depending on the thickness of your stalks and how tender you like them.

They should be tender when pierced with the tip of a knife.

The tips of the spears will get very brown but keep an eye on them, you don't want them to burn

Remove the asparagus from the oven and drizzle with balsamic vinegar to finish.

Yu Hsiang Eggplant

Recipe from Big Oven:


Ingredients

* 1 lb Eggplant
* 3 Whole dried red chilies;
* Veg oil for deep frying
* 1 Clove garlic; finely chopped
* 1 ts Finely chopped fresh ginger
* 1 ts Finely chopped scallions;
* 1 tb Light soy sauce
* 1 ts Light brown sugar
* 1 tb Hot bean sauce
* 1 tb Chinese rice wine or dry
* 1 tb Rice vinegar
* 2 ts Cornstarch paste
* 1 ts Finely chopped scallions;
* Few drops sesame oil


Instructions

Cut eggplant into short strips the size of french fries - the skin can either be peeled or left on, whichever you prefer. Cut the soaked red chilies into 2-3 small pieces and discard the seeds. In a wok, heat the oil and deep fry the eggplant "fries" for about 3-4 minutes or until limp. Remove and drain. Pour off excess oil, leaving about 1 tbsp in the wok. Add the garlic, ginger, scallion whites, chilies, stir a few times. Add all seasonings and bring to a boil. Add eggplant to the wok, blend well, and braise for 30-40 seconds, then thicken until smooth. Garnish with the scallion greens and sprinkle with the sesame oil. Posted to EAT-L Digest by Victor Fiorillo on Apr 3, 1998