Broccoli Beef

This is another one of my absolute favorite recipes. We went through a phase where we made Chinese food all the time. This is the only dish from that time that we continue to make over and over again. It's easy (although it always takes longer to prep than I think) and the meat can be sliced thin to feed a crowd.

I got this recipe from Simply Recipes.


3/4 lb flank or sirloin steak
3/4 lb broccoli florets
2 Tbsp cooking oil
2 cloves garlic, very finely minced
1 tsp corn starch, dissolved in 1 Tbsp water

Marinade:
1 tsp soy sauce
1 tsp Chinese rice wine ( I used apple cider vinegar because I always have that)
1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/8 tsp pepper

Sauce:
2 Tbsp oyster sauce
1 tsp Chinese rice wine (or apple cider vinegar)
1 Tbsp soy sauce
1/4 C chicken broth


Stir together marinade ingredients in medium bowl. Add beef slices and stir until coated. Let stand for 10 minutes.

Stir all sauce ingredients together in small bowl.

Blanch broccoli in small pot of boiling, salted water until tender-crisp (about 2 minutes). Drain.

Heat large frying pan or wok over high heat until a bead of water sizzles and instantly evaporates. Add oil and coat pan. Add beef and spread out in a single layer. Let beef cook for 1 minute. Flip over and cook until  no longer pink. Pour in sauce. Add broccoli. Bring to a boil. Pour in dissolved corn starch an cook, stirring, until sauce boils and thickens (about 30 seconds).


I usually serve with fried rice (Sun Bird makes a seasoning packet that is way better than anything I've made from scratch) or "chow mein" (boil spaghetti, drain, add soy sauce, oyster sauce and any veggies (green onion, peas, carrots...) you like).

Pork and Sauerkraut

My all time favorite meal from Pennsylvania is pork and sauerkraut. It is a Pennsylvania Dutch New Years tradition. You are supposed to eat it on New Years Day for good luck. We have had it every New Years since I have left PA and it is a tradition I hope to continue for a long time!


1 1/2 lbs pork butt or shoulder
1/2 C onion, chopped
2 tsp paprika (maybe a little more....)
1 tsp salt
2 tsp brown sugar
1 tsp caraway sead
1 large can sauerkraut
1/2 C water

Brown pork in 1 Tbsp butter or oil. Brown onions. Add to slow cooker. Add water, salt, and paprika. Mix sauerkraut with brown sugar and caraway seed. Add to pot. Cook on low 3-4 hours, or until pork is done.

Optional: add diced apples for sweetness

You can also cook pork and onions in large pan. Then add water, paprika, and salt and simmer for 1 hour. Then add sauerkraut mix and simmer 15-20 minutes more.

Yum! I'm getting excited just thinking about it!