Food for Thought – January 22, 2013

Sometimes we need food to be quick to prepare, but still tasty.  The following two recipes will fit the bill.

Stir-Fried Beef with Snow Peas & Cashews

Note: Put raw flank steak in freezer for 15 minutes to make slicing easier.  Working with the grain, cut steak into 3 long strips, then cut each strip across the grain into 1/8″ thick slices.  Serve with steamed rice and green salad.

1-1/4 lbs flank steak, cut into thin slices, see note

2 Tbsp soy sauce

1/3 cup hoisin sauce

1/3 cup water

1/2 tsp red pepper flakes

2 Tbsp peanut or vegetable oil

1/2 lb snow peas, stem ends trimmed

1 Tbsp minced fresh ginger

1/2 cup unsalted roasted cashews, chopped

1) Combine steak and soy sauce in medium bowl, cover and refrigerate while preparing other ingredients.  Whisk hoisin sauce, water and pepper flakes together in small bowl.

2) Heat 2 tsp oil in large nonstick skillet over high heat until just smoking.  Add half of steak, break up clumps with wooden spoon.  Cook, without, stirring, for 1 minute.  Toss steak until browned around edges, about 30 seconds.  Transfer to clean bowl.  Heat 2 tsp oil in skillet and repeat with remaining beef.

3) To now empty skillet, add remaining 2 tsp oil and heat until just smoking.  Add snow peas and cook, stirring once or twice, for 2 minutes.  Clear center of pan.  Add garlic and ginger, cook, mashing garlic mixture with back of spatula, until fragrant, about 45 seconds.  Stir garlic mix into snow peas, then toss in steak.  Whisk hoisin sauce mix to recombine, pour into pan and cook until thickened, about 1 minute.  Stir in cashews and transfer to serving platter.

Serves: 4

While looking for another recipe, I came across this cake recipe from my mother.  I think you’ll like it.

Applesauce Date-Nut Cake

1/2 cup butter or margarine

1 cup brown sugar, firmly packed

1 cup applesauce

2-1/4 cups flour

1/2 tsp each, salt, soda and cinnamon

1 tsp double acting baking powder

1/4 tsp nutmeg

2 cups each, chopped nuts and dates

Cream shortening and sugar.  Add applesauce and dry ingredients.  Last add nuts and dates.  Bake in prepared tube pan for 1 hour.  Cool on rack 10 minutes.  Turn out on platter.  Needs no icing.

Serves: 16

This last thought from Psalm 84:4.

“As the sparrow finds a home and the swallow a nest to settle her young.  My home is by your altars, Lord of hosts, my King and my God.”

Please send our recipes or recipe requests to The Vista, 5413 Peavine Rd, Crossville, TN 38571 or email to: [email protected].

Until next time,

Ellie