Favorite Dinner Recipe

When I was newly married and we started to have company for dinner frequently,  I decided that I would not waste time or energy in being nervous about how my dinners turned out and whether or not our guests would like what I served.  I announced to my husband that I would do my best, but if any meal did not turn out..we would simply retire to a restaurant where everyone could be assured of a good meal. He laughed and said he had no fear that the meals would not turn out.  It's been many years, and never once have we had to resort to taking our dinner guests to a restaurant.  Here is my favorite recipe from throughout all these years. This is an Oriental dish.

Beef With Mushrooms and Celery

1          Teaspoon Salt
1/4       Teaspoon Sugar
1          Tablespoon Cornstarch
4          Tablespoons Soy Sauce
1          Teaspoon Sherry Wine
2          Medium Onions,  sliced
1          Pound Beef, sliced thin
            several stalks celery, sliced
1          Can Bamboo Shoots.....can increase this amount
1          Can Water Chestnuts...sliced or diced......can increase this amount
1          small can Mushrooms..........can increase this amount
1          Package  frozen PeaPods
1/3       Teaspoon Accent in 1 cup water


Saute beef to brown in oil.  Remove from stove and drain.  Saute onions until slightly brown.  Add mushrooms, soysauce, peapods, celery, bamboo shoots, water chestnuts, and meat.  Heat thoroughly.  Add mixture of sherry, cornstarch, salt, and sugar and accent.   Continue to cook for a few seconds until gravy thickens, stirring slowly.  Serve hot.  Serves 4 to 6. 

This is a really versatile recipe, you can add or subtract vegetables, double the recipe, add more meat if you like....experiment until there is enough to feed all you wish to feed and meets your taste test.  The prep time is longer than the cooking time..it really cooks up very very fast....and it cooks all in one pot.  Try it in your wok if you have one.  It is really good served over rice.