white house garden

Cashew Chicken

Cashew Chicken

2 Tbspvegetable oil
1 cup sliced celery
1/4 cup sliced onion
1/2 pound sliced mushrooms
1 can sliced water chestnuts
2 cups cooked, diced chicken
1/2 cup cashews
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1/4 cup soy sauce
3/4 cup cold water

Mix cornstarch, soy sauce & cold water
Set aside

Heat oil in wok or large skillet
Saute celery one minute in hot oil
Add onion & cook another minute
Add mushrooms & cook for 1 to 2 min

Pour sauce into mixture
Heat to boiling
Add water chestnuts & chicken
When thoroughly heated, add cashews

Serve over white or wild rice

Limoncello

Limoncello (Lemon Liqueur

Source: Rosamaria Restiani – The Arizona Republic, February 12, 2003

Keep a bottle in the freezer for friends and dinner guests
Limoncello in small bottles or Mason jars also makes a good Easter or Passover gift

15 fresh, thick-skinned lemons (large are preferred)
plus a few lemon leaves
1 (4-quart) Mason jar or similar size jug
1/2 gallon 100-proof vodka
5 cups bottled spring water
3 to 5 cups granulated sugar

Scrub the lemons and leaves in warm, soapy water
Pat them dry and use a vegetable peeler or zesting tool to remove the yellow zest from each lemon, being careful to separate the white pith from the zest
(Pith will make the limoncello taste bitter
)

Place all the zest in the Mason jar, along with a few lemon leaves

Add the vodka and seal the jar
Allow the jar to rest for 20 days in a cool, dark place, shaking it every 2 days to move the ingredients

After 20 days, open the jar

In a pan over medium heat, combine the spring water with 3 to 5 cups of sugar
The amount depends on your personal taste
If you like sweet liqueurs, use 5 cups
If you like them less sweet, 3 or 4 will be adequate
Stir until the sugar dissolves
Allow the mixture to cool, then pour it into the vodka jar
Allow the jar to rest for another 20 days in a cool, dark place, shaking it every 2 days to mix the ingredients
It is normal for the limoncello to take on a somewhat cloudy appearance

After 20 days, slowly pour the mixture into a very large bowl, using a cheesecloth to strain the lemon zest and leaves
Discard the zest and leaves, and transfer the limoncello back into the jar or into several smaller bottles
Seal all the containers tightly

While the limoncello does not need to be stored in the refrigerator, it is best to chill it before drinking
Since the mixture is about 50-proof, placing it in the freezer will not cause it to solidify

Curried Beef

Curried Beef

Posted by WingsFan91 at recipegoldmine
com 9/5/2001 8:27 am

14 ounce (400g) lean boneless beef
2 tpss rice wine
3 cups (750ml ) vegetable oil for deep-frying;
uses about 2 1/2 oz (75cml)
2 ounces (60ml ) clear stock
2 Tbspcurry oil
1/4 tps salt, or to taste
1/4 tps ginger, chopped
1/2 tps sugar
1/4 tps garlic, chopped
1 tps cornstarch (cornflour) dissolved in 1 tps water
1/4 tps onion, chopped
1/4 tps hot red chile pepper, chopped

Cut beef into 1-inch square chunks

Heat the oil in a wok over low heat to very hot, 350 deg F (180 deg C)
Deep-fry the beef until it is cooked through
Remove beef, drain, & set aside

Pour the oil out of the wok, leaving a thin film on the bottom
Reheat until a haze appears on the oil surface
Add the curry oil, ginger, garlic, onion, chili pepper, rice wine, stock, salt, MSG (optional) & sugar
Stir the cornstarch to blend & add
Add the beef, stir-fry for 2 min, or until the sauce is thickened
Sprinkle with sesame oil & serve