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  • My Fly Stir-Fry

    Ingredients

    4 center cut pork chops, thinly sliced
    1/4 cup mirin (Japanese sweet wine)
    1/4 cup rice vinegar
    1/2 cup soy sauce
    1/2 cup mushrooms, sliced
    1 green bell pepper, sliced
    1 bunch green onions
    1 clove garlic, minced
    1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger root
    1 tablespoon sesame oil

    Directions

    Slice pork as thinly as possible. Working with partially frozen chops makes this easier. In a medium bowl, mix pork with mirin, rice vinegar, and soy sauce. Cover, and let marinate in refrigerator while you prepare the remaining ingredients.

    Slice mushrooms, green pepper, green part of green onions, and set aside. Mince white part of green onions, garlic, and ginger.

    Heat wok or large skillet over medium heat, then coat with sesame oil. Saute minced green onion, garlic, and ginger until fragrant. Increase heat to high. Squeeze marinade off pork, and place pork into wok. Reserve marinade. Cook and stir until pork is no longer pink, about 4 minutes. Stir in mushrooms, green pepper, and sliced green onion. Cook, stirring, until vegetables are tender, about 4 minutes. Stir in reserved marinade, and cook about 2 minutes.

  • Monica’s He-Man Chili

    Ingredients

    1/2 pound bacon
    1 pound kielbasa sausage, cut into 1 inch pieces
    1 pound ground beef
    1 large onion, chopped
    1 green bell pepper, chopped
    1 tablespoon chopped jalapeno pepper
    1 cup Merlot wine
    2 (28 ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes, mashed, liquid reserved
    2 tablespoons chili powder, or to taste
    2 (15.5 ounce) cans pinto beans, drained (optional)

    Directions

    In a skillet over medium-high heat, cook the bacon until evenly brown and crisp. Reserve juices in skillet, and set bacon aside. Brown the sausage in the bacon juices. Set aside. Cook the ground beef in the skillet until evenly brown. Set aside. Saute the onion and green pepper in the skillet juices until tender.

    In a large pot over medium heat, mix the bacon, sausage, beef, onion, green pepper, and jalapeno pepper. Pour in the wine and tomatoes, and season with chili powder. Cook 20 minutes, stirring often. Mix in the beans, and continue to cook and stir 25 minutes.

  • Mussels (Not from Brussels, but Belgian Anyway)

    Ingredients

    8 pounds fresh mussels
    1 carrot, peeled and sliced
    1 onion, peeled and sliced
    1 1/2 stalks celery, sliced
    1 bay leaf
    3 black peppercorns
    2 slices lemon
    1/2 (750 milliliter) bottle white wine

    Directions

    To prepare the mussels, scrape off anything living or growing on the outside of the shells, and pull out the little bunch of dark hairs (the beard) coming out of the side of the shells. Soak them in cold water while doing so. The shells are usually closed when you buy them. Do not panic if they open under water! Any shells that do not close when you tap them, have to be thrown out. This part may be done a couple of hours ahead of time if the mussels are stored in a cool place. Set the cleaned mussels aside.

    In a large heavy-bottomed pot, combine the carrot, onion, celery, bay leaf, peppercorns, lemon slices and white wine. Bring to a boil over high heat, and add 1/3 of the cleaned mussels. Cover the pan, and cook shaking, every minute or so to help the mussels cook evenly. When all of the mussels are open, remove from the pan using a slotted spoon, and start enjoying your meal. Continue to cook remaining mussels in the same liquid.

  • Recipe For Easy Beef Wellington

    Ingredients

    1 (4 pound) beef tenderloin
    MADEIRA SAUCE:
    2 (10.5 ounce) cans condensed beef consomme, undiluted
    2 tablespoons tomato paste
    1/2 teaspoon beef bouillon granules
    2 tablespoons butter, softened
    2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
    1/2 cup Madeira wine
    FILLING:
    2 cups chopped fresh mushrooms
    4 shallots, chopped
    1/4 pound sliced deli ham, chopped
    1/4 cup minced fresh parsley
    1 (17.3 ounce) package frozen puff pastry sheets, thawed
    2 tablespoons milk

    Directions

    Place the tenderloin in a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan; fold until ends of meat. Bake, uncovered, at 475 degrees F for 20-25 minutes or until browned. Cover and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or until chilled.

    For sauce, in a large saucepan, combine the consomme, tomato paste and bouillon granules. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 20 minutes or until reduced to 2 cups. Combine butter and flour. Stir into sauce, a teaspoon at a time. Bring to a boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. Remove from the heat; stir in wine and set aside.

    For the filling, in a large skillet, combine the mushrooms, shallots, ham and 2 tablespoons Madeira sauce. Cook over low heat for 10 minutes longer or until liquid has evaporated, stirring occasionally. Set aside.

    On a lightly floured surface, unfold one puff pastry sheet; cut lengthwise along one fold line, forming two rectangles. Cut smaller rectangle into a 6-in. x 3-in. rectangle; use remaining piece for decorations if desired. Moisten a 6-in. edge of large rectangle with water. Attach smaller rectangle along that edge, pressing lightly to seal. Transfer to an ungreased baking sheet.

    Spread half of the filling down the center of pastry. Place the tenderloin on the filling. Spread the remaining filling over the top of meat. Roll out remaining puff pastry into a rectangle 8 in. wide and 5 in. longer that the tenderloin; place