The Blue Collar Kitchen

Homemade Steak Lo Mein, with Chinese Donuts and Sweet and Sour Sauce

My family loves to get chinese take out and their favorite is lo mein.  I use this recipe to make lo mein at home several different ways by adding shrimp, chicken, pork, or a combination of them.  This recipe is quick and simple to make and will save you money instead of ordering take out.  See part 2 for the recipes for homemade chinese donoughts and sweet and sour sauce.

Prep Time: 10 minutes       Cook Time: 20 minutes

1 package of spaghetti

2lb -  sirloin steak (you can use your favorite meat or seafood)

3 tbl of soy sauce

2 tbl of corn startch

1/4 cup of water

1 tsp of ground ginger

1 medium onion sliced

1 cup sliced mushrooms

1/2 of thin sliced carrots

3 cups of sliced cabbage

2 tbl oil

1 clove of garlic, minced

Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Prepare spaghetti according to the directions.

2. Sear the steak, onions, garlic, and mushrooms in the oil until done.

3. Remove the steak from the skillet.

4. Add cabbage and carrots to the skillet and cook on medium heat for 10 minutes.

5. Mix the water, soy sauce, corn startch, ginger, and salt and pepper in a small bowl.

6. Add the steak and sauce mixture to the vegetables and simmer for 3-5 minutes, stirring well to coat well.

7. In a large bowl, mix the pasta with the vegetable mixture until all is coated well.

8. Let sit for a few minutes and serve.

Enjoy!

Pot Roast over Rice with Southern Green Beans, and Carrot Souffle

Pot Roast was a Sunday favorite of mine growing up.  We had it several times a month because it would be cooking while we were at church and ready when we got home.  You can cook this during the week also.  This recipe uses a crock pot to cook the roast in.

Prep Time: 10 minutes   Cook Time: 4-8 hours

* The cooking time will vary depending on the setting on your crock pot.  If you cook it on low it will take 6-8 hours, if cooked on high, it will take about 4 hours.

Ingredients:

1 - chuck roast cubed

1 can of cream of mushroom

1 onion diced

1 can of sliced mushrooms

1 package of onion soup mix

1 tbl of fresh sage

1 clove of garlic

Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Combine all ingredients in the crock pot and add enough water to cover the roast with 1" of water. 

2. Set crock pot to desired temperature and let cook.

3. Serve over rice.

Enjoy!

Panseared Beef Tips w/ Blackpepper Gravy and Fried Onions, Herbed Rice, and SouthWestern Corn Salad

Here is another thirty minute meal that you can put together for your family. Instead of sirloin, I used venison in this recipe. Venison is very lean and can be over cooked quickly. Venison is an execellent subsitution for beef, but it must be prepared correctly before cooking. See my upcoming blog "Substituting Venision for Beef to Save Money" for instructions on preparing venision.

Prep Time: 10 minutes Cook Time: 10 minutes

2lbs of sirloin beef or venison steak, cut into 1/4" squares

2 tbl shortening

Salt

Pepper

1/2 cup fried onions

1 cup fresh spinach

2 tbl worcestershire sauce

1/3 cup corn meal

1 cup flour

1/4 water

1. Place shortening in a medium sized skillet on medium-high heat.

2. Sprinkle beef tips with salt, pepper, and garlic.

3. Combine meal, flour, 1tsp salt, 1 tsp pepper. and 1/2 tsp garlic powder in a gallon size ziplock bag and shake to mix.

4. Put the beef tips in the flour mix and shake until well coated.

5. Placed floured beef tips into pan and cook 3-4 minutes on each side, turning once.

6.Remove beef tips from pan and add worcestershire sauce, 1/4 cup water, and 1 tsp of black pepper to pan.

7. Bring to boil and add 1 tablespoon of flour mixture slowly. Stir gravy with wisk until smooth.

8. Place 1/4 fresh spinach in one corner of plate. I like the texture and flavor of fresh spinach, but you can sear or boil the spinach if you do not like it raw.

9. Add 1 serving of the beef tips on top of the bed of spinach.

10. Spinkle the black pepper gravy on top of the beef tips and around the edges of the spinach.

11. Sprinkle the fried onions on top of beef tips.

Prep Time: 10 minutes

2 cans of corn

1 can of black beans

1 red onion diced

1/4 cup fresh cilantro diced

1/4 cupMayo

1/4 cup Sour Cream

1 lime - juiced

1 bunch of chives

1 tsp of chili powder

1 tomato diced

1 tsp black pepper

1 tsp salt

1. Mix all ingredients in a large mixing bowl until well mixed.

2. Place in freezer for 10-15 minutes until cool.

Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes

3 cups waters

1 1/2 cups white rice

1/2 tbl fresh rosemary, minced

1/2 tbl fresh thyme, minced

1/2 tbl fresh basil, minced

1 tsp salt

1 tsp black pepper

2 tbl butter

1. Mince herbs and combine in a small bowl with salt and pepper.

2. Bring water to a boil.

3. Add seasoning and rice.

4. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and cover.

5. Allow water to cook covered for 10 minutes or until tender.

6. Add butter to rice and flake with a fork to mix and loosen the rice.