How lizzyscully Did It - How to Stir-Fry Anything

perfect for breakfast at home, while a bit of broccoli, onions, and any other vegetable in a cast iron skillet was ideal for camping trips. I have made stir fry with everything from shrimp and clams in lemon sauce to Portabello mushrooms and artichoke hearts with tomato-based seasonings. My favorite, simple recipe is basic and easy. Here is how I cook stir fry.

First, I gather my ingredients-broccoli, onions, five or six cloves of garlic, olive oil, tofu, Braggs (or soy sauce), and salt and pepper. Next, I collect my cooking utensils and a cast iron skillet. I usually choose organic vegetables because I think they taste better, but regardless I scrub them to get any bacteria or other residue off. I then shake off excess water and dry them with a clean rag.

Second, I peel and chop the onions, and peel and mince the garlic. I cut the stem off the broccoli, peel the sides of the stem off, and cut the inside into small chunks. Then, I cut the head of the broccoli into bite-sized pieces, trying to keep whole chunks of broccoli as often as possible. As well, I drain the water from the tofu container and cut it into small squares. I like using organic, firm tofu for stir fry because it keeps its shape better. Sometimes I bake the tofu for 15 minutes in an oven with olive oil if I want it to be extra firm.

Third, I put a few tablespoons of olive oil into the cast iron skillet and fry up the onions, tofu, and broccoli, stirring the mixture with a wooden spoon or spatula for five or ten minutes on medium heat. Then I add the garlic. I cook the stir fry for another ten minutes or so, until the vegetables start to soften, but still have a crunch to them. Finally, I add the Braggs and salt and pepper to taste.

I typically like to serve my stir fry over rice, and if I want to add a kick to it, I mince a jalapeno pepper and cook it along with the tofu and onions. Sometimes I throw cashews or peanuts into the mix about the same time I add the garlic. On special occasions or when I have dinner parties and not much time to prepare, stir fries are perfect, especially beefed up with one of the many fancy, Asian sauces you can find in your local health food store. I've found that I can pretty much add anything I like to stir fries, even fruits like apples and raisins. The only things I watch out for are adding more than one kind of sauce or adding too many ingredients. Other than that, anything goes really. I just experiment and have fun with my creations. It's a big upgrade from frozen dinners.