2025 The Year of the Wooden Snake

 

The Year of the Wood Snake in the Chinese zodiac begins on January 29, 2025, and ends on February 16, 2026. The snake is the sixth animal in the 12-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac. It symbolizes complexity, mystery, initiation, and transformation.

Today marks the beginning of the new Chinese or Lunar Year. I'm starting the celebration by making this classic American-Chinese dish, Mongolian Beef. I know it has no origins in Mongolia, but it's tasty nonetheless. It's a dish served in a lot of American-Chinese restaurants and much better for you than takeout! Have all ingredients prepped ahead as cooking is easy and quick. It's a great family meal. The recipe serves four and is an Ever Ready Special. 

Mongolian Beef with Rice
Ingredients:

• 1 lb. thinly sliced flank steak or boneless sirloin steak

Veggies
Option 1: buy a bag of cut veggies to stir fry in wok or pan. The bag is found in produce.
Option 2: Use the following vegetables

•  3/4  cups diced carrots
• 2 cups pea pods
• 2 cups of broccoli florets
• 3/4 cup diced mushrooms
• 1-1/2 cups halved grape tomatoes
• 1/2 cup green onions, diced into 1-inch pieces

Marinade sauce

• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
• 3 teaspoons brown sugar
• 2 tablespoons sweet chili sauce
• 1 teaspoon sesame oil
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger 
• 1 cup beef broth or chicken broth mixed with 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• 2 tablespoons sesame seeds
• Optional: 1 tablespoon sherry and 1 cup chopped cashews

Directions:

• Partially freeze beef and then thinly bias slice across the grain.
• Combine soy sauce, sherry, hoisin sauce, sugar, chili paste, sesame oil, sesame seeds, and ginger in a bowl. Mix cornstarch with broth and whisk into marinade. 
• Add beef to the marinade, cover, and chill for 1 hour. Stir once or twice.
• Drain beef, reserving marinade. Add sesame oil to a wok or large fry pan. Add beef and stir fry for about 3 minutes until beef is cooked on both sides. Use tongs to move the meat around in the pan. Remove beef to a plate and cover with foil. 
• Stir fry for 4 minutes: carrots, pea pods, mushrooms, onions, and garlic; add more sesame oil if needed. Cover and cook on low heat until carrots are cooked al dente. Add in broccoli florets and tomatoes.  
• Add beef to the veggie mixture with marinade. Cook uncovered for about 5 minutes on medium-low until the sauce is thick and coats the meat and veggie mixture.
• Serve over jasmine rice, brown rice, or sticky rice. Top with chopped cashews.