A Chinese Dinner for Six
 To Mike & Heidi Monson also Phil & Jan Knopp...Thanks for your request ~ I hope this menu will work for you.  Have a little confidence ~ these are easy. 
Listed order of prepartion or cooking
1st   Tomato and Egg Flower Soup or Hot n Sour Soup ~ keep warm, reheat to serve
2nd   Carrot, Cucumber &  White Radish Salad ~ prepare set aside ~ keep cool
3rd  Chinese Fried Pork Chops ~ keep warm in oven ~ increase oven before frying chicken
4th  Five Color Fried Rice ~ keep warm with pork chops
5th  Chinese Egg Rolls ~  keep warm with pork chops
6th  Stir Fried Chicken w/ Vegetables or
6th  Stir Fried Chicken with Ginger
as needed Chinese Tea


"tip of the toque"   Prepare ahead of time, keep warm in 200 degree oven ~ or microwave reheat
Chinese Fried Pork Chops

6 pork chops (about 1 1/3 pound)

group 1
2 tbsp water
1 tbsp soy sauce
½ tsp sherry ( or cooking wine)
½ tsp salt
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp white vinegar
2 garlic cloves, chopped & mashed

group 2
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 tbsp water
1 egg yolk
oil for frying

Sauce:
3 tbsp green onions, chopped
2 tbsp ginger root, chopped
1 clove garlic, chopped
½ tsp sugar
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp white vinegar

1.  Tenderize the pork chops with a meat mallet or small cast iron frying pan.
     Add group 1 to pork,  and mix in the egg yolk from group 2 .  Add the cornstarch
     from group 2 and mix.  Marinate for 1 hour.

2.  Heat the wok, then add the oil (group 2).  Deep fry pork chops for 4 minutes or
     until they are golden and thoroughly cooked.  Remove and keep warm.

3.   Sauce:  Mix ingredients for the sauce in a bowl.  Chopped hot red pepper flakes
      may be added, if desired.  Pour sauce over pork chops and serve.
 
Serves 6



"tip of the toque"  Do preparations ( cutting,  measuring etc..cook last..stir-fry is quick )
Stir-Fried Chicken & Vegetables.
2/3 pound chicken breasts
* Group 1
3 tbsp water
¼ tsp salt
* Group 2
1 cup chicken stock (or water)
½ tbsp cooking wine or sherry
½ tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp sugar
½ salt
*Separate items
1 tbsp cornstarch
½ cup oil
6  ½-inch pieces of green onions
6 dried wood ears, presoftened (you may substitute shiitake or Chinese dried mushrooms- pre-soaked)
6 Chinese pea pods (snow peas)
½ celery rib - ½ stick of celery
1 tbsp oil

1.  Remove the skin from the chicken and diagonally cut it into slices.  ( lay flat, place knife
     at 45 degree or less angle, cut thin slices across the narrow end.  The pieces will be
     about 1/8 thick ½ wide and 2 inches long). Mix the chicken with group 1 then add the
     cornstarch.  Mix them together and let stand for 20 minutes.
     Remove the string from the pea pods then cut them diagonally in half.  Cut the celery in half
     lenghtwise, then slice the celery diagonally. (Not like the chicken but about the same size)
2.  Heat the wok and then add the oil (½ cup).  Put in the chicken when the oil is medium hot;
     stir-fry until the color changes.  Remove and drain.  Remove the oil from the wok.  Reheat
     the wok and put 1 tablespoon oil in the wok.  Stir-fry the onions; add group 2 and bring
     to a boil.  Add the wood ears (mushrooms). pea pods, and celery.  Bring to a boil again;
     add the chicken.  Mix well; remove and serve.

Serves 6



Stir Fried Chicken with Ginger
10 oz chicken breasts 
1 tbsp rice wine or dry sherry 
½  tsp salt 
1 tbsp rice wine 
2-4 oz ginger root 
pinch of salt 
4 green peppers 
1 tsp garlic, chopped fine 
1 egg white 
1 tbsp cornstarch 
oil for frying
For the sauce:  
½ tsp salt 
2½ tbsp vinegar 
3 tbsp sugar 
1 tbsp tomato ketchup 
if required: 
1 tsp cornstarch dissolved in 2 tbsp water to 
thicken sauce. 


.
1.  Slice the chicken diagonally into bite-size pieces; hold the chicken breast firmly with the
     left hand and, with the knife at a 45 degree angle to the surface, slice ascoss the grain of the
     meat; begin from the right-hand end and shear off the slices.  Place the meat in a bowl
     with ½ teaspoon salt and 1 tablespoon rice wine.
2.  Peel, and cut the ginger root into wafer thin slices.  Sprinkle with a pinch of salt and leave
     to stand.
3.  Cut the pepper in half lenghtwise; remove the seeds, stems, and pith; then cut into even-sized
     triangular pieces.
4.  Put all the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan and heat, mixing well.  As soon as the liquid
     comes to a boil, remove from heat, set aside to cool.
5.  Add the ginger to the sauce ( they should be softened by now).
6.  Mix the chicken with the egg white and then with the cornstarch; fry in fairly hot oil, stirring
     and turning to prevent crisping or burning.
7.  Heat the wok add the 2 tablespoons of oil; stir-fry the finely chopped garlic until it starts to
     give off its fragrance; add the peppers and ginger (removed from the cooled sauce), then
     drain off the oil.
8.  When the peppers are tender, add the chicken and rice wine, pour in the sauce and stir-fry
     over high heat.  If the sauce is to thin, stir in 1 teaspoon cornstarch dissolved in 2 teaspoons
     water.

Serves 6
Note:  You can serve this in a (tight) noodle basket, if the sauce is slightly drained before placing it in the basket.  Place a saucer under the basket to serve.
Equipment needed
small colanders (the type that fit into each other)
(small strainers may also be used ~ take care when holding the baskets in the hot oil)
wok or deep fryer
ladle
* * *
Ramen noodles - (or spaghetti) You won't need the spice packet
vegetable oil for deep frying

1.  Cook the noodles (al dente), you do not want them to soft, as they tend to fall apart.
     Place the cooked noodles in cold water, to stop the cooking process, drain.  Add a
     little oil to the noodles and gently stir them.  Fold 5 or 6 noodles, in half over your
     index finger.
2.  Place the strands of noodles in a small metal colander (about 4 - 6 inches across and
     about 3 inches deep) The loops should drape over the sides for about 1 inch.  Continue
     to place the folded noodle strands (about 5 or 6 in a group) around the colander.
     Separate the ends of the noodles that fall into the middle of the colander (somewhat fan
     shaped).  The ends of the noodles should be intertwined to form a woven pattern.  This
    will make the noodle basket stronger and the noodles will not separate during deep frying.
3.  Place the remaining noodles in the center of the colander or wherever needed to reinforce
     the center of the weave pattern.  Depending on the size of the colander used, you may
    or may not have a lot of extra noodles.  You may have to experiment with the colander
    you have.
4.  Place another colander on top of the noodles.  Set the colanders in a wok or deep fryer
     containing hot oil. (careful as it may boil up quickly - depending on the amount of water
     in the noodles)   Use a ladle with a long handle to hold the top colander in place.  Evenly
    deep-fry the noodles until golden brown and stiff; remove the noodle basket; drain.



"tip of the toque" Do preparation and set aside...cook just before the Stir-Fried Chicken.
Five Color Rice

A note about cooking Chinese foods:  Since most stir-fry cooking takes very little time, it is recommended, that you place your ingredients is several small bowls before starting.  This will be a big help after you have started the actual cooking ~ ChileMasters.

3 Chinese mushrooms, dried 
2 ounces ham, cooked 
3 ½ ounces pork 
1 medium-sized leek 
2 eggs 
3 ½ ounces shrimp 
a pinch of salt 
pinch monosodium glutamate (MSG) ( optional) 
3 tbsp oil
2 tsp soy sauce 
pinch monosodium glutamate (MSG) ( optional) 
a pinch of pepper 
4 tbsp oil 
6 cups rice ( day old white rice ) 
½ tsp salt 
pinch monosodium glutamate (MSG) ( optional) 
2 tbsp peas, precooked 
..
1.  Soak the mushrooms in warm water for 20 minutes, remove the stems and cut into
    ¼ inch squares.  Dice the ham and pork to the same size; chop the leek finely.  Shell
    and devein the shrimp, and chop into ¼ inch pieces.
2.  Beat the eggs and season with salt & MSG.  Heat 1 tablespoon oil in a wok; pour in the
     eggs and scramble; set aside on a plate.
3.  Wipe the wok and heat 2 tablespoons fresh oil; stir-fry the mushrooms gently over a
     moderate heat until their full aroma is released.
4.  Add the pork and stir-fry, stirring to keep the cubes from sticking to one another; when
    the pork has changed color, add the shrimp and the ham.  Fry lightly.
5.  Once the shrimp have changed color, if raw, or have heated through, if precooked, pour
     in 2 teaspoons soy sauce, trickling it down the inside of the wok; stir and turn, giving the
     soy sauce time to flavor the other ingredients, and then season with a pinch of
     MSG (optional) and a pinch of pepper.  Remove ingredients from wok and set aside.
6.  Clean the wok, pour in 4 tablespoons of oil and heat; stir-fry the leek to flavor the oil
     but do not let it brown.
7.  Add the rice and stir-fry over moderate heat, stirring and turning continuously, taking
    care not to crush the rice grains.  Season with ½ teaspoon of salt and a pinch of MSG
    (optional).
8.  When the rice is well mixed and coated with oil, add the reserved ingredients and stir-fry;
     add the scrambled egg and peas and mix once more.  Serve hot.

Serves 6



"tip of the toque"  As the "chef" do this first...keep warm.  Serve re-heated just before you start the
Stir-fried Chicken.  This will give you time to do the chicken...then you can join your guests.
Tomato and Egg Flower Soup
   Chinese soups are quite easy, as is most Chinese cooking. What you are calling Egg Drop Soup actually is called Egg Flower Soup. It has many variations such as Sliced Beef, Tomato, and Egg Flower Soup. Here you will find Tomato and Egg Flower Soup, variations will be added later.   Another popular soup is Hot n' Sour Soup. 
   When cooking Chinese dishes it will serve you well to remember to cut, shred, or chop all your ingredients using more or less the same method. If you use a julienne cut on one, then try to use the same cut on the rest (if possible). When preparing Chinese dishes you will find it a lot easier to break the ingredients down into small groups (bowls if you will). The preparation of many Chinese dishes is a fast cooking process. It is critical that you have your ingredients ready at the proper time. I have broken this recipe into those groups.  ~ ChileMasters
* Group 1
1 tomato, seeded & diced
1 tbsp chopped green onion
1 tbsp soy sauce
* Group 2
6 cups Superior Stock (you may substitute with chicken stock)
½ tsp salt
* Group 3
4 tbsp cornstarch mixed with 5 tbsp water
* Group 4
2 tbsp chopped green onions
dash of pepper (white pepper preferred)
* Separate ingredients
2 eggs lightly beaten
2 pieces bean curd, diced (4 pieces in a box)
3 tbsp oil
 
Heat the wok then add 3 tbsp oil.  Stir fry (group 1) over medium heat.  Add 1 tbsp
soy sauce then add (group 2) and the bean curd, bring to a boil. Add mixture
(group 3) to thicken, stir. Slowly add eggs in a thin stream, stir slowly but constantly
and turn off the heat. Add (group 4), mix and serve.

Serves 6



"tip of the toque"  Same as egg flower soup above.
Hot n Sour Soup

* Group 1
½ tsp cornstarch
1 tbsp water
½ tbsp soy sauce
1 tsp sherry
* Group 2
6 cups Superior Stock (you may substitute with chicken stock)
1¼ tsp salt
* Group 3
4 tbsp cornstarch - mixed with 5 tbsp water
* Group 4
1 tbsp chopped coriander - fresh
3 tbsp white vinegar
3 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp green onions, shredded
2 tbsp fresh ginger, shredded
½ tsp pepper
dash of sesame oil
* Separate ingredients
2 pieces bean curd (4 pieces in a box) cut into strips
2/3 cup shredded meat (pork, beef, or chicken)
2 eggs

1.  Add the meat to (group 1), mix and marinate for 20 minutes. Beat the eggs lightly.  Put
     (group4) in a serving bowl.
2.  Boil (group 2) in a pot, put the meat in a strainer, the strainer should rest in the stock.
     Use chopsticks or a fork to separate the meat then put the meat in the pot.  Add the bean
     curd and bring to a boil. Add mixture (group 3) to thicken, stir. Boil again. Slowly add
     the eggs in a thin stream, stir lightly and turn off the heat. Pour this mixture into a bowl with
     (group 4), mix and serve.

Note: Bamboo shoot, dried tiger lily blossoms, shredded Chinese black mushrooms, wood
         ears, or other vegetables may be added.

Serves 6



"tip of the toque"   These take "frying time", do just after the Five-Color Rice - Keep warm
Chinese Fried Egg Rolls
* Filling
½ cup shredded meat; pork, beef , or chicken (about ¼ pound)
4 tbsp oil (for frying)
* Group 1
1 tsp cooking wine or sherry
1 tsp cornstarch
¼ tsp salt
* Group 2
4 cups cabbage shredded
1 cup celery shredded
½ cup carrots, shredded
* Group 3
1 tbsp sugar
1 tsp salt
¼ tsp pepper
1 tsp sesame oil
* Group 4
2 tbsp flour - 2 tbsp water = flour paste
* Group 5
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 tbsp white vinegar
1 tbsp ginger root, shredded
* Separate items
16 egg roll wrappers
oil for frying

1.  Add group 1 to the shredded pork and mix thoroughly.  Heat wok then the 4 tbsp oil; stir-fry
     pork, until the color changes.  Remove and drain. ( helpful hint:  heat dry wok before adding
     oil, swirl oil around and remove most of it - helps in preventing sticking).
2.  Put the ingredients in group 2 in boiling water and cook for 10 seconds; remove and drain
     the vegetables.  Add the pork and group 3; toss lightly.  Divide the mixture into 16 portions
     (filling).
3.  To wrap the egg rolls:  Place the egg roll wrapper on working surface with one of the points
     (corners) at the top.  Place a portion of the filling in the middle of the egg roll wrapper
     (make sure the filling is somewhat evenly spaced - not just a big lump).
     ( about  1½ - 2 inches from bottom corner).  Fold lower third of the egg roll wrapper over
     the filling to one-third of the top corner.  Fold in the two sides.  Roll from the bottom again
     to the top. (keep as tight as possible without tearing).  Moisten the top edge with mixture
     group 4.  Continue until all wrappers are completed.
4.  Heat the wok the add the oil.  Heat the oil for deep frying.  Deep fry the egg rolls over
     medium heat (about 3 or 4 at a time ~ to many at one time will reduce the temperature
     of the oil too much )  for about 4 minutes, or until golden brown; remove and drain.
5.  Combine ingredients in group 5 and use as a dipping sauce.
** The vegetables in group 2 may be varied according to individual taste.
**  Egg roll wrappers normally are packed 24 to a package...do not freeze.

Makes 16



Have the time? Want a Chinese method?
"tip of the toque"  Don't use this if you have never cooked from this menu before. Time Consuming.
Egg Roll Wrappers
2 cups flour
1 2/3 cups water
¾ tsp salt
2 eggs

1.  Combine the flour and salt.  Beat the eggs lightly and add the flour.  Beat steadily in one
     direction,  gradually add 1 2/3 cups water.  Continue beating until a thin, smooth batter is
     obtained.
2.  Pour a small quantity of oil in the frying pan, swirl it around, and pour off the excess.  Stir
     the batter then place 2 tablespoons of it in the middle of the pan.  Lift the handle of the pan
     and move it around until the batter is spread evenly over the whole surface of the pan.  Pour
     away excess batter.  Place the pan over low heat, and as soon as the dough skin starts to
     peel and shrink from the sides, lift it from the pan and put aside, covered with a damp cloth.
3.  Repeat the process until all the batter has been used, re-oiling the pan lightly by rubbing it
     with a oil-soaked cloth after each pancake (wrapper) has been made.
Makes 12 - 16 wrappers



"tip of the toque"  Prepare after the Egg flower soup, refrigerate until served.
Carrot Cucumber & White Radish (daikon) Salad
* Group 1
1 cup white radish
½ cup carrot
½ cup cucumber
* Group 2
1 tbsp white vinegar
1 tsp sugar
½ tsp sesame oil
* Separate items
1 tsp salt

1.  Combine group 1 and add salt.  Let stand for 1 hour.
2.  Lightly rinse the vegetables; drain.  Add group 2, mix and serve.



"tip of the toque"  This meal = Green, Black, or Scented tea.
China Tea

Green Tea: An unfermented tea that produces a light golden brew.  Its leaves retain their
natural green color and its taste is delicate.  It's suitable for drinking day and night with
most foods.

Black Tea:  A fermented tea that produces a full bodied brew.  Its leaves change color
during fermentation from green to red to black.  It's a good choice for accompanying
full-flavored, spicy dishes and deep fried foods.  Among the black teas, the most popular
include Keemum, and Lapsang Souchong.

Oolong Tea:  A semi-fermented tea that yields an amber brew.  It combines the more
pungent aroma of the black teas and the delicate fragrance of the green teas.  Oolong
is a good choice with distinctively flavored food such as shrimp, fish, broccoli, and cauliflower

Scented Tea:  A blend of tea leaves and fresh or dried flowers.  Scented teas can be made
from green, black or oolong varieties.  They are good with many stir-fried dishes and are
especially nice between meals.  The most popular scented teas are jasmine, lychee, and
chrysanthemum.

Brewing:  There is no exact recipe for making China teas.  A general guideline is to use
½ teaspoon of tea for each 1 cup of water.  Green teas are more potent than other varieties
and should be used in smaller amounts.