Oh, sometimes I just crave Chinese Food. I have long since learned that I can’t eat the stuff in the restaurants due to a long list food insensitivities. Good thing I can cook up my own version of the stuff in my own clean kitchen! I used to own an electric wok but that has long since vacated my appliance storage cupboard; I now just use a large, deep skillet on the stove top.

1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 Onion, sliced
2 cloves Garlic, mashed
1 teaspoon Ginger Root, grated
2 stalks Celery, thinly sliced on the diagonal
3 Garden Fresh Carrots, scrubbed, thinly sliced on the diagonal
2 stalks Broccoli, cut into reasonable sized chunks
1/2 head of Cauliflower, cut into reasonable sized chunks
1 teaspoon Sesame Oil
1 Tablespoon Soy Sauce
1 McCormick’s Vegetable Stock Cube
1 can (796ml) Bean Sprouts, drained –  can use Fresh Sprouts
1 can (227ml) Sliced Water Chestnuts, drained
1 Tablespoon Water
1 1/2 teaspoon Corn Starch

Cashews or Peanuts, to garnish

In large, deep sided skillet, heat oil over med -high heat.
Add onion and cook for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently.
Add garlic, cook and stir frequently for another minute.
Increase heat to High, add ginger root, celery and carrots; stir frequently.
Add broccoli and cauliflower; stir and cook for a minute.
Drizzle sesame oil and soy sauce over all, stir well and continue cooking.
Add vegetable stock cube, bean sprouts and water chestnuts – mash stock cube onto bottom of pan; cook and stir constantly for a few minutes.
Quickly combine the Tablespoon of cold water and the cornstarch in a small bowl; add to skillet and stir continually until liquid thickens and goes clear.

Sprinkle with blanched, unsalted cashews or peanuts.

Serves 6

Whenever Rising Crust Four Cheese Pizzas are on sale I grab a few and keep them in the freezer for the nights we are craving Take Out Pizza. Sometimes it is Delmonte Pizzas, sometimes Western Family – I don’t see much of a difference. I have also tried the new thin crust ones and they are fabulous!  I add my own fresh ingredients to jazz it up!

Frozen Four Cheese Pizza
Fresh Spinach, a few handfuls
1 Tomato, seeded and diced
1/4 cup Green Pepper, diced
6 Mushrooms, sliced
1/2 cup fresh Mozzarella Cheese, Feta Cheese or a sprinkle of Fresh Parmesan
1 1/2 teaspoons dried Basil

Heat oven to 425F  with Pizza stone in the oven.

Remove pizza from packaging.
Layer on sliced mushrooms, spinach, green pepper, tomato fresh cheese and dried basil.
Using a Pizza Paddle (or the cardboard disc the pizza came on) slide pizza onto heated pizza stone (or directly onto oven rack)
Bake for 20 – 25 minutes.

Slice and serve!