Asparagus with Beef

Another recipe from "The Kitchen of Gladys Lee" when my mom took classes at the Foster City Recreation Dept.  This one is delicious.  Again I will put my mom's handwritten notes in parentheses. I will try to add a photo soon.  I've made all of these recipes without MSG and they are still delicious.

Asparagus with Beef Recipe (serves 6)

Ingredients:

2 lbs asparagus (more green to tip)

3/4 lb. flank steak (or NY)

1 TB soy sauce

2 cloves garlic

2 TB Chinese black beans-washed

1 TB oyster sauce

1/4 tsp salt

1 tsp sugar

dash M.S.G.

1 cup chicken broth

2 TB water

2 TB cooking oil

1 heaping TB cornstarch

Preparation:

1. Slice flank steak against grain - 1/8" thick.

2. Marinate in following sauce for 20 minutes

     1/2 tsp soy sauce

     1/2 tsp cornstarch

     1/2 tsp oil

     1/2 tsp sherry wine

3. Cut asparagus into diagonal pieces.

4. Crush black beans and garlic with dash of M.S.G.  Dissolve cornstarch in 2 TB water

Heat 1 TB oil in wok over high flame.  Add meat and cook for 2 minutes. Remove meat.  (Meat will be pink after 1st stir fry).  Heat 1 TB oil in wok and add black beans, garlic, (soy sauce, oyster sauce,) and MSG mixture.  Stir few times.  Add asparagus.  Stir.  Add chicken broth (a little at a time).  Stir over medium heat for 5 minutes.  Add sugar, salt, and cornstarch mixture.  Stir well.  Simmer asparagus for approx another 5 minutes.  Turn off heat and add stir fry meat.  Mix and serve hot.  

(Can use green beans instead of asparagus)

(Black beans keep in dry jar on shelf)