More Veggies, Please!

I realized I had been skimming on the veggies over the last few meals, and I know how much Mark loves veggies, so I decided to make up for it tonight with a very "vegetable-y" stir-fry. It was quick and easy to make (as any stir-fry is), and is less than 500 calories (I calculated 436 calories per serving). Of course, depending on what meat you use--I used beef, but you could definitely use chicken, pork, or scallops/shrimp...or use no meat and have simply a veggie stir-fry--you can certainly end up with much less calories.

That's kind of the beauty of a stir-fry...the ingredients are your own. So what are you in the mood for?

Clearly, I was in the mood for la vaca (the cow), but that shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone. And although I was not in the mood for veggies, Mark was, so I sliced up several for him. (And, yes, I included extra mushrooms just for me.)

To boost the flavor, I added some chopped garlic and grated fresh ginger into the meat and veggies...mmmmmmm. I served it with brown rice and sprinkled toasted sesame seeds over everything. If it's not your thing, you can skip the sesame seeds; no need to walk around all night with one or two stuck in your teeth, right?

Overall, stir-fry recipes are easy. Since I usually like to use, well, whatever I like, you can do the same thing, too. Feel free to substitute anything, from protein to veggies to oil or butter...you have complete stir-fry freedom. Below is my recipe for this particular veggie-packed stir-fry, but have fun creating your own!

• 8-10 oz top sirloin (lean)
• 4 white button mushrooms (sliced)
• 1 red bell pepper (sliced)
• 1 carrot ("matchstick" sliced)
• 1 cup broccoli 
• 1 cup cauliflower
• soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp peanut oil
• 2 cloves garlic (chopped)
• fresh ginger root
• toasted sesame seeds (optional)

Heat peanut oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add top sirloin, and garlic. Grate in fresh ginger, about 2-3 teaspoons. Stir frequently for about 3 minutes (may cook a minute or two longer depending on the protein you're using). Remove from pan. Cover with tin foil and sit aside.

Stir in mushrooms, red bell pepper, carrot, broccoli, and cauliflower to skillet. Generously douse veggies with soy sauce (about 3 tablespoons), stir. Increase heat a notch or two. Cover and cook for 3 minutes. Return sirloin (or any protein) to pan, stir, cover and cook 45-60 seconds. Remove from heat.

Add a little more soy sauce (if you really love that flavor) and sprinkle toasted sesame seeds over stir-fry. (If you have regular sesame seeds--not toasted--add them to skillet when you add your veggies; this will cook them up a bit for that nuttier, toasted flavor.)

This recipe serves two.