An Italian in Asia

So, I've been told that you can't have pasta everyday! Blasphemy, I know, but we'll humor them. Today's recipe is an Asian inspired stir fry, with a colorful mixture of vegetables and some delicious beef on the side. I served it over some rice, but Asian noodles could be substituted if desired.

So, lets get started:
RICE:

• 1 cup rice
• 3-4 tbsp rice vinegar
• 2 tbsp oil
• 2 cups water (just under the 2 c line, actually)

Put the vinegar and oil in the pan, add the rice and stir it around. Heat it on medium high heat for ~1 minute, then add the water. Stir, cover, and reduce heat to low. Let it cook until most of the water is absorbed. (It should still be steaming, but you shouldn't see any liquid bubbling around, and the rice will appear moist.)

VEGGIES

• Vegetable Oil
• Toasted Sesame Oil
• 3 Cloves Garlic - Crushed
  
• 2/3 small onion (the rest of the onion will be used later)
• 1 tsp ground ginger
• 1 tsp dried basil leaves
• 2/3 lb Chopped asparagus
  
• 1 1/2 cup diced carrots
• 2 handfuls frozen green beans
• 1 large handful frozen mixed chopped peppers
• Soy Sauce
• Rice Vinegar
• Sesame Seeds
• Sriracha, cayenne pepper, and black pepper to taste

1) In a large sauce pan, saute the garlic, onion, and basil in the mixture of oils (~3:1 vegetable:sesame).
2) Once the onion is translucent, add the vegetables and saute in the mixture.
3) Add enough soy sauce to almost cover the veggies.
4) Add in a few splashes of rice vinegar, the sesame seeds, Sriracha and peppers.
5) Simmer for 10-15 minutes.

BEEF

• Vegetable and sesame oil
  
• 1 medium piece of steak, trimmed and thinly sliced
• 2 cloves garlic - crushed
• the rest of the onion from previously
• 1-2 tsp. ground ginger
• Soy Sauce
• Rice Vinegar
• Sesame Seeds
• Sriracha

1) In the mixture of oils, saute the garlic, onion, sesame seeds and ginger.
2) Make sure the oil is really hot, and add the steak.
3) Once the steak has browned, add the soy sauce, rice vinegar, and sriracha
4) Boil until the sauce has thickened.

And that's it! Take a deep breath and serve the veggies and beef over the rice. Enjoy!