Sign In Forgot Password
Home

Temple Beth El Blog

Quarantine Kitchen: Vegetable Stir Fry + Movie Recommendations

12/15/2020 07:50:42 AM

Dec15

Rabbi Jonathan Biatch

A wonderful film entitled “My Favorite Year” (an homage to the era of totally live television of the late 1940’s and 1950’s) contains a precious line: “Jews know two things: suffering, and where to get great Chinese food.” Stereotype or not, Jewish families have – on Christmas eve – have ordered Chinese food and gone to the movies: the theaters tended to stay open, and the only restaurants open were the Chinese ones. 

This year, as we face closed theaters, we still might want to eat Chinese food and watch a movie, but here is a suggestion to make our own and watch an old favorite film at the same time. 

So here is a recipe for your consideration, shown on the December 24 edition of Beth El’s Quarantine Kitchen, followed by a list of TBE Staff favorite films and snacks to eat after dinner. 

What can I say? Enjoy, enjoy! 

Ingredients:

  • 1/2 c. low-sodium soy sauce 
  • 1/2  c. orange juice 
  • 2 tbsp. vegetable stock 
  • 2 tbsp. cornstarch 
  • 2 tbsp. sriracha (more or less to taste) 
  • 1 tbsp. minced fresh ginger 
  • 2 tbsp. crushed garlic 
  • 3 tbsp. peanut or olive oil 
  • 1 whole white onion, cut into large chunks 
  • 1 whole red bell pepper, seeded and cut into large chunks 
  • 1 whole yellow bell pepper, seeded and cut into large chunks 
  • 2 whole garlic cloves, sliced 
  • 2 whole medium zucchinis, cut into 1/4 inch slices 
  • 1 15-ounce can baby corn, drained and halved crosswise 
  • 1 head broccoli, cut into bite-size florets 
  • Cooked brown rice 
  • Sesame seeds and chopped green onion, for garnish 
  • OPTIONAL: animal or vegetable protein 

Directions:

  1. Prepare brown rice per package instructions; usually 45 minutes are required for simmering. 
  2. In a bowl, mix together the soy sauce, orange juice, stock, cornstarch, sriracha, crushed garlic, and ginger. Set aside. 
  3. About twelve minutes before the rice is done: 
  4. Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion and peppers, and stir, cooking for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the sliced garlic and cook for 30 seconds to 1 minute more, stirring continuously. Add the zucchini and stir it around, cooking it for 2 minutes more. Add the baby corn and broccoli and cook for a couple of minutes, then, after the broccoli has turned a brilliant green and while the veggies are still firm, pour the sauce into the vegetables. 
  5. Stir the veggies in the sauce, cooking for 1 to 2 minutes more, or until the sauce is very thick. If it needs to be a little saucier, pour in 1/4 to 1/2 cup hot water and splash in a little more soy sauce. Serve over noodles or brown rice, with a sprinkling of sesame seeds. 

Tips:

  • Prepare the vegetables and make the sauce up to 24 hours ahead of time. Keep in separate containers in the refrigerator.
  • White rice, noodles of various kinds, and other starches can be used in place of brown rice depending upon your tastes.

Movies – TBE Staff Picks! 

The following movies are recommended for your holiday watching pleasure by members of the Temple Beth El staff. They may be streamable for free or for a small rental fee: 

  • August Rush – Amazon Prime 
  • Back to the Future (1985, plus sequels) – Netflix 
  • Dr. Strangelove, or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb 
  • Dances with Wolves 
  • Few Good Men, A – Amazon Prime  
  • Fiddler on the Roof – Amazon Prime  
  • Gandhi 
  • Grease – Amazon Prime  
  • Happy Gilmore – Hulu and Amazon Prime 
  • In and Out – Amazon Prime 
  • Inherit the Wind (1960) – Amazon Prime 
  • It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World – Amazon Prime 
  • Lawrence of Arabia – Amazon Prime, On Demand TCM 
  • Manchurian Candidate, The (1962) – Cinemax with Prime Video 
  • My Favorite Year – Amazon Prime 
  • Pretty Woman – Amazon Prime 
  • Pride and Prejudice – Netflix and Amazon 
  • Princess Bride, The – Amazon and Disney+ 
  • Right Stuff, The (1983) 
  • Tangled – Disney+ 
  • To Be or Not To Be (1983 or 1942) – Starz with Prime Video 
  • Who Framed Roger Rabbit? 

 

Movie Snacks from the TBE Staff 

And here are some great movie snack suggestions for you. Enjoy this special holiday break! 

  • Assorted raw vegetables and yogurt dip (for those who are watching calories)  
  • Chex Mix variations 
  • Pistachios 
  • Plain M&M’s in different flavors 
  • Popcorn mixed with the different flavored M&M’s 
  • Popcorn with Parmesan Cheese 
  • Popcorn with Zaatar 
  • Twizzlers 
April 26, 2024 18 Nisan 5784