Just a Spoonful of Sugar (makes the cabbage worth the work) Beef Stir-Fry Night

If you know this song (if not, who are you!?), you'll appreciate that I found words to end the sequence perfectly. Now.

This recipe, although very easy and quick to make, could be greatly helped by this one simple action: buy a bag of coleslaw. The 2 dollars you will spend will be well worth all the time spent and the mess that shredding half a head of cabbage creates. Don't be a hero. Buy the bag. Sure, the consistency will be a tad different, but nothing you can't work with. I did not appreciate spending all of Ella's last nap rubbing the *slipping and sliding* cabbage head on blades and watching the leaves go absolutely everywhere. Just a thought. I got the recipe idea from Budget Bytes and I altered it to match what I had in my pantry. Also, the recipe didn't seem to show noodles. Don't be that grump that doesn't serve such dishes on noodles.

You will need,

Sesame oil (1 tbsp- I was out and used Hoi Sin, it tasted great!)

Sriracha (1 tbsp, if desired- I used chili oil)

Brown sugar (1 tbsp)

Soy sauce (2 tbsp)

Green cabbage (1/2 head)

Carrots (2)

Scallions (3)

Cooking oil (canola or olive oil, 1 tbsp)

Ground beef (1/2 lbs, just use whichever pack you bought!)

Garlic (5 cloves, minced)

Ginger (2-3 tbsp, depending on your taste, freshly grated)

Salt and pepper

Sesame seeds for garnish

Soba noodles (I used the entire pack- whatever starch level makes you happy!)

Just a few steps,

1. Shred both carrots and cabbage head using a cheese grater (or buy the coleslaw!!!) and place aside - do yourself a favour and buy the ones that come attached to a bin for your vegetable bits to fall in

2. In a large pot over medium-heat, throw in cooking oil, garlic, ginger, scallions and soy sauce- stir for 5 minutes

3. Throw in beef and sesame oil and break apart whilst mixing in with other ingredients

4. Add brown sugar, keep stirring until the meat is brown

5. Add all shredded vegetables- let simmer for 10 minutes and stir occasionally once everything is mixed (or, lower heat and let simmer for 15-20 while stirring, depends on how you prefer cooking, when Ella is very excited I choose the latter so I can focus on other things and nothing burns!)

6. In a separate pot, bring water to a boil and throw in Soba noodles (in my case they needed 7 minutes)- drain and throw into the stir-fry

7. Once everything is mixed together, sprinkle with sesame seeds (I personally add them at all stages as I am mildly obsessed) and serve in bowls, along with chopsticks (and sparkling Sake!?)