|  |     Here's a short & simple recipe that produces a great taste sensation. 
    I don't measure when I prepare this, but one can guestamate with good
    results.
    
    Marinate peeled & de-veined shrimp overnight in a mixture of olive oil,
    fresh crushed garlic, parsley, and 1-2 crushed, dried red peppers. 
    
    To cook, pour mixture into *HOT* wok and stir fry untill shrimp turns
    pink (approx. 2-3 minutes).
    
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|  |     This is hot so adjust to your taste. I cut the red pepper in half
    and reduced the chili paste and it was still hot. You may want to 
    leave it out. The wok(as usual) and oil is very hot, please be 
    careful. This recipe is from a chinese cooking class that I just 
    finished.
    
    SZECHWAN SHRIMP
    ---------------
    
    1   lb  shrimp		Shell and devein the shrimp. Wash, drain
    1   Tbl chile paste with	and pat dry with paper towels. In a
            garlic (I cut this	bowl mix the chili paste, ketchup, and
            to 1/4 tsp.)	soy sauce.
    2   Tbl ketchup		
    1   Tbl dark soy sauce	
    
    2   Tbl peanut oil		Heat wok or skillet over high heat until
    1/2 tsp salt or to taste	a drop of water immediately sizzles
    8       scallions, chopped	into steam. Add the oil and salt. Just
            into 1/4" lengths	before the oil begins to smoke, add
    1/4 cup finely minced 	the scallions, gingerroot, red pepper
            gingerroot		and garlic. Stir until the odor of the
    1   tsp crushed red pepper	garlic has become pungent and the scallions
    1   Tbl minced garlic	have turned dark green. Add the shrimp
    1   Tbl dry sherry		and stir-fry 1 or 2 minutes until the
    1   tsp sugar		shrimp have become firm and pink. Add
    1/4 cup chopped cashews	the sherry and sugar. Stir for 30 seconds.
       				Add the chili paste mixture. Stir for
    				about 1 minute until the sauce thickens
    				somewhat. Stir in the cashews. Remove
    				from heat and serve.  Yield: 3-6 servings.
             
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|  | What I find important for Chinese cooking are the following ingredients:
garlic, ginger, oyster sauce and cornflour.  With these, you can add any kind
of meat, seafood and vegetable.  An important rule is for the oil to be hot
when you start cooking.  Onions/shallots is another important ingredient to
me as both my husband and I really like them.
So, for example, I would heat up the oil, then add the garlic, ginger and onions
to fry until they are fragrant and the onions are browning.  Then, I would throw
in the seafood or meat.  Once that is cooked, I will add the vegetable, be it
broccoli (sp?), celery or whatever.  Cook this all for a few minutes, then add
oyster sauce, and if you like, some sesame oil.  Add some water to the vegetable
and cover, so that it can cook in the steam.  Finally, thicken the sauce with
some cornflour mixed with some water.
With seafood, if you like, you could add a little white wine.  
Good luck!!
Sen
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