I know it’s three days before Chinese New Year but let me be the first to greet you: Kung Hei Fat Choi! Happy Year of the Horse 2014!
Every year, for the past four years now, I’ve developed a habit of reading my Chinese horoscope. I guess humans are naturally curious and I got interested to know what was instore for us in the coming year. It’s not like I really believe in the prediction but it’s kind of nice to use them as guidelines so you can plan a better year ahead.
The first time I read my Chinese Horoscope was back in 2010 and most of the predictions I’ve read in the past years sort of came true. Since then, I made it a point to read it every year. You see, both peanutbutter♥ and I are born in the Year of the Goat/Sheep so it’s easier to keep track because there is only one prediction to read and interpret.
According to the Chinese Zodiac predictions, 2014 will bring me excellent energy.
I am actually very inspired this year because of all the blessings that was bestowed on us last year. I am very grateful and because of that I’ve plenty of inspiration to do better, give love, share my happiness, and just remain positive.
Goat people are expected to have an excellent 2014. There will be helpful energy in your career / professional life, as well as tons of luck in love, both for single as well as married people.Targets and goals will all be met comfortably and Goat men and women will feel very proud.
Our Chinese Horoscope said that this will be a lucky year for those who are born in the year of the goat. Yay!
In terms of targets and goals, one of our goals which is to have a home will finally be coming true this year. Our small internet café which we closed down in 2012 will be reconstructed into our house and we’re crossing our fingers for the reconstruction to start next month.
I am nervous but at the same time I’m very excited♥.
Ykaie loves her training chopsticks…
So I’m welcoming the Year of the Horse with a classic Chinese dish which we are all familiar with and which we all love: Chinese Beef and Broccoli.
Since it’s also broccoli appreciation month for Ykaie and broccoli is abundant this time of the year, this recipe is oh-so-perfect!
Ykaie doesn’t like broccoli very much and even if I promise to buy her an exceptional electric guitar kit in exchange of eating a bowl of broccoli, I don’t think she will.
My strategy is to mix broccoli with something she likes — like beef! She loves beef, specially the fatty sirloin parts…. AND sauce! she loves flavorful sauce drizzled on her rice. That’s what I counted on for her to eat her broccoli florets. And she did. Woohoo!!
- 500g beef sirloin, sliced ¼inch thick and cut into strips or squares
- 4-5 cups broccoli florets
- 1 knob ginger, peeled and sliced
- 2 clove garlic, minced
- 4 tbsp oil
- Marinade
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 1 tbsp Shaoxing, rice wine, or sake
- 1 tbsp cornstarch
- ½ tsp sesame oil
- Sauce
- ½ cup water
- 4 tablespoons oyster sauce
- 3 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tbsp sugar
- 1 tsp sesame oil
- In a medium sized bowl, combine marinade ingredients. Add sliced meat and coat with marinade. Set aside and marinate for at least 20 minutes.
- Wash and cut broccoli into small florets.Set aside.
- Heat oil in a wok. Add ginger slice and minced garlic, sauté for 30 seconds. Add the marinated beef, and stir fry for around 2 minutes.
- Add the sauce ingredients to the wok and bring to a simmer. Add the broccoli and stir fry for an additional 1 to 2 minutes to cook it.
- Sauce will be thick enough but you can add cornstarch-water mixture if you want to thicken it more.
- Serve immediately with rice.
Cheers to a wonderful year ahead!
One of my favorite! Yours looks so delicious, and I just want to grab it off the screen! Happy CNY!
Thanks Sandra! Happy CNY!
Wow, I’m getting hungry all over again. This looks delicious!
Thanks A taste of Madness!
Kung Hei Fat Choi! Great looking dish — so much flavor. I haven’t had this in ages — time to make it again. Thanks.
Happy Chinese New year John!
wow, such a comforting dish for CNY
btw, i love make this recipe with deer/venison loin too!!!
I haven’t tried that out. Happy CNY Dedy!
Scrumptious and healthy! Your daughter is really cute.
Cheers,
Rosa
Thanks Rosa!
I love this dish, In fact we make this regularly its so simple and my recipe is nearly similar to yours the only difference is my marinate include baking soda and it makes the beef the same texture as the ones in Chinese restaurants, so tender and jelly like
That’s what I’m going to try next time!!! I forgot.. LOL! Happy CNY Raymund!
wow! the Chinese Beef and Broccoli looks very scrumptious.. I will to cook this one day. ty for the recipe
You’re welcome Alma!
I love beef and broccoli . Ykaei really knows how to work on the camera, yummy!
yes, she does know how to pose!
thanks for sharing once again:) i’ll cook this today for lunch!
You’re welcome, Gene!
We love broccoli at home but the only thing is the aftermath of it.. lots of gas afterwards lol.
You are so right! What other dishes do you make with broccoli?
Oh yay! It’s our favorite dish especially when we go to a Chinese restaurant.
Us too, Marms so I decided to just make it at home.
My boyf and I are also born on the year of the sheep. And this post made me giddy when I read about the horoscope for us! I also read horoscopes but not really believe in everything. It’s just a guide right? But I’m happy that all horoscopes I’ve read say that Sheeps are the luckies of all signs in 2014! Yay for us!
I hope your internet cafe business will go well for you. As for me, I hope o have a better career life. Goodluck to both of us! 🙂
As for the recipe, I don’t really like broccoli,, but I do love vegetables. I might just mix other vegetables, right? I love beef too, like your daighter! Haha
Cheers to us born in the year of the goat/sheep!
Belated Happy Chinese New Year Ms. Peach!! And This dish is just a great way to start the new year! =) Cheers with chopsticks!
Belated Happy Chinese New Year, Micole!
i use to cook these because my son really loves broccoli another recipe i have is cashew chicken broccoli really taste good too 🙂
Will try to look for it in your blog Laarnie!
seeing your post always makes me crave for food. i also cooked broccoli last new year but it’s all veggies since i told the family that we are going veggies this year, less pork .
I’m not a big fan of vegetables. But I would love to try some once or twice a week especially if it comes with my favorite food like beef. 🙂 I’ll eat anything as long as there’s beef in it. I haven’t tried Chinese Beef and Broccoli. It looks so delicious.
Wow. I didn’t know there’s such event as broccoli appreciation month for your kids. If there’s one vegetable I can take for a year, it would be broccoli. This vegetable is filled with so many nutrients that are not found in others.
It’s my fave vegetable and my dad’s fave dish. I will never hate this dish ever. Your photos made me crave for this right now.
I think Broccoli & beef blends well together! I love broccoli and this defo looks delicious! Nice photos too 🙂
It looks awesome,this just making me hungry. 🙂
Yum! One of our favorites… One of the few dishes that my picky-tarian son eats too. LOL
Ooo thank you so much for the recipe! i can’t wait to try and make this! 😀 i actually ordered beef brocolli the other day from a chinese restaurant here hehe
This was one of my favorite dishes growing up as my dad usually orders them at a chinese restaurant.
sarap naman! fave ni kuya ang broccoli eh
ako I don’t read horoscopes and predictions 🙂 hindi ako masyado naniniwala haha