Earlier this week we had a day out. I was on a mission, I needed a particular style of large coffee jar, and I needed in excess of 20! Fortunately I had collected 10 already, but I needed more.
I mentioned to Gary that I was heading out to do some Op-Shopping (Charity Shopping), and he was keen to join me on my little adventure. After traveling from one town to the next, and running out of time before the little shops closed, I still needed three more jars, yes, I had managed to collect seven, but was a little anxious to get those last three jars.
In the last small town there were two beautiful Op-Shops, one in the main shopping area and the other at the Anglican Church – I was familiar with both, and I know why, they are not only treasure troves, the people in the stores are always so helpful and kind. The first shop didn’t have any of the jars I was after, even going to the trouble of checking that there were none stored away out the back, as others had done during the day. Our last stop, the Anglican Church Op-Shop, and there were two on display, I was so excited. Hearing that I needed just one more jar, they ducked out to their shed and found another two – I bought the lot!
What a fabulous day – not only did I get to meet with and chat to beautiful people, but I also got what I needed, and maybe a little more – I may have also purchased some beautiful knits for my wardrobe, books to be read, and a few other nic-nacs as well – I couldn’t help myself!
While keen to begin with, I think I may have pushed my luck with Gary, he doesn’t get as excited as I, when it comes to visiting Op-Shops, and maybe eleven in one day may have been pushing it, just a little… Still, by supporting our local Op-Shops we are supporting our community, and we are helping to reduce waste by using items which may otherwise up in landfill. As they say – “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure!”.
Back at home, I got to work and prepared one of Gary’s favourite dishes for our evening meal – I call it Sweet & Sour Anything! So called because it’s such a simple little recipe that can be adapted to suit whatever you have on hand, as well as taking into consideration family likes and dislikes, etc. You can stir fry the veg, or if you have leftover steamed veg in the fridge you can use that. You can add chicken, pork or seafood, even serve the sweet and sour with schnitzel or fish patties. I know it’s a winner, because there’s never any left! This time I served it with crumbed fish – another of Gary’s favourites, just to say thank you for joining me on my little adventure.
This is the best recipe for using up all the bits and pieces from the vegie crisper! You can make it with veg only, or add prawns, fish, chicken, pork fillet, or serve with crumbed fish, crumbed prawns, even chicken or pork schnitzel!
- 1 tbsp cooking oil
- ½ onion peeled and cut into thin slices or wedges
- 1 carrot peeled and cut into thin strips or slices
- ½ red capsicum cut into thin strips or large dice
- ½ cucumber cut into half moons
- 100 g snow peas cut cut in half
- 2 tsp cornflour
- ½ cup water
- 2 tbsp soy sauce
- 2 tbsp tomato sauce
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tbsp vinegar
- 2 spring onions thinly sliced
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Heat oil in a wok or large frying pan.
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Add the carrot and onion, stir-fry for 3 minutes, then add the capsicum and cucumber, stir-fry for 2 minutes and then add the snow peas.
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Blend the cornflour, water, soy sauce, tomato sauce, sugar and vinegar together, add to the vegetables and stir until the mixture boils and thickens.
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Serve with Jasmine rice garnished with the spring onions.
This is such a flexible recipe that can be cooked up in no time!
- The veg in the recipe can be swapped out, or used as a base - you could also add:
- baby corn
- bean shoots
- beans
- broccoli florets
- cauliflower florets
- cabbage
- tomato wedges
- zucchini
- Add a protein
- chicken
- stir fry your veg and remove from the pan and set aside while you then stir fry diced chicken, return the veg to the pan, add the sauce ingredients and continue.
- alternatively, add leftover cooked chicken after the sauce has thickened, cook in the sauce until heated through.
- try the sweet and sour veg as an alternative side for crumbed chicken schnitzel - delicious!
- fish
- add after the sauce mixture and continue to cook until the fish is just done, alternatively, cook the fish separately and serve on top of the sweet and sour veg.
- serve the sweet and sour veg alongside crumbed fish.
- prawns
- add after the sauce mixture and continue to cook until the prawns are just done, alternatively, cook the prawns separately and serve on top of the sweet and sour veg.
- top sweet and sour veg with cooked crumbed prawns
- pork
- stir fry your veg and remove from the pan and set aside while you then stir fry sliced pork loin, return the veg to the pan, add the sauce ingredients and continue.
- alternatively, add leftover cooked pork after the sauce has thickened, cook in the sauce until heated through.
- try the sweet and sour veg as an alternative side for crumbed pork cutlets - delicious!
- tofu
- press a block of firm tofu for an hour, to remove any excess moisture, then dice and stir fry. Add to the stir fry vegetables before adding the sauce mixture and continue.
- chicken
- If you have leftover steamed veg, just make up a batch of the sauce and carefully reheat the veg in the sauce.
- Try a little fresh coriander as a garnish, also.
- The measurements used are metric, therefore
- 1 tbsp = 4 tsps
- 1 cup = 250 ml
- 1/2 cup = 125 ml
To finish, I thought I would share a pic of a visitor to our garden this morning! I was captivated!
Until next time…
Bon appétit!
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With many thanks and kindness,
Julie.
Hi Julie, always love reading your emails! I’m guessing you may have found what you wanted at your last shop in Heyfield? Just a guess, lol.
Looks like you found lots of treasures to make the trip worth it. Thanks for sharing the recipe. I’ll be sure to give it a go. I too, have had kookaburras close to our house the past week. As my new garden is still work in progress, the visiting birds are in the big trees next door.
Kind regards, Gayle
Thank you so much Gayle, yes, it was a successful little outing. Enjoy the birds both near and far.
Kindest
Julie