Preparation:

Pre-heat wok or heavy gauge deep-frying pan to medium. Drizzle sesame oil liberally to cover pan, and add celery, onions, green pepper. Sautee 3 minutes or until transparent; do not brown. Add ginger, garlic, and salt to taste. Continue cooking until vegetables are tender-crisp, approximately 3-5 minutes. Add bean sprouts, water chestnuts, and remove to bowl.

Again, add oil to pan, just enough to cover the bottom. Stir-fry meat until desired doneness is reached. If using shrimp, stir-fry until raw shrimp are pink and no longer transparent.

Add 1 and 1/2 cups of water to meat and bring to a simmer. Add veggies. Thicken your Chow Mein mixture with a paste made of 3 tablespoons water and 1 tablespoon corn starch.

Cook an additional 1-2 minutes then serve over rice and top with Chow Mein noodles.

Vegetarians can enjoy a meatless version of this yummy Chow Mein by substituting pan-fried tofu for the meat strips. Tofu is available in a variety of textures; extra firm works best for Chow Mein.

Tips On Cooking Rice

When you're cooking Chinese, you have to know your rice. You may think you know all there is to know about this staple of Asian cuisine, but there's more to rice than meets the eye. There are thousands of different types of rice, some more suited for Chinese cooking than others.

Glutinous or "sticky" rice is a medium grain rice commonly used in Chinese cooking. Some people like to use jasmine rice as well. If you can't find these types of rice, or don't find them appealing, that's okay; you can use plain everyday white rice for most Chinese recipes. If you're looking for more fiber, you can use a high-quality brown rice.

Eggroll Appetizers

Eggrolls are among the best-loved Chinese appetizers, and they're surprisingly easy to make at home. All you need is a package of won-ton wrappers and some ingredients for the filling, and you're good to go. These quick and simple egg rolls are made in a deep fryer so they'll be crispy, golden, and delicious.