Vegetable Beef Fried Rice

Let’s talk soup again. Vegetable Beef soup.  This recipe idea to use the last cup of Vegetable Beef Soup came to me when I came across an old recipe. A recipe stuck inside a cookbook belonging to my mother. (She gave me all her cookbooks years ago when she swore off cooking, that didn’t last, but I got to keep the cookbooks. I love to sit and read cookbooks like others read novels.) The recipe is for “Fried Rice” and is over 30 years old.  As you can see by all the cooking stains, it was a very popular recipe my mom loved to make for us. It was handwritten by a friend of hers. I had to laugh when I saw my mother’s name on the top of the page. It was if she was “tagged” in the recipe way before the term, “tagging” was around. It also was a time when sodium and fat levels were not considered, notice how much soy sauce and oil was used! Here is my adaptation of the recipe.

VEGETABLE BEEF SOUP FRIED RICE: Begin by using a colander or strainer to strain 1 cup of cold leftover vegetable beef soup.   (can use 1 cup leftover beef stew, too) Put vegetables and beef back into fridge. Set juice aside. Next, follow package directions to make 2 cups of cooked rice. When measuring amount of water needed, use the vegetable beef soup juice and make up difference with water or beef broth. Remove rice from heat and let cool. When cool, refrigerate for 1-2 hours or overnight.

When rice is cold and ready. Heat 1 tsp oil (I’m using olive oil) in wok or large skillet over high heat. Heat until oil is hot or “dancing”. Sprinkle oil with garlic powder. Add beef. (If large pieces, chop them first) Stir. Crack 1 egg directly into wok or skillet. Stir. Add rice, 1 tsp soy sauce, pinch of sugar, 1/2 cup of frozen seasoning or 1 small chopped onion, and the vegetables from the soup. Keep stirring and cook for 5-8 minutes. Turn off heat and add 1/4 cup of chopped green onions, if desired. That’s it! Enjoy

Put your TO COOK IS TO CREATE thinking cap on: What other vegetables could you add to this fried rice? Broccoli and bamboo shoots are a nice combination. Speaking of combination, do you love combination fried rice? Add any leftover meat, chicken, turkey, ham, sausage, even shrimp; add to oil first. Do you put potatoes in your Vegetable Beef soup? Make a curried fried rice-add curry powder, cinnamon and use basmati rice. Need a quick taco or burrito filling? Make as directed but substitute salsa instead of soy sauce, chili powder instead of garlic powder and top with cheese, of course.

FOOD FUN: Here is my food fun for today. Makeover My Leftover’s new recipe printout feature. Let me know what you think!