“V” is for Vegetables #AtoZChallenge @AprilA2Z

I used to be a total carnivore.  Growing up I preferred meat with my meat.  Vegetables?  Thanks, but no thanks.  If the dog would turn up his nose at them under the table, why would I even want to try them?  The continued to my taste in Chinese food.  As a young lad, all I would eat was spareribs.  Mind you I still love spareribs.

The vegetables I was served at other people’s house’s (my Grandmother finally gave up and never even tried to get me to eat them) were always mushy, yucky, bland, and ugh.   Oh I would eat vegetables.  But only if they were RAW!

And then, like a right of passage, my palate came of age, and I opened my mind to vegetables.  Chinese vegetables.  My life hasn’t been the same since.  Grams, if you could see me now!  I don’t know WHAT they do in Chinese restaurants, but their vegetables are off the hook.  Ok, I do know what they do, but that takes away from the melodrama I was building, don’t you think?

Stir frying in a wok, or sautéing,  maintains ALL the flavor.  The vegetables come out crisp.  Serve it up with some ginger, garlic, black beans, or whatever they dream up, and now you’ve got a healthy version of crack.  I mean this stuff is addictive.  AND it’s healthy!  My goodness, I can’t get enough of Chinese vegetables.

Here are some of my favorites:

• Sugar Snap Peas – Crisp, Sweet.  CANDY.  These are totally dandy!
• Snow Peas – ridiculously priced in the super market, and now I know why.
• String Beans – Crispy.  Cooked right, I don’t care what you serve them with.
• Green Beans – These might be the same as string beans.  Anyone know?
• Baby Corn – cutest vegetable EVER!  Do they grow them on bonsai farms?
• Broccoli – My first Chinese vegetable.  I dared to venture in to the unknown with Beef & Broccoli.
• Lotus Root – First time I recall having this vegetable was on our very first Quest, at The Orient in Bethpage, NY.  I’ve been hooked every since.
• Asparagus – Similar in texture to the bean dishes.  If it’s got that snap, I’m gonna clap!
• Bok Choy – Incredible health benefits!
• Virtually any vegetable… They can do no wrong.

Did you get your vitamins today?   These veggies are better than any vitamin in a bottle.  Even Flintsone’s!

Humbly submitted for your consumption,

–Mee Magnum  (“Chop!  Chop!”)