BUDDHA'S DELIGHT THE REAL THING ENJOY DAN:

                           AUTHENTIC BUDDHA'S DELIGHT by CHEF DAN:

Black mushrooms; welcome spring, symbolizing opportunities.

Lily buds: symbolize wealth:

Fried tofu and bean curd sticks: symbolize blessing to the house:

Black moss: the Chinese word is homonym for health:

Bamboo shoots: symbolizing the wish that everybody would be well.

Snow peas: symbolize unity.

Serves 10-12

INGREDIENTS:

2 tablespoons sesame oil

1-cup dried black shitake mushrooms (about 15)

3/4-cup dried bean curd sticks

2-cups dried lily buds

1/4-cup dried black moss

2/3-cup black fungus or wood ear

1 (8 Oz) package firm tofu

1/2-cup vegetables oil plus 1 teaspoon

2 (15 Oz) can straw mushrooms, drained, liquid reserved

2 tablespoon brown sugar

1 (15 Oz) can baby corn

1 cup ginkgo nuts

1 (20 Oz) can bamboo shoots, halved in water,

1 (7 Oz) can bamboo shoots

1 heat Napa cabbage

1 pound baby bok choy, washed

1 thumb-size fresh ginger, flattened slightly

12 baby carrots

2 bell peppers, chopped

4 stalks of celery, thinly sluiced

1 cup snow peas

2/3-cup soy sauce

1/2-cup sherry

PREPARATION:

1.   Rinse, then soak dried ingredients in warm water, soak for 1 hour.

2.   Soak bean curd sticks overnight, then cut curd sticks and lily buds into 2-inch sections, removing hard stems from wood ears, and slice thinly.

3.   Remove stems from black mushrooms (reserve for stock); half the caps.

4.   Cut the thin strips of bamboo shoots into 2-inch lengths.

5.   Cut soaked bean threads into 3” pieces.

6.   Wash and blanch bean sprouts, celery, bell peppers, turnip and cabbage into 2”long pencil-size pieces, half baby corn on the bias.

7.   Slice tofu the same size as the vegetables, and stir-fry until nicely browned.

8.    Liquid mixture blend sugar, soy, sherry and 2 tablespoons water.

9.   Heat wok until medium-hot add sesame oil and when sizzling

10.                Add all dry ingredients except rice noodles.

11.                Turn heat to high, and stir-fry 1 minute.

12.                Add fresh and canned ingredients and stir-fry 2 more minutes.

13.                Add liquid mixture, mixing with juices in the wok, add noodles; reduce heat cover and cook 5 minutes.

                                      ENJOY DAN:                     (BON-APPETITE!!