a dinner

Made this dinner a few nights ago for my roommate and I.

- Roast 1 orange pepper (could be red/yellow as well) and chop to varying shapes/sizes.
- Sauté tofu and onion in sesame oil until crisped around the edges.
- Sauté bamboo shoots and garlic with Chinese 5 spice blend. Add ginger toward end.
- Mix together prior three steps, add soy sauce, top with fresh basil.

Serve with brown rice.

The fresh basil and roasted pepper really highlight this meal. Most people don't think of adding basil to Chinese food, but it's great with soy sauce and garlic.



Oh, and for those who don't know how to roast a pepper (in the oven)
- Clean and quarter a pepper.
- I cut off the curled in ends so they stay on the baking sheet and also so there aren't unexposed/uncooked areas.
- Place on a foil lined baking sheet (for easy cleanup) and drizzle with oil (for this recipe, I used sesame)
- Turn oven to broil and place sheet near top.
- Take out sheet when peppers are charred.
- Seal peppers in a plastic bag and allow to sit for at least 5 minutes (the steam in the bag loosens the skin)
- Peal, eat.