Takara Plum Stir-Fry

Because I work late shifts at work and come home after midnight, weird things happen...just saying...

At 1 A.M., I am getting out of my car, loaded down with my purse, work bag, glass of tea and cell phone, keys...when down the road, I see an animal staring at me.

My first thought, "Pit Bull", as we have had problems with some in our neighborhood.  I'm of course deciding if I can run up the deck, unlock the door and get inside before some of me gets eaten.

As I approach the door, I do realize he is running at full speed and I have no chance at all to not get spindled and mutilated. I decide I am not going down without a fight and am trying to decide what to throw at him first...my keys, phone, the bag of apples, Jessica's vegetable plants she's been growing...

As he leaps upon the deck, he has a crazy, weird look to him and is wagging his tail frantically and has decided he's just so very happy to see me.

I have no idea who is he...haven't seen him before, but acts like he has known me forever.   Really??

"Ok, weird dog, you're life has just been spared--just saying.

I go into the house and have a conversation with Jessica and Apollo until about 2:30 when I am falling on my nose asleep.  We say our "goodnights" and soon I'm all wonderful and snuggly--surrounded by my 10 or so mushy pillows.

The next thing I hear at 3:30 am--"Mom, wake up.  I think there's a snake on the deck."

"What?"

"Yes, Mom, Apollo and I were outside and there's a snake crawling up the ramp and I don't know what kind he is." 

Ok, I get up, don my fuzzy brown robe--winter robe, mind you--it's 100 degrees in Florida at the present time.  We quietly go to the back door and pull aside the curtain---

"Do you see him, Mom?  On the ramp?"

Well, it's 3:30 in the morning and I'm pretty blind anyway, of course I can't see him!

"No, I'm going to have to go onto the deck.  I need to take the gun with me."

We go through all the safety precautions and make sure it's loaded.  I have only shot a blue man on a target before--right through the heart--but that's really been the extent of my expertise.

Ok, remember, I'm in that gorgeous brown fuzzy robe, I grab  my phone for the LED light, Jessica hands me a flashlight, I have the revolver, and I turn to say something to Jessica.  She's behind me holding the vacuum cleaner extension pole---

"Really Jessica?  The vacuous cleaner extension pole??"

"It's the only weapon I could find close!"

Yes, I really wish we had a picture of us--would have been priceless.

Back to the snake--

We inch closer to the ramp..."See him, Mom?"

"Yes, I do see something.  He seems kinda coiled up and kind of thick looking.  He may be a poisonous snake, because he doesn't seem to be too afraid of us."  (Anyone else would have!)

"Oh, Mom, you have to shoot him!  I don't want him to get away."

"I'm not sure if I can hit him, Jessica.  I'm not sure what bullets will do to the deck.  I'm not sure if I'll scare the neighbors to death."  

Oh, yes, all the while, "weird dog" is still on my deck and chewing on my robe as I'm contemplating the fate of the snake, my deck and my neighbors sleep interruption at 4AM.

We inch closer and closer and he still doesn't move.

"Jessica, that just has a really weird look.  Are you sure it's a snake?"

Silence......

"That's a garden glove isn't it," she matter of factually replied.

"I really wish you would have shot it, Mom.  I would have kept that garden glove forever."

So glad the neighbors didn't have to witness all that...

We did have a good laugh for days.

The wonderful mechanic said he would have to bring us some "glove shot"...

girls with guns...mercy.


Also on a side note--"weird dog" has never been spotted again....

This is one of my very favorite stir-fry recipes that my Aunt Shirley made for me a few times.  Of course, she never wrote down her specific recipe, so I've tried to come really close.  It will never taste as good as hers did to me, but I'm working on it!

Takara Plum Stir-Fry

1/2 pound beef strips 

2-3 green peppers

3 medium tomatoes

2 medium onions

1/2 cup soy sauce

1 cup Takara Plum Wine

1/4 cup water

1 TBSP corn starch

salt & pepper or my favorite-Morton's Nature Seasoning

1 tsp garlic salt

Season beef strips with the Nature's Seasoning and garlic salt.  

In skillet with 2 TBSP, cook strips until done.  

In another skillet, add sliced peppers and onions 

with 1/2 stick butter.  Saute' until done.  

Dice the tomatoes and  add to the veggies in skillet. 

Pour in the soy sauce and wine next.  

Mix the corn starch with the water until combined 

and add to the skillet.  Add the beef strips next.  

Bring heat up pretty high until mixture is bubbly.  

Turn down to medium heat and cook about 

30- 45 min until veggies are soft.  

Enjoy served over rice.   

The yummy cast of characters. 

The wonderful sweet wine that gives the stir fry it's unique flavor.  

I can't find this wine just anywhere--

but in Pensacola, Winn Dixie carries it--go figure...

Season the strips next....

Throw in a little pepper...

Stir fry in olive oil until done.

Chop the peppers and onions and add to a skillet.

Throw in 1/2 stick of butter and sautee' until softened.

Dice the beautiful tomatoes...

To the peppers and onions, add the soy sauce...

And the wine...

Throw those tomatoes in next...

Add the cornstarch mixture..

Add the beef strips next and bring the mixture 

up in temperature until bubbly.  

Turn down to medium heat and cook about 30-45 min. 

We serve ours over our favorite Jasmine Rice!

The super yummy stir-fry!  Hope you enjoy this quick and delicious recipe.