The best gifts

Chinese chives

Choy Sum

 My neighbours brought these vegetables grown in their garden over as a gifts.  Aren't these the best gifts?  They told me they are best stir fried as opposed to eating them raw in salads.  

I have been weeding a small part of their front lawn that connects with ours and I think they appreciate my efforts although gifts are really not necessary.

Here are the vegetables after I cooked them:

stir fried chives

This chive dish was a good side dish with fish.

stir fried choy sum

I realized I have had choy sum in Chinese restaurants.  It brought back a memory that I used to love this choy sum dish made with salted fish or something similar.  I remembered being pregnant with one of my kids and ate this dish when I was suffering from morning sickness.  It really turned me off that dish for a long time.  

Stir fry chives recipe:

2 garlic cloves minced

Chinese chives as pictured above

3 tbs canola oil

sauce:

1 tsp chili oil or 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes will do

3 tbs fish sauce

3 tbs soy sauce

1 tsp sugar

wash the chives.  cut off the inedible ends.  cut the rest into 3 inch strips.

brown the garlic in oil, add the chives and stir until softened

mix the sauce for another few minutes.

Choy Sum stir fry recipe:

2 cloves garlic minced

choy sum as pictured above

sauce:

1/4c oyster sauce

1 tsp dark soy sauce

2 tbs light soy sauce

1 tsp sugar

2 tsp chili oil or 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes will do

saute garlic in oil, mix in choy sum and stir until softened

add the sauce for another few minutes.