April 20th - Comfort Crab Stir Fry

There are days like this Tuesday that well, are only undone by a really sweaty workout or comfort food.  Comfort (savory) food for me comes in categories: 1. Mom's food. 2. Food I used to eat day in and day out when I got my first job. 3. Piping hot stews or curry on a cold day.  4.  Childhood junkfood like a corndog or tuna fish sandwich with too much mayo.  5. Something fried.

Well, frankly, I had a crappola day at work.  There are days like today! Grrrr. Well, because of how long it was, I would only get to the gym so late I would not get any of my other household errands done (that includes blogging).  So comfort came in the form of a Big-Ass Stir-Fry with imitation Crab Meat, the type you get in most sushi rolls.  I used to eat it all the time in my early twenties.  It was easy alternative to shrimp or tofu.  I am a Ovo-Lacto-Vegetarian that eats Seafood.  I had to start eating Seafood after I passed out in church :^/ and tested slightly anemic.  However, there were several years after I started eating seafood that I could not eat seafood that I could recognise because I could not handle touching or cleaning it.  I still do not lurve scaling fish but I do it occasionally but now I buy it gutted only.  I mad the mistake last year of buying a whole fresh squid.  The insides just kept coming.  I actually screamed.  Brutal.  I love my fishmonger. They do it all now including chopping my Dungeness.

It helped that D is out to dinner at the Blue Water Cafe for work. I could sink into the couch with my Stirfry over Quinoa with the latest episode of Biggest Loser. He hates that show... he gets into it by the end of the season though.  :^D

Big Ass Comfort Crab Stir Fry

(I tried to julienne everything)
1 medium Zucchini, cut into matchsticks
5 Oyster mushrooms, slices
1/2 white Onion, frenched
10 Blooming Chinese chives, or 2 Scallions
2 cloves Garlic
1 inch fresh Ginger
2 Serrano Chilies
150 g Imitation Crab
2 t Low Sodium Soy Sauce or Thai Fish Sauce

Heat oil in a large Wok.  This will go fast so have the veg lined up.  Each Veg will be tossed with your handy Chinese Spatula for 2-3 minutes. Probably 3 for the Zucchini and 2 for the rest.  This is the order I do it to optimise the browning and reducing the burning of things like the Crab and Garlic.
1. Onions and Fatter ends of the Chives
2. Zucchini
3. Mushrooms
4. Chilies and Ginger
5. Garlic and Chive tops
6. Crab
7. Fish Sauce

Season to taste with the Fish Sauce or Soy.

Serve hot over your prepared Quinoa or Rice. MMMMMM.  It is not a class dish but it oooooozes COMFORT. Tuesday is nearly over! TGIAW.