Stir-Fry Beef and Vegetables

¼ cup beef broth 
2 T. soy sauce
2 T cooking sherry                 
1 tsp. cornstarch
¼ tsp. pepper
1 pound boneless sirloin steak
Vegetables: 1 clove garlic, 1 onion, 1 green pepper (any color or a variety), 2 carrots, 2 stalks celery, 1 small bunch broccoli, 2 mushrooms, 1 handful pea pods.
1 bunch Udon noodles or 2 cups instant rice.

  1. In a small bowl, combine beef broth, soy sauce, sherry, cornstarch, and pepper. Stir to dissolve cornstarch.  Set sauce aside.
  2. Peel and mince garlic. Wash, peel and cut all of your vegetables into thin strips.
  3. With a separate cutting board and knife, trim any excess fat from steak. Cut beef into thin strips across the grain.
  4. In a small pot, boil 2 cups of water.       When boiling, add either 1 bunch of Udon noodles or 2 cups of instant rice.  Boil for 4-5 minutes.  Drain noodles.
  5. In a wok or large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon oil. Add the beef and stir while frying over medium high heat 2-3 minutes, until browned on outside but still pink inside.  Remove to plate.
  6. Add another tablespoon of oil to wok.       Add vegetables and stir-fry until crisp-tender, 3-4 minutes.
  7. Stir sauce to make sure cornstarch is mixed in.       Add sauce to wok.  Stir-fry until sauce boils and thickens.
  8. Return beef to pan and mix in noodles or rice. Cook until heated through, about 1 minute.