Make an Olympic Dinner - Chinese Style!

The Beijing Olympics are fast approaching, and that means lots of athletic activity in your household – as seen from the TV, that is. But being an Olympic couch potato doesn’t have to mean popcorn snacks and mac ‘n cheese. Why not sneak a healthy and cultural meal in with a home-cooked family friendly Chinese menu? Kids can help in the kitchen to prepare this wonderful menu of steamed dumplings or potstickers, shrimp and vegetable fried rice, lemongrass lemonade and “Chinese” fortune cookies! Here’s what you’ll need to get on the road to China, courtesy of Abigail Dodge, author of the Around the World Cookbook for kids.

Fried rice isn’t fried at all; it is cooked in a wok or skillet. It’s made with cooked or leftover rice and whips up in minutes making it an excellent choice for those busy weeknight dinners.

• 3 tablespoons vegetable, peanut or canola oil
• 1 pound large shrimp, peeled and deveined
• 1 onion, chopped
• 1 red bell pepper, chopped
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1/2 cup frozen green peas
• 1 carrot, peeled and finely shredded
• 1 large egg
• 2 cups cooked white or brown rice
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce
• Pinch red pepper flakes (optional)

Heat 2 tablespoons of the oil in the skillet over medium high heat. Add the shrimp, onions, peppers and garlic. Cook, stirring constantly with the spoon, about 3 minutes.

Add rice, peas, and carrots. Cook, stirring constantly, until vegetables are tender, about 4 minutes.

Push the ingredients to the edge of the skillet. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the open area. Pour in the egg. Stir the egg to scramble. Slowly stir in the rice mixture until blended.

Add soy sauce and pepper flakes. Cook, stirring constantly, until well blended, about 1 minute.

Dumpling is a catch-all phrase for a very popular Asian pocket food. The filling can be seafood, tofu, chicken or pork. The filling is wrapped up in thin, pasta-like dough called Wonton wrappers that can be found in grocery stores. Dumplings can be shaped in half –moons, purses, triangles or tortellini-styled curves and they can be steamed, boiled, or pan-fried. 

• 1/2 pound ground pork
• 2 scallions, trimmed and minced
• 1 small garlic clove, minced
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 1 teaspoon rice vinegar
• 1 teaspoon minced fresh ginger
• Salt and pepper
• 20 wonton wrappers

Fill a large pot with about 3 inches of water. Have ready a bamboo steamer or stainless steal basket to fit on or in the pot. The water should not touch the steamer.