Beef & Asparagus Stir Fry

My darling husband claims to not like Asian food.  There's a certain flavor or spice that he doesn't like and I haven't figured it out yet.  The Asian dishes I've made at home he's liked.  This was another one!

Beef & Asparagus Stir Fry

1 1/2 lb silrloin steak, cut into thin strips
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup hoisin sauce
2 T dry sherry (didn't have, so I used some rice vinegar)
1 tsp. chili oil
1/4 cup peanut oil
NOT 1 yellow onion (I substituted extra garlic and an orange bell pepper)
3/4 lb slender asparagus, trimmed and cut on the diagonal into 1 inch pieces
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
Steamed rice for serving

Lightly season beef with salt and pepper.  In small bowl, stir together hoisin sauce, sherry, chili oil, and 1/2 cup water.  Set aside.

In wok or large fry pan over high heat, warm the peanut oil.  Working in batches if needed to avoid crowding, add beef and cook, turning once or twice, until lightly seared, 2-3 minutes.  Transfer to plate.

Add NO onion and asparagus to pan and cook until tender-crips, 2-3 minutes.  Add garlic and red pepper flakes and stir fry 15 seconds.

To finish dish, return meat and any juices from plate to pan, add hoisin mixture and stir well.  Simmer briefly until heated through.

Serve over steamed brown rice.

(Serves 4)
(Williams-Sonoma Food Made Fast)

We enjoyed this meal on our new outdoor dining table.  We finally bought a set after being here 6 years.  We've been talking about it 6 years and finally did it!

 Was it 108 degrees?  Why, yes!  Did flies multiply while we ate?  Why, yes!  Did we all get bitten at least once by a mosquito?  Why, yes!  But damnit, we were eating outside on our new table and we were going to enjoy it!!  Now hurry up and run inside!!

 Yes, the boys loved it and Riley served himself another plate!

 But don't run inside until we finish up that Cherry Vanilla Ice Cream......wowza!!