Recipe - Stir-Fried Velvet Spinach With Glass Noodles

2 pound Spinach
2 ounce Bean Threads (Glass Noodles)
3 tablespoon Corn Or Peanut Oil
1 One fourth teaspoon Kosher Salt
One half teaspoon Sugar, (Or More If Desired)
2 teaspoon Oriental Sesame Oil

In a large covered saucepan, bring 2 to 2One half quarts of unsalted water to a
boil over high heat. Discard any straggly spinach leaves and white roots,
then use scissors to cut stems and large leaves into 2inch sections. Cut
bulky stem clusters and any red root tips intact. In large bowl, plunge cut
spinach into several changes of cold water, gently pumping up and down to
remove grit. Drain in colander and shake off excess water. Plunge spinach
into boiling water. After 1 minute, drain spinach in colander, flush with
cold running water until chilled, then press lightly with palms of hands to
remove excess water. Fluff spinach gently to loosen mass. In mediumsize
bowl, cover bean threads with 3 to 4 cups of heated water, without removing
binding of rubber bands or strings. If bean threads are from Taiwan or
Thailand, use hot water; if they are from the People's Republic of China,
use boiling water. When pliable, after about 10 seconds use scissors to cut
through loop ends or center of skein, thereby cutting bean threads into
manageable 4 to 5inch lengths. Cut rubber bands or strings and discard
them, then swish bean threads to disperse in water. After another 10 to 15
seconds, when bean threads are firm like rubber bands to the touch
rinse briefly with cool water and drain again. skillet over high heat until
hot enough to evaporate a bead of water on contact. Add oil, swirl to coat
pan, then reduce heat to mediumhigh. When hot enough to sizzle a bit of
spinach on contact, add spinach and toss briskly another minute. Add
noodles and, using spatula, blend with several quick stirs until heated
through. Add sesame oil, toss briskly to combine, then remove from heat.
Arrange several rosytipped spinach stems on top, if desired, and serve at
once. Source: Barbara Tropp, Great Meals in Minutes ISBN: 0316850659

From Gemini's MASSIVE MealMaster collection at www.synapse.com/~gemini