Le Hamburger Saute

I look like Super-Cook to my family when I produce this meal minutes after we come home from late after-school programs.

set as subhed: Ground Beef Saute

* Finely chop half an onion and saute it until translucent in a skillet with vegetable oil over high heat.

* Add 1 pound ground beef and saute until browned.

* Add enough water to cover the bottom of the pan, about 3 tablespoons soy sauce, 1 teaspoon sugar and 1 tablespoon mirin (sweet rice wine for cooking) or dry Sherry. (You can omit this and the kids will still like it, but the addition of mirin makes the dish more than the sum of its simple parts.)

* Reduce heat, stir and simmer 2 minutes. Add 1 1/2 cups frozen baby peas, cover and simmer 3 minutes.

* Pour 2 to 4 beaten eggs (you can leave out some of the yolks if you want) over the meat and peas, cover again and simmer another 2 to 3 minutes until the eggs are set.

* Serve with white rice that you have made in your rice cooker (1 1/3 cups raw rice should be done by the time the table is set).

--PEGGY NORRIS

Westwood

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