ASIAN BEEF WITH MANDARIN ORANGES

Contributed by Annette Ashton

• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 2 pound boneless beef chuck cut into 1/2-inch strips
• 1 small onion thinly sliced
• 1/3 cup soy sauce
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons minced fresh ginger
• 1 small green bell pepper sliced
• 1 package (about 3 ounces) shiitake mushrooms, sliced
• 1 head bok choy cleaned and chopped
• 1 can (5 oz) Sliced water chestnuts
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• 1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained and syrup reserved
• 2 cups beef broth
• 6 cups steamed rice

Heat vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add beef, in batches if necessary, and cook, turning to brown on all sides. Transfer beef to 4 1/2-quart slow cooker as it is browned.

Add onion to the same skillet. Stir over medium heat until softened. Add next soy sauce, salt, ginger, green pepper, mushrooms, bok choy, and water chestnuts and cook until bok choy is wilted, about 5 minutes. Spoon mixture over beef.

Whisk together corn starch and reserved mandarin orange syrup in a medium bowl. Stir in beef broth and pour over ingredients in the slow cooker. Cover and cook on low for 10 hours or on high for 5 to 6 hours or until beef is tender.

Stir in mandarin oranges. Spoon steamed rice into a shallow serving bowl and spoon beef over rice.