Green Bean Stir Fry with Sambal

This is going to have to be short post, since I'm in the middle of exams. I want to keep my promise of updating at least once a week. Besides, this is my study break...along with shopping online, reading food blogs and youtubing. I need to go to shopaholics anon or something. During exams, I keep randomly buying crap. I already spent 50 bucks on clothes. That purchase is justified since I really needed more shorts :/ But another 60 bucks on dinner plates. WHAT? Yes, dinner plates and bowls. Umm no idea?? Sometimes you just make the wrong choices on those shopping sites like Gilt or Ruelala, and they give you 10 mins to decide and then..and then... :'(

Oh and if you like http://www.gilt.com/invite/mabelcchan. That's my referral link so you can continue to feed by addiction :D

So I also bought these pretty rad skinnies from Diesel but now I'm not too sure if I should return them...

Factoid: Skinny Jeans Can Kill Damage your Health
On ABC recently, I was watching an interview with Dr. Karen Boyle from Greater Baltimore Medical Center. She's been seeing many women coming into her clinic suffering pain from wearing tight jeans. The disorder is apparently called "Meralgia Paresthetica" or when one of the nerves running in your outer thigh gets compressed. The pressure can cause tingling, numbness and intense pain. Some report a floating sensation (doesn't sound too bad) but they can't feel their lower legs :/


The news is even worse when you (men & women) wear high heels because it can cause the pelvis to tilt and increase the pressure on the nerves. We learned from our Sexual Reproduction Class this year about what it can do for men! Way-too-tight jeans for men reduce airflow around the crotchal area and make it really hot down there (in a bad way). Normally it's kept nice and cool, otherwise its infertility and a lower sperm count. 


Sorry for being the bearer of bad news. But guys really shouldn't be wearing pants tighter than women's skinnies right? 


Here's a quick vegetable dish to accompany rice. You can make it vegan/vegetarian by substituting out the dried shrimp with a little soy sauce.


Green Bean Stir-fry with Sambal

Ingredients
3 dried shrimps soaked in water until soft
4 garlic cloves minced
1 tsp ginger minced
2 tbsp sambal chili sauce (+ salt if needed)
3 cups green beans
2 tbsp water
2 tsp chili powder

Soak the dried shrimp in water for about 5 mins. Then mince it up real good so it is almost paste like.
This is optional for vegetarians but it gives a more umami flavor.

Mince your garlic and ginger. Trim your green beans and cut them in half.

Heat up a frying pan, add about 1-2 tbsp of oil to it. Once the oil is heated, add the garlic, ginger and paste. Fry that until the moisture from the shrimp has evaporated a bit. Around 3 mins.
I doubled the recipe so this looks like a lot.

Add the Sambal sauce and stir fry that for 30 secs.

Toss in your green beans and add the water. Give it a good stir and let it cook for about 2 mins.

Add some salt to your liking and add chili powder.
Keep stirring it so that the green beans get a good coat of sauce. Another 3 mins. It's done when the green beans are soft but still has a good amount of crunch.