Chinese Feast with Friends

There's nothing I love more than having friends over for a dinner. So what started out as a gentle dinner party quickly turned into quite the group- and I loved it! It was definitely an interesting mix of people, which led to a night of good food and good conversation.

Crab Wontons
1 gallon vegetable oil
24 wonton wrappers
Flour for dusting
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
8 ounces flaked crab meat
1/2 red bell pepper, minced
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large pot until it's 350 degrees. Lay wonton wrappers out on wax paper dusted with flour. Combine remaining ingredients in a bowl. Place a tablespoon of mixture on each skin. Brush water around the edges of the wonton skins and then press together to seal. Cook wontons in batches about 2 minutes, making sure to turn so each side cooks evenly. Place on a paper towel-lined plate to drain. Serve with sweet chili sauce.

Fried Rice

2 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 red onion, minced
1 red bell pepper, halved, seeded and minced
1 green pepper, halved, seeded and minced
3 carrots, peeled and chopped
1 cup peas
3 cup cooked broccoli florets
5 cups cooked rice, cold
4 eggs, beaten
1/2 cup soy sauce, plus more as needed

Heat oil in a large nonstick skillet or wok on medium high heat. Saute garlic and onion for 2 minutes. Add in peppers and carrots and cook another 2 or 3 minutes. Add peas and broccoli and cook another minute. Stir in rice and cook another 2 to 3 minutes. Make a well in the middle of the skillet and pour in egg, letting cook for 2 minutes. Stir together and add soy sauce. Enjoy!

Chili Shrimp

2 pounds jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
1/2 cup vegetable oil, divided
1 tablespoon hot chili paste
1 tablespoon szechuan chili sauce
1 tablespoon crushed red pepper
Salt and pepper to taste

Place shrimp in a large bowl. Combine 1/4 cup oil and remaining ingredients and toss with shrimp. Let marinate in the fridge for 2 hours. Heat a large skillet on medium high heat and warm remaining 1/4 cup oil. Saute shrimp about 4 minutes until curling. Serve immediately.

Ginger Beef

3 pounds top sirloin, cut into 1 inch strips
2 inches ginger, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 cup vegetable oil, divided
1/4 cup soy sauce
Salt and pepper to taste

Combine beef, ginger, garlic, 1/4 cup vegetable oil, soy sauce and salt and pepper. Marinate for at least 2 hours. Heat a large skillet on medium high heat with remaining oil. Cook about 4 minutes until browned on each side.