DRY-FRIED BEEF

Steps:

• Slice the carrots, celery, ginger, and flank steak into very thin matchstick-size pieces, 1 inch long.
• (Be patient. This takes a long time.) Slice the scallions lengthwise, and then cut them into 1 inch long pieces.
• Heat 2T of the oil in a wok, and flash-fry the carrots until they are limp.
• Do not brown them.
• Wipe the wok out, and repeat for the celery.
• Wipe the wok out again, add the remaining 2T oil and the palm sugar.
• When the oil is hot, and the sugar is bubbling, add the scallions and the flank steak.
• Stir-fry 3 minutes, then add the soy sauce, and continue to stir-fry until the liquid is reduced, about 5 minutes.
• Return the carrots and celery to the wok.
• Add ginger root.
• Turn the heat down very low, and continue cooking, stirring continuously, for 1/2 hour.
• The ingredients will lose most of their remaining liquid turn dark.
• In the traditional version of this dish, at this point the cooking is complete.
• Continue cooking and stirring, over extremely low flame, for another hour, until the ingredients become brittle and dark, like a pile of burnt sticks.
• Toss the remaining ingredients into the dish and serve with steamed rice.