They say that hindsight is 20/20, but perspective can also be clouded by nostalgia. And that is especially true if you grew up in the 1970s. Sure, it was a decade that will mostly be remembered for Vietnam and Watergate, but, for those of us who grew up in the '70s, it was the sweetest time to be alive. It was an innocent era where disco reigned supreme and we all had haircuts that made us look like Chia Pets. From the glorious simplicity of pet rocks to the musical lessons of Sonny & Cher, in my opinion, it was the absolute best decade to be a kid.
The world felt more safe and secure because of Fred Rogers. School lunches had a flexible definition of "healthy." We would head to the video arcade with a pocket full of quarters, and when the money was gone, so were you. A private phone call depended on the length of your rotary phone cord. Beer was an ingredient in shampoo, and everyone wanted to be Dorthy Hamill. Learning "The Bump" and "The Hustle" were the only dance moves necessary. It was possible to open junk mail without worrying about viruses. We were allowed outside without parental supervision, and we learned everything we needed to know from Schoolhouse Rock. If somebody wanted to bully you, they had to do it in person. You pretended to be either the Six Million Dollar Man or the Bionic Woman. We had both The Muppet Show and Happy Days, and nobody was cooler than the Evil Kinevil except for the Fonz..
When Grover from Sesame Street asked ‘which one of these things is not like the other’ it wasn’t about race, gender, or sexuality. In those days where you were reprimanded for wrongdoings, given second chances, and expected to play nice with everyone. Birthday parties were for roller skating, cartoons and sugary cereal were Saturday morning staples, and curfews were set around the streetlight schedule. The first day of school meant carrying a new box of crayons and holding hands with new friends on the playground who were a similar rainbow of color. And along with funky Billy Chin and little Sammy Chung, everybody really was Kung Fu Fighting.
Jackie Chan's Kung Pao Cauliflower
INGREDIENTS
- 1 large head cauliflower, cut into florets
- 2 tablespoons cornstarch
- 2 tablespoons canned full fat coconut milk
- sea salt
- freshly cracked black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes, or a handful of Chiles de Arbol
- 1 pinch black pepper
- 4 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
- 2 teaspoons brown sugar
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 green onions, chopped, thinly sliced plus more for serving
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1-inch fresh ginger, grated
- 1/4 cup salted peanuts, chopped, plus more for serving
- jasmine rice, for serving (hint, I add a little fish sauce to my rice after cooking)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Preheat oven to 425 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment.
- In a large bowl, toss the cauliflower with 1 tablespoon cornstarch to coat. Add the coconut milk tossing to evenly coat all the florets. Spread the cauliflower in an even layer on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle with salt and pepper.
- Transfer to the oven and bake for 15 minutes or until the cauliflower is just beginning to tenderize.
- While the cauliflower is roasting, make the sauce. Combine the soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar, sesame oil, brown sugar, red pepper flakes or chiles, and a pinch of pepper. Add 1/4 cup water and the remaining 1 tablespoons cornstarch, whisking until combined and smooth.
- Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic, ginger, and green onions, and cook 2-3 minutes or until fragrant. Stir in the soy sauce mixture and bring to a boil over medium heat. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low.
- Add the cauliflower and cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat, stir in the peanuts.
- Serve the cauliflower and sauce over bowls of rice. Top with additional peanuts and green onions.
