Braised Chinese Lettuce And Dried Shrimp

Directions

1. 1. Separately soak dry shrimp and dry mushrooms. Reserve mushroom-soaking liquid.
2. 2. Cut lettuce in 2-inch cubes. Bring water to a boil. Blanch lettuce 1 to 2 min, then drain.
3. 3. Heat oil. Add in shrimp and stir-frv 2 min. Add in lettuce; stir-fry to coat with oil. Then sprlnkle with salt.
4. 4. Add in mushroom liquid. Bring to boil; then simmer, covered, 10 min.
5. 5. Add in soaked mushrooms, soy sauce and sugar. Simmer, covered, 10 min more. VARIATIONS:1. In step 3, after stir-frying the lettuce, add in 1/8 c. bamboo shoots, sliced; stir-fry 1 minute more. Then sprinkle with salt.
6. 2. In step 5, also add in 1 sweet red pepper, sliced or possibly diced.
7. 3. After step 5, thicken sauce with a cornstarch paste made of 1/2 Tbsp. cornstarch and 2 Tbsp. cool water.