Chop Suey Retro 60's Style

This is Mama's Mama's recipe from 'back in the day'! I remember eating this as a kid and loving it. When friends came over on Chop Suey night they looked at it and said- No way, I don't eat that! but then tried it and LOVED it too! This was a great way to get us to eat some veggies we otherwise would have turned our nose up at. Hope you enjoy this retro recipe! My mother got it from an old Woolworth's Cookbook. There are lots of items readily available in our times so substitutions and additions are endless! I would add some canned baby corn, and use straw mushrooms and maybe even some fresh bok choy in place of the bean sprouts- i never did care for those anyway! I am also gonna try this now with turkey or chicken bc I don't eat pork or beef anymore. Please zmail me if you remember eating this recipe back then and we can compare hula hoop stats!

• Ready In: 20 mins
• Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 1  tablespoon shortening
• 1 1⁄2 lbs pork or 1 1⁄2 lbs beef, cut in 1/2-inch cubes
•  salt
•  pepper
•  flour
• 1  large onion, diced
• 3  cups celery, sliced
• 3  tablespoons soy sauce
• 2  tablespoons molasses
• 8  ounces mushrooms, canned reserve liquid
• 8  ounces sliced water chestnuts
•  bean sprouts, canned (optional) or  bean sprouts, fresh (optional)

• Garnish

•  white rice
•  chow mein noodles
•  soy sauce

Directions

1. Chicken option: I sliced some chicken breast thinly and stir fried it then continued with the remaining steps and ingredients using sir frying rather than the pressure cooker. Worked wonderfully.
2. Heat shortening in cooker. Dust meat with lightly with seasoned flour and brown meat in batches in hot, smoky oil.
3. Add onion, celery, soy, molasses, and reserved liquids from canned vegetables adding water to equal 1 cup.
4. Cover and set rocker. (The book doesn't specify a setting so I would use 10 lbs) Heat until you get a steady rocking and cook 10 minutes.
5. Allow to cool.
6. Stir in vegetables and heat through. If using fresh bean sprouts cook until they are done to your taste.
7. Mom served this over rice with chow mein noodles on top and extra soy sauce.