Welcome!

Welcome to Simple Fare, Fairly Simple. This is a place for me to post recipes of all kinds...along with other miscellaneous fodder from my so-called life here in the south. Who knows what you will find here. Could be anything from my husband...known as IT Guy...to my kids and beautiful grandbabies that are growing up way too fast right before my eyes. But...mostly this will be a place for food. I hope you'll see something you like and if you decide to try something from the list...leave me a comment and let me know!



Tuesday, April 1, 2014

Ground Beef Egg Rolls with Sweet & Sour Sauce

I'm not sure where my mom got the recipe for these, but she's had it for years. She used to make them for us and we always thought they were so fun and different. If you've got a hankerin' for something out of the ordinary...try these. A little bit on the Asian side with a little American thrown in for good measure. You can make them as a main dish or serve them as appetizers. The original recipe used won-ton wrappers but I cut to the chase and made the egg roll size. Good either way!

Ground Beef Egg Rolls 
with Sweet & Sour Sauce



1 pound ground beef
12 water chestnuts ~ finely diced

2 green onions ~ diced
2 eggs ~ beaten
1 teaspoon oil
2 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons soy sauce
4 tablespoons water
1 teaspoon salt
1 package egg roll wrapper

Egg wash (1 egg beaten with a little water)

Combine all ingredients in a medium sized bowl.

Heat 2 - 3 cups of oil in a large saucepan over medium heat.

Place 3 - 4 tablespoons of meat filling on an egg roll wrapper and fold to enclose filling. Brush with egg wash around the edges to seal.

Fry egg rolls for 3 - 4 minutes until golden brown.

Serve with sweet & sour sauce. Recipe follows.


Sweet & Sour Sauce

1/3 cup rice vinegar
5 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon ketchup
1 teaspoon soy sauce
4 teaspoons cornstarch mixed with 4 teaspoons water


In a small saucepan, combine the vinegar, brown sugar, ketchup, and soy sauce.

In a small bowl, mix together the cornstarch and water and add to vinegar mixture.

Heat over medium heat until mixture thickens and boils.

Remove from heat and serve with egg rolls.



Here's what you need for the egg rolls. Oops. And 2 green onions.
Here's what you need for the 
egg rolls. Oops. And 2 green onions.


Throw it all in a bowl.
Throw it all in a bowl.


Mix it up.
Mix it up.


Place about 3 tablespoons of the meat mixture on an egg roll wrapper. Brush the edges with the egg wash.
Place about 3 tablespoons of 
the meat mixture on an egg roll 
wrapper. Brush the edges with the egg wash.


Bring up the bottom portion.
Bring up the bottom portion.


Fold in the sides.
Fold in the sides.


Fold down the sharp corners.
Fold down the sharp corners.


Roll 'em up, fry 'em up! Rah! Rah! Rah!
Roll 'em up, fry 'em up! Rah! Rah! Rah!


Nice and golden brown.
Nice and golden brown.


The stuff for the sauce!
The stuff for the sauce!


Throw it all in a saucepan and stir over medium heat until thick and bubbly.
Throw it all in a saucepan and stir 
over medium heat until thick and bubbly.


Egg rolls and sweet & sour sauce. Yummy!
Egg rolls and sweet & sour sauce. Yummy!