Beef and Broccoli stir fry

• 1-2 inches of Fresh Ginger ( smashed or minced) or substitute 1-2 T of minced ginger from a bottle.
• 2-3 Fresh Garlic cloves(smashed or minced) or substitute 1-2 T of minced garlic from a jar.
• Oil (olive, corn, etc)
• 1 lb of Beef cut into strips (1/4 inch by 2 inches-ish)
• 1-2 heads of broccoli cut into similar size pieces (or a bag of cut up broccoli)
• 6 T Soy Sauce (good stuff, use tamari if you can get it)
• 4 T Mirin (rice wine)
  
• 1 T Brown Sugar
  
• 2 T corn starch
• serve with rice.

substitute beef or broccoli with other ingredients, just make sure you cook them separately as the might cook at different speeds. You can also use frozen broccoli or vegetables, tofu, mushrooms etc.
With large pan on high heat, stir fry the garlic and ginger in oil for a minute or two, then stir fry the beef first (I do it in two batches) and when brown put into covered bowl. Then cook the broccoli (to shortcut the broccoli, microwave it and then saute it only long enough to brown). Mix well the Soy sauce, Mirin, brown sugar and cornstarch in small bowl. Put all the beef and broccoli back. With heat on high, pour the sauce into the pan. Mix well with beef and broccoli and wait until the sauce boils (that is when the cornstarch will thicken it). Then turn heat off and cover until served.