Beef with Broccoli -- The Stew That Held Us Together

Week five of radiation. Five sessions this week, five more next week. Sean's energy is lower than last week. He has skipped teaching entirely for the last six days. His department chair has taken over his classes for the rest of the semester. Sean took this hard. He had wanted to teach the Civil Rights unit. He had prepared his Civil Rights unit for six summers. Someone else is teaching it from his materials now. I am grateful to that person. Sean is grateful in a conflicted way. He has released his grip on this semester. He is preserving his grip on the spring.

I passed my first NP exam Monday. Ninety-four percent. I told Sean. He smiled. He said "of course you did." He said "I married a nurse practitioner." I said "you married a Southie girl who does not quit." He said "same thing." We both laughed. Actually laughed. It was the first real laughter in the house in a while. Liam heard us from the other room. He came in. He said "what's funny." We said "Mommy passed a test." He said "what's a test." Sean started to explain. Sean explained the concept of a test to a four-year-old for eleven minutes. I listened. Sean is a teacher. Sean is always a teacher, even in his bathrobe, even with a shaved head, even on the couch with his eyes half-closed, he is a teacher. Liam received the explanation with full engagement. Liam said at the end "so Mommy is smart." Sean said "yes." Liam said "okay. I know." He went back to his trucks. Sean said quietly to me "he is so smart, Kate." I said "I know." He said "I hope he remembers me." I said "he will. I promise you he will." I said it without crying. I said it looking at him. He nodded. He closed his eyes.

That is one of the conversations I will have many times in the coming year. Sean has started preparing me. He is saying things sideways. He does not say "when I die." He says "if something happens." He says "later." He says "down the road." Each time I hear the real phrase underneath the phrase. I write them down, privately, in a notebook I keep in the drawer of my nightstand. The notebook is for later. It is for me, after. It is not for Sean. Sean does not know about it. The things he is telling me are too important not to preserve. I am the preservationist now.

Beef stew this weekend — the long braise, the red wine, the winter stew. Sean had half a bowl. Liam had a bowl. Nora had the carrots. The stew held up. It is always better the next day. We ate it Sunday, Monday, Tuesday.

My mother drove down Tuesday with two pies. Apple and pumpkin. She put them on the counter. She said "you are making Thanksgiving here." I said "Ma." She said "I am not arguing. Sean cannot come to Southie for a full day. Thanksgiving is in Quincy. I will cook most of it. You will let me." I said "okay, Ma." She said "I am not asking." She was not asking. Thanksgiving is in our kitchen this year. My mother will cook it.

The beef stew was Sunday through Tuesday, and by Wednesday I needed something quicker but still grounding — something that felt like effort without costing me what I didn’t have left. Beef with broccoli has always been Sean’s order on the nights we used to get takeout after his late department meetings, before all of this, and making it at home felt like handing him something familiar when almost nothing is familiar anymore. It comes together fast, it fills the kitchen with something good, and Liam will actually eat it, which on a week like this one counts for a great deal.

Beef with Broccoli

Prep Time: 15 min | Cook Time: 15 min | Total Time: 30 min | Servings: 4

Ingredients

• 1 lb flank steak or sirloin, thinly sliced against the grain
• 3 cups broccoli florets
• 3 tablespoons soy sauce, divided
• 2 tablespoons oyster sauce
• 1 tablespoon hoisin sauce
• 1 tablespoon cornstarch, divided
• 2 teaspoons sesame oil
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 teaspoon fresh ginger, grated
• 1/2 cup low-sodium beef broth
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1 teaspoon brown sugar
• Cooked white rice, for serving

Instructions

1. Marinate the beef. In a medium bowl, combine the sliced beef with 1 tablespoon soy sauce, 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch, and 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Toss to coat and let sit for at least 10 minutes while you prep the remaining ingredients.
2. Make the sauce. In a small bowl, whisk together the remaining 2 tablespoons soy sauce, oyster sauce, hoisin sauce, beef broth, brown sugar, remaining 1/2 tablespoon cornstarch, and remaining 1 teaspoon sesame oil. Set aside.
3. Blanch the broccoli. Bring a pot of salted water to a boil. Add the broccoli florets and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until bright green and just tender. Drain and set aside.
4. Sear the beef. Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok over high heat until shimmering. Add the marinated beef in a single layer and sear without stirring for 1 minute, then stir-fry for another 1 to 2 minutes until just cooked through. Remove beef from the pan and set aside.
5. Cook the aromatics. In the same pan over medium-high heat, add the garlic and ginger. Cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
6. Bring it together. Return the beef and broccoli to the pan. Pour the sauce over everything and toss to coat. Cook for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently, until the sauce thickens and coats the beef and broccoli evenly.
7. Serve. Serve immediately over steamed white rice.

Nutrition (per serving)

Calories: 310 | Protein: 28g | Fat: 13g | Carbs: 18g | Fiber: 2g | Sodium: 780mg