Food: Sukiyaki

• 1 ½ cups water
• ½ cup soy sauce
• ¼ cup sake
• ¼ cup mirin
• ¼ cup sugar
• 1 Tbs vegetable oil
• 1-½ pounds beef sirloin strips
• 2 cups cabbage, chopped
• 2 cups bok choy, chopped
• 8 small shiitake mushrooms, de-stemmed
• 1 leek, sliced
• 3 packets fresh udon noodles

Mix together the water, soy sauce, sake and mirin in a bowl and set aside. Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or wok. Add the sugar and mix it in to cook with the oil. Add the liquid ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for a few minutes to allow the alcohol from the sake to evaporate. Add the beef slices then add half the cabbage, bok choy, mushrooms and leeks. About half way through cooking, add the udon noodles. If the mixture gets dry, add more water or soya sauce.