basic chinese meal:
* rice
* beef (anything that you can slice thinly)
* ginger + garlic + pepper (great combo anywhere)
* tomatoes
* onions
* soy sauce
* sesame oil

1. start steaming the rice
2. thinly slice the beef
3. let beef sit in a bath of soy sauce and ginger/garlic/pepper in whatever ratio:
-- Ginger is for prickly, zesty, light flavors
-- Garlic is for sweetness, aroma, and mouthfeel
-- Pepper is for spiciness, aroma, and some tartness
4. While the beef is bathing, slice onions and tomatoes
5. Start frying the onions on low heat with the sesame oil for a few minutes, then add your beef and its bath
6. Let that come to a boil, then immediately reduce to a simmer to prevent the flavors from decaying as boiling tends to do.
7. Add the tomatoes
8. Once the bath is down to a manageable volume and the beef is fully cooked, serve over rice