Mouth-watering Mongolian Beef

This is one of those meals you take seconds of just because it tastes so good, not because you're still hungry!

Ingredients:
1 tsp sesame seeds

1 tbsp soy sauce
1 tbsp cornstarch
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 pound beef round steak, cut into thin strips (slicing tip I learned from my friend Lori: freeze, partially thaw and it's easier to get super thin slices and! more beef for your buck! : ) Okay, so really, it's not more beef, but it is more slices which makes the meal go further!

3/4 cup water
2 tbsp soy sauce
2 1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 tsp white sugar
1 tsp red pepper flakes

2 tbsp vegetable oil, divided
1 carrot, thinly sliced (I use a mandolin slicer for paper thin slices)
1 bunch, green onions, cut into 2 inch pieces

Directions:
In a dry skillet, over medium heat, toast sesame seeds for 1 to 2 minutes, or until the seeds begin to turn golden brown; set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together 1 tbsp soy sauce, 1 tbsp cornstarch and minced garlic. Stir in beef strips. Let stand for at least 10 minutes.

In a separate bowl, mix together water, 2 tbsp soy sauce, 2 1/2 tsp cornstarch, sugar, sesame seeds and red pepper flakes; set aside.
Heat 1 tbsp of oil in a wok or skillet over high heat. Cook and stir beef in hot oil for 1 minute; remove and set aside. Heat remaining tbsp of oil in the same pan. Saute carrots and white part of green onions for 2 minutes. (We omit the white part of the onion and just saute the carrots and onions together for 1 minute or so.) Stir in green parts of the onion and saute for 1 minute. Stir in sesame seed mixture and beef. Cook and stir until sauce boils and thickens.

Serve over rice. Also, we toast some extra seeds to sprinkle on top on individual plates.

It's a super easy meal to make, takes about 30-45 minutes from start to finish and is so, so good! If you're ever had chinese food in Slovenia, it's just like the Mongolian Beef from the restaurants here! Super yummy! You gotta try it!