Fried Rice

• 8 cups cooked rice, preferably several days old 
• 1 cup sausage cut into very small pieces - Chinese sausage, OR regular sausage or salami works too (OPTIONAL)
• 2  cups baby shrimp (frozen is okay - rinse or soak in cool water to thaw)
• 1 cup frozen peas (or 2 C of mix veggies--peas/corn/green beans--I buy a bag from the frozen section) 
• 3 spring (green) onions, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped or minced
• 4 egg (scramble--my kids love egg so I usually add about 6) 
• 1 Tbsp. oyster sauce (I used Kikkoman brand)
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 Tbsp. soy sauce
• 2 Tbsp. fish sauce (available in tall bottles at Asian/Chinese food stores)
• 2 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 to 1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper (optional ----adjust according to how spicy or mild you want it)
• pepper 
• oil for stir-frying

Preparation:

Rice Tip: For good-quality fried rice, leftover rice is best - anywhere from several days up to 1 week old. The key is to make the rice as dry as possible. If using freshly cooked rice, spread it out in a large bowl and place uncovered in the refrigerator for several hours (or overnight) before frying.

1. Drizzle 2 Tbsp. oil over the rice and gently work it through with your fingers, eliminating any lumps or clumps and separating into individual grains as much as possible. Set aside.
2. Mix all stir-fry sauce ingredients together in a cup. Set aside. Place 2 Tbsp. oil in a wok or large frying pan over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and stir-fry to release the fragrance (1 minute).
3. Add the shrimp, sausage or pork or chicken (any protein)  and stir-fry another 1-3 minutes, or until shrimp and sausage are cooked (you may be using pre-cooked shrimp and sausage, in which case this will only take 1 minute)....if you are using pork or chicken then make sure it is fully cooked..which will take longer than the shrimp 
4. Next add the eggs and scramble ..pushing all the other ingredients to the side ...or you pour it out into a bowl and set aside while you are cooking up your egg
5. Next add your rice and veggies and stir fry them up...mix them up really well..once everything is incorporated really well..pour back in your protein mixture and mix everything up really well...turn heat on high and cook...
6. Remove from  heat and taste..if you like it more saltier..add a little bit more fish sauce...and etc...I like it kinda spicy so I usually add more pepper or chili 
7. garnish with green onion