Hot and Sour Cabbage

5 ea Napa cabbage leaves

3 T Peanut oil

4 ea Large dried chili peppers

1/2 T Szechuan peppercorns

1/2 t Salt

1 T Thin soy sauce

1/2 T Rock sugar

1/2 T Chinkiang vinegar

1 t Sesame oil

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ ++++ Preparation: Separate, wash & dry cabbage leaves. Stack them up and cut them crosswise into 1" wide pieces. Finely mince or grind Szechuan peppercorns. Crush rock sugar with cleaver handle; mix with soy sauce; reserve. Stir-frying: Heat wok to moderate; add oil. Wait 30 seconds. Stir-fry whole chilis until they just blacken; quickly

add peppercorns. When they exude pungent odor, push up side of wok and raise heat to high. Add salt & cabbage all at once. Keep tossing cabbage until it is wilted & soft. This takes several minutes. There should be about 2 T of water in wok when cabbage is wilted. Add sugar & soy mixture. When sugar has melted, toss with cabbage, then sprinkle vinegar over all. Keep tossing on high heat for another 20 seconds. Add sesame oil; toss briefly; remove to serving dish. If serving this dish cold, wait until it has cooled, then cover & refrigerate.