Plain Chop Suey

1 lb pork, veal or beef (1/2" cubes)
1 cup celery (cut fine)
1 cup onions (sliced)
4 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon bead molasses
1 #2 can bean sprouts
2 tablespoons fat
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1 cup water
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms (optional)
1 teaspoon sugar

1. Brown the meat in hot fat.
2. Add celery, onions, salt, pepper and water.
3. Cook until tender.
4. Add mushrooms and sugar.
5. Add bean sprouts
6. Add soy sauce and molasses. Mix well.
7. Thicken gravy with 3 tablespoons conrstarch dissolved in 1/3 cup cold water.
Serve with hot rice.

Serves 4.

[Handwritten. Attributed to Mrs. Callahan, 5331 East Verde Lane, Phoenix, 85018. I have some questions. First, who is Mrs. Callahan? Second, what is "bead" molasses? Third, this recipe is not written in Ada's handwriting, although the attribution to Mrs. Callahan is. So who wrote it? Mrs. Callahan? One of Ada's daughters? It's hard to imagine these days, since we never handwrite recipes anymore. Anyway, if anyone has any answers to these questions, please let me know.]