PREPARE AHEAD: Shell the shrimp. With a small, sharp knife, make an incision down their backs and lift out the black or white intestinal vein with the point of the knife. Chop the shrimp fine.

 

To prepare the filling: Set a 12-inch wok or 10-inch skillet over high heat for 30 seconds. Pour in the Tbsp of oil, swirl it about in the pan and heat for another 30 seconds, turning the heat down if the oil begins to smoke. Add the pork and stir-fry for 1 minute, or until the meat loses its reddish color. Add the shrimp, soy sauce, wine, salt, water chestnuts and scallions, and stir-fry for another minute, or until the shrimp turn pink. Give the cornstarch mixture a stir to recombine it and pour it into the pan. Stir constantly until the liquid thickens, then transfer the contents of the pan to a bowl and cool to room temperature.

 

Cut homemade wonton wrappers or ready-made egg-roll wrappers into 3-1/2 inch squares. Ready-made wonton wrappers are already cut.

 

To assemble the wontons: Place 1-1/2 tsp of the filling in the center of each wonton wrapper. With a finger dipped in water, moisten the edges of the wrapper. Then bring one corner up over the filling to the opposite corner, but fold the wrapper at an angle so that the two overlapping triangles are formed, with their points side by side and about 1/2 inch apart. Pull the two bottom corners of the folded triangle forward and below the folded edge so that they meet one another and slightly over it, to crest a kind of frame around the mound of the filling. Moisten one end with a finger dipped in water and pinch the two ends firmly together.

 

As each wonton is finished, place it on a plate and cover it with a dry towel. If the wontons must wait longer than 30 minutes before cooking, cover them with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

 

To Cook: Set a 12-inch wok or 10-inch skillet over high heat and pour 3 cups of oil into it. Heat the oil until a haze forms above it or it registers 375 degrees F on a deep-frying thermometer. Deep-fry the wontons, 8 or 10 at a time, for 2 minutes, or until they are crisp and golden. Transfer to paper towels to drain while you fry the rest. Serve attractively arranged on a heated platter. Fried wontons can be kept warm for an hour or so in a 250 degree F oven, or reheated for 5 minutes in a 450 degree F oven.