Beef Stew

To make enough for 4~6 people.

Ingredients:

[1] beef shank, 2.1/2~3 lbs 

[2] 1 cup of chopped onion ( about 1 large )
[3] 1 large carrot, cut into chunks of 1~1.1/2 inches in size.

[4] 2 star anise

[5] 12 black pepper

[6] 1/2 cup of cooking wine (like sake)
[7] oil, 3 table spoons

[8] salt

[9] sugar, 1 tea spoon

[10] bean sauce, 3 big tea spoons.

[11] 2 scallions, cut into 2 inches in length

[12] 10 big slices of ginger

Directions:

[a]. a pot of water, bring to boil, put [1] in, bring to boil again, stay boil for 1 minute.

[b]. shut off heat, rinse [1] in cold water, cut into ~1.1/2 inches cubes. ==>[A]

[c]. +[7] in pan, medium heat, when oil is hot, +[2]+[11]+[12] stir thoroughly for 1 minute.

[d]. +[A]+[10], stir evenly until fragrant

[e]. +[4]+[5]+[6] bring to boil, then lower heat to simmer for an hour

[f].  turn off heat for an hour

[g]. turn heat back on, +[9], when boil, lower heat to simmer for another 15 minutes, then +[3]

[h]. when the meat and carrot are soft, turn off the heat.

Note:

-- [8] is optional.  the bean sauce is kinda salty already.
-- steps [e] to [h], stir occasionally to make sure the carrot and meat are soaked in the juice evenly.