Romantic dinners can be fast inexpensive and intimate. Food sometimes illuminates the flavor of a culture gone past. A culture during a time when we our ancestors were negroe, colored or just plain black. Our ethnic dishes accentuate our African American roots and ingredients of dexterity. Home made dishes from home grown heroes. Entrees, dinners and desserts that have coursed time and challenged assimilation. The recipes here on this site have been selected for their simplicity and detail. So enjoy and hopefully these will soon be your favorite dishes. Health food is great, but, every one needs a break now and then...

 

Five Spice Beef

Preparation Time: 20 min
Cooking Time: 2 hours

Sauce Ingredients:

• 1 cup light soy sauce
• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• Knob of fresh ginger the size of a small walnut, peeled and smashed
• 2 cloves garlic, peeled
• 2 scallions left whole
• 2 tablespoons five spice powder or mixed spices (available at Chinese stores), wrapped in a square of cheesecloth (muslin)
  
  1 pound beef shin (gravy beef), in one whole round piece with no cuts
  

Bring all the ingredients for the simmering sauce to a boil in a pot large enough to hold the piece of beef. Place the beef in the pot, and bring the sauce back to boil. Reduce the heat to low, and simmer for 2 hours.

Remove the beef and chill in the refrigerator for at least several hours, or preferably overnight.

Thinly slice and serve as a cold appetizer.