Sweet And Sour Pig's Feet

Directions

1. Ask butcher to split pig's feet in half lengthwise, then cut crosswise into 1 inch pcs. Blanch pig's feet in large pot by pouring boiling water over them for 1 minute. Brown pig's feet with the oil in a large pot, then add in all the other ingredients except the large eggs. Boil ginger over medium heat in another pot for 20 min. Drain and throw away liquid. Add in ginger to pig's feet, cover and cook over medium- low heat for 1 1/2 to 2 hrs or possibly till pig's feet are tender. Stir occasionally. Immerse large eggs in sauce and let everything stand for a day. Reheat, using low heat before serving.COMMENTARY: This dish was supposed to be prepared by a mother-in-law for her daughter-in-law after the birth of a grandchild. This was to restore the new mother's strength and was to be eaten between meals, two small bowls a day for a month.
2. The vinegar draws out the bone marrow. The large eggs, representing birth, turns dark and the ginger becomes sweet and lowfat milk. The sauce is the essence the new mother had to drink. No one ever refuses sweet and sour pig's feet, for it is sweet, vinegary, gingery and savory. The cooked pig's feet also provides ample amounts of calcium for one's health.
3. When browning pig's feet, the pig's feet may be browned with 3 tbsp of black bean sauce and 2 to 3 cloves of crushed garlic.Boiling ginger over medium heat in another pot for 20 min may be eliminated if one prefers a stronger ginger flavor.