Place the pig feet in a stockpot and cover them with water. Bring the water to a boil over medium-high heat, and cook the pig feet for about 3 minutes.  You should clean the pig feet and remove any hairs before completing this step. Parboiling the pig feet can help remove some of the odd flavor, thereby preventing it from leeching into the braising liquid you'll use during the primary portion of the cooking process. After parboiling the pig feet, remove them from the water using a slotted spoon. Set them aside for now. Discard the cooking water. You should not reuse this water in later steps calling for additional water. Pour the cooking oil into a large, deep wok. Warm it on the stove for about 1 minute over medium-high heat.  The oil should become glossier and thinner, making it easy to spread it over the bottom of the pan. Note that you could use a Dutch oven or stockpot if you do not have a deep wok. Add the sliced ginger, sliced garlic, and scallion to the oil. Cook for 1 minute, stirring frequently, then add the chili peppers, star anise, and cloves. Stir-fry for an additional 2 minutes.  Stir frequently to prevent any of the ingredients from burning. You only need to cook them long enough to release the scent and flavor from each ingredient. Note that the amount of chili peppers should vary depending on personal taste. Use 3 dried chili peppers if you prefer mild to moderate heat or 5 dried chili peppers if you enjoy strong heat. Add the drained pig feet, soy sauce, rice wine, sugar, and salt to the wok. Pour in enough water to just barely cover the pig feet. Allow the braising broth to reach a rolling boil, stirring lightly as it heats up. Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Simmer the pig feet for about 2 hours, or until the meat is tender enough to nearly fall off the bone.  Stir the contents of the pot every 10 to 15 to prevent the pig feet from burning and sticking to the bottom. The sauce will eventually thicken. If this happens while the pig feet still seem tough, add more water 1 cup (250 ml) at a time and continue cooking. If the sauce still seems thin once the pig feet are done, remove the lid and increase the heat to medium. Continue boiling until the sauce reduces and thickens. Transfer the finished pig feet and sauce to individual serving dishes and enjoy them while they're still hot.

Summary: Briefly boil the pig feet. Drain and set aside. Heat the oil. Stir-fry the aromatic ingredients. Add the pig feet and remaining ingredients. Simmer until tender. Serve warm.


This can’t be stressed enough.  You’ll save on gas, vehicle maintenance, and car payments.  There are a variety of mass transit options.   Get a bus pass.  There are usually several spots to be picked up.  The schedules are fairly regular.  And in some locations, there are even employee commute plans and discounts.  Jump on the train.  Trains are a safe form of transportation that helps you avoid airport crowds, and you don’t have to do any driving.  On top of that, the scenery is great, the boarding times are flexible, and there are often discounted tickets for children.  Ride the subway.  Subway rides are incredibly affordable, flexible, and have diverse route combinations.  You can travel all over a large city with very minimal effort or strain on the wallet. Bike commuting often saves a bunch of time on the way to and from work.  Just remember to find a safe route, keep your bike working great, remain visible, and follow the rules of the road. If the store is just a mile down the road, take a walk.  Be sure to find a safe road or sidewalk when possible, and always walk facing traffic.  You’ll get some great exercise and you’ll thank yourself later.

Summary: Use mass transit. Ride your bike. Walk when possible.


Pick out a few ears that are at the ideal stage of ripeness for eating fresh and remove the husks and all traces of remaining silk. While you're shucking, heat a large pot of water until it just begins to boil, then add the corn. At the 3 minute mark, remove the ears from the pot carefully and set them aside on a layer of paper towels to cool. Leave the blanching water to continue boiling. You'll be using it later to pack the corn for canning. Allow the corn to rest until it's cool enough to handle. Then, stand each ear vertically on its end and run a knife down the side to loosen the whole kernels from the cob. Use a large bowl to collect the kernels as they fall, or scrape them into the bowl from your cutting board.  Be careful not to let the blade of the knife scrape against the cob. This can release a starchy liquid from the kernels, which may impact the flavor of the canned corn or it's ability to be safely preserved.  An electric knife can come in handy for making quick, clean cuts. If one of these tools isn't available, you can use either a smooth or serrated blade, provided it's sharp enough to avoid mangling the kernels. Spoon the kernels into the mouth of each jar, leaving 1 inch (2.5 cm) of space at the top. Give the jar a shake to help the corn settle. Avoid packing or compressing the kernels, as this may damage them.  It will take about 2.25 pounds (1,020 g) of whole corn, or about 4 average-sized ears, to fill 1 US-pint (470 ml)-sized canning jar. Double that amount for quart-sized jars.  Heat your canning jars under a stream of hot water before adding the corn. This will prevent them from cracking or shattering when you add the boiling canning liquid. The exact temperature isn't that important as long as the jars are still warm to the touch when the corn goes in. Though it's not a strict requirement, a little bit of salt can help preserve canned goods more effectively and for longer periods. For pint jars, a ½ teaspoon pinch will do. For larger quart-sized jars, you can use up to 1 full teaspoon. Use granulated iodized salt or kosher salt only. Pour the hot liquid steadily into each jar until it reaches the top layer of kernels. Avoid overfilling the jars—once again, you'll want to leave about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of headspace. Let the jars sit open for 3-5 minutes to cool slightly and allow trapped air bubbles to escape.  It may help to use a funnel or ladle to safely get the boiling liquid from the pot to the jars. Overfilling may cause the jars to burst when they're subjected to intense pressure. Place the jars in your canner and lock the lid, leaving the heat vent open. Adjust the canner to the appropriate pressure setting specified by the model and start it up. Once the steam stops escaping, close the vent. Pint jars should process for 55 minutes, while quart jars will need about 85. Afterwards, you can cool them off and put them into storage. When preserved by canning, sweet corn will stay good for a year or longer.  The exact pressure level you use will depend on the quantity of corn you're canning, as well as your location. As a general rule, however, you'll want to keep it somewhere between 11–13 pounds (5.0–5.9 kg).  Alternatively, you can do your canning the old fashioned way by submerging the sealed jars in boiling water until you hear the lids pop.
Summary: Blanch the corn for 3 minutes. Cut the kernels off of the cob. Fill canning jars with the corn kernels. Add ½-1 teaspoon of salt if desired. Fill the jar with the blanching water. Process the jars in a pressure canner.