Four Happiness Pork is a Shanghai specialty. You will not find this dish on restaurant menus because it is too time-consuming. However, it is as common to Chinese families as roast beef is to Western families. It is delicious with steamed buns and any vegetable dish.  Serves 4 to 6.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 2 hours, 15 minutes

Total Time: 2 hours, 30 minutes

Ingredients:

1 1/2 pounds lean pork
1 cup water
2 tablespoons sherry
6 tablespoons dark soy sauce
2 slices ginger
1 scallion
2 tablespoons sugar

Preparation:

Put pork in boiling water. Boil 1 minute. Drain. Rinse in cold water.

Cut pork in 2-inch cubes.

Put pork and 1 cup water in an earthenware or any other heavy pot. Bring water to boil. Add sherry, soy sauce, ginger, and scallion.

Cover pot tightly. Simmer over very low heat 2 hours.

Add sugar. Bring to high heat. Baste until gravy coats the meat.

May be prepared in advance. May be frozen. Reheat before serving.