Ox Tail Soup

This is a no fail, crock pot ox tail soup recipe from my dad. It's so delicious I haven't changed a thing (except downsizing the recipe because my crock pot is only 4 quarts or so). For those who don't like the sound of ox tail soup don't worry, it's basically a beef and rice soup that you won't regret trying.

INGREDIENTS
1 lb ox tails
6 cups water (or enough to cover meat plus a couple cups extra)
4 beef bouillon cubes (if you don't have beef bouillon cubes just use beef stock and omit water)
3 slivers crushed ginger
3 star anise
1 stalk green onion
1 pkg (1/2 cup to 1 cup) blanched peanuts

garnish to taste:
mustard cabbage, chopped width ways (long strips)
green onions, chopped
chinese parsley (cilantro), chopped
grated ginger and shoyu (soy sauce)
rice

DIRECTIONS
In the morning, place ox tails, water, bouillon cubes, ginger, star anise, and green onion in crock pot and set on low to cook for 12 hours. In the last hour of cooking, skim oil off the top of broth (this is very important because the broth will be very oily on top), add the blanched peanuts, and recover pot to finish cooking.

Ladle soup over rice (or some prefer the rice on the side), and garnish with mustard cabbage, green onions, chinese parsley, and the ginger and shoyu sauce to taste.

Note:
-Ox tails are basically beef tails so go ask the person behind the meat counter at your local supermarket (they probably won't have them ready in the case). Or if you can't find it then go to your local Asian or Latin food store and ask around there.
-The soup needs a long time to cook but if you only have 7 hours or so set crock pot to cook on high, and/or if you have even less time cook ox tails in a pan until brown and then place in crock pot with other ingredients (drain fat first).
-This recipe could be made the night before, refrigerated, and reheated before consuming (make sure to scrape off the white gelatin that congeals because that's the fat and oil).
-The ginger and shoyu sauce can be put directly into the soup or left on the side to dip the meat in.

-Enjoy!