Next time you have an extra steak, devote it to these sate beef sticks. They're an easy, pretty party food.

For the marinade:

1/4 tsp. ground anise seed
1/4 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. ground turmeric
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 shallot, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 inch fresh ginger root, peeled and minced
2 stalks of lemon grass, white part only, outer layer removed if hard, minced
1 tbsp. brown sugar
2 tbsp. peanut oil
1 tsp. soy sauce

1 New York strip or sirloin steak, about 8 oz and 1 1/2 inches thick (choose a very even rectangular cut)

NOTE: Soak bamboo or wooden skewers in water for an hour or so before cooking to prevent them from burning in the broiler.

Trim steak of fat and freeze for half an hour or so. Using a very sharp knife, cut it into thin (about 1/8" thick) ribbons.

In a shallow dish, combine all marindade incgredients except oil and soy sauce. When they're well blended, mix in the oil and soy sauce.

Toss meat slices with marinade to cover completely. Marinate 2 - 3 hours.

Preheat broiler. Thread strips of marinated steak onto skewers and broil 1 - 2 minutes on each side, or until nicely browned. Serve hot or cool.