Have You Heard of Sous-vide Cooking?

 Cooking via Sous-vide-Photo Credit-Wikipedia

I was communicating with a European friend now residing in the Philippines about the best way to cook exotic and expensive meat like ostrich steaks the other day. I told him I am not comfortable in cooking expensive and exotic meat like ostrich steaks or lamb chops for I might ruin the cooking either under or over cooking.

He suggested I try cooking Sous-vide. This was my first time to hear of the word Sous-vide.  The technique of cooking in a vacuum-sealed bags in a water bath  had been done by Macrine (RIP) in her younger years. I just did not know what the name of the process or technique was at that time.

Sous Vide is a French cooking technique, which translates to “under vacuum." In this technique food is vacuum-sealed in a cooking pouch and heated up at a precise temperature in a water oven. Instead of relying on perfect timing, sous vide relies on precise temperature control. You simply set the machine and can expect the technique to deliver consistent, perfect results. Foods cooked sous vide develop flavors and textures that simply cannot be duplicated using any other traditional cooking method. Here are the advantages of cooking sous-vide.

• Enhanced flavours.
• Healthier result.
• Better textures and tenderness.
• Never overcooked.
• Perfect every time.

Sous vide water bath cooker could vary from $9.99 to $ 4,000 + depending on brand 

The  $9.99 water bath cooker from Amazon

The most expensive sous vide water bath cooker commercially available listed for $4,200.99  

• Here are three links about Sous-vide cooking.

https://sousvidesupreme.com/pages/10-great-reasons-to-get-a-sousvide-supreme

https://anovaculinary.com/what-is-sous-vide/

https://www.seriouseats.com/2010/04/cook-your-meat-in-a-beer-cooler-the-worlds-best-sous-vide-hack.html?fbclid=IwAR1WcsHJTszppMFf1b3D0Q_7VUMKtkvywWtgCKmwnPsd4lgo_s7vVvNuBig 

Meanwhile, enjoy this photo of coconut lobster from Marinduque, Philippines

Live Coconut Lobsters ( Crabs) from Marinduque, Philippines
 

 

Cooking Filipino Dishes Using an Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker

Our old (1980's) Presto Pressure Cooker versus Ditas modern Instant Pot

In the late 1980's Macrine (RIP-my late spouse)) had been using a Presto Pressure Cooking for Lengua( Beef Tongue) Estofado and Pigs Knuckles for her Kare-kare and other Pinoy dishes until 2013 when she was diagnosed with Parkinson. Since then I was the cook in the House but I did not use our old pressure cooker because I was scared it will blow up on me and I hate the noise of the cooker. However the other day, Ditas my youngest daughter showed me her Instant Pot and my fear of cooking using a pressure cooker had vanished.

The other day, Ditas cooked kare-kare (pig knuckles)using her modern Instant Pot. The pigs feet was soft and tender for only 30 minutes versus cooking in a regular oven top which will require from 2 to 3 hours.

Two months ago, I joined a FB  Filipino cooking group and I ask the following question.

What Pinoy Dishes have you cooked using the Instant Pot/Pressure Cooker?

I had 133 comments as of today. I am posting a few of the comments below:

Manny Tamayo

Pinapaitan

Arlyn Reataza

Nilaga

Ashley Clements

Arroz caldo, adobo, sinigang

Myrna Magdangal Ranada

Bulalo

Lynne Viloria Gutierrez

I prefer to use simmer when cooking bulalo, nilaga stew chicken to get the real flavor!!

Emily Pudol Parinas Williams

Sinigang

Joe Aurora Tizon Sobrino

Nilagang mani

Roselyn Angao

sinigang, adobo, afritada, calderitA and menudo

Tess Garcia

Oxtail for kare kare

Kristine Guevarra

Chicken feet

Kristine Guevarra

Bistek, bulalo, kare kare, adobo.

Enriqueta Wilbanks

Humba with banana flower.

Michelle Mirabel-Mendoza

Mechado, adobo and kare kare

Josephine Horii

Nilaga crispy pata and kaldereta

Jocelyn R. Greene

Lechon belly

Nito B. Tan

Paa ng baka

Noel Gavia

https://www.amazon.ca/Filipino-Instant-Pot.../dp/1734124105

The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook: Classic and Modern Filipino Recipes for Your Electric Pressure Cooker

The Filipino Instant Pot Cookbook: Classic and Modern Filipino Recipes for Your Electric Pressure Cooker

Princisita Molina

Use pressure cooker to all meat before finalize the recipe.

Mary Anne Stevens

Menudo, arroz caldo

Mark Quijano

Adobo, afritada, nilaga

Lavinia Lways

Kare kare

Edmar Yetyet

Beef pares

Aggie Renee

Kare Kare

Xiarhina Consunji

Kaldereta

Nilaga…

Constancia Cabasa

Piglets oxtail soup

Lorna Barriga Mapue

Caldereta

Arden Heraldo

Karekare,kaldereta,mechado, nilagang baka, goto.

Nina Roper Yearwood

Sinigang!

Joel Agpawa Hendrix

None

Mitchie Ahohada

Pork leg and baked beans

Lester Z. Machacon

bulalo

James Martinez

Kare kare.

Faye Virtucio Espocia

Kare kare, calderetang kambing, sinigang, tinola and kanin!!!!

Amelia Dumalaog Miranda

Any meat that takes time to boil and soften

Pauline T Santos

Mechado

Estee Naval Dizon

paella, put rice seafood stock and at 1 teaspoon saffron and put chicken , shrimp , sausages

Becca Sagun Ugali

Papaitan,karekare,nilaga

Catherine Cuevas Sablad

Kare kare, sinigang, nilaga, mechado

Flo Vander Wiede

Karekare, bulalo

Gerlynmae Añover-Baello

Eto luto ni mister https://youtu.be/sbvwBd62jSY

Sinigang na Beef Pata with a Twist. Easy and delicious.

Sinigang na Beef Pata with a Twist. Easy and delicious.

Camille Harvey

Leche flan

Margie Salvador Bonifacio Pratt

Other than bulalo at kare Kare. Adobo, rice minsan spaghetti

Lola Vogler

I never use pressure cooker in My entire life

Belinda Agustin Macatangay

Kare kare...for the oxtail and tendons

ArtandMonica Lai

Adobo

Rucel Pletado

Chicken adobo

Julie Espiritu

Beef stew Adobo chicken/pork, Menudo.

Meanwhile enjoy this video -Cooking Lengua Estofado- one of my favorite Filipino Dish and a coconut lobster from Chateau Du Mer, Boac, Marindque, Philippines

 

 

Celebration of Life: Macrine J. Katague via her Favorite Music (Filipino)-Part 5

This is a continuation of the series, Celebration of Life: Macrine J. Katague via her favorite music, Part 5 of 14. This part are three of her favorite Filipino songs.

 

Kahit Maputi Na ang Buhok Ko (Even if My Hair Had Gone White) (Tagalog). See English translation:

https://www.musixmatch.com/lyrics/Rey-Valera/Kahit-Maputi-Na-Ang-Buhok-Ko/translation/english

 

Matud Nila-They Say (Said)( Cebuano-Visayan)

They said I was not fit
Matud nila ako dili angay

To be rich in your love,
Nga magmamanggad sa imong gugma,

They say you will not be happy,
Matud nila ikaw dili malipay,

I have no comparison with you,
Kai wa ako'y bahanding nga kanimo igasa,

Charity is a commitment
Gugmang putli mao day pasalig

It is worth more than gold
Maoy bahanding labaw sa bulawan

They said it was just a coincidence
Matud nila kaanugon lamang

In your love and favor,
Sa imong gugma ug parayeg,

This feeling will not go away
Dili maluba kining pagbati

For whatever reason
Bisan sa unsa nga katarungan

For what else is this life worth?
Kay unsa pay bili ning kinabuhi

If in love you are deprived
Kon sa gugma mo hinikawan

Tell me you will not believe
Ingna ko nga dili ka motuo

Of the insults I received
Sa mga pagtamay kong naangkon

Tell me you will not be fooled
Ingna ko nga dili mo kawangon

I dream of a commitment to your love
Damgo ko'g pasalig sa gugma mo

At Times (Usahay)

[I]

At times,

I dream

that you and I have fallen in love

And why do I yearn for you?

Yearn (for you) for always in my solitude?

[II]

At times,

my heart

regrets *having ever been born* on this earth,

Because you have just *toyed with*

my love that is genuine,

(this love) of my dream,

within this heart

(that) I feel

[III]

At times,

(It) confounds me

why our life has anguish

And if only it could be all of revelry instead,

of unadulterated joviality

on this earth

 

A choral presentation of Usahay by the Philippines Madrigal Singers 
 

Meanwhile, enjoy these other Philippine Folk songs that both Macrine and I also loved.

 

 

Food for Thought Today: Tortoise, Stillness and Patience

I was reading a FB comment of a relative the other day. It reminded me of my two collection of turtles ( a ceramic and wood) that I am posting today.

This is my Turtle Nite Light-Guiding Me in the Darkness of the Night

Do you know the differences between turtles and Tortoises?

Tortoises ARE Turtles

All the animals alive today that protect themselves with a shell — basically just a modified rib cage — are in the order Testudines. Collectively, we call this group of animals "turtles," but individually, we might call them different things based on where they live and some morphological and physiological traits.

"They say that not all turtles are tortoises, but all tortoises are turtles," says Smith. "The turtles are organisms with a shell, which might be in water or might be on land. A tortoise is a type of turtle."

In general, both turtles and tortoises (as well as other reptiles) lay their eggs on land — it's what makes them different from amphibians, which need water for egg-laying and at least part of their life cycle.

Because tortoises are turtles, it's difficult to lay down hard and fast rules about what makes something tortoise-ish rather than turtle-ish. But in general, tortoises are always found on land, whereas turtles can be found in aquatic or marine habitats as well as land.

( https://animals.howstuffworks.com/reptiles/tortoise-turtle-difference.htm )

Quote from a FB friend: TORTOISE AND STILLNESS. For years I had been drawn to turtles and what they teach me. The more simple lesson being.. "Though it make take years to manifest... the answer will come!" Patience". Of course, I still struggle and, admittedly, in many other times, esp. during "chaos" in mind and spirit , but at least in my Quiet Time each early morning for decades now, I have had turtles surrounding me, reminding me! And I believe it..the ANSWER will come!

My wooden turtle dwarfed by my wooden horse wood carving from the Philippines. Meanwhile, enjoy this photo:

 

My crystal collection of animals: horse, 2 turtle doves, swan, dolphin and elephant

Also, enjoy this video -one of Macrine's Favorite Music

Somewhere in Time/Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini-Rachmaninoff