I found this recipe by complete accident as an add on DVD feature from "Once upon A Time In Mexico"
I LOVE this dish
Robert Rodriguez's Puerco Pibil
5 pounds pork butt (you can also use pork shoulder), cut into 2 inch cubes
banana leaves or plantian leaves
½ cup orange juice
½ cup vinegar
2 tablespoons salt
juice of 5 lemons/ around a half cup
8 cloves garlic
2 habanero peppers, chopped ( remove seeds and veins for less spicy or leave em in for a real kick)
shot of tequilla
annatto paste: in a coffee grinder finely grind 5 T annatto seeds, 2 tsp cumin, 1 T black peppercorns, 8 pieces allspice, and ½ tsp whole cloves. Put ground spice mixture into blender with all wet ingredients and blend well..The smoother the better .
Put pork and spice mixture in very larg ziplock bag shake and work the meat to work spice mixture into it. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line large baking pan or dish with leaves and pour pork and spice mixture into pan and wrap with leaves then cover with foil very tightly
cook for 3-4 hours and enjoy with rice ( white or spanish) you can garnish with onion,peppers,cheese of your choosing and serve with fresh warm tortillas.. It's a great dish!!!
Monday, May 14, 2012
Monday, March 12, 2012
Life...
With Titanic being revisited yet again with the remaking of the movie it has caused me to think.
Like many before me I have always been facinated with the tragic story of her sinking.
What most people do not realize is the iceberg really didnt sink her..
She could have easily been saved had communication been deliverd to the right person.
Many warnings were sent and only a fraction were seen by those that needed to see them ..
1500 souls were lost that night and for no good reason.
Had the warnings been deliverd to the people who needed to see them many people would have been saved and just think as we approach its 100th anniversary how many more people would be here today?
Whose childeren or great grandchildren might have changed our world?
A lot to think about huh?
Just imagine the possibilities
Moral of it is communicate to those who need to hear it..Reassure them in the process..
Thoughts to live by daily
Love someone who does not love you in return...Give of yourself to someone who has nothing to give you and can not help you..Those closest to you tell em you love em and more importantly show them for we never know what the next day will bring..
When you communicate remember a few things.
Even if you lie the truth will be known. Listen intently to all information and disinformation and recognize it for what it is and act accordingly..
Be as transparent as you can with anyone and everyone that way a potential enemy has less they can hold over you.
When you speak or act do it from the heart..Don't phone it in...
Often times the best thing to do is play dumb rather than act smart..you learn a lot more that way..
to give you a little backstory on this..I spent a decade with my aunt and mom watching them slowly wither away..It was the hardest but also the most rewarding thing I've ever done..It was hard knowing that the Reaper with hovering close and never knowing from day to day when he would choose to show up.
The Wednesday night before my moms stroke the last words I spoke to her were "Goodnight mom I love you". She was sitting on the couch enjoying her last meal which was from Taco Bell,reading a book I had got her for mothers day and watching tv..all of which were things she loved. Five am the next morning the stroke hit..One of the hardest things I had to do after was help the er nurse strap my mom into a bed too keep her from harming herself worse..She was fighting and fighting for her life..
Monday morning she was gone...
My aunt lasted a while longer before a stroke also took her away..She was much harder to deal with as Alzimers was eroding her brain ever so slowly..I promised both I would stay with them to the end and that I did. I did the best I knew how to under the circumstances..
I lived that decade watching and waiting as death crept in on them. not an easy thing to do..now days I wish I'd done more because hindsight is much more accurate than foresight..
hindsight about the Titanic is much the same..It could have been saved...but with that think about the thousands who have been saved with those lessons learned from that tragedy and think about the contributions to our world that hae been made from the people and descendants of those saved due to those lessons..
Point of all of this is ..Never view a situation as hopeless, always hold out hope and have faith..Faith in God,Faith in yourself and also in those around you..As long as God gives you lifes breath and those around you you can change they can change and situations can change..Have faith and do your best in what ever small way you can daily to be a better person.
Wallace Hartley and his band played till the very end...He knew as did they that they would most likely go down with her but they chose to play hymns to calm those trying to live and to reassure those who were going to meet God that night..
I am sorry for the rambling nature of this but I don't do rough drafts I'm just calling things as I see them in hopes that this little story might help someone out there have a bit better of a day..
I would like to leave with a poem I wrote during the time I spent with my mom and aunt.
It used to have a drawing I did of an old sailing ship on a rough ocean,,If I ever find it i will include it later...
" Dream Ship"
" Sail on dreams alone and you will sink like a stone
But combine those dreams with good deeds and
you will always make it home."
PS This Saturday is St Patricks day.I know what you are thinking..Neck deep in green beer and everyone is "Irish" for a day.. I've been to Dublin (Ga) ans Savannah for the parties and you know what strikes me as odd..Everyone getting drunk as dogs to celebrate a saint..
Take it from a proud person of Irish heritage ( Freeman family from County Claire)
If you want to celebrate a saint how about acting saintly? Say a few prayers or help someone out in need (and I'm talking more than helping your drunk friend out of the bar) If you are going to be at a party then make sure people get home safe... For me its a long working weekend so I'll be clelebrating by trying to get sales set and taking care of customers and doing my very best to see they get what they need and or want...
Khevin S Farmer
Like many before me I have always been facinated with the tragic story of her sinking.
What most people do not realize is the iceberg really didnt sink her..
She could have easily been saved had communication been deliverd to the right person.
Many warnings were sent and only a fraction were seen by those that needed to see them ..
1500 souls were lost that night and for no good reason.
Had the warnings been deliverd to the people who needed to see them many people would have been saved and just think as we approach its 100th anniversary how many more people would be here today?
Whose childeren or great grandchildren might have changed our world?
A lot to think about huh?
Just imagine the possibilities
Moral of it is communicate to those who need to hear it..Reassure them in the process..
Thoughts to live by daily
Love someone who does not love you in return...Give of yourself to someone who has nothing to give you and can not help you..Those closest to you tell em you love em and more importantly show them for we never know what the next day will bring..
When you communicate remember a few things.
Even if you lie the truth will be known. Listen intently to all information and disinformation and recognize it for what it is and act accordingly..
Be as transparent as you can with anyone and everyone that way a potential enemy has less they can hold over you.
When you speak or act do it from the heart..Don't phone it in...
Often times the best thing to do is play dumb rather than act smart..you learn a lot more that way..
to give you a little backstory on this..I spent a decade with my aunt and mom watching them slowly wither away..It was the hardest but also the most rewarding thing I've ever done..It was hard knowing that the Reaper with hovering close and never knowing from day to day when he would choose to show up.
The Wednesday night before my moms stroke the last words I spoke to her were "Goodnight mom I love you". She was sitting on the couch enjoying her last meal which was from Taco Bell,reading a book I had got her for mothers day and watching tv..all of which were things she loved. Five am the next morning the stroke hit..One of the hardest things I had to do after was help the er nurse strap my mom into a bed too keep her from harming herself worse..She was fighting and fighting for her life..
Monday morning she was gone...
My aunt lasted a while longer before a stroke also took her away..She was much harder to deal with as Alzimers was eroding her brain ever so slowly..I promised both I would stay with them to the end and that I did. I did the best I knew how to under the circumstances..
I lived that decade watching and waiting as death crept in on them. not an easy thing to do..now days I wish I'd done more because hindsight is much more accurate than foresight..
hindsight about the Titanic is much the same..It could have been saved...but with that think about the thousands who have been saved with those lessons learned from that tragedy and think about the contributions to our world that hae been made from the people and descendants of those saved due to those lessons..
Point of all of this is ..Never view a situation as hopeless, always hold out hope and have faith..Faith in God,Faith in yourself and also in those around you..As long as God gives you lifes breath and those around you you can change they can change and situations can change..Have faith and do your best in what ever small way you can daily to be a better person.
Wallace Hartley and his band played till the very end...He knew as did they that they would most likely go down with her but they chose to play hymns to calm those trying to live and to reassure those who were going to meet God that night..
I am sorry for the rambling nature of this but I don't do rough drafts I'm just calling things as I see them in hopes that this little story might help someone out there have a bit better of a day..
I would like to leave with a poem I wrote during the time I spent with my mom and aunt.
It used to have a drawing I did of an old sailing ship on a rough ocean,,If I ever find it i will include it later...
" Dream Ship"
" Sail on dreams alone and you will sink like a stone
But combine those dreams with good deeds and
you will always make it home."
PS This Saturday is St Patricks day.I know what you are thinking..Neck deep in green beer and everyone is "Irish" for a day.. I've been to Dublin (Ga) ans Savannah for the parties and you know what strikes me as odd..Everyone getting drunk as dogs to celebrate a saint..
Take it from a proud person of Irish heritage ( Freeman family from County Claire)
If you want to celebrate a saint how about acting saintly? Say a few prayers or help someone out in need (and I'm talking more than helping your drunk friend out of the bar) If you are going to be at a party then make sure people get home safe... For me its a long working weekend so I'll be clelebrating by trying to get sales set and taking care of customers and doing my very best to see they get what they need and or want...
Khevin S Farmer
Friday, August 19, 2011
French baguette
I decided to play a little today and check out recipes for baguettes.
After a few trys and making changes here is a good one
5-5 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 cups warm water (110-120 degrees)
1 tbls sugar
2 1/4 o packs of active dry yeast ( approx 5 tsp)
2 egg whites
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tbls water
Dissolve yeast in warm water and add sugar to feed yeast.
Once yeast starts to foam its active and ready to use
add flour,salt,egg white to large mixing bowl
and pour in yeast,water,sugar mixture and kneed for 8-10 minutes on a foured surface or with a mixer with a dough hook
Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel or plastic wrap and let sit in a warm area for one hour
Punch down dough and cut in half then roll to a 15 x 15 inch oval ( don't try to be perfect)
Roll dough and pinch ends to form a baguette and place on a greased pan coated with corn meal seam side down and cover. Allow to rise another hour. Cut 3-5 slits in tops with the sharpest knife you have
beat together one egg white and 1 tbls water and brush tops
bake for 20-25 minutes at 375 then place on a wire cooling rack
After a few trys and making changes here is a good one
5-5 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 3/4 cups warm water (110-120 degrees)
1 tbls sugar
2 1/4 o packs of active dry yeast ( approx 5 tsp)
2 egg whites
2 tsp kosher salt
1 tbls water
Dissolve yeast in warm water and add sugar to feed yeast.
Once yeast starts to foam its active and ready to use
add flour,salt,egg white to large mixing bowl
and pour in yeast,water,sugar mixture and kneed for 8-10 minutes on a foured surface or with a mixer with a dough hook
Cover with plastic wrap or a damp towel or plastic wrap and let sit in a warm area for one hour
Punch down dough and cut in half then roll to a 15 x 15 inch oval ( don't try to be perfect)
Roll dough and pinch ends to form a baguette and place on a greased pan coated with corn meal seam side down and cover. Allow to rise another hour. Cut 3-5 slits in tops with the sharpest knife you have
beat together one egg white and 1 tbls water and brush tops
bake for 20-25 minutes at 375 then place on a wire cooling rack
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Food and Music
I am a musician and I am a foodie.
At first glance you might think "What do these two things have in common?'
Well they have much more in common than you may think.
The notes of a dish are much like the notes in a piece of music. Each is telling a small part of the over all story and if all notes fit then you have a great meal but if they don't you are in for a less pleasurable experience .You have various things to flavor a piece of music such as accents,crescedos,decrecendos etc. and in cooking you have various spices and herbs performing the same job.
In cooking a multicourse meal you are in effect creating a symphony. Instead of a symphony of sound you are creating a symphony of flavors. In any symphony all parts need to fit within the piece and it is exactly the same when creating a multicourse meal .Each dish should compliment the other and have a decernable beginning middle and an end.
In music you have A-G to work with and all sorts of variations on those basic chords and in food you have your basic food groups and like music tons, of variations of each.
In cooking you have an executive chef who acts as the arranger and conductor of the band to make sure each and every meal leaves made properly just as a conductor does with a band and any piece of music .
Both music and food are equal parts art and science and both are highly subjective, I am a metal head at heart even though I listen and love various types of music.I like it loud and bombastic and very technical most of the time and in food I love very bold and flavorful food. In most cases I'm just not into subtle anything but at times that does change and I'll make or play something much more laid back and subtle.
I always listen to music as I am cooking and depending on the style of cooking my music tastes change. If I'm trying to cook something with a lot of ingredients and technical steps outside of my comfort zone then I want it epic and loud to match what I'm trying to achieve in the kitchen. If I'm creating a small dish of comfort food then I want something like something more akin to three chords and the truth..If I'm making a dessert then I want something happy and fun to go along with it..
In music some of the best advice I was ever given was "Learn all the theory you can and then forget it"
Those words ring very true in cooking as well. Learn all the fundimentals you can and then forget them..In other words do not be afraid to try things and experiment..Thats how all your favorite celeb chefs as well as all chefs either at home or pro's do..Thats how they achieve flavors no one has tasted before but long for once tasted.
Song books vs Cook Books
A song book can teach you a song if you have a very basic knowledge of music theory and likewise a cook book can teach you how to prepare a dish just like its author did but neither will teach you the elements or foundations.
Just like Hal Leonard or Mel Bay produces books designed to help start you in music theory those books exist for cooking as well
The Websters of cooking is called Larousse Gastronmique. It is much like a college course on music theory with tons of definitions and techniques all through out its more than one thousand pages. Anyone who really wants to cook seriously either as a home cook or professional chef would do well to have a copy. Mine is outdated (1967) but still has more information than I will ever be able to digest.
The next thing is PRACTICE!!! Just as any musician will tell you about the thousands of hours spent in practice the same holds true for anyone with a serious interest in becoming a better cook. And with that being said.. Go dig out your favorite songs and get cooking !!!!
Laterz, y'all
At first glance you might think "What do these two things have in common?'
Well they have much more in common than you may think.
The notes of a dish are much like the notes in a piece of music. Each is telling a small part of the over all story and if all notes fit then you have a great meal but if they don't you are in for a less pleasurable experience .You have various things to flavor a piece of music such as accents,crescedos,decrecendos etc. and in cooking you have various spices and herbs performing the same job.
In cooking a multicourse meal you are in effect creating a symphony. Instead of a symphony of sound you are creating a symphony of flavors. In any symphony all parts need to fit within the piece and it is exactly the same when creating a multicourse meal .Each dish should compliment the other and have a decernable beginning middle and an end.
In music you have A-G to work with and all sorts of variations on those basic chords and in food you have your basic food groups and like music tons, of variations of each.
In cooking you have an executive chef who acts as the arranger and conductor of the band to make sure each and every meal leaves made properly just as a conductor does with a band and any piece of music .
Both music and food are equal parts art and science and both are highly subjective, I am a metal head at heart even though I listen and love various types of music.I like it loud and bombastic and very technical most of the time and in food I love very bold and flavorful food. In most cases I'm just not into subtle anything but at times that does change and I'll make or play something much more laid back and subtle.
I always listen to music as I am cooking and depending on the style of cooking my music tastes change. If I'm trying to cook something with a lot of ingredients and technical steps outside of my comfort zone then I want it epic and loud to match what I'm trying to achieve in the kitchen. If I'm creating a small dish of comfort food then I want something like something more akin to three chords and the truth..If I'm making a dessert then I want something happy and fun to go along with it..
In music some of the best advice I was ever given was "Learn all the theory you can and then forget it"
Those words ring very true in cooking as well. Learn all the fundimentals you can and then forget them..In other words do not be afraid to try things and experiment..Thats how all your favorite celeb chefs as well as all chefs either at home or pro's do..Thats how they achieve flavors no one has tasted before but long for once tasted.
Song books vs Cook Books
A song book can teach you a song if you have a very basic knowledge of music theory and likewise a cook book can teach you how to prepare a dish just like its author did but neither will teach you the elements or foundations.
Just like Hal Leonard or Mel Bay produces books designed to help start you in music theory those books exist for cooking as well
The Websters of cooking is called Larousse Gastronmique. It is much like a college course on music theory with tons of definitions and techniques all through out its more than one thousand pages. Anyone who really wants to cook seriously either as a home cook or professional chef would do well to have a copy. Mine is outdated (1967) but still has more information than I will ever be able to digest.
The next thing is PRACTICE!!! Just as any musician will tell you about the thousands of hours spent in practice the same holds true for anyone with a serious interest in becoming a better cook. And with that being said.. Go dig out your favorite songs and get cooking !!!!
Laterz, y'all
Starting out
Howdy everyone! I know the last thing we need is yet another food blog but being a true blue and broke foodie I decided to give it a go and see where it lands... The aim of my blog will be anything and everything dealing with food and eating well on a budget..I'm going to try to cover everything from favorite personalities to recipies of our favorite chefs to the tons of fake recipies out there to make clones of branded products and signature recipies from America's favorite chefs and eateries.
I will also be posting some of our own recipies and old family recipes as we go along and talk a little about the science behind cooking and the history and origins of various foods and personalities in the culinary world.
I will also be posting some of our own recipies and old family recipes as we go along and talk a little about the science behind cooking and the history and origins of various foods and personalities in the culinary world.
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