I originally made this meal at the beginning of the week and was all ready to post up the recipe until I discovered that Gnome had unwittingly erased my photograph.
Double Miso Pan-Fried Chicken. Second Picture.
When I told him that I would have to re-create this dish today, to get a picture, he said rather half heartedly, “Oh dear. That is a shame.”
That is a Shame!
This recipe is so-called because the chicken is marinated in miso before being pan-fried and it is served with miso ketchup. If you follow our blog, you will know that we make buckets and buckets of home-made miso. Because I have so much of it, I am fortunate enough to have the opportunity to experiment with this wonderful live food in more creative and innovative ways. In fact, I use miso in all our cooking now instead of salt and soya sauce. The miso adds a distictive umami flavour which adds a whole new dimension to a meal. In this recipe, I used our shiro miso which is made mostly of white rice which has a sweet and mild taste. No flour is used in making our miso so it is also gluten-free.
Last week, I wrote about making coconut milk cheese – feta style…this is the update. After the three days of dry brining, I took out the cheese and cut it into pieces like so:
Coconut Feta Cheese.
The cheese had dried to a firm consistency and so it was easy enough to cut without too much crumbling. I then placed them in 7% brine; one jar with bay leaves and the second flavoured with whole black peppers.
Flavoured Coconut Feta in Brine.
I am going to leave the jars out at room temperature so that they can ferment further for two weeks. After that, I will I will let them continue to ferment for several months in a cooler area (probably the refrigerator). Hope they taste good after all the waiting!!
Gnome Update:
Gnome has started on a project where he is digging out a small pond next to the house:
Pond Digging.
He has also started up some lotus seeds in a basin which have germinated and come up nicely:
Growing Lotus in Basin.
The plan is to have a lotus pond next to the house. Apart from the beautiful flowers, we also want to grow them for food. We would eventually like to make our own lotus paste to make Chinese sweets:
Lotus Paste.
This was sent to us as a gift all the way from Singapore; I am saving it to make moon cake this year. Also, lotus seeds are really tasty in Chinese soups…yes, you can actually buy these in Belize!
Dried Lotus Seeds.
Lotus root is also quite a treat and I would love to grow some of our own because I haven’t eaten it for over a decade since I came to Belize. It will probably take over a year before we can harvest any to eat.
About a month ago, we received a wonderful package of treats from Singapore. There was a plethora of exotic foods and since the gifts are so special to us, we usually make an occasion out of each item. Today, Gnome really felt like eating some kaya, which is a sweet spread made from coconut milk, eggs and sugar with the addition of pandan leaf as flavouring.
Kaya Spread From Sinapore.
Previously, I used to know very little about Straits Chinese food but slowly Gnome has introduced me into this colourful culinary world. Anyway, the kaya is traditionally eaten on white bread and we did not have any in the house. And so we decided to mix things up a bit, since we are in Central America, and have them with corn tortillas.
Stack of Corn Tortillas.Tortillas and Kaya.
Kaya has a very wholesome and well-rounded taste; the coconut and the eggs give richness to the spread. We had a veritable feast with the tortillas and coconut spread…to put it in Gnome’s words, ” It hits the spot!”
Apparently the traditional way of eating this coconut spread in Singapore and Malaysia is to spread it on toast with butter. Also, you can dip this in soft boiled egg with some soya sauce. Sounds lovely!
Also, I was thinking that since we have so many coconuts on the farm, I should experiment with making our own Belizean Kaya.
Our Coconuts.
Obviously since I can not flavour it with pandan leaf, which gives it a distinct aromatic aroma, I could try using something indigenous to this country like all-spice or even spice it up with black pepper! Watch this space for more Munchkin experimentation!
Good Evening, this is MGNews PrimeTime Sunday bringing you the news on The Mayoral Elections 2015 of Paradise Pastures, hot off the press. Only 4 more weeks to go and we are all biting our nails with anticipation! Tonight, we give you the amazing inside story on Mayor Gnome.
The Mysterious Past of Mayor Gnome.
Natasha Hayes, our MGNews International Correspondent brings this special report from The Outback of Australia:
As we all have come to understand, Mayor Gnome has travelled far and wide, across the continents. The background is hazy but it seems that he spent a significant amount of time in continent of Australia. Reliable sources tell me that Aboriginal Gnomes may exist in the Northern Territory and so that’s where I went on this fact finding information. I spoke to some Aboriginal people who corroborated the information that Gnomes do exist in this rainforest terrain. They are described as hostile and aggressive creatures but on rare occasions, they do initiate non-aboriginal Gnomes into their community. We do know that Mayor Gnome spent some 2 to 3 years in that area. We can only speculate that he was in collusion with Aboriginal Gnomes. This is what an elderly aboriginal man from the Long grass told MGNews. To protect his identity, we will come him Scott:
“…Aboriginal Gnomes…they fast and aggressive. They hide in the shadows and when the sun glints in your eye, the come out like a burst of wind. They take your mind and your heart. Oh, I seen men go crazy, crazy for days with sorrow and woe from these Gnomes. They bad, terrible creatures. I heard a story, many years ago, there was one white gnome among them, as fierce as the rest. His name…The White Devil… I can’t tell you anymore. I fear I have said too much already…”
This is ground breaking news brought to you by MGNews. The facts all add up: A White Gnome in Australia called “The White Devil” and now, Mayor Gnome of Paradise Pastures has been dubbed “El Diablo Blanco.” Is this a coincidence? Is Mayor Gnome’s past catching up with him? One shudders to imagine the hideous, macabre deeds that he may have got up to with these Aboriginal Gnomes.
El Diablo Blanco.
Thank-you Ms. Natasha Hayes for such an insightful report. Well, we are all flabbergasted and at a loss for words. What a shocking inside story!!
What does the community of Paradise Pastures think of Mayor Gnome’s mysterious past? There were no piggies available for comment today because they were all too busy eating…
Guinea Pigs at Paradise Pastures.
Next week on MGNews PrimeTime Sunday, we speak to the panel of experts about this amazing revelation. 6Pm Central/ Mountain Piggie Time. You just can ‘t afford to miss MGNews next Sunday!!
Breadfruit (Artocarpus sp.) has an interesting history in the Caribbean as it was introduced into the area during the 18th century as a staple for the slaves in the British colonies. The breadfruit was originally from Tahiti. Nowadays, this past is long forgotten and breadfruit is enjoyed for what it is. A very yummy carbohydrate which when boiled, tastes just like potato. Interestingly enough, I have never seen this carbohydrate served in restaurants here as it is still seen as a “poor man’s food.”
Green Breadfruit.
Breadfruit trees bear prolifically and a single seasonal harvest can give hundreds of fruit.
We have young trees on the farm right now and they will soon start to bear in the coming years.
These fruit contain approximately 25% carbohydrate and 70% water. They are extremely versatile because they can be eaten green or ripe. The most popular way of eating them green, at least here in Belize, is deep-frying them oil. Other ways are boiling, pan-frying, baking and steaming. When the fruits mature, they turn soft and sweet. At this point, they can be made into various types of puddings. I have a friend (Filipino) who flattens the ripe fruit into a pizza shape and bakes it in the oven to make a sweet flat bread.
With this fruit, the need for preservation is very important since there is simply so much of it. I recently acquired four of these fruits and even with this quantity, I found it hard to think of ways to prepare and store. Once picked, they will mature in about 4 to 7 days.
Method 1 Preservation method: blanching and freezing.
Blanched Breadfruit.
This is a reasonable method but there is only so much space in the freezer!! You can imagine how stuffed my freezer is with so many other things.
Method 2 Preservation method: Sun Drying.
This is a better alternative especially when the breadfruit is 70% water and so you can cut the pieces to dry in relatively large chunks. They can then be stored in air-tight containers therefore taking up less space. Still, I will need to procure a 55 gallon container to store all of the dried product should my trees start bearing by the hundreds. That is what I call food security!! I will be experimenting with this method over the next few days; it is really, really hot and dry right now so they should dry really well. I will keep you updated on my Munchkin experimentation!!
There is also another method of preservation which involves digging a hole in the ground and storing the ripe breadfruits under-ground thereby allowing natural fermentation. I am not sure if that would work here because the water table is so high in Belize.
Breadfruit tastes very much like potato, more so than other tropical carbohydrates like cassava or taro. Because of this, it can be used as an alternative for any traditional recipes calling for potato. Watch this space for my breadfruit recipes!!
Hello Every-one!! My Friday night posts have proven to be statistically unpopular probably because most of my readers are rather sociable people with a night-life at the end of the week. This is why I have chosen to write about a particularly nasty bug because it would never be a popular subject anyway. But nevertheless, it is worth talking about. This is a Friday Night Stuck At Home Post!!
Chagas Disease is also known as American trypanosomiasis and is a disease of the Tropics caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi which is spread by insects known as triatominae, or more commonly kissing bugs.
This was actually one that we found in our house…aarrghh!!! They send shivers down my spine!! This is the variety that tends to pop up in our area.
Kissing Bug.
At the risk of sounding petty, they do look rather nasty and evil, don’t they? We actually call them “The Bad Bugs” because they look so mean and intimidating.
Another Bad Bug.
During the day, triatomines hide in crevices in the walls and roofs. They are especially prevalent in thatched roof houses. These bugs come out at night and tend to bite people’s faces, ingest blood and also defaecate at the site of the bite. It is the faeces that are the problem and cause transmission of parasites at the site of the wound especially when the wound is scratched. The parasites then replicate within the blood stream.
(Yes indeed…this is turning into a Friday Night Horror).
There are other modes of transmission including blood transfusions, organ transplantation, breast milk and very rarely, contaminated food.
In terms of signs and symptoms, this disease is separated into acute stage and chronic stage. The acute stage is at the time of the insect bite and may include non-specific symptoms of fever, malaise, muscle aches, headaches, diarrhoea, vomiting and rash. Romana’s sign is a well recognised sign of Chagas Disease in which the patient presents with a swollen eyelid on the side of the face with the bite.
Whilst working in Punta Gorda NHI Clinic, I actually saw quite a few of these cases with the characteristic signs.
The majority of patients get better within about two months with no dangerous sequelae. There are a very small percentage that end up with symptoms of the chronic stage which may include problems with the heart (cardiomyopathy), dilatation of the digestive system and nervous system problems.
Phew…that was pretty heavy going…
There is medication (benznidazole or nifurtimox) to treat the disease if diagnosed in the acute stage. However, the medication still has limited efficacy in eliminating the parasites to give an effective cure. Diagnosis can be made by microscopic examination of fresh blood which will reveal the parasites.
What do you need to do to prevent Chagas Disease? Regular cleaning and sanitising of the sleeping areas are essential especially if the roof is thatched or the house unsealed. Mosquito nets are a cheap and effective preventative measure. Camping out in the bush can be especially dangerous and it is not recommended.
Having said that, most people do not need to worry about them (like all you guys out there). It is only a risk to those mad people (like us) who decide to live in the middle of nowhere next to the rainforest!!
Hello!! We are back in action with more interesting things to show you because we have procured a camera. I finally bit the bullet and bought a new android phone…one of those blocky looking things with a camera (of course) and many things that do not concern me like the Android and the numerous applications. Gnome is messing around with it in his Gnomish way and actually having a lot of fun with the gadget!
Anyway, we have been making cheese out of coconut milk. Coconut milk, along with the cream, can be hand-squeezed out of grated coconut.
Grated Coconut.
This liquid eventually separates into the thick, white cream at the top and the coconut milk at the bottom. We sell off our coconut cream to the local market as Belizeans like to cook their rice and beans in this. For the Toledo readers, you can buy this from Green Supaul’s in Punta Gorda.
Coconut Cream For Sale.
We kept the coconut milk until we had acquired a volume of about 2 gallons (8 litres) which was roughly equivalent to about 100 coconuts in total. The coconut milk is high in protein (similar to milk) and so we decided to try to make “cheese” out of it.
Coconut Milk in Pot.
First of all, we placed the coconut milk in a stainless steel pot and boiled the milk until it produced curds which floated up to the surface. This takes about 30 minutes and you have to keep on stirring to prevent the curds from sticking to the bottom of the pot.
Coconut Curds on Surface of Boiled Coconut Milk.
We allowed this to cool down for about two hours and then drained the curds into a cotton towel on a sieve (you can use cheese cloth…we just didn’t have any).
Draining Coconut Curd.
This was left to drain overnight and the liquid part, the whey, was collected in a basin under the dripping curds. At this point, it looks and tastes very similar to ricotta cheese and you can eat it at this point if you prefer. We gave the whey to our animals to drink.
Coconut Ricotta.
The next morning, we wrapped the drained curd in a towel and placed it between two clean blocks of wood and applied a weight on it (5 gallon carboy containing wine). After 24 hours, we removed the weight.
Pressing Coconut Cheese.
To make this into feta-style cheese, we removed the coconut cheese from the cloth and placed it in a clean glass container. Next, we added about 1 cup of salt to dry salt it.
This was done this morning and we will leave it to salt for three days. After that, we will cut the cheese into cubes and store them in brine. We will let you know what it tastes like…so far so good.
Hello Everyone!! We had a nice relaxing day today…our first day off in three weeks from farm work. Sometimes, when we are on an agenda, we forget that we need a break now and then. I woke up this morning at 5am, which has been our usual wake up time, and said to Gnome that I did not wish to wake up! We got up at 6am, rather reluctantly because of the doggy and goosie wake-up calls.
Doggy wake up call: mad panting with spurts of whooping.
Our Mad Doggie.
Goosie wake up call: Honk Honk!! Every three minutes…like Snooze on an alarm clock…this is goosie snooze with no batteries required.
Goosie on the Farm.
(As an aside, Goosie even honks back at truck drivers because he thinks that they are big geese on wheels!!)
Anyway, there was way too much noise so we had to get up. We both agreed to take the day off because we just felt knackered. And so we watched a movie marathon of Around The World in 80 Days, a three part mini-series with Pierce Brosnan. It was 4 and 1/2 hours in total, with brief Munchkin snacks in between, and we really enjoyed it. Plus, I got a chance to ogle at Pierce Brosnan for all that time!!
Ha-ha…this is a real picture of us at last!! We have been messing around with the computer to see if we can use it to take pictures for the posts. I am sure you would recognise us now if you saw us on the street!!
Phew!! We have been working hard on the farm! Gnome has procured his big stick for knocking down coconuts and so we are back to processing them again.
Freshly Grated Coconut.
We are back to making coconut water and coconut cream for the local market. Also, we grate coconut for Cotton Tree Chocolate for their coconut bars.
Cotton Tree Chocolate Bars.
I really do need to get a camera because I have so many exciting things to show you. I have been preparing bamboo shoots:
Bamboo Shoot.
I want to show you step by step how to prepare, cook and preserve bamboo shoots. It is really quite simple but it just requires time and dedication.
Also, we have had huge bunches of peach palm. So much food on the farm, it’s coming out of our ears!! And the dogs are getting fat. Gnome says that we need a couple of pigs and a gaggle of geese to eat all the food!!
Welcome back to MGNews PrimeTime Sunday brought to you by Casa Mascia Apothecary. This week we talk exclusively to Mayor Gnome himself. He’s hoping for a re-election for 2015. Let’s see what his campaign is all about.
Tuff Love. Nuff Said.
MGNews Reporter: Your excellency, Mayor Gnome, thank-you for agreeing to have this interview with MGNews. Tell us more about your New Look Campaign “Tough Love.”
Mayor Gnome: Kindness can be too soft and no results are gained from this. I am trying the mean and tough aspect to get Paradise Pastures back into shape.
MGNews Reporter: Some people think that you have had a personality change and you have been dubbed as “El Diablo Blanco”…what do you say to that?
Mayor Gnome: If people think I am Evil, then so be it!(HaaHaaHaa…rubs his palms together and laughs maniacally). El Diablo Blanco sounds super cool…good, good. (nods his head approvingly).
MGNews Reporter: What are your new policies for Paradise Pastures?
Mayor Gnome: I don’t have any.
MGNews Reporter: Why?
Mayor Gnome: Because those piggies are too stupid to understand anything and I don’t care! HaHa!! (more maniacal laughing).
MGNews Reporter: Well, thank-you Mayor Gnome for your disarming honesty. I suppose I could say that it was quite refreshing since you don’t get much of that in the world of politics. I wish you the best in your re-election campaign.
Mayor Gnome: HaHa!! (lots of cackling and tossing back of head).
No Rest For The Wicked!Mayor Gnome. Gets Raw.
What the Experts have to Say:
Dr. Munchkin (DRCOG), Medical Doctor of Paradise Pastures:
Dr. Munchkin
In my professional opinion, I feel that Mayor Gnome is suffering from a disorder known as “Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.” He is prone to fluctuation in mood and he appears emotionally unstable. He is also cackling a bit too much. I would recommend a that he takes some sick leave but it is virtually impossible for him to do so at such a critical election time.
Mayor Gnome’s Mother, an authority on her son’s personality:
Oh, I am sure he’ll be right…yes, yes, he is cackling a fair bit. He just needs a good cup of tea and those chocky biscuits (the orangey ones…jaffa cakes…that’s what he likes) and he’ll be as right as rain!
Archie Eagles, ordinary bloke on the street:
He’s as mad as a hatter. He’s not fit to raise a cactus let alone raise a bunch of guinea pigs!
Pedro Choc, another ordinary bloke on the street:
I like his bad ass attitude. Mayor Gnome rocks!!
Casa Mascia. Quite Possibly The Best Soap in THe World.I ONLY Use Casa Mascia Soaps.
Well, there you go. The Doctor is worried, the Mother wants to give him a cup of tea and he is loved and hated by the people on the street. What is really going on with Mayor Gnome?? Next week, we bring you an exclusive inside story on Mayor Gnome. Maybe that will shed some light onto his personality change.
Don’t miss it…next week on MGNews PrimeTime Sunday. 6pm Central/Mountain Piggie Time.
Sunday Funday starts with MGNews. You better Belize it!!
I originally made this meal at the beginning of the week and was all ready to post up the recipe until I discovered that Gnome had unwittingly erased my photograph.
