This Little Piggy

Dear Friends and Neighbors: 

            Whenever we drive out in the city of Manila, we see buses, trucks and cars carrying millions of people and everything else.  Often, we see trucks carrying big loads of pigs!  Sister Taylor wants to take a picture of all of them!

            In America, I observe that pigs are often the focus of humor—in all kinds of ways—many love Miss Piggy.  They make movies and comedies about pigs.  In the Philippines, there is no humor at all about pigs.  I tried to make a joke or two awhile back, and the missionaries didn’t get it.  Pigs are reverenced, adored, almost worshipped.  You’d better read Sister Taylor’s attached article.  Maybe you’ll like them as much as Sister Taylor and the missionaries!   

Love, George & Debbie

This Little Piggy

This Little Piggy went to market,
This Piggy stayed home.
This Little Piggy had roast beef,
This little Piggy had none.
And this little Piggy went…
Wee Wee Wee, all the way Home…
Mother Goose (1728)

Before we came to the Philippines we thought that we would be eating fish (head to tail); but to our great surprise we have found that pork is served and eaten more than any other meat. The Philippines are in the top 20 countries which produce and consume pork; 70 % is raised in the back yard and 30% is produced commercially.  The Landrace, Large White, and Duroc are the most popular. As we have driven in traffic we have mostly seen the Landrace pigs all stuffed in the trucks ready for market.

Filipinos like to eat pork because it is cheaper, easier to raise, tastes sweeter, and they feel it is easier to digest.

Along with roasted pork one very popular product is Spam (spiced ham) made by Hormel Food Corporation in 1937. It was first introduced in the Philippines during the U.S. occupation after World War II. The soldiers ate it morning, noon, and night. Now it is often eaten with rice (of course) and eggs. Other countries like Hawaii calls it Hawaiian Steak, Okinawa chanpuru and Spam Burger, Hong Kong cha chaan teng, Korea Spam kimbap (rice and vegetables filled seaweed roll), and Israel Loof (a kosher variant).   

“During the rescue efforts after Typhoon Ondoy in 2009, Hormel Foods donated 30,000 pounds of spam to the Philippines National Red Cross.” It has also become an important tradition to ‘give and get’ Spam for a Christmas gift.

Remember the next time you want to fatten up your little piggy, feed it corn and bean meal- not beef. Also don’t forget to show your patriotism when celebrate the Fourth of July to include Spam for your ‘Spam Jam,” and enter your favorite recipe into the National recipe competition in Austin, Minnesota. We wouldn’t want the Philippines to out beat the U. S.  record of 3.8 cans of Spam consumes every second.

PS. I have included a Recipe courtesy of Chef Brandon Boudet of Los Angeles' Dominick's 

Spamghetti Carbonara

• 1 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 5 oz. Spam, cut into ¼ x ¼ dice
• 2 eggs plus 2 egg yolks
• 1 lb. spaghetti
• 1/2 cup grated Reggiano Parmesan cheese
• 1/2 cup grated Pecorino Parmesan
• Fresh black pepper to taste

Heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat. Add the Spam and sauté until crisp and brown, approximately 5 to 6 minutes. In a separate bowl, add the eggs, egg yolks and 1/4 cup of water and beat together with fork until light and frothy. Cook the spaghetti in a large pot of boiling salted water until al dente, approximately 10 minutes. Drain in a colander and then return spaghetti to the pot. Using two large forks, mix in the eggs, Spam with all the pan drippings, cheese and black pepper to the spaghetti in the pan. Serve immediately.
 

Read more: http//en.wickipedia.org/wiki/Spam_(food) http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1866043,00.html#ixzz26o4VcGu3

Enjoy! DST 2012