Facts about the Cassava and Bamboo of the Philippines

From My FaceBook Page the other day. I grew up with these two plants during my childhood years in the Philippines. Bamboo and Cassava Plants are all over our backyard. These are two of the many tropical plants I am familiar with.

A: WHY SHOULD WE GROW CASSAVA

1. Highly profitable crop-Cassava is more profitable than maize. The gross margins per hector of Cassava is three times higher than that of maize.

2. Ready Market: Cassava is very easy to sell. The domestic market is huge. Cassava is also used for industrial purposes like in baking, making of cardboards, packaging materials, beer, starch, glue, baking and many more. Therefore the market for both cassava chips and flour is huge

3. Cassava is drought resistant compared to maize, making it a good for household and national food security

4. Cassava is easy to store. The crop can be harvested only as needs arise. The surplus can be stored under ground thereby resulting in low post harvest losses.

5. The crop is desease resistant. No need for insecticides, thus cheaper and easy to manage

6. Can grow almost everywhere, regardless of the soil fertility

7. Multiple uses-. All parts of the plant are useful. Leaves can be used for vegetables, stems are used for planting, roots or tubers can be used to make floor, chips, or can be eaten raw.

8. Widely consumed in many African regions countries. Staple food in many regions

9. Can be processed using the most basic or natural methods like just socking, sun-drying and pounding

10. Huge demand for both domestic and industrial use

11. Can be inter-cropped with other crops like millet, groundnuts and beans

12. Does not require any chemical fertilizers, making it cheaper to grow

13. Rich source of starch and carbohydrates, making it a good security crop

14. Complementarity-Cassava can be consumed together or mixed with other crops. Tates supper with groundnuts, beans. Cassava floor mixed with maize meal tastes better.

15. Huge potential for commercialization- cassava can easily or will soon be a commercial crop given it's multiple industrial uses like the making of starch, flour, beer etc.

16. Nutritious-Cassava leaves are nutritious with some medicinal properties

Cassava Cake💚 is delicious and nutritious. The Cabunocs, two of my guests at my 90th Birthday Party last Saturday, brought me a Cassava Cake with Jack fruit. It was delicious.

B: Some Facts about Bamboo:

1. Fast Growth: Bamboo is the fastest-growing plant in the world. It has been recorded at growing 47.6 inches in 24 hours. Some species can even grow over a meter per day under optimal conditions. A new bamboo shoot reaches its full height in less than a year.

2. Oxygen Release: A grove of bamboo releases 35% more oxygen than any other tree out there.

3. Carbon Dioxide Absorption: Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide at a rate of 17 tons per hectare every year. It can act as a valuable carbon sink given how fast the plant grows.

4. No Fertilizer Required: Bamboo doesn’t need fertilizer to grow. It can self-mulch by dropping its leaves and use the nutrients to grow.

5. Drought Resistance: Bamboos are drought-tolerant plants. They can grow in the desert.

6. Wood Replacement: Bamboos can be harvested in 3-5 years compared to the 20-30 years of most softwood trees.

7. Building Material: Bamboo is incredibly strong and sturdy. It has been used as support for concrete as well as scaffolding, bridges, and houses.

8. Soil Stability: Bamboo has a wide network of underground roots and rhizomes that prevent soil erosion.

9. Natural Air Conditioner: Bamboo cools the air surrounding it by up to 8 degrees in the summer.

10. Invasiveness: Some species of bamboo, especially ‘running’ bamboos, can be invasive due to their extensive root systems, which allow them to spread rapidly. However, not all species are invasive, and with proper management, the environmental impact can be minimized.

Meanwhile, From My Former Garden- My Doggie Pepper- Its not an AI generated photo. It's the real thing!

Lastly, Did you Know that, Apo Reef is a coral reef system in the Philippines situated in the western waters of Occidental Mindoro province in the Mindoro Strait. The reef and its surrounding waters are protected areas administered as the Apo Reef Natural Park (ARNP). It is one of the best known and most popular diving regions in the country, and is on the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Finally looking forward for our Christmas Eve ( tonite) and New Year's Eve ( 12/31/24)Dinners.

I plan on enjoying the Crab cakes and Pan Seared Scallops and Dutch apple pie a la mode

For New Years Eve, I have reserved the lobster bisque soup, smoked salmon platter, Baked Lobster Tail and the Chocolate Cake with Strawberries

💚 recipe for cassava cake

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!

Grilled Red Snapper- Introducing My Food Blog

My Own Recipe of Grilled Red Snapper garnished with sweet peppers, tomatoes and green onions. A sweet sour sauce, green or red sauce may be added.   

I was reading the Food Section of the New York Times the other day. An article that attracted my attention was titled Pescado-a-la-talla- Contramars- Red and Green Grilled Snapper. The article discuss that it is a Mexican Specialty, but it is also now very popular all over the world. What strikes me was the date of the article ( Nov 1, 2024), because I have been enjoying a similar recipe during the last 20 years. 

 💚https://cooking.nytimes.com/recipes/1026154-pescado-a-la-talla-contramars-red-and-green-grilled-snapper

May I reiterate that I  have been enjoying a similar recipe for the last 20 years. I have posted a similar recipe in my Food Blog about two years ago.  Indeed,  It is with great pleasure that I am reposting my own recipe of this dish as follows:  

https://myfavoritepinoydishes.blogspot.com/2022/11/my-own-version-of-whole-fish-sarciado.html

In my previous postings Why I Write, I indicated that my articles covers several topics. But some of you may not know that I also have a Food Blog. 

For the last 63 years of my married life, I have never been in the kitchen. My deceased spouse  (Macrine) insisted that there will only be one cook in the kitchen. So I leave her alone when she was cooking.  My duty was to tidy up the Kitchen after she cooks.       

However, when Macrine died in 2020, I was forced to cook for myself, since I was getting tired ordering food on line ( Door Dash etc....). I was surprised to know that I enjoyed cooking very much.  My enjoyment was creating my own recipe and modifying old recipes to what I have in my pantry. My cooking adventures lasted for over a year. I stopped cooking when I moved to THD in June, 2023. 

Here's the website of MY Food BLOG:

💚https://myfavoritepinoydishes.blogspot.com/2024/09/home-cooked-filipino-dinner-comet-room.html

Meanwhile, I have a cravings for lobster and the following picture I had for dinner before my move to THD had increased my cravings for lobster. 

The Main lobster was served with Guinisang( Sauteed) Ampalaya ( bitter melon) with shrimps and Johannesburg Riesling White Wine and steamed white rice.   It was served also with a pickled mango slice, a fresh tomato and a sweet green pepper. The sauteed bitter melon is from my own recipe. 

Lastly, Here's a list of the top ten most popular Filipino Dishes for your information. 

https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-top-ten-most-popular-dishes-of.html

The Pasta e Fagioli Soup and the Oktoberfest Celebration

My lunch yesterday was half-Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich, a bowl of Pasta e Fagioli soup, water melon and coke ( photo below). It was a yummy lunch and very filling with the hearty Italian Fagioli Soup. I was curious about the soup and its difference with minestrone soup so I did my search and here's what I learned.   

Pasta fagioli and minestrone are both Italian soups with similar flavors that make use of whatever vegetables you have on hand. The main difference is the beans in the pasta fagioli that result in a thicker soup than minestrone, which is traditionally very brothy.

In Italian, “Pasta e Fagioli” translates to “pasta and beans”. This makes a whole lot of sense considering this soup is chock-full of pasta and beans! It is also loaded with aromatic veggies and lean ground beef, making it a whole meal in a bowl. Think of Pasta e Fagioli as an Italian spin on chili!

So now that you know what Pasta e Fagioli soup is all about, let us talk about The Newton's Oktoberfest Happy Hour and Dinner yesterday.  The Cocktail Hour was held outdoors with temperature in the low 90's, but the shade from the trees and outdoor umbrellas provided relief from the unusual heat wave that has struck Northern California this week.  There was German Polka Music for everyone to enjoy. Some of the music pieces played we can sing along. 

I took some photos during the Happy Hour Celebration as follows:

The authentic German Dinner Menu was delicious. I enjoyed specifically the German Potato💚 salad and the German Chocolate Cake. 

German chocolate cake uses a particular kind of baking chocolate as its base, one which has a milder, sweeter profile thanks in part to lecithin, a fatty substance derived from egg yolks. In contrast, classic chocolate cake recipes often use cocoa powder or darker chocolate for a richer, more intense flavor.

💚What Is German Potato Salad? Unlike mayonnaise-based American potato salads, German potato salad is tossed in a vinegar-based dressing made with bacon drippings. It is usually served warm instead of cold, but some people prefer to serve it at room temperature.

I also enjoyed the German Goulash Soup and of course the Beer:  

Gute Nacht to All! 

Home -Cooked Filipino Dinner- The Comet Room in Newton's

Last Friday's night( September 6), John and Carol Larimore invited me to join them for filipino dinner at the residence of their bible class friends in Concord.  Ruby and Greg Atienza were our host. Ruby's is in the Filipino Food Catering Service ( see Menu above)- House of Casey.  She cooked a simple 3-menu Filipino dishes with steamed rice and sticky rice soup( congee).

The dishes were delicious. It included a grilled deboned milk fish( Inihaw na Bangus), pork adobo, sauteed (ginisang) mongo in smoked fish( Tinapa) and the sticky rice soup ( with ginger). She also send me home ( padala) the mongo dish which I plan on devouring with gusto next week.   I took some photos as follows:

The grilled milk fish was provided with lemon-soy sauce dip as well as a pickled green Papaya (Atchara) which was a gastronomic delight.

Again Thank You, John and Carol for inviting me. Please extend again my thanks to Ruby and Greg during your next Bible Class.  I plan on ordering Dishes from the Menu above for my Personal Enjoyment in the very near future.   Meanwhile here is the list of 10 traditional filipino dishes💚 you may want to taste and brag about. 

Filipino food tends to be overlooked for other Southeast Asian cuisines, like Thai and Vietnamese. But you’d be mistaken to neglect it. Pinoy cuisine has been delighting taste buds for centuries with phenomenal flavors that reflect the country’s multi-cultural influence. From deep-fried lumpia rolls to sweet leche flan, you can find Chinese, Spanish, or Native influence in almost every dish. 💚https://www.westernunion.com/blog/en/traditional-filipino-dishes/

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The Comet Room -A Newton's Restaurant Expansion

Photo Credit: Jenny Shively: Dinner at the Comet Room last Night-September 11, 2024  

Last Night I had Dinner at the Comet Room-Expansion of Newton's. The Dining Room in the Comet Room ( circular table for 6) was not only very pleasant because you could hear each other conversations( noise level perfect), but also the temperature was just perfect compared to the arctic conditions ( need a sweater or light jacket) in the main Dining Room of Newton.  

So sometime again this week or next week, if you see me alone in the circular table for 6 in the Comet Room, please do not hesitate to join me for dinner.  I promise I will not monopolize the conversation and I will not talk about my blogs. I hope you can join me next time, when you see me eating alone in the Comet Room ( the Expansion of Newton's-across the Kitchen Area-see photo below).  

Good Day to ALL! Another Good Move by THD Management!

However, I am eagerly waiting for the sound boards (acoustic panels) to be installed in the Newton's main dining Area. 

 

Early Morning Shadows in My Bedroom- Part 2

 Part 1 of this original poem that I recently posted received some positive comments from my readers.

 Here's Part 2 for your reading pleasure:  Early Morning Shadows in My Bedroom-Part 2

Early Morning Shadows in my Bedroom,

Woke me up again at 3:00AM Today;

I was in a daze, pondering, is it mahjong or bridge 

Or is it Chair volleyball, ladder or corn Hole?

Realized it is Saturday and no Games Today!

When I was finally fully awake, 

Batman & Robin jumping into my bed;

Looking at me with their soulful green eyes,

Eagerly, patiently and waiting to be fed.

Last night Filipino Dinner was a blast,

Hosted by Ruby and Greg Atienza;

Filipino- American Friends of John and Carol Larimore.

Enjoyed very much the sticky rice porridge, pork adobo, 

Inihaw na Bangus (  deboned grilled milk fish),

and Sauteed Mongo Beans with Tinapa ( smoked fish).

Thank you once again from the Bottom of My Heart, 

 John, Carol, Ruby and Greg Atienza;

Newton's Renovation and Maintenance is over,

Dreading Newton's at Dinner Noise Levels;

Wishing Eating Outdoors at Yoga Room remain forever,

Best dining experience and socializations to remember.

Thank You My Dear Readers and Commentators,

Your comments and responses to my daily blogs;

Will always be appreciated and remembered. 

   

Meanwhile enjoy this photo of my salmon-pink rose in my apartment

Hallelujah! We have French Toast for breakfast the other day!  A once in a Blue Moon Event here at THD!    

Meanwhile, Christmas season officially started in the Philippines!

Every September 1, Filipinos are starting to decorate their roads, houses, public and private establishments with Christmas decorations, Christmas music are starting to be heard, which marks the beginning of 5 months long Christmas season.

The Philippines is a country celebrating Christmas, the longest in the world (September - January).

Pork Sinigang-Most Appreciated Gift from A Stranger

The much awaited pork sinigang soup that our Chef Agustin and I has been talking about,  was handed to me during my brunch take-out trip to Newton's yesterday. It was a gift from Agustin's Filipino-American wife( Mrs. Gutierrez).  I have not meet Mrs Gutierrez in person, but Agustin has been telling me she cooks Filipino food for Him. I will add this in my postings of examples of an act of Kindness from Strangers. Agustin, please relay my thanks to your wife for the above Pork Sinigang Dish.   

As seen in the photos above, I divided the dish in 3 portions. Two for future use in my freezer, the other one I have savored and indulged with gusto last night with steam white rice and green papaya atchara ( sweet pickles).  

The soup has been rated by Taste Atlas as the best tasting soup in the world.💚 This soup was served at Newton's last October 13, 2023 during the Filipino-American History Month Celebration here at THD.

I have written several articles on the soup sinigang. Again here's a summary for your information and review.    Sinigang is a sour soup native to the Philippines. The recipe above uses pork as the main ingredient. Other proteins and seafood can also be used. Beef, shrimp, fish are commonly used to cook sinigang. The chicken version, on the other hand, is called sinampalukang manok. It is mixed with a variety of vegtables, such as green beans, okra, radish, eggplants etc...,  For detail visit:

https://panlasangpinoy.com/pork-sinigang-na-baboy-recipe/

💚https://chateaudumer.blogspot.com/2024/03/pork-sinigang-best-tasting-soup-in-world.html

Here are more websites on Best Soups of the World, listing Sinigang in the top 10, top 50 and top 100 best tasting soup in the world

https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-100-best-dishes-in-world.html

https://lifeinus1960present.blogspot.com/2024/03/the-top-ten-most-popular-dishes-of.html

Again thank You, Mrs Gutierrez and Maraming Salamat!! Masarap! Manamit Guid ( Ilongo).This gift is very much appreciated!!

Meanwhile,  Happy Renovation Celebration to all my Fellow Residents here at THD! Will there be Pinoy Food in the Food Trucks This Saturday? Just Dreaming? 

My photo taken by Martha Rodriguez after receiving the Sinigang from Agustin yesterday. 

https://theintellectualmigrants.blogspot.com/2024/08/thd-newtons-restaurant-kudos-to-chef.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawEvm2BleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHVlQub2O1x2sFTb_ZXeekvCjcD_mjvgm7SOLVQUmDj4T92F4JCOjhmXhvg_aem_hYOUG5UZ9cHkk--jGy6laQ 

California Top Five Most Popular Ethnic Cuisine

These last 4 to 5  days I had not been feeling well, with super low energy, muscle leg cramps and no appetite. However, today my appetite is back, my energy getting back to normal but once in a while the muscle pains can hit me with no warning. Because my appetite is back, let us talk about ethnic foods in California.   

Filipino Cuisine-Not in the Top Five Popular Ethic Cuisine in California

Manila Clams-One of My Favorite Dishes- Photo Credit: Sandi Green 

California is famous for its world-class food scene, from its farm-to-table eateries and Michelin-starred restaurants to its rich agricultural lands and renowned wine destinations. Aside from being the country’s largest food producer, California is also the country’s most populous state; its nearly 40 million residents make up more than 10 percent of the entire United States population. With that sizable number comes a melting pot of people and cultures—over 200 languages are spoken in California, including up to 90 indigenous languages, making it one of the most linguistically diverse regions of the world. 

Given the linguistic, cultural, and culinary diversity of the Golden State, culinary website Chef’s Pencil set out to determine: What are Californians’ favorite ethnic cuisines? To answer this question, Chef’s Pencil turned to Google Trends data on national cuisines. When gathering this data, Google looks at the number of searches centered on a certain cuisine—such as Japanese food, Japanese restaurants, Japanese rice, sushi, sushi recipes—and the names of well-known eateries serving that specific cuisine, and allocates an interest score based on the percentage of people in a state or city that made those searches. 

Chef’s Pencil used the Google Trends data to determine the five most popular ethnic foods in California—and the results may surprise you.

5. JAPANESE (INTEREST SCORE: 16)

Japanese food is integral to the history of California.

The first sushi restaurant in California was Kawafuku, which opened in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo neighborhood in 1923. Next was Tokyo Kaikan, a popular gathering spot for Japanese immigrants and Hollywood trendsetters—and the birthplace of the famous California roll (supposedly). True or not, the history of Japanese food in California makes the cuisine a favorite among residents; Japanese fare had an interest score of 16, making it the fifth most popular food in the state. Japanese cuisine was most beloved in the cities of San Francisco and San Jose, receiving scores of 37 and 29, respectively. 

4. ITALIAN (INTEREST SCORE: 37)

Italian cuisine has become a staple of date nights and casual eats.

Remember when we said California was the largest agricultural producer in the nation? Well, it’s mostly thanks to the Italian immigrants who came to the state in the 1880s. This 19th century influx of Italians may also explain why Italian food is the fourth most popular cuisine in the state, with an overall interest score of 37. Italian fare seems to be most beloved in San Diego, where the cuisine earned a whopping interest score of 82. 

3. THAI (INTEREST SCORE: 38)

Thai food is another example of California's diverse melting pot.

Garnering just one interest point over Italian cuisine, Thai fare comes next in Californians’ favored ethnic foods—and it is no wonder, given that Thai is one of the healthiest cuisines on the planet. Many common Thai ingredients have immune-boosting, disease-fighting powers, and given the Golden State’s culture and ethos of healthy eating, it makes sense why Californians would love Thai food. This cuisine is particularly popular in the cities of San Diego, Los Angeles—home to the world’s First Thai Town—Sacramento, San Jose, and San Francisco. 

2. CHINESE (INTEREST SCORE: 46)

Chinese food is everywhere in California and the quality is uniformly high.

Californians’ love for Chinese food began in San Francisco, as thousands of Chinese immigrants made their way to the City by the Bay during the Gold Rush, bringing with them the food of Guangdong—then known as Canton, hence Cantonese food. (Fun fact: The fortune cookie was invented in California, too.) 

You can now find food from all regions of the China, of course, but California chefs continue to put their own spin on the cuisine, with super-hip fusion dishes highlighting quality ingredients and expert techniques—a movement arguably led by Mission Chinese Food, which went from a humble pop-up in San Francisco to a bi-coastal New Chinese Mecca. 

1. Mexican Food: (Interest Score 80)

Mexican cuisine holds a special place in California's culinary landscape, enjoying immense popularity with an interest score of 80. This reflects the deep cultural connections between California and its neighbor to the south. The state is dotted with a mix of contemporary and traditional Mexican restaurants, offering a feast of authentic flavors from tacos and chile rellenos to pozole and California burritos. San Diego, in particular, stands out as the epicenter of Mexican gastronomy in the state, boasting an even higher interest score of 86, testament to its vibrant food scene.

What’s your favorite ethnic cuisine? Let us know about your top picks in the comments below. of California food.

https://www.california.com/most-popular-ethnic-cuisines-california/?fbclid=IwAR0Xhrcioi9R6zycKADml4QeUJpjvqsmWYgktu06vMcpDC4ARA3lra3RhjE_aem_Afjj5_opQzsr_xN3_AgjurxdnfMeOXoGfylcQ9--P7FpcqW-fmgbIRrgYzvKcTn3eV6p9rRdX7cst8312hqAvmDf