Suka Pipino

(Filipino-Style Vinegar Cucumbers)

November 1: National Vinegar Day

Filipino foods are often a blend of sour (asim), salty (alat) and sweet (tamis) flavors for a unique mouthwatering mix. Suka pipino (vinegar cucumbers) is an example of a Filipino-style side salad that has the cultural cuisine characteristic of “sour-salty-sweet” ingredients all in one.

Islander’s Mommy sometimes served suka pipino for her family. The simple yet very vinegary cucumbers balanced the soy sauce-marinated meat dishes that she also made for our mealtimes.

Savor some suka and pucker up with pipino and make vinegar cucumbers as a Filipino-style side salad on National Vinegar Day.

Recipe

(From Mommy)

• 1 large cucumber
• ¼ cup vinegar (we used sugar cane vinegar)
• ½ teaspoon sugar
• salt and pepper to tast

 Directions

Wash, pare and slice the cucumber. In a small bowl, combine the vinegar with the sugar. Mix in the sliced cucumbers. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve as a side salad.

Notes

• Apple cider vinegar may be used in this recipe instead of sugar cane vinegar. Clear vinegar also is fine.

Senate Bean Soup

November: U.S. Election Day (Tuesday after the first Monday in November)

We have visited the Capitol during some of our trips to Washington, D.C. With its  iconic rotunda, the building houses our elected officials (representatives and senators). At the congressional cafeteria, Senate Bean Soup is served every day, ironically reminding us of the low-budget stews we ate as children of modest income families. Fortified with navy beans and flavored with smoked ham hocks, the recipe for Senate Bean Soup comprises only a few ingredients but it feeds many people (this is an excellent example of “edible economics”—if only the government can balance the budget better by spending less instead of more)!

Make a difference with your vote and go out and cast your ballot at your local/state/national polling place. Also make Senate Bean Soup as a way to observe Election Day.

Recipe

(Adapted from the United States Senate)

Ingredients

• 2 pounds dried navy beans
• 4 quarts hot water
• 1 ½ pounds smoked ham hocks
• 1 small onion, chopped
• 2 tablespoons butter
• salt and pepper to taste

Directions

Wash the navy beans in hot water (cold water will crack them) until slightly white. Place them in a large pot and cover with 4 quarts hot water. Put the ham hocks on top of the beans. Cover the pot with a lid and simmer for at least three hours or until the ham hocks are tender. Stir occasionally.

Remove the ham hocks from the pot and set aside to cool slightly. Dice the meat and return to the pot. Mix well with the cooked beans. In a small pan, saute the onions in butter until lightly browned. Add to the pot. Stir in the salt and pepper. Serve hot.

Notes

• It is a privilege as well as a right to vote! Do your American duty and vote while we have the freedom in our country to do so.
• Search our blog for other patriotic posts and recipes suitable for celebrating American holidays and events, such as Election Day.

Thanksgiving Turkey

November: U.S. Thanksgiving Day (Fourth Thursday in November)

Gobble gobble! Many Americans traditionally gobble up turkey on Thanksgiving Day. The famous fowl graces the table as the centerpiece and is surrounded by other stereotypical side dishes, such as stuffing, gravy, sweet potatoes, cranberries, bread rolls and pumpkin pie. Some people feel pressured to prepare a picturesque turkey with all the trimmings. Perhaps that is why Islander jokes it is not in their marriage contract for her to cook the turkey at Thanksgiving. In our home, Highlander is in charge of making the meal for this major holiday. He keeps things basic (no brining—just baking) and the turkey turns out to be terrific and tasty! We like all the leftovers, too, which means we can take a break from cooking for a few days and spend more time watching football, shopping the sales or relaxing with loved ones and guests.

We thank God for a bounty of blessings! Happy Thanksgiving to all of our family, friends and fans of HI Cookery.

Recipe

(Adapted from Reynolds Oven Bags)

Ingredients

• Turkey, thawed
• Oil or butter
• Salt and pepper to taste (we also sprinkle a little garlic powder)
• 1 tablespoon flour, if using an oven bag (we used Reynolds brand)

Directions

Thaw the frozen turkey in the refrigerator a few days before Thanksgiving. Rinse with water and remove any neck and giblet packaging from the interior/cavity. Rub the skin with oil or butter. Generously season with salt and pepper or other favorite herbs and spices. Secure the wings with toothpicks and tie the legs together with kitchen twine.

Put the turkey in an oven bag dusted with flour to keep the meat moist and to prevent it from sticking. Tie the bag then insert a meat thermometer into the turkey. Place in a large roasting pan. Cut a few slits in the bag to allow steam to vent. Bake at 350 degrees F in a preheated oven, according to the size and weight of the turkey:

• 12-16 pounds = 2 – 2 ½ hours
• 16-20 pounds = 2 ½ – 3 hours
• 20-24 pounds = 3 – 3 ½ hours

The turkey is cooked when the meat thermometer reads 180 degrees F. During the last 15 minutes of cooking time, carefully remove or cut the bag from the turkey (beware of escaping steam and splattering liquids). Continue to cook until the skin turns golden brown. Remove from the oven. Let stand for another 15 minutes. Place the turkey on a platter. Carve and serve.

Notes

• The date of Canadian Thanksgiving Day is the second Monday of October.
• We personally do not cook or eat the giblets that are included in the turkey package. But our parents used to chop them up finely to add flavor to giblet gravy made from turkey drippings.
• If using stuffing in the turkey, add another half an hour to the total cooking time.
• Our turkeys turn out tanned now but when Highlander started cooking them in our early years of marriage, they were a bit albino-looking!
• We placed our turkey on a platter lined with lettuce leaves. Then we garnished it with fresh parsley and fruits that we had on hand for the final food photo above.
• Try our turkey cookies made with Oreos for a unique Thanksgiving Day dessert or decoration.
• We sometimes volunteer serving turkey meals to the poor at Thanksgiving-themed community gatherings organized by churches and charitable organizations. Please consider donating your time, talents and/or treasure to help those who are less fortunate during the holidays.