Pig in a Bag

Now this is fantastic. Some stomachs might turn at the sight of a plastic bag filled with frozen cubes of pork but for me this is a dream come true. I don't dream very big. Not only is this *family bag* of meat enough for a dozen meals, it comes in a robust plastic bag with a drawstring closure, all wrapped with a bun at the top like a fruit basket.


As you can read on the price label this is meat packaged specifically for pork adobo. Now this didn't come from a butcher or specialty store by any means. I wouldn't even call the place a grocery store. Let's tag it a convenience store - with bags of meat. I assume it's either shoulder or rump meat, but who knows? And who cares? If you didn't grow up Filipino or on the islands I'll have you know this is a simple and delicious dish - the pinoy mac and cheese. Here's the recipe (originally from the Palmore family vault). If you have any variations let me know:

Adobo

4 pounds of meat (pork or chicken)
2 bay leaves
3/4 cup soy sauce
3/4 cup white vinegar
3/4 cup water (better yet, a can of good beer)
1 tablespoon garlic powder, or 5 big cloves of fresh garlic, smashed and chopped
1 tablespoon sugar
1 large onion, sliced
Pepper to taste (start with about 1/2 teaspoon)

Simmer the meat in a 5 qt pot with all the ingredients except the onion for 1 1/2 - 2 hours for pork (chicken only 30 -45 minutes) or until the meat is super tender. I like to add a little ginger and Tabasco. Stir occasionally.

Add the sliced onion the last five minutes.

Serve over rice.


This is the first entry of my three part series on "something in a something." Justin Timberlake has agreed to sing the jingle. Check in for the next installment.