Cooking for One

As sad as the title sounds, I've actually been rather enjoying the challenge of preparing my own meals! In college I had my own tactic which involved cooking mass amounts of food at a time, freezing it or throwing it in the refrigerator, and living for the next week, popping the leftovers into the microwave.


Here however, I lack the luxuries of modern appliances, such as a refrigerator, freezer and microwave. In fact the only appliance I have in my apartment is a gas range that is fueled by a portable tank.


Next challenge: Let's see, will I go to Safeway, Walmart, Fry's, or Albertsons to get my food? How about none of the above! The nearest supermarket is three hours a way, and the nearest village market is a 30 minute drive. Since I'm too lazy to even go to the open market, I've taken the hand I've been dealt, and stick to my site.


My host aunt owns a small sari store and sells basic necessities like individually wrapped one-time-use shampoo, sugar, salt, canned corned beef, AAAAANNNNND a freezer filled with chicken, pork and hotdogs! So, once a week I stop by on my way home from school, buy some meat, take out a portion, put the rest back (I've persuaded her to let me use her personal freezer), have her update my tab, and head home.


As far as veggies go, living in the middle of cabbage country, you think it would be easier to get fresh vegetables. However, since everyone here manages there own garden, there isn't a lot for sale. So I'll make an announcement in class and hope that a student will bring a sack of potatoes or carrots the next day, and I'll pay him the trading post equivalent. Thankfully, during school days there is another little sari store that sells lowland vegetables like beans, garlic, ginger, and sometimes if I get lucky, pineapples!


When it comes time to cooking a meal, I usually just throw together whatever I have around. First the rice goes on the stove, and then I look around my kitchen for the rest. This morning I threw some chicken in the frying pan with some garlic and fresh ginger. I splashed on some soy sauce and, just for the heck of it, added a heaping spoonful of sugar. To my amazement, I created a perfect Teriyaki Chicken!


Breakfasts used to be oatmeal and eggs until, let's face it, it seemed pretty wimpy without rice. And so I gave it up. I still manage a pot (french press) of coffee every morning, but I usually fry the leftover rice from the night before with some green beans and potatoes and it gives me the energy I need until merienda time three hours later!


I did a little quick math, and decided that if I were to eliminate meat from my diet, I could eat for less than 30 pesos a day. That's less than $0.70! For example, rice costs 30 pesos per kilo (two lbs) which will last me at least a week. I bought a kilo of green beans the other day for 20 pesos and they have lasted nearly two weeks! Eggs are 7 pesos each, and salt costs 15 pesos per kilo. Two pounds of salt for 35cents! The rest of it pretty much goes towards coffee, which is still absurdly cheap compared to what we pay in the States (Around $5 for two lbs).


As for the rice, I'm still working on that perfect pot. But it should be soon. I've been getting lots of practice. It's a little bit tricky when you don't have any measuring utensils, but I'll reveal that little secret when the time comes.


P.S. Anyone watch the Pacquiao v Bradley fight? It was practically a holiday off here to watch it, although the mood died down pretty quick after the results...