Just Had a Great time by the Dead Pigs!
By cynthiann
@cynthiann (18602)
Jamaica
October 2, 2009 6:22pm CST
I am working late tonight and so went to the market to buy meat and vegetables. I do not usually go to the market because it is noisy and loud and Jamaican Ladies who well can be very boisterous. It is a cultural thing as visitors will think that they are quarreling but they are not. They are just loud.
I went because, like everyone else, I am trying to cut costs on food. At the meat market, people were jostling each other, talking boisterously and well - yelling. But happy yelling.Now although we had pigs on the farm I was not around when they were being butchered. So I asked a lady what were the cheap cuts of the meat. I spoke in patois and she spoke back in patois and this aroused the interest of the bystanders who had nothing better to do than to speculate and discuss me, whilst they gave their advice. All of this whilst standing by the dead pig.
We are not a politically correct people. example: Look pon de white lady a speak patois? Is where she from? Etc etc. I so enjoyed myself. Haven't been in a market for years. I loved the atmosphere and the jokes and the bargaining for produce. And then I met people from the same district that I used to live. That was great.
Not only that, I received advice about how to cook pig trotters and slices of pork hock and all other cuts that I have never consumed before in my life!
Are you eating cheaper cuts of meat these days? This was the best time of my life this week. I will be going back - perhaps just for the fun.
We are not a politically correct people. example: Look pon de white lady a speak patois? Is where she from? Etc etc. I so enjoyed myself. Haven't been in a market for years. I loved the atmosphere and the jokes and the bargaining for produce. And then I met people from the same district that I used to live. That was great.Not only that, I received advice about how to cook pig trotters and slices of pork hock and all other cuts that I have never consumed before in my life! Are you eating cheaper cuts of meat these days? This was the best time of my life this week. I will be going back - perhaps just for the fun.3 people like this
15 responses
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
3 Oct 09
hi cynthiann looks like you are not from the US so may I
ask a dumb question as I am not familar with the term. we
'are often served pork here at Gold Crest retirement,but
Ido not know what pig trotters are,is that on the leg of
the pig or the feet or what? I used to love picked pigs feet
when I was a kid,but here I have never heard that term.please'do not for a minute think I am making fun of you for I certainly am not. I no longer get to pick the meat I eat as I live in a retirement place but I am sure they buy the most inexpensive cuts of meat they can get for 80 to 90 people here. we have farmers market where they sell produce really cheap but meat is still much too costly, so when I was cooking for myself I always chose the cheaper cuts. I do miss that.
2 people like this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
3 Oct 09
Hey hatley, I ask the same question of cynthi, lol, what trotters were. I was almost afraid to ask. My mother liked pickled pig feet to. Hope u have had a good sat.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
2 Oct 09
First of all they have to be sliced and seasoned with plenty of black pepper some salt and a good amount of garlic, onion and thyme. Seasoning should 'soak in'for a few hours . we also use something called country pepper is is Scotch Bonnet pepper - very hot so just a few slivers will do.
Then brown in hot oil and reduce heat. Add water and let it simmer.
Add carrots and potato slices later on. I would put the whole thing in my slow cooker to let he meat become really tender. So cheap - I may try it to morrow.
It was just a great experience to be amongst happy people again. They had to 'place' me. Personal questions are just asked outright with no sense of decorum. Who was my husband? Where did I come from? Where was living now? How many children did I have and where were they now? I actually found the honesty refreshing whereas once I found it very intrusive. Loved the experience.
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
2 Oct 09
So am I! I was happy to see people from my village even though they gave out my life history to everyone without missing a beat. told them things I had forgotten! we were a constant source of gossip in he village near where we lived. Ladies would d even go around the back of the house in the bush to see what clothes were drying on my clothes line. and when they saw me sunbathing in a maternity swimsuit they were scandalized. That caused a sensation.I am talking iver thirty years ago. Things are a bit different now.
and when they saw me sunbathing in a maternity swimsuit they were scandalized. That caused a sensation.I am talking iver thirty years ago. Things are a bit different now.
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
3 Oct 09
Absolutly! Cheaper is typically better as long as I"m doing the picking out! As hubby bought some super cheap pre-made burgers and lets just say when people cringe @ what they put in hotdogs this pkg was no different & I would of passed it by.
My grandmother used to eat pork hocks. I don't recall what she made them with and I don't know that I actually ate them. I know my Uncle (her son) loved them.
Eitherway this is why I have been buying ground up turkey in rolls @ Aldi. IT's always cheaper than hamburger & it is not as greasy and it doesn't give me problems with an acid reflux sorta thing I get but from fatty things, in particular meats.
I also buy the day old meat you cold say from one of the smaller grocery stores. It used to drive my hubby nuts as the main thing they had on special was either bratwurst or chicken of some sort. He would complain about wanting a real piece of "beef" then when I told him when I saw a deal on a cut I knew he would like he quickly changed his mind. I"m like what? for a deal on some beef tenderloin is like $4.00-5.99 on sale & I can get chicken depending on the cut .79-1.19lb. The chicken may get old on us some day s BUT the price is what's keeping our bellies full!
1 person likes this
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
3 Oct 09
I agree with you but the price yo pay for meat is far less than what we pay for meat. But a lot of what we need is imported. There is nothing wrong with purchasing day old bread either and freezing it.I use a crock pot or slow cooker a lot as this so saves me time and the meat is tender.
Keep on doing what you are doing my friend.
@ladym33 (10979)
• United States
2 Oct 09
Pork seems to be really cheap right now. Unfortunately my husband can't eat very many cuts of pork, for some reason he can eat ham, but other cuts of pork make him sick to his stomach. The kids and I love pork sometimes I will bet us some pork and I will get him something else. But I wish that I could just get pork and fix it for everyone because it is cheaper. We have a local store that has produce and meat really cheap. The grocery items are a bit higher, but I buy most of my meat there.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
2 Oct 09
I don't know where you are from but th cost of living is high in my country as most things are imported, I got the pork at about US$1.30 a pound, and trust me, this is cheap. It was really the atmosphere of people laughing, teasing and joking that cheered me up no end. I have so much more compared to them but today they are happier than I am. It6 taught me a lesson that I needed to learn. I am so sorry that your husband cannot eat pork. It must make it difficult for you to cater for him and your family
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
3 Oct 09
Good for u, so glad u went. I believe the change of scenery did u good. It was a much needed break for u from work. Sounds like fun was had by all. It's always nice to run into old friends. I'm sure u will be going back. I guess everyone everywhere is trying to cut back any way they can.I know i try but seems like there is never enough to go around no matter what . The unexpected things that crop up are what gets me. seems like they do that quite often.i'm going to show my ignorance & ask what are pig trotters?
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
3 Oct 09
Yiouare so right it is the unexpected things that make life difficult. Like when you need a plumber etc. Yes it did me the world og good to see peole who have so much less than I do and yet they were happy. Loud but happy and making jokes with each other. I felt good.
1 person likes this
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
3 Oct 09
Don't u love being around happy people. Seems people are not as happy as they use to be. That just shows it's not what u have or how much money u have that want make u happy. I admire people that are happy.
@bodhisatya (2384)
• India
3 Oct 09
Hi Friend,
Good for you that you had a good time in a stressful week. Have a great weekend!
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37354)
• United States
4 Oct 09
That would be fun. I really don't eat alot of meat in the first place so I am not eating cheaper cuts.....I sometimes forget to eat it for a couple of days and have went as long as a week without eating any meat at all....I am not a vegetarian but just don't like cooking for myself that much! LOL
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Oct 09
Last year I went for 6 months without eating meat and felt so good. But then Christmas came along I have have gone back to my old habits. I do not like cooking for myself alone either.
@tjades (3591)
• Jamaica
22 Nov 09
Ha... Cythiann you have a way with words and explanations that I enjoy. I like the choice of heading too.
I dont like the bargain hunting in the market myself sometimes. It can be a pain. I really do not argue prices unless the higgler qoutes a really ridiculous price.
I seem to have a soft spot for people who have to work that long and hard to earn their living contending with all the elements of nature. I have certainly been eating cheaper though.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
22 Nov 09
Hinestly sweetie pie, I am just a storyteller at heart. Many thanks for your flattering words
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
3 Oct 09
Lol, I don't cook, and I don't care to know from what part of the body the meat I don't already know of, comes from... Lol! I think it's interesting that we eat so many different parts of an animals body. I've been in Latino Stores before, and I think I've been talked about, but didn't speak enough Spanish to know! Sounds like you had fun!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
3 Oct 09
You mean you do not eat pig;s feet? I diod have a good time as it was the highlight of a wretched week. Practice your Spanish and try some different meals for fun.
I diod have a good time as it was the highlight of a wretched week. Practice your Spanish and try some different meals for fun.1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
3 Oct 09
I eat pigs in a blanket does that count? Lol! I know it doesn't. I don't like hotdogs anymore, but do eat them wrapped in cheese and croissant bread!
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Oct 09
I think that what you call pig in a blanket is what we call sausage rolls! I do not eat hot dogs as they are loaded with preservatives that may cause cancer
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28717)
• United States
5 Oct 09
Sorry it took me so long to respond, I had a very busy weekend! Friday was grocery shopping, then my oldest had a football game. Saturday was a soccer game for my 6yr old son, then he had a birthday party to attend, then I went to Bingo with my mom, sister, and daughter. Sunday the family went apple picking and then watched some movies.
All in all we had a great weekend.
We don't have a meat market here, but yours sounds like lots of fun. We do have a farmer's market, which is fruits, veggies, plants and stuff. We go there from time to time. Nothing really fun happens there, but it's still nice to do.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
3 Oct 09
See you there next Friday at 4pm. Come resdy to be entertained by people who have diddly squat but make th best of everything that they do have.
@agv0419 (3022)
• Philippines
3 Oct 09
At first I don't know what pig trotter is that you have mentioned I did a research and I found at that it is pig's feet. Here in our country as much as possible we don't waste any part of the pig. We called pig feet here "PATA" we have many ways to cook it but first we need to boil it until it becomes tender. The popular way to cook it is to fry it very crispy we called it here Crispy Pata.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
3 Oct 09
Thanks for your inout. I am going to cook it in a crockpot or slow cooker to get it tender. It is all sliced so just needs some good seasomgs.
@marguicha (216342)
• Chile
3 Oct 09
I´m discoveringf the most incredible and good dishes by using low cost meats. I make a pork jelly with pig´s feet that it would be a dish for gods. I also use them to make garbanzo beans They taste much better and they are not expensive. I´m also making my own pate with chicken libers. All these prodiuce are very unexpensive if you go to the market. At the super, all these cuts are considered delicacies.
If we want to eat well (or even better than before) I guess we´ll have to use our brains.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
3 Oct 09
I would love it if you would be so kind as to pm me that recipe for the pork jelly. It sounds wonderful. I was going to cook it in a slow cooker with plenty of garlic, thyme, onion, salt and pepper and a little hot pepper.Your way sounds more delicious
@xmapril (75)
• China
4 Oct 09
do you live in a village?
i live in a small city, we have very cheap products and we live on a small amount of money compared with people in large cities.
but i am still not very accustomed to this kind of life.
maybe like my friend said, my ambition is too high.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
4 Oct 09
I live on a small Island in the Csribbean that is 120 miles long and 44 miles wide.Never stop having ambition
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
3 Oct 09
These days we are cutting down on our meat consumption. Not because prices are expensive, but because my mother who has cancer cannot tolerate meat sometimes. She feels bloated when she eats meat so I make a lot of vegetable dishes instead. I expect the prices of commodities will rise in the next few days due to the storms and calamities which have ravaged my poor country. Even if my government has imposed price regulation, crafty businessmen will still take advantage.
By the way, I have a dish for pork hocks which is Chinese inspired. My dad used to cook this when he was alive, and it is called Humba. You need to clean the pork hocks, then boil it in seasonings so that it will be tender. The seasonings include soy sauce, star anise, peppercorn and a little sugar. When the hocks are tender, vegetables are added. My dad uses a variation of sweet potatoes or yams, or dried banana blossoms which I am sure is available where you are .
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