Humba was another one of my most favorite Filipino recipes, so when I had the chance to watch the aunties in Eicher prepare this meal I was so thrilled.
Humba is a variation of pork adobo. It's salty-sweet, with just a little bit of acidity, and the meat is completely tender and full of flavor.
This is going to be a little scary for us non-Filipinos, I know, but in order to really make this good you need to buy pork belly (pictured above). It just doesn't compare when you use a different cut of pork. Even if you don't want to actually eat the fat on the pork belly, you still need it to cook with the lean parts so that it gives off that flavor.
First you fry the meat, and then you let it simmer together for a while with all this good stuff....
Until it becomes this golden, delicious, saucy meat that goes perfectly over a pile of hot rice.
So, so good.
Humba
Recipe from the Eicher house
2 lb. bone-in or boneless pork belly*
1-2 cups oil for frying
1 tablespoon azucena (substitute onion)
1-2 bay leaves
1 onion, chopped
1 tablespoons oyster sauce
2 tablespoons soy sauce (more to taste)
¼ cup pineapple tidbits
¼ cup black beans
¼ cup brown sugar
¼ cup vinegar
5 cloves garlic, peeled and smashed
1 ¼ cup water
½ cup green onions
1. Separate the fat from the lean meat by cutting the pork belly into medium sized pieces (about 2 inch by 1 inch).
2.
Heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium low heat and cook the
pieces of pork until golden brown, about 15 minutes. Remove from oil and
drain in a bowl lined with paper towels.
3. Transfer the pork to a
large pot and add all the remaining ingredients except the green onions.
Mix well and bring to a low boil over medium heat. Cover and simmer,
stirring occasionally. After 30 minutes, add the green onions and stir
to mix them into the pot.
4. Cover again and simmer for an additional 30 minutes, or until the pork is very tender.
*It
really is best to make this with pork belly, even though it might
require a trip to a special meat market to find it. The CSC aunties use
bone-in pork belly. Since each piece of pork belly has both a lean part
and a fatty part, it makes the meat extremely tender and full of flavor,
even if you choose not to eat the fatty part. I've made this with
pork sirloin as a subsitution, and I was disappointed with how much
tougher the meat was than with the original pork belly.
CSC Hiring Teachers
We can't tell you it would be easy, but we can tell you you'd be changing lives...including maybe yours.
Children's Shelter of Cebu is looking to hire two new teachers for our Cebu Children of Hope School, an elementary school, in the 2013-2014 school year. These positions begin in June. Teachers are hired for a one-year contract. They must be licensed and have experience in a school with an English-based curriculum. We have a strong staff of Filipino teachers, but also like to have teachers who have taught in the US as most of our school-aged children are adopted there.
We expect a lot of our teachers, excellence in the classroom and more. You would raise funds prior to going to Cebu for the majority of your salary. You'd take part in activities at the shelter and school beyond school hours. You'd be asked to help host frequent visitors to Cebu. Most importantly, you'd be asked to be part of a loving family to children who have lost theirs.
We offer health insurance and travel, and an experience you'd remember for a lifetime.
Think you might have what it takes? Application instructions follow the position description here.
Three Generations of CSC Lovers!
Back in the '80s, Warren and Marie Hagfors were in Cebu as volunteers with the Evangelical Free Church. While there they got to know the CSC staff and were frequent visitors to the shelter. Warren helped as a computer instructor to the staff. Within a few years, they were back in Cebu, this time as CSC short-term staff. Upon returning to the U.S., Warren served on the CSC Board and Marie cross-stitched over 40 designs for the houses in Cebu.
Pat Hoeft learned about CSC from Warren and Marie, her parents. She became a loyal CSC supporter and friend to the staff. She is a medical doctor, and the hospital that she works in donated lab equipment to CSC several years ago. She went to Cebu to help get the equipment set up and running. Just this week she went to Cebu to visit her daughter, Lindsay, who is working on the CSC staff as Director of Counseling as a part of our childcare team. Lindsay is a third generation CSC lover from the Hagfors line! We were recently overjoyed to learn that Lindsay has committed to a third year with CSC in Cebu!
CSC 2012 Highlights
Children's Shelter of Cebu has come through another amazing year with the Lord's guidance. Fifteen children joined their adoptive families while twenty-nine new children came to CSC in 2012!
Continue to pray for the adopted children, newly admitted children, and all those at the shelter as we enter this new year. Please pray for the Lord's continued protection and love for all in our care.
Morning Presentation Features Students' Creativity
At a recent school presentation, Level B students presented art, drama, and dance numbers that showcased their creativity. The dance number was choreographed by Sarah and featured moves and formations that celebrated Jesus' death and resurrection. Eugene narrated an original script for a stick puppet show. "The Monkey and the Squirrel" was the name of Eugene's masterpiece, which talked about respect and cooperation. Epifanio drew a picture of people around the world, all accomplished during the playing of the song, "Imagine." It was a great presentation all around, and showed what our kids can accomplish when their creativity and imagination are encouraged.
Science Group Looks at Emotional Health
Tammy Vosika's science group has been learning about what it means to be an emotionally healthy person and how that includes having a positive view of oneself and others. She gave the kids an assignment to come up with at least one positive thing about each person in the class. Click here to see what they came up with!