Pastel Tutup (Indonesian Cottage Pie) Recipe from Grandma Liem

Pastel Tutup

(Indonesian dish inspired by Dutch/European dish. Similar  concept to British cottage pie or Dutch ovenschotel, but with different filling)

This is my grandma’s recipe, provided kindly by my Aunty Bwee. The measurements and timing are all my approximation.  Because as all good Indonesian food recipes, there is no such thing as exact measurement!

Ingredients

600-700gr potatoes (any variety that is good for mash) or mixed with celeriac for lighter choice

1 medium shallot, chopped

½ onion, chopped

2 medium carrot, cubed approx. 0.5cm

250-300gr cubed (05.cm) meat of your choice (chicken/pork/beef/cooked prawn/sausage/tinned spam) or vegetarian meat substitute or tofu

A handful of thinly sliced wood ear mushroom (Auricularia auricula-judae aka jelly ear or Jew's ear or black fungus. In Indonesian known as jamur kuping)

A handful of glass noodle (soaked in hot water for no longer than 2 minutes then drain)

½ cup peas (frozen or fresh or tin)

100-150ml stock (chicken or vegetable or beef stock)

Milk or corn flour (optional)

Parsley and/or chives, chopped

4 Boiled eggs (optional), cut into quarters

1 egg 

1/2 cup grated cheese (cheddar or any type you like)

A pinch of Salt, Pepper

A pinch of ground nutmeg (optional)

Methods:

1.     Steam or boil the potatoes (and/or celeriac if you like) then mash it with a touch of butter. If you like creamier mash add milk as you like.

2.     Stir fry the chopped onion and shallots until soft. Add the cubbed carrot, meat (or vegetarian substitute), peas (if use tinned pea, add this last), mushroom. Add the glass noodle and season with salt, pepper and nutmeg (if using). Pour stock. If you want it creamy, add a few spoonful of milk or corn flour mixed with water. Add the chopped herbs (parsley/chives)

3.     Transfer the filling into an oven proof dish. If using boiled egg, arrange the quartered eggs on top.

4.     Cover with mash potato. Brush with egg and sprinkle some grated cheese.

5.     Bake in the oven 190-200C for 30-40 minutes (until the top is golden brown).

6.     Serve with salad (if you like), mayonnaise and (if you have Indonesian taste) chilli sauce (Sambal ABC or sriracha).

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WOMAN

When God created woman, He was working late on the 6yh day…

An Angel came by and asked, “Why spend so much time on her?”

The Lord answered, “Have you seen all the specifications I have to meet to shape her?”

·     She must function on all kinds of situations

·     She must be able to embrace several kids at the same time

·     Have a hug that can heal anything from a bruised knee to a broken heart

·     She must do all these with only two hands

·     She cures herself when sick and can work 18 hours a day

The Angel was impressed, “Just two hands…. Impossible!” And this is the standard model?”

The Angel came closer and touched the woman. 

“But you have made her so soft, Lord.”

“She is soft,” said the Lord, “but I have made her strong. You can’t imagine what she can endure and overcome.”

“Can she think?” The Angel asked.

The Lord answered, “Not only can she think, she can reason and negotiate.”

The Angel touched her cheeks…

“Lord, it seems this creation is leaking! You have put too many burdens on her.”

“She is not leaking…. It is a tear,” The Lord corrected the Angel….

“What is it for?” asked the Angel….

The Lord said, “Tears are her way of expressing her grief, her doubts, her love,  her loneliness, her suffering and her pride….”

This made a big impression on the Angel, “Lord, you are a genius. You thought of everything. A woman is indeed marvellous.”

Lord said, “Indeed she is. 

She has strength that amazes a man.

She can handle trouble and carry heavy burdens.

She holds happiness, love and opinions.

She smiles when she feels like screaming.

She sings when she feels like crying, cries when happy and laughs when afraid.

She fights for what she believes in.

Her love is unconditional.

Her heart is broken when a next-of-kin or a friend dies, but she finds strength to get on with life.”

The Angel asked, “So she is a perfect being?”

The Lord replied, “No. she has just one drawback: 

She often forgets what she is worth.”

* To all the women in the world. 

Disclaimer: the text is not my creation/writing. A very good friend, Sr Maria Fmsj gave the text to me. The source is unknown.

Smartphone and Tablets Appeal for Participatory Video Project in Papua

NO USE

IN USE

USEFUL

We need your old smart phones, tablets or iPads to train indigenous women of Papua, Indonesia, to be filmmakers in a Participatory Video Documentary project about peacebuilding and conflict resolution.

After the programme, all the equipment will be donated to the communities in Papua so that they can hopefully continue to share their lives and struggles to the world.

Contact: Adeline adelinecooke@ymail.com  or Andy andycooke@gmail.com  or WA +62(0)81210335275

Website: http://facebook.com/PhDAdeline    

Prof Dr Pompous Tw*t

Yesterday I was reminded of why I am pursuing this treacherous way of PhD focusing on Papua. I never wanted the title "Dr". I will never ever be a pompous academic who look down on 'the uneducated'. If I ever behave like that, please slap me hard!

I continue my education to PhD because I want to continue to see the world as something new with eyes of a child who see everything for the first time. No preconception, no prejudice. I want to listen sincerely, and I want to share what I have with others. I want to use my expertise to democratise knowledge.

I will continue to use everyday language and avoid big words if possible, because I believe that my work should be accessible to those outside my field, to those with or without university degree. 

To the professor or doctor who dismissed the idea of indigenous women can participate in a serious research before even listen, my message is: you are a sexist pompous t*at, your place is in a rubbish bin, and I respect the homeless drunk in the park ten times you! In fact, I respect a chimpanzee or an orangutan more than you! 

Papua, Indonesia and the world do not need any more arrogant Erupean to look down on them. 350 years under Dutch colony is enough. 

You call a participatory video project a vox populi. You know nothing about this, yet you dismissed this. Is it because I am a woman? Are you so scared of smart coloured women that you have to crush us like human kill spiders out of fear? I challenge you, you might be famous and have plenty of title, but your heart is as small as a single cell bacteria.

You will never understand how a single mother works two jobs while studying her bachelor degree and raising her son. You will never understand how the single mother with her son moved to a country 10,000miles away from anyone they know with only scholarship for a year ended up with two masters while working full time. Your son does not go to the best university in the world to study the most difgicult science as a result of years of struggle between studies, full time jobs and a family. You did not have to work night, sleep for one hour and rush to class only to work 10 hours shift again the next night. 

I will never be like you. People like you are the reason I am challenging the idea that knowledge can only come from the confinement of a university. I will continue to pursue a career in academia so that I can help those in need, the marginalised, the forgotten, and I do not need pompous tw*t like you in the world.