Must-eat savory meat stew in the winter!

I was going to do something productive but then I found this delightful youtube channel of a Chinese woman, Liziqi who shows her videos living off the land with ancient Chinese techniques. I wish I could make a hot pot or other traditional Chinese cooking but the techniques as an American, I'm just not used to and a lot of it is unfamiliarity to me. I'd almost have to go to school in order to relearn how to cook especially as an American. Don't get me wrong, I do cook but I'm not an expert. I can throw things in a crock pot and have it be good, I can make other things but nothing like what they do. That would be nice to do that though.

Anyways I should go do something productive lmfao.

[media=https://youtu.be/6xfp06qbO6s]

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Jackaloftheazuresand · 26-30, M

Asian cooking is really easy and for this case even more with it being Chinese. There's a million different sauces but they are all pretty much different flavors of one item rather than distinct items. It's the cooking of winging it. The thing that comes to mind that requires some immersion is her desserts and anything to do with fermentation

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@Jackaloftheazuresand It does seem somewhat easy when looking at directions but it's also foreign to me if I'm not used to cooking like that. When I see things I can't really picture what I'm doing or how it all comes together if I've never made something like that before. I really want to try though so I may try something that's fairly easy to start with.

Most of what she cooks looks soooo good though, I really want it bad lmao.

In a way, that life would be hard work constantly being in extreme weather, growing your own stuff etc. but it is appealing and more healthier than being cramped up all the time.

Another issue is that every time I try to replicate a recipe, it tastes okayish but not anything like the original recipe. For instance even chicken. I'll go to cook it and then just come out with plain breast every time lmao.

The only time I came close to something was frying that chicken in duck lard, that was really good. Made it moist and essentially browned/roasted it but for some reason I can't replicate that without duck lard specifically. If I used olive oil, coconut oil or any other oils.. it doesn't have the same effect, even taste wise it doesn't have nearly the same effect as using lard.

Kind of like cooking in a cast iron (wayyyy better than any other pan by the way but I'm biased) is way different than cooking in other things. It's like techniques and stuff that I don't know about.

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@Jackaloftheazuresand I should note that I fast and when it comes close to my eating window, I get a bit hungry 😌

Jackaloftheazuresand · 26-30, M

@SatanBurger Well then you just need a food science schooling. After that you need only cook to your taste rather than your brain.

Looks can be deceiving. I'll be honest, I don't think much of the food because something about that region is all about harsh flavor whether it be the Korean Kimchi or vinegar in sushi rolls.

She lives on a co-op, she still works but it's not just her. In one episode she does some bartering.

Jackaloftheazuresand · 26-30, M

SatanBurger · 36-40, F

@Jackaloftheazuresand Oh okay... good advice on the food science, yeah I have no food science skills which is what is probably missing. Maybe looks are deceiving, something can look good but also may be very different when I taste it. I get what you mean about harsh flavors, I don't really like kimchi because I hear it's super spicy but I like all types of miso.

Thanks for the different perspective.

She lives on a co-op, she still works but it's not just her. In one episode she does some bartering.

I still think what she does is impressive because she has skills that most don't bother with but the videos are somewhat deceiving because it looks like she does it all herself like she's just a homesteader or whatever and that's probably not true. I guess she's not to blame for my assumptions though, her knowledge is impressive though.

I like watching her cook, something therapeutic but instills a deep longing in me for some reason.