Cultivating

This week I discovered that even the Amish go to the supermarket. So it looks like there is me and that tribe who have yet to be discovered in Southern Borneo who are not going to one. I was further surprised to learn that some Amish sects are even allowed to go to Pizza Hut- yes in a horse and buggy and can not get deliveries, but pizza particularly from Pizza Hut is allowed by the Bishops. This I can totally understand, Pizza Hut is great. Although I can totally recommend Crusty’s Pizzas in Beaky and several others in the greater northern region of Tassie. But surely their ethos and way of life is more akin to small scale shopping and growing their own.

During the week, on one of my many weekly discussions (or rants) on why I don’t go to the supermarket it was suggested that I do not need to go to the supermarket as I am growing my own food.

Sorry it took a second for me to pick myself back up off the floor. In no manner have I ever produced something from the garden fit for consumption. Presently our garden produces two things poo and a nice view.

There is a photo of the nice view, you may need to trust me on the poo. We are country folk and the garden is full of native visitors, birds, possums, wombats, wallabys and the occasion kangaroo. They all pop in (the possums screech across the roof), chew on a bit of grass, leave a deposit and go.

I, like every other Australian, have notions about growing my own veggies and having some chooks, but may leave that till retirement, only another 35 years to go

 

Vegan's For Lunch

Last week fortune shined and we had a public holiday- I say we and as in the kids and I, Mark works in town where the show is celebrated in November. It is truly a point of cultural difference. So on our day of days we had Vegans over for lunch. 

How did I meet Vegans?  Well… as the kids are just a little stir crazy at home, when I’m not at work and they are not at child care- we are at playgroup. We have made some great friends and play mates that are different to my other friends.  I started going when we lived in England and I realised- wow I have no friends with kids and a tiny lounge room with a busy little lad. When I had a new born and a 14 month old toddler playgroup was my saving grace. We do a local playgroup and when I’m off we do Steiner playgroup in town.

I must admit that despite my family being 25% vegetarian having a family of vegans over was a little daunting. The vegetarian diet at ours is full of cheese, eggs, pasta and milk. So finding something fit all tastes- including 3 toddlers. So I made Vegan Spanakopita- taking out ricotta with vegan cheese (surprisingly sold at the Beaky IGA) and vegan filo. 

It was good- (the photo does not make it look great), even the kids ate it. Although it was a bit awkward when my kids wanted a yogurt and hadn’t planned on a vegan toddler who would be left out. Turns out the answer to this dilemma are sultanas.

I say bring on more holidays and summer!

Down, Down, Prices are Down

It has been a month since I have heard the “down, down prices are down,” ringing in my head. It has been more time consuming and marginally more expensive, but an exciting consequence is eating more fruit and vegetables.  

In some dramatic periods of reflection (alternatively called the drive to work) I was thinking about how when we lived in Japan and rarely went to the supermarket. Although it was a diet largely based on copious amounts of alcoholic beverages, it was local veg shop (which was under the highway), the occasional food hall, small local shop, convenience stores and fish mongers that I made all purchases.  So I have dived into the archives and found some photos of some of the greatest food in the world. 

Tako :)

I see an egg, some pink and maybe a potato cake.

Nabae- or as we call it stew

Yakiniku

Last one is my favourite, takoyaki.