Gifts From A Far Away Kitchen
Pine nuts gathered from the woods near Riana's house. 
A few cloves of "Rose" garlic that I could eat but would rather plant. I suppose since it's too late to plant garlic here for a summer crop, I could plan on keeping it in the ground for two years and actually let it go to flower? It would be great if I could plant it now and still get a big enough head to harvest. Should I try?
Riana Lagarde is a food and travel writer living in southern France with her French husband and baby. They have embarked on a "slow living" year during which they are not buying anything besides the absolute essentials. I encountered her on flickr first and have since been reading her blog regularly which chronicles their adventure in slow living. I am not ready to make the huge changes that she's made (she is mostly cooking on her wood stove, not using heat except for the wood stove, not buying plastic, or toilet paper, nor sponges, and dries all her clothes on a line, just to name a few big changes) but I read what she's up to and it makes me think a lot about my own consumption and has begun to shift my own habits by inspiring me with how resourceful she's become and how happy and satisfied she is leading a slow life.
Seeing as I am not able to buy pine nuts, I expressed envy that Riana is able to forage them near her house. So what did she do? She sent me a care package with the following items: PINE NUTS IN THE SHELL!!!, French chocolate (Angeleen, I think you should stop by in the next couple of days so I can let you taste a square!), a piece of ginger root, some cloves of "rose" garlic, three vanilla beans (which I actually wanted to buy but was holding off), and some cinnamon sticks. My head is busy trying to think what I will send in return.
Chick actually found the package before me and hid it behind my arm chair where she attempted to maul it (she could smell the chocolate) and was only successful in putting a couple of teeth indentations in the package. I'm so glad that Max found it in time!!
I have tried cracking a couple of my precious pine nuts (which I would like to eat in a salad because Oakhill Organics is having their Christmas produce sale tomorrow and I can get some lettuce from them) but I have ruined two trying to get them open. HELP Riana! They are two small for my nut cracker and my hammer decimated one and all the pieces shot out in every direction. I don't dare try to crack another one until you tell me your own method!
As I am writing this I have thought of a couple of great items for a care package for Riana. But I won't tell yet just in case she pops over here for a visit.
As we all start examining our own contribution to the excessive use of oil through buying exports, or driving giant cars to go pick up our kids a few blocks away (even I have been guilty of taking Max to school on some mornings on my Scooter which is ridiculous), and supporting foreign economies, I think it's good to reflect on how globalization has enabled us to connect with people all over the world- something quite positive if we learn about each other and find inspiration from each other.
Now that I am not buying nearly as much imported food I find that the little splurges feel really large- very special. Getting a package from an Internet friend full of goodies from her own region feels like stepping back in time when most of our exotic goods were sent to us from relatives and friends who have traveled farther than us. I can see a world where most of us get our imports through friends and acquaintances rather than buying them through giant greedy corporations. Sending gifts that can be eaten or grown to make longer lasting gifts that nourish is pretty great. Nothing that Riana sent me will clutter my closets with crap. None of it will sit forlorn on a shelf collecting dust. It will be eaten, enjoyed, and (maybe?) live on in my garden.
I know that there are a lot of groans out there about getting cookies as presents from friends and family during the holidays. None of us want to get fatter than we are. But I'm thinking that the magic of food as gifts is that it is imminently useful. It doesn't have to be fattening either. The spice blends are a good example of something you can give that can be used in the kitchen and enjoyed in a way that so many gifts cannot. Home canned goods are also a great gift- it doesn't have to be jam (although, come on, jam is awesome!!!), you can make dilly beans or chutneys or pickles or candied nuts. I love that people still give food as gifts, especially when they have made it or grown it themselves.
Speaking of the spice mix: I will write down all the names of everyone who voted on the food related gifts post and I will draw one name out of it to win the spice mix gift. I will do that later today and post the results.
I also have results to discuss concerning the coffee liqueur. In all the batches of liqueurs I've made so far, the one universal problem has been that they are too thick and sweet with not enough of an alcohol punch which I have blamed on not being able to get my hands on 100 proof liquor. I tasted the coffee liqueur last night (that was made with 100 proof vodka) and for the first time ever I have to say that it doesn't have enough sugar in it to make it thick and rich enough- though also for the first time ever-it actually has the right amount of punch to it. The flavor is very good. I am going to add a little bit of sugar to it and wait for it to dissolve for a couple of days and I will report on it again. As soon as I have it perfect I will do the second drawing of a name to pick the winner of a bottle of the booze.
For anyone wondering if I will ever make good on my promise to take care of my brain- I have finally made an appointment with a therapist and today I will get a referral to a psychiatrist to help adjust my medication. So there.
Seeing as I am not able to buy pine nuts, I expressed envy that Riana is able to forage them near her house. So what did she do? She sent me a care package with the following items: PINE NUTS IN THE SHELL!!!, French chocolate (Angeleen, I think you should stop by in the next couple of days so I can let you taste a square!), a piece of ginger root, some cloves of "rose" garlic, three vanilla beans (which I actually wanted to buy but was holding off), and some cinnamon sticks. My head is busy trying to think what I will send in return.
Chick actually found the package before me and hid it behind my arm chair where she attempted to maul it (she could smell the chocolate) and was only successful in putting a couple of teeth indentations in the package. I'm so glad that Max found it in time!!
I have tried cracking a couple of my precious pine nuts (which I would like to eat in a salad because Oakhill Organics is having their Christmas produce sale tomorrow and I can get some lettuce from them) but I have ruined two trying to get them open. HELP Riana! They are two small for my nut cracker and my hammer decimated one and all the pieces shot out in every direction. I don't dare try to crack another one until you tell me your own method!
As I am writing this I have thought of a couple of great items for a care package for Riana. But I won't tell yet just in case she pops over here for a visit.
As we all start examining our own contribution to the excessive use of oil through buying exports, or driving giant cars to go pick up our kids a few blocks away (even I have been guilty of taking Max to school on some mornings on my Scooter which is ridiculous), and supporting foreign economies, I think it's good to reflect on how globalization has enabled us to connect with people all over the world- something quite positive if we learn about each other and find inspiration from each other.
Now that I am not buying nearly as much imported food I find that the little splurges feel really large- very special. Getting a package from an Internet friend full of goodies from her own region feels like stepping back in time when most of our exotic goods were sent to us from relatives and friends who have traveled farther than us. I can see a world where most of us get our imports through friends and acquaintances rather than buying them through giant greedy corporations. Sending gifts that can be eaten or grown to make longer lasting gifts that nourish is pretty great. Nothing that Riana sent me will clutter my closets with crap. None of it will sit forlorn on a shelf collecting dust. It will be eaten, enjoyed, and (maybe?) live on in my garden.
Thank You Riana!!!!
I know that there are a lot of groans out there about getting cookies as presents from friends and family during the holidays. None of us want to get fatter than we are. But I'm thinking that the magic of food as gifts is that it is imminently useful. It doesn't have to be fattening either. The spice blends are a good example of something you can give that can be used in the kitchen and enjoyed in a way that so many gifts cannot. Home canned goods are also a great gift- it doesn't have to be jam (although, come on, jam is awesome!!!), you can make dilly beans or chutneys or pickles or candied nuts. I love that people still give food as gifts, especially when they have made it or grown it themselves.
Speaking of the spice mix: I will write down all the names of everyone who voted on the food related gifts post and I will draw one name out of it to win the spice mix gift. I will do that later today and post the results.
I also have results to discuss concerning the coffee liqueur. In all the batches of liqueurs I've made so far, the one universal problem has been that they are too thick and sweet with not enough of an alcohol punch which I have blamed on not being able to get my hands on 100 proof liquor. I tasted the coffee liqueur last night (that was made with 100 proof vodka) and for the first time ever I have to say that it doesn't have enough sugar in it to make it thick and rich enough- though also for the first time ever-it actually has the right amount of punch to it. The flavor is very good. I am going to add a little bit of sugar to it and wait for it to dissolve for a couple of days and I will report on it again. As soon as I have it perfect I will do the second drawing of a name to pick the winner of a bottle of the booze.
For anyone wondering if I will ever make good on my promise to take care of my brain- I have finally made an appointment with a therapist and today I will get a referral to a psychiatrist to help adjust my medication. So there.
Labels: eating local, exotic food, food, food related gifts, gifts, packages, slow year