“My wife is so resourceful that she makes noodles out of almost nothing, adds water and we have noodle soup”.
From “Tevye Wins a Fortune” – discussed in my study group today, by coincidence.
My first disaster in the kitchen happened at lunchtime. I had attempted to make fish cakes out of some leftover potatoes and a smoked mackerel fillet. Either they were the wrong kind of potatoes, or it was a bad idea to mash them with the stick blender. I got sloppy mush instead of cakes. Luckily my husband is pretty long-suffering when it comes to food, and it still tasted good.
I had also failed to realise that split peas need to be soaked overnight before cooking. I left them to soak after lunch, and they seemed ready by supper time. The resulting dahl was rather spicy for my husband’s taste (the poor man is having a hard week), but at least there was plenty of it. I even found a bit of chutney hiding at the back of a cupboard to cheer it up.
I have started to notice an extra-strong craving for sweet things, which is pretty normal for me, and for salty things, which definitely is not. I never thought that I would miss salt, because I don’t use it. Having a more varied diet and being able to use plenty of lemon obviously compensates under normal circumstances.
I also notice a sense of entitlement; “I’ve eaten peas and rice all day – I deserve something more interesting”. It’s amazing how many munchable things I’ve managed to find lurking in cupboards – and I made a point of not stocking up for several days before starting this challenge. Apart from spices and pots of condiments in various states of fullness, the cupboard was bare – or so I thought.
Without spices and some leftover fruit I think I would be starting to struggle. As it is, it’s only Day 2, and I’m starting to wonder if I have enough for the whole week. I suspect that by the end of the week I, like Tevye’s wife Golde, will be making soup from odds and ends.
Today’s Food:
Lunch: Not-entirely-fishcakes and peas
Evening meal: Dahl and rice
Next post: will my lentil burgers be more successful than my fishcakes? Check in tomorrow and find out.