Jamie Oliver v/s Amy Dacyczyn: Finding a frugal balance in the search for foodie fulfillment

In an interview with Jamie Oliver last November, a Globe & Mail reader sent in the following question:

How do you balance the demand for healthier meals for British, and now American school children, with the cost considerations of poorer parents who may not be able to afford fresh, good-for-you foods and ingredients?

Jamie Oliver said in response:

Well, I always say that through history, the best food has always come from the poorest people, because they’ve had to use their imagination, knowledge and skill to create meals from very little. So ‘good’ food isn’t about having money, it’s about having knowledge.

Amen, Jamie! Knowledge is far more important than money, and perhaps Albert Einstein was right again, that imagination is more important than knowledge. After all, cooking is not all that difficult to do; in fact even if we were completely devoid of  information, we could learn just by experimenting.

Sometimes it’s also about unlearning, that is, unlearning what we’ve been taught about food.  Boiling vegetables until they are mush, insisting on table salt, cooking a piece of meat until it resembles a hockey puck, believing that a meal must consist of a piece of meat, a starch, and a vegetable - once popular wisdom among some cultures, these old practices ought to be retired for good.

I think another necessary component to good food is a genuine interest and desire to increase the quality of one’s diet.  In “School Dinners” Jamie put together beautiful, nutritious meals for school children for 66¢ a person, but in the “Ministry of Food” the adults often complained that they did not have enough money to purchase healthful ingredients for their families. One woman complained that she was too poor to buy all kinds of fancy ingredients, and decided instead to feed her little girl “cheap”(?) take-aways like chips & cheese or kebabs from chip wagons.  She explained her dilemma to Jamie with a cigarette dangling from her lips.  Of course, different individuals have different ways of coping, but someone must want to change before they can start making a significant change to their diet.

On the other spectrum, I’ve been reading The Complete Tightwad Gazette lately, which is a whole other universe of frugality.  Amy Dacyczyn’s classic newsletters are still great for a few tips and also a few laughs.  Although I commend her for raising her family of 8 on a combined income of $30,000 while managing to save a hefty portion of her husband’s income, Dacyczyn promotes cooking practices that I think are devoid of imagination. Dacyczyn started writing when total tightwaddery were imperative to her family’s survival, but over the years her family did well enough that they no longer needed to resort to extreme measures. During these more comfortable years, the family continued to practice frugality as a matter of principle and also because they enjoyed doing so.  Some of it is helpful and/or inspiring, but I am definitely turned off by some of her ideas.  For example, her family would chuck the leftovers from dinner into a big bucket that she kept in the freezer, and once the bucket was full, she would create a soup or casserole out of the contents.  Yes, they manage to use up every bit of leftover food, but were they really making the most out of the food that they had? I would answer no, and that kind of carelessness is tantamount to waste in my mind.

Taste is important, and this is something I’ve emphasized time and again on the blog; we are given the gift of being human, and while on this earth, I want to live, be present, and enjoy my senses to the fullest extent. I don’t want to go through life just eating food as a means to an end.  I don’t just want to eat something that’s just cheap, or even just healthy. I want sit down with that meal and say, “oh wow, is that ever good.”  I want make the kind of quality food that I hope to get at restaurants, but usually cannot find.

Eating my own food rather than eating out or eating convenience foods has so many advantages. It means I get to eat great tasting, healthy food, that lets me almost effortlessly maintain a healthy weight.  And it means that my food costs are low.  The main drawback to cooking most food from scratch is, of course, the time involved. But there are always solutions. In order to manage my time, I’ve recently starting my own version of batch cooking.  On weekends, I tend to make two soups at the same time.  Making two soups at once is faster, and it also provides me with some variety throughout the week. The leftovers get portioned out into smaller containers for freezing.  The soups do not contain meal leftovers like Dacyczyn’s; instead, I choose the ingredients based on what I have in the fridge, first using up the foods that spoil the quickest.  For example, last week I made a Minestrone and a Cabbage & White bean soup; this week I made Cauliflower & Cheese.  Two other recent successes include White Bean w/ Bacon and Carrot & Parsnip w/ Ginger. When making the soups, I also prep some ingredients that may be used throughout the week, for example I might prepare some roasted garlic (which can then be added to pasta, pizza or bread)  and then use the residual heat from the oven to make delicious “sun dried” tomatoes that might otherwise spoil. I will make enough salad dressing to use on a week’s worth of salads, or perhaps bake bread.  I find it much easier to eat healthful meals throughout the week if most (or all) of the prep work is already done.

My experiences in frugal cooking have led me to some truly wonderful places, and I am still learning.  Sometimes I have flops, but when I make something truly delicious, I get excited for the years ahead.  I wonder what kind of cook I’ll be in 20 years if I just keep practicing and experimenting.  I may not be the most glamourous cook in the world, but then again, eating locally and in season has its own rustic charm.

Meditations on food

I’ve been reading the book, “Less is More” by Cecile Andrews and Wanda Urbanska, a collection of essays written on voluntary simplicity.   One essay in particular captured my attention. It was titled, “graceful living” and was written by Jerome Segal; this particular piece was originally published in his book, Graceful Simplicity.

Below, Jerome explores the grace of reflecting on the abundance of a meal:

“When one does approach a meal gracefully, one can consider what one has with what others do not. This means seeing things against the backdrop of poverty, of hunger, of times and places of suffering and deprivation… Then there is another perspective, one that does not take power form the contrast of the suffering and deprivation, but rather seeks to put us in touch with the abundance that is in front of us.  Here the appreciation for food rests not on an awareness of hunger, but on how good this food is, of how remarkable a thing a potato is or the diverse ingredients of a salad or the crust on a good bread. And then to take a look around the table and take stock of those who are there, valuing them not against the possibility of lonliness but in virtue of the richness that they provide.

Here appreciativeness goes beyond thankfulness to being open to the values that are inherent in something. This kind of appreciativeness requires a certain kind of experiencing. It is not primarily a matter of intellectual assent, but of an openness, an accessibility to what is valuable, be it another person, a peice of music, a work of art, a spring day or a great ball game.

I love the above paragraphs because he explores what is missing when we talk about gratitude in comparison to what others have or have not.  Even when we are grateful for having food or for having shelter, there is something painful about it, because we are still comparing ourselves to others.  What about those who lack food or lack hunger? Are we taking pleasure in not being in their state? And what happens when we find ourselves in that state of suffering, are we no longer able to feel gratitude? The process of simply being mindful and aware of the beauty, complexity and curiosity of objects and life before us is an opportunity for great joy, and does not require the painful contrast of human suffering.

I’ve been thinking lately of how to bring more awareness and mindfulness into my life.  I’ve been contemplating taking on new challenges, like attempting to eat mindfully for a given period of time, just to see what it feels like.  I find eating alone without any distractions difficult.  Even the times when I do shut down the computer or the book, I can feel my mind clicking away, instead of just giving in to Here, Now.  Maybe it’s because it’s challenging to come face to face with the reality that I am eating alone, without the companionship of the partner I once had. But there can be great beauty in that concept itself, of nourishing oneself, of enjoying silence, of having the freedom of choice, and the ability to sit silently and contemplate the food and its complexity of flavour, its texture, its aesthetic value, its aroma and its ability to nourish.  Futhermore, even when I am alone, my connectedness to family is still present in my home; looking at my kitchen I notice that my wooden chair and tables once belonged in my childhood home, my placemats were handmade by my sister, the dried flowers in the vase were once plucked fresh from my Nana’s farm.  Even my cooking style and knowledge have been influenced by the women in my family.

We often forget our senses for our brain.  While the mind whirrs away, we forget that we have five senses in which to play with, to delight in.  These are gifts, to enjoy and to explore.  I don’t want to let my instincts to worry and plan overtake the gentler, more patient senses, which need some space in order to thrive.

What is your meal-time routine? Do you have a ritual or practice that enables you to enjoy your full senses while enjoying a meal?

Double your contribution to Haiti relief efforts!

I know that we all probably feel like we wish that we could do more to help the victims of the Haitian earthquake than just donate money, but right now it’s all we can do, and so I think it’s our duty to give as generously as we possibly can.  The Canadian government is currently matching donations made to Haiti relief efforts - details can be found here.  The government will match up to $50 million.  I’d like to think that each and every penny of that alloted money will be spent, thanks to the generosity of Canadians. In order to qualify, you must be a Canadian citizen and donations must by made by February 12.  Don’t miss out on the opportunity to double your contribution!  And remember, the more you give, the more money our government will donate.

If you’re living on a budget or fixed income, consider what you could give up for a week or month in order to make room in the budget for the gift. Could you sacrifice your clothing budget just for one month? Nix going to the bar with friends and stay in, instead? Give up your coffee habit from Tim Hortons and drink a home brew for 30 days?  Gail has some good suggestions on her recent post, “make do month,” on how to have fun by living more simply and frugally this January.  These little pleasures seem so frivolous, and sacrificing them pales humbly in comparison when you start to think about the tragedy and human suffering that is happening right now.  It’s not too much to ask, is it?

Get your friends or family in on the action, too, and you’ll make even more of an impact.

To donate to the Red Cross’s Haiti effort, click here.

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Update:

I haven’t had a chance to sit down and thoughtfully respond to the comments provided, but I’d like to finally take the opportunity to do so.   Rather than writing a whole new post, I thought I’d simply elaborate on my thoughts about giving locally versus globally.

There are inherent problems in distributing aid, but this is the nature of the beast. Working with local and national governments with problematic political structures, making sure aid gets to the right people, working with funding and mandate restrictions - these are but some of the problems that international aid agencies face. And the truth is, we share many similar problems right here at home.  Local organizations also face challenges when it comes to funding restrictions.  In order to get funding, nonprofits often have to prioritize certain goals that aren’t necessarily the most beneficial to the community.  And, unfortunately, some individuals are given more than their fair share of aid while others suffer in silence.  This is the tip of the iceberg. There are always problems, at home or abroad, when it comes to redistributing money.

But I believe that our role, as donors, is not to just give up on the cause, but to do our research and choose the most trustworthy organizations we can. No organization is perfect, and every time money changes hands there is a risk that some of it will be spent in a way we would not like. But by choosing organizations that are reputable, we can reduce the risk. And I should offer a caveat - when I say do your research, I mean hands-on research; be skeptical of media publications that tend to demonize NGOs. Most journalists do not have a great understanding of how funding works. The Red Cross got a bad rap a while back for not spending all the money on the tsunami in the year it happened, but the public is unaware that most NGOs have funding restrictions on when and how they spend the money.

I believe that supporting local organization is important, and am currently working for a local organization and seeing first hand how important it is for donors to give locally.  But I also believe that we are bound, as ethical human beings, to give globally. We are global citizens. We are all the same, none less deserving of basic human rights. We have a responsibility to look outside our worlds of comfort and give to those who have not had the fortitude of being born in a country where there are no earthquakes or civil war. Even selfishly, we are global citizens - our economy and environment are deeply connected to the rest of the world, so even if we want to escape into nationalistic narcissism, it is better not to from a self-preservationist point of view.

I’ve been working and researching in the nonprofit sector for nine years now. Having worked for both national and local organizations, I can tell you that giving to national organizations who have regional chapters (such as the Salvation Army) does not necessarily mean your money stays in the area from which it came. I can’t guarantee this is true of the Salvation Army, but in my experience of working for national organizations, they like the locals to think that their money stays in their community, but it does not. It becomes one big pool (province-wide, mind you) that is then distributed based on its annual priorities.

Personally, I give locally, nationally and internationally.  I have a couple local organizations in particular which are unique and which I’m proud to support.  I’m lucky because i have enough friends working overseas doing international aid work themselves that I hear first hand experiences with certain international aid agencies, which goes along way in building trust. But there are always ways to get more involved, including speaking directly to people who work there, and better yet, getting an insider’s perspective by volunteering.

The Canadian government pledged $555 million to Haiti over 5 years, back in 2006.  I’m proud that the government has removed the $50 million cap on doubling the contributions.

To read updates from MSF click here.

From Alton Brown to Pema Chodren: my quest for abundance

The focus of my blog for a while now has been on abundance - how to rejoice in the abundance all around us, even if, or especially if, we’re living on a limited income.  Today I wondered just how related abundance is to income.  In one way, we can be drowned by our stuff, by feelings of want, of insatiability, of feelings of worthlessness, of focus on material goods instead of cultivating and nurturing meaning in our lives.  So perhaps the quest for true abundance is one that we all need, whether or rich or poor.  On the flip side, maybe it’s more challenging for people who are focused on having their basic needs met, who are consumed by stress and fear, to take a breath and relax into a moment of peace and simplicity.  When I began writing on abundance, I had assumed that without the ability to satisfy every fleeting impulse, one would need to look for sources of inspiration and satisfaction that already exist - to be mindful of simple pleasures and the exquisite beauty in everyday life.  But now, it is occurring to me, that this is a practice that can benefit anyone.

I find exercising the discipline to meditate regularly difficult.  Yet I do find it exceedingly easy and pleasurable to turn off sources of distraction - music, tv - and just enjoy quiet moments.  I adore the quietness of weekends, drinking that first cup of coffee and watching my cat play with her toys and then take a nap; I watch from a distance the smoke billow out of two homes with fireplaces from my balcony, and enjoy how it provides a backdrop to the beautiful church across the street.  I love waking up and seeing sunlight pour in to my living room, and seeing a bright, snow-covered winter day.   But like most people, I am still asleep and unaware of most fleeting moments of beauty. The weekend mornings are but few moments of refuge from hours upon hours that are clouded by the endless thoughts and worries of a busy mind.

My quest for abundance, and my journey on this blog, has been partly about wanting to connect on a deeper level with what it means to be human.  It is so fascinating to be an observer on our own planet.  It’s one of the reasons I’ve always loved Star Trek, as Data and Spock both represented a humorous inquest into what it means to be human.  It’s a brilliant feeling to step back for a moment, and be less judgemental on the circumstances of our lives and press the button pause on the relentless analysis of our own behaviour and feelings, and just observe.  To allow all the feelings of being human to exist in our bodies and minds without such rigorous internal comment.

Perhaps that’s why I wrote in my last entry that I don’t have so many expectations for the year ahead.  I simply want to feel more of what I already have.  I just want to be more awake. I want to deepen my appreciation and awareness to my daily experiences and my own life.  To some degree, it would be easy to question the choices I am making, to live simply and quietly, but it’s just want I want to do right now.

There are two quotes I want to share with you - two quotes that are from very different people, but that funnily enough bear a similar message.  The first one is from Alton Brown:

Remember, flavor is a noun, taste is a verb, and it’s one we often forget to bother with.  We’ll spend hours preparing food that we gulp down in minutes as if we’re afraid a band of hyenas might pass through and wrestle it away from us.  So chew your food and taste it.  If you’re with other people, stop talking for a minute and just taste.  If you’re by yourself, turn off the TV, put down the book, and enjoy your interface with planet Earth.  And I’m not just talking about fancy fare here. I’m talking about that ballpark frank, that cup of coffee, that Milky Way bar.

I always have a distraction when I eat.  I take so much time preparing lovely food with lovely ingredients and then I eat my meal while watching a show on my computer or, less often, while reading a book or magazine.  The only meal I eat quietly are my breakfasts on weekend mornings, which is my sacred time, and even then I may have a book open. Why is letting more silence into our lives so difficult?

Here’s the other quote from Pema Chodren, which sums up my point here:

Even the simplest of things can be the basis of practice - a beautiful morning, a good meal, a shower.  Although there are many such fleeting ordinary moments in our days, we usually speed right past them.  We forget what joy they can bring. So the first step is to stop, notice, and appreciate what is happening.  Even if this is all we do, it’s revolutionary.

I realize that my focus on the blog has slowly changed from its inception to focus less on money and more on mindfulness, and it won’t suit everyone. Thank you for those who are sticking with me and who also want to join me in the quest for a truly abundant life.

A less resolute new year

This holiday season, I’ve received a number of good wishes from some very kind supporters, who have sent their hopes that this year will be better than the last. And while I treasure every kind word, I have no hopes for the new year ahead.  It’s not that I’m hopeless, that is to say, I am not despairing. It’s more of an acceptance, an openness towards life and the unknown.  My readers who have been with me for more than a year will know that I had big plans for this year.  I thought I was making decisions that were going to bring positive changes to my life.  I thought that I was being proactive in seeking out my own happiness.  And I was.  But the truth is, we really don’t know what will bring us happiness and what will bring us pain.

In “When things fall apart” (which is, by the way, a great book, regardless if you are going through a tragedy or not), Pema Chodren wrote:

When we think that something is going to bring us pleasure, we don’t know what’s really going to happen.  When we think something is going to give us misery, we don’t know.  Letting there be room for not knowing is the most important thing of all.  We try to do what we think is going to help.  But we don’t know.  We never know if we’re going to fall flat or sit up tall.  When there’s a big disappointment, we don’t know if that’s the end of the story.  It may be just the beginning of a great adventure.

Whatever happens this year, this we can guarantee: some things will happen that we will define as painful and bad. Other things we will define as joyful and good.  Life will unfold, opportunities will arise, we will make choices.  Few will yield exactly what we expect.

So I’m not really wishing for a happier year ahead.  I’m not wishing to do better, or be better, or for very much at all.  I’m simply wishing just to be.

Three strategies for a greener, simpler, happier holiday

Revisiting a bustling mall makes me think about the environmental impact of holiday shopping but it also makes me think about human resources that are eaten up by excessive shopping. (And I say “excessive” because I am in no way an extremist, as you all know.) On this blog, a message I hear repeatedly from my readers is how important friends, families and pets are to our happiness and well-being.  Spending time with the people we care about is obviously a crucial component to our happiness and, without a doubt, the best frugal luxury there is.  In a busy world, time with others, and time alone, has become a valuable commodity. Wouldn’t it make more sense to spend less time shopping and more time just being?

In Amber’s post, she asks, “What green holiday traditions are you adopting?” Well, I have a few strategies to reduce environmental and financial costs, and make the holidays more meaningful and special to me:

1. Doin’ it DIY. I love making homemade gifts and homemade cards. There is nothing quite like crafting something that is tailor-made and perfectly suited to the recipient.  Seeing them actually use or consume the gift offers a particular thrill.

*homemade treats*

2. Innovative Packaging. Gifts become instantly more environmentally friendly when you package them yourself, especially when you use what you’ve already got around the house - think reusable glass mason jars, wire or wicker baskets, vintage tins, or - my favourite - “repurposed junk”. (Remember the tea box I made? You can find a tutorial I wrote on how to do it at Organizing Junkie.)

*once a tea box, now a gift box*

2. Thrift. I must admit, I owe a lot to Shopping GoLightly at The Thrifty Chicks.  This woman has opened my eyes to a whole new world.  And although I know that I’m preaching to the converted, I must just reiterate that thrift stores are not just full of fondue sets, massaging foot baths and harlequin romance novels.  You can find great vintage pieces for collectors, one-of-a-kind items and plenty of brand spanking new in-the-box items, sometimes with the tags still on.  You get to decide whether your favourite part of thrifting is that it is environmentally friendly, saving you gobs of money, supporting local charities, or providing you with the thrill of the hunt.

*a vintage find for my table - pretty, embroidered napkins*

Shopping GoLightly also reminds us that to be known and understood is the true gift - in this post, Ms. GoLightly responds to a comment I made on her blog, and reminds me (and all of us) that a gift, whether homemade, thrifted, or bought retail, means the most when it is meant to enhance a person’s authentic self:

The act of taking time to truly listen to me, observe me and truly know me is, in essence the gift, not necessarily the object. That’s the part that sets tears in my eyes. To feel, in this wide world, there is someone who has taken the time to truly know me and wants me to continue on as myself and not be swayed.

*life in the beach, last December; expectations for a different kind of year ahead*

Lessons from my purple-haired, teenaged self

I’ve been thinking a little bit lately about how much creativity I employed in my teenage fashions.  When I was a teenager I dressed in very unconventional ways.  First it was the grunge phase, inspired by Kurt Cobain.  Thrift stores and vintage consignment stores were my favourite places to find cardigan sweaters, velour shirts, torn jeans and anything strange or interesting.  Quickly this morphed into a punk phase, which sparked tremendous creativity on my part.  I never, ever, shopped at malls or traditional clothing stores.  Instead, I relied on thrift stores, hardware stores, pet stores, army surplus stores, flea markets, costume stores, and dollarstores.  Here’s what I would buy:

Thrift stores: My favourite was the discount thrift store warehouse, that charged $1 for every garbage bag you could fill with clothes.  These were the items that had been cast off from all other thrift stores.  Luckily, what was considered unfashionable by most people was perfect for a 15 year old punk.  I still remember the fake silk, avocado green, ruffled shirt my sister found.  We both thought it was David Bowie-like and fabulous for 5 cents.  Tacky old mens’ vests were perfect for decorating with patches and buttons.  Another great find was a canary yellow, big puffy Cindy Lauper-esque skirt and and old pair of police uniform pants.  Perhaps the best finds of all were old vintage t-shirts, with rare prints of Billy Idol or The Who.

Hardware stores: I made my old wallet chains using interesting types of chains that were intended for hanging lamps.  They were more fun than traditional wallet chains, and made good necklaces, too.

Pet stores: Leather collars for pets with studs on them made suitable wrist cuffs.

Army surplus stores: My favourite army jackets and combat boots were found here, but that’s not surprising.  What is surprising is that the army surplus also had a flea market like component, where I found Billy Idol sweat bands from the 80s.

Flea markets: These yielded all kinds of interesting finds - not just clothes, but things that could be repurposed into jewellery, like a great big bag of wooden beads I bought.  This was also the perfect place for finding cheap, original Star Trek memorabilia.

Costume stores: Stockings with skulls or bones on them made perfect pantyhose when paired with my Cindy Lauper skirt.  They also sold things like handcuffs, wrist cuffs and faux-leather gloves.  These were intended as costume accessories, but I wore them as real accessories.

Dollarstores: My sister and I bought children’s jewelry , like big chunky rings, plastic bracelets or necklaces, and wore them with playful irony.  Anything weird, tacky, interesting, vintage or ironic, I loved.

Obviously times have changed dramatically, and although my punk phase has forever influenced some of my musical tastes and socio-political values, I now dress in a much more conservative way.  But I find myself remembering the zest and creativity I put into a simple thing like fashion with wave of nostalgia and some degree of awe. I believe that living creatively is important, and I want to harness some of that energy and enthusiasm I had as a 15 year old, and apply it to my life today.  It’s easy to follow the herd, and it’s easy to resort to the most obvious solutions when it comes to meeting our needs for things like clothing.  It’s an easy choice to head out to a mall and participate in traditional retail activities.  But isn’t it more fun, more fulfilling, to think differently about our lives? To think differently when it comes to solving daily problems or challenges?

Only now do I realize that my unconventional approach set the stage for a fulfilling, frugal lifestyle.  I love to shop at thrift stores, consignment stores, antique stores, flea markets, Habitat for Humanity Re-Stores, and garage sales. I love doing swaps with friends and exchanging handmedowns. I love making my own gifts and cards.  I love repurposing items and I love using a “DIY” ethic to repair or modify something I already have and make it into something new.  Who would have guessed that as a punk teenager, sifting through boxes of unwanted clothing, that I would be setting the stage for financially frugal, environmentally-sound, sustainable living?  Granted that now I’m shopping for antique tea cups instead of Billy Idol memorabilia, but the essential message stays the same: employ creativity and abundance you will find!

Being content with what you’ve got

My family has been asking each another what we want for Christmas lately, and the question usually makes me reflect on how much I actually already have. When I pause to think about it, I realize that I actually want very little.  Sure, there are some restrictions that go along with living within a tight budget, but overall I live a very full, abundant life.  It’s very humbling to realize that you’re actually content with what you own and are hard pressed to think about something you want, let alone need.

I think part of the reason I’m so content with what I have is because I’m not subjected to forms of media telling me otherwise.  I don’t have television.  I don’t read fashion magazines.  And I don’t go into malls.  I don’t go out of my way to avoid them, it’s just that I don’t pass by them on my way to work or during my normal routines, so I’m simply not tempted by all the beautiful things in the store windows.  It’s funny how, without the messages from media or malls being shoved down your throat, it’s a lot easier to be content with less.

What helps you to feel content with what you have?

Savings tips from Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon

I love watching The Big Bang Theory.  I especially love this show because I just finished working at a theoretical physics institute, so I can compare the characters to people I actually know. In this episode, one of the main characters, Sheldon, a physicist with very limited social skills, gives great advice on how to get “statistically significant savings” on groceries and personal care products.

How a mystery delivery led to the best soup I’ve ever made!

A few weeks ago, I opened my door to find two cloth bags full of delicious vegetables - parsnips, carrots, rutabegas, ambercup squashes, beets, garlic, potatoes and onions.  There was also a newsletter from a local CSA (community supported agriculture) farm.  At first I thought perhaps the food was meant to be delivered to someone else in my building, but after calling the farm and checking on their website, I realized that they didn’t deliver.  Then I wondered if maybe someone was making a delivery to a neighbour and had gotten the apartment number wrong.  But with no method of contacting them, I didn’t know how to correct the mistake.  After 24 hours and no word, I thought that perhaps the vegetables were a random act of kindness.  Regardless, I decided at that point that the vegetables were mine to enjoy.  So thank you to my mystery vegetable delivery person!

I’ve made several delicious dishes with my mystery delivery, including two soups.  I first made a Carrot Parsnip Ginger soup, and I thought it was the best soup I’d ever made, until I made the Ambercup Squash soup, which trumped its deliciousness.  Both soups were absolutely spectacular, but the Ambercup Squash soup certainly triumphs over anything I’ve ever made before.  It was so good that I had three bowls in a row.  I’ve never eaten three bowls of soup at once before.

So here’s the recipe.  Unfortunately I didn’t track exactly how much spice I used, because when I cook, I just go by what feels right.  But I’ve tried to estimate.  Experiment and you’ll come to your own conclusions about what works.

image courtesy of www.beawkuchni.com

Amazing Ambercup Squash Soup

Ingredients

2 tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, chopped

1-2 large cloves garlic, minced

3 medium red potatoes, cubed

1 medium Ambercup Squash

splash of cream (optional)

4 cups homemade chicken stock

1 tbsp curry (or less for those who don’t want too much spice)

1-2 tbsp fresh ginger (minced)

1/2 tsp tumeric

1/4 tsp freshly grated whole nutmeg

1 cinnamon stick

salt & pepper to taste

Directions

Prick the skin of the squash with a fork and place, whole, on a sheet pan in the oven at 400 degrees for approximately 45 minutes. When done, skin will have begun to blister.  Remove squash from oven and slice in half.  Remove seeds with a spoon, preserving seeds if desired.  The squash should be soft enough that the flesh is easily removed and the skin peels off and flakes away.

In a large stock pot, heat olive oil over low heat; cook onion, stirring occasionally, adding a little sprinkling of salt, approximately 1/2 tsp.  Add ginger, garlic and spices and stir.  Add the chicken stock, potato and squash.  Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer gently, until the potato is cooked and flavours have blended together, about 1/2 hour.  Check seasoning, adding more salt or spices if desired.

Remove from heat,  let cool ever so slightly.  Remove cinnamon stick and blend in a blender in batches. Return to pot, warm and serve.  If desired, stir in a splash of cream (this is optional.)

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This soup is incredibly nutritious and very, very cheap to make.  It’s an ideal healthy and affordable dish for fall & winter.