Conscious Soup Making: Pot Dilemmas
Does anyone else have massive dilemmas when making lunch? Whilst throwing a load of vegies in a pot with some stock sounds so easy, as I made it today my thoughts went to bigger problems as I assessed exactly what went into the pot. Maybe it's the weather, or the eclipse, but nothing seems straightforward at the moment. J is just pleased I'm cooking - last week I'd cry at the thought. I am too - it's nice pottering and providing a meal for us, especially as he's in the freezing shed working on Buttercup.
When you're aware of where your food comes from, every purchase becomes an ethical dilemma. If I don't support local businesses, I'm basically saying I don't care about my fellow human beings. I'm saying that I don't care about their need to provide for their families, the hard work that goes into producing good food. But it's more than this, too, when you care about the environment and want to protect this fragile planet of ours. Buying local means less transportation which means less consumption of fossil fuels. It means less traffic congestion. It means less urban sprawl - when small businesses relocate to towns to make their money, more houses spring up to accommodate them, more shopping districts, more habitat loss and pollution.
And the more I support this local economy, the better it will get. We're seeing all sorts of local industries pop up around here which means that I don't go as far to get what I need. There's biodynamic, grass fed beef and pork. There's local raw honey, eggs, garlic and potatoes (all of which I also produce, in season). There's even a purple potato chip company, a beautiful soap manufacturer, a flour mill and a baker, and a cordial maker. It would be easier if they all sold out of the same place, rather than going from shop to shop or to the farmgate, but then to me, it's small price to pay for the environment and local economies. The problem with us, because we all tend to do it, is that we get lazy and want the convenience, often because we're too busy or tired to make the effort. But I try. I really do, and it feels good.
Once this dilemma is worked out, I contemplate what's in season. Seasonal food is better for you, because it doesn't have to go as far to get to you, or isn't force grown with chemicals in greenhouses or picked too early so it lasts on the way to our table. It's also better for the environment because it doesn't travel as far and you're more likely be able to get it locally. Luckily, this kind of soup is souper - it's a winter soup that necessitates winter vegetables. I love the fennel tops too, because they are low waste - I'll save the big fennel bulb for dinner tonight but the tops are great in soup - very much like celery (which J. can't eat!).
The proof is in the tasting. J. comes in with frozen hands and a big smile. He's so happy, eating this soup. He loves it because it reminds him of his Gran, who always used to make it. Plus, it won't make him sick.
And that's just souper.
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Nice soup, sorry would like to know its medicinal value?
Apart from healthy vegetable nutrients and the fact I have cooked something that wont make my husband sick??? Im sorry but I am not sure what else you want from me!!!
It was really beautiful to read about your families journey with food and health and how you have learned to adapt and innovate with your cooking to provide great flavours and nutrients while catering to your husbands specific dietary needs.
I can relate to the dilemmas you face when sourcing food. We are trying to be food self reliant but we aren't there yet. I am so careful about what we purchase.
We aim for local but this is not always an option. Not all local small farmers have the same principles that we do. Some of them don't care about healthy clean organic food. They spray crap on everything without a second thought and raise their animals for productivity rather than kindness.
When buying from the supermarkets or on-line I am careful about researching the brand to make sure it's a company I feel happy about supporting. A lot of companies have made it onto my boycott list so the options have become really slim.
It feels good to know how all of the food we eat has been grown and it's changed how we eat completely. We had to give up eating our favourite chocolate and many other things we loved because the companies behind these products treat the environment like a dumping ground. Our purchased food options are limited but this really makes things easier in the long run.
I really loved this post. It's nice to know that others are thinking about food in similar ways as we are.
Oh its frustrating isnt it, especially when its a favourite food. It does get part of life though, a kinda 'damn, oh well'. If only everyone did it - then we wouldnt have this problem in the first place. Your reply is PERFECT. Xx
You really nailed it. I completely agree! If the majority of people stood up and said no more, change would happen. There would be no choice. Apathy and handing over control to a select few has created this world that we live in.
Guess what time I picked to read this post? Yes... right before lunch time, goddammit, one day I'll learn
Oh thats too good!!!
Stahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhwp! You don't do that to a chicken chassis dude, we are always hungry.
doesn't look like you have a dilemma at all :) More like a solution in putting stuff together that looks better than eating out ....yum
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