Exploration 1: Potatoes and a Composter
Before I begin, I just wanted to let y'all know that I've decided on making Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays the official entry dates. Meaning, new entries will be posted three times a week, with the occasional Saturday - such as today.
So far, I've been surprised by how many people seem to be reading. Thank you! Should you have any suggestions or recipes, feel free to shoot me a message or email and let me know so I can work in the changes or try out the good eats. That said - now for a short story about potatoes and the birth of my very first compostor.
Every community has their staple foods - something all other dishes seem to stem from or have included. For the Asian community it's rice, for example. As one can expect, having grown up in Northern Nevada/Southern Idaho - ours was potatoes. For readers outside the United States, Idaho is known to be the capitol of potatoes here within the states.
In fact, a nick-name that I acquired during my first year of collage, after some friends learned where I was from, was "Spudz." ha ha. Periodically, when down in New Mexico - they still do call me that from time to time.
Sometimes I feel like I know how to prepare a potato in every form imaginable. My favorite - mashed potatoes and fried, sliced potatoes.
In addition to this, everyone who has grown up in a poor home knows comfort food is born out of necessity and a combination of what's available and what's cheap. Personally, I have a handful of comfort foods - foods that remind me of home and the better days of childhood. Typically I gravitate towards these dishes when I'm homesick or not feeling well. Yet, sometimes, I find myself whipping up these simple treats just simply to be reminded of home and my loved ones there.
Some of them I know how to prepare and some I don't.
I mentioned in Wednesday's entry, I believe, fried sliced potatoes and sliced hot dogs were such comfort food. It's nothing fancy, but it satisfies the heart.
Having had yet another work filled day yesterday, come dinner time, what I wanted to do was slap in a pizza and call it a good - a supreme or pepperoni pizza. YES, FUCK ME UP! But then I wouldn't have had anything to write. I did have a cheese pizza, but that wouldn't have made much for an entry, "I opened the package and popped in the cheese pizza. Dinner was served." lol
I browsed quickly at some of the recipes I saved on my phone as well as those offered by friends. They seemed to be either too timely, complex, or I didn't have all the ingredients and aside from being strapped on cash at the moment, didn't have it in me to drive the 3 miles to the grocery store just for one or two items.
I figured it was time I bust out the comfort food, modified to accommodate this new life style I'm transiting into. So I reached under the counter and pulled out three medium sized potatoes and got to washing and peeling them.
The recipe is super simple and isn't all that healthy, but again - this is comfort food! Healthy isn't the objective, making your heart smile is.
As a kid, the side was usually corn. As an adult, however, I've come to have a personal battle with Corn. I hate it with a passion, really. Why? Because so many people try to pass it off as a vegetable and serve it as a vegetable. One time, at a local cafe back in my hometown, there was a dinner special that read, "Porkchops, Mashed Potatoes, and a side of Vegetables." Three of my favorite things in life. So I ordered it...corn.
I looked up at the server and said, "Where's the vegetables?"
To which she responded, "Right there," pointing at the corn.
"You know, corn isn't a vegetable, right?"
"Well then what is it?" She said, a tad annoyed with my statement.
"It's a starch - like potatoes and rice. What you gave me was some meat and two sides of starches."
"Oh! I didn't know that," then walked away.
Secondary, it seems corn has worked its way into nearly EVERYTHING we consume here in the States. I'm not sure if it has in the rest of the world, but last I read - it was only here. It's also been linked so many health complications that it baffles me as to why our government permits and promotes it. Then again, our USDA is just kind of screwed up anyway hence the growing number of diseases and cancers that are confined to the US boarders. It's our food.
But that's neither here or there. ;-) (I told you I'd be dropping it, periodically.)
My side item, green beans - from the can. I slapped on some peanut butter and jelly onto a bread slice and yum - dinner is served!
Before I provide the recipe, if you've never cooked potatoes like this before, what I've learned is to keep your stove top on a medium heat. They are easy to burn, it doesn't take much time, but it does require time to cook all the way through. Also, don't play with them too much - if you do, they will start to crumble on you as they cook. Happy cooking!
I'm calling this - Sliced Potatoes Comfort Food
Up next, in the last entry I also talked about getting a compost started. I was quick to act on this. Yesterday I found myself in the backyard cleaning a spot to set up a composter made up of three wood pallets.
I've been told many a time how a composter works and what it requires, but haven't really much put it into practice. The reason for me wanting to start composting has more to do with feeling guilty for throwing so many vegetables into the garbage. What happens is that plastic bag gets sealed and moved into the dumpster. Everything inside, including the biodegradable material, are going to have a hard time breaking down because it is in plastic and once it gets squished with other bags will become air sealed.
But then, that dumpster gets moved to the local land fill where eventually it becomes sealed by layers of dirt, sand a clay making it impossible for water to penetrate it (thus protecting the water table) but overall stopping the natural processes of whatever it is that is in that bag.
Knowing this. I can't live with myself. Well I can, but not with a good conscious.
Here's a great Ted Talk about composting. I know he says "kitchen trash" doesn't do much good. He is probably right. I can see the logic in it. However, it's still better than having it do nothing in the landfill. So my kitchen trash is getting included.
Here is also the blog where I found the video with some more information about how to start your own landfill and what it requires. Backyard Growers
I decided on the Earth embedding composter mainly because I didn't see a point in making anything more extravagant because, after all, it just becomes dirt anyway. In addition, after watching the Ted Talk - worms will be needed for sure. Instead of going out to either find or catch worms on my own, what better place to find them that in their very own home?
Exactly.
How then, the original spot I had selected for my composter was hidden under the trees in the backyard. After learning how the sun plays an important part in this, I moved it to a spot a tad more sun available. In addition, the dirt here in Central Georgia is rich. You can just smell it! lol I honesty wouldn't know the difference, but it smells like dirt so that has to be a good thing, right? However, there is quite a bit of clay in it. Out of fear of having the bottom become compact and turning into a floor that can accumulate water, I placed the floor of my composter at an angle to allow drainage. In addition, I put a pallet on the bottom to also discourage water build up because when it rains here...it rains.
Although you want your composter to be damp, over-saturation may hinder it's progress.
Then I threw up a couple of walls, careful not to obstruct sunlight and called it good. To start I already had a pile of dried leaves so I tossed that on there with some dirt then started collecting kitchen discards before adding that to the mix.
It is missing "green items" such as fresh cut leaves or grass. We are due to cut the grass around the house, so after I add that I'll figure out a way to cover it. This is warming process and the warmth only encourages decomposition.
I had high hopes that come March or April when I get my planned vegetable garden installed I could use the byproducts of this in that, however my little sister in Oregon brought my hopes to a realistic level when she laughed and said, "It takes longer than you think."
Regardless, I'm committed to this because I'm doing it to clear my conscious and not so much to start a garden. That will come regardless. The rich fertilizer will just be a bonus when it does.
So along with my road to becoming a vegetarian, prepare to be updated periodically about my composter and how that's working out.
Again, everything's new. I have no idea what I'm doing. So if you feel so included, feel free to start your own journey with me! Ok, the girls are up now and we're out of eggs. I need to run to the grocery store real quick so I can whip them up breakfast.
Side note, I've decided that for me, eggs will BE included in my vegetarian efforts. I'm not going vegan and well, if I bake something eggs are kind of needed. So I can live peacefully with eggs in my food. I mean, it's not like there's a rule book or anything, right? ha ha
So far, I've been surprised by how many people seem to be reading. Thank you! Should you have any suggestions or recipes, feel free to shoot me a message or email and let me know so I can work in the changes or try out the good eats. That said - now for a short story about potatoes and the birth of my very first compostor.
Every community has their staple foods - something all other dishes seem to stem from or have included. For the Asian community it's rice, for example. As one can expect, having grown up in Northern Nevada/Southern Idaho - ours was potatoes. For readers outside the United States, Idaho is known to be the capitol of potatoes here within the states.
In fact, a nick-name that I acquired during my first year of collage, after some friends learned where I was from, was "Spudz." ha ha. Periodically, when down in New Mexico - they still do call me that from time to time.
Sometimes I feel like I know how to prepare a potato in every form imaginable. My favorite - mashed potatoes and fried, sliced potatoes.
In addition to this, everyone who has grown up in a poor home knows comfort food is born out of necessity and a combination of what's available and what's cheap. Personally, I have a handful of comfort foods - foods that remind me of home and the better days of childhood. Typically I gravitate towards these dishes when I'm homesick or not feeling well. Yet, sometimes, I find myself whipping up these simple treats just simply to be reminded of home and my loved ones there.
Some of them I know how to prepare and some I don't.
I mentioned in Wednesday's entry, I believe, fried sliced potatoes and sliced hot dogs were such comfort food. It's nothing fancy, but it satisfies the heart.
Having had yet another work filled day yesterday, come dinner time, what I wanted to do was slap in a pizza and call it a good - a supreme or pepperoni pizza. YES, FUCK ME UP! But then I wouldn't have had anything to write. I did have a cheese pizza, but that wouldn't have made much for an entry, "I opened the package and popped in the cheese pizza. Dinner was served." lol
I browsed quickly at some of the recipes I saved on my phone as well as those offered by friends. They seemed to be either too timely, complex, or I didn't have all the ingredients and aside from being strapped on cash at the moment, didn't have it in me to drive the 3 miles to the grocery store just for one or two items.
I figured it was time I bust out the comfort food, modified to accommodate this new life style I'm transiting into. So I reached under the counter and pulled out three medium sized potatoes and got to washing and peeling them.
The recipe is super simple and isn't all that healthy, but again - this is comfort food! Healthy isn't the objective, making your heart smile is.
As a kid, the side was usually corn. As an adult, however, I've come to have a personal battle with Corn. I hate it with a passion, really. Why? Because so many people try to pass it off as a vegetable and serve it as a vegetable. One time, at a local cafe back in my hometown, there was a dinner special that read, "Porkchops, Mashed Potatoes, and a side of Vegetables." Three of my favorite things in life. So I ordered it...corn.
I looked up at the server and said, "Where's the vegetables?"
To which she responded, "Right there," pointing at the corn.
"You know, corn isn't a vegetable, right?"
"Well then what is it?" She said, a tad annoyed with my statement.
"It's a starch - like potatoes and rice. What you gave me was some meat and two sides of starches."
"Oh! I didn't know that," then walked away.
Secondary, it seems corn has worked its way into nearly EVERYTHING we consume here in the States. I'm not sure if it has in the rest of the world, but last I read - it was only here. It's also been linked so many health complications that it baffles me as to why our government permits and promotes it. Then again, our USDA is just kind of screwed up anyway hence the growing number of diseases and cancers that are confined to the US boarders. It's our food.
But that's neither here or there. ;-) (I told you I'd be dropping it, periodically.)
My side item, green beans - from the can. I slapped on some peanut butter and jelly onto a bread slice and yum - dinner is served!
Before I provide the recipe, if you've never cooked potatoes like this before, what I've learned is to keep your stove top on a medium heat. They are easy to burn, it doesn't take much time, but it does require time to cook all the way through. Also, don't play with them too much - if you do, they will start to crumble on you as they cook. Happy cooking!
I'm calling this - Sliced Potatoes Comfort Food
1. Wash, peel and slice potatoes. Three medium sized ones are plenty for one person.
2. Warm up skillet with oil, throw in potatoes.
3. Add salt and pepper to desired level (the way it smells when these are added, still remind me of my Grandma Clara and I feel like I'm a kid back in her care.)
4. Let it slowly cook, turning periodically, until soft enough to be cut with a rubber spatula.
5. Serve, eat with ketchup or plain - up to you.
6. Let your heart smile. :-)
 |
| My trustee companion and I at the start of our project. Here we're cleaning the area that was selected. |
I've been told many a time how a composter works and what it requires, but haven't really much put it into practice. The reason for me wanting to start composting has more to do with feeling guilty for throwing so many vegetables into the garbage. What happens is that plastic bag gets sealed and moved into the dumpster. Everything inside, including the biodegradable material, are going to have a hard time breaking down because it is in plastic and once it gets squished with other bags will become air sealed.
But then, that dumpster gets moved to the local land fill where eventually it becomes sealed by layers of dirt, sand a clay making it impossible for water to penetrate it (thus protecting the water table) but overall stopping the natural processes of whatever it is that is in that bag.
Knowing this. I can't live with myself. Well I can, but not with a good conscious.
Here's a great Ted Talk about composting. I know he says "kitchen trash" doesn't do much good. He is probably right. I can see the logic in it. However, it's still better than having it do nothing in the landfill. So my kitchen trash is getting included.
Here is also the blog where I found the video with some more information about how to start your own landfill and what it requires. Backyard Growers
I decided on the Earth embedding composter mainly because I didn't see a point in making anything more extravagant because, after all, it just becomes dirt anyway. In addition, after watching the Ted Talk - worms will be needed for sure. Instead of going out to either find or catch worms on my own, what better place to find them that in their very own home?
Exactly.
How then, the original spot I had selected for my composter was hidden under the trees in the backyard. After learning how the sun plays an important part in this, I moved it to a spot a tad more sun available. In addition, the dirt here in Central Georgia is rich. You can just smell it! lol I honesty wouldn't know the difference, but it smells like dirt so that has to be a good thing, right? However, there is quite a bit of clay in it. Out of fear of having the bottom become compact and turning into a floor that can accumulate water, I placed the floor of my composter at an angle to allow drainage. In addition, I put a pallet on the bottom to also discourage water build up because when it rains here...it rains.
Although you want your composter to be damp, over-saturation may hinder it's progress.
Then I threw up a couple of walls, careful not to obstruct sunlight and called it good. To start I already had a pile of dried leaves so I tossed that on there with some dirt then started collecting kitchen discards before adding that to the mix.
It is missing "green items" such as fresh cut leaves or grass. We are due to cut the grass around the house, so after I add that I'll figure out a way to cover it. This is warming process and the warmth only encourages decomposition.
I had high hopes that come March or April when I get my planned vegetable garden installed I could use the byproducts of this in that, however my little sister in Oregon brought my hopes to a realistic level when she laughed and said, "It takes longer than you think."
Regardless, I'm committed to this because I'm doing it to clear my conscious and not so much to start a garden. That will come regardless. The rich fertilizer will just be a bonus when it does.
 |
| The finished product. Not as fancy as some of the ones on the Internet, but that's okay. I'm happy with it. |
So along with my road to becoming a vegetarian, prepare to be updated periodically about my composter and how that's working out.
Again, everything's new. I have no idea what I'm doing. So if you feel so included, feel free to start your own journey with me! Ok, the girls are up now and we're out of eggs. I need to run to the grocery store real quick so I can whip them up breakfast.
Side note, I've decided that for me, eggs will BE included in my vegetarian efforts. I'm not going vegan and well, if I bake something eggs are kind of needed. So I can live peacefully with eggs in my food. I mean, it's not like there's a rule book or anything, right? ha ha
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