feeding my hunger

I’ve struggled for years to find that balance between meals and timing and all those complex things. Especially in the morning. Gluten-free-ness has added a new dimension to that struggle and once again I’ve been scouring books and the interwebs for ideas. My current favourite filling breakfast is a container of greek yogurt (mostly because it’s portioned larger than others) with some spices or vegetables thrown in. I’ll supplement that with some rice pudding and popcorn about an hour later, but in general that’s my morning meal. Oh with coffee. Or tea. But mostly coffee these days.

With the acquisition of our house, I desire strongly to finally get around to preserving and pickling and all the things I have fond memories of but have never done on my own. I don’t think I’ll really succeed in getting to these things this year (there is just so much to do at the house, it just never ends … and prepare the apartment for eventual sale) but it’s nice to read through various books and friend’s experiences.

Vegan Go-Go!: A Cookbook & Survival Manual for Vegans on the Road
by Sarah Kramer

This slim little volume really surprised me. I forget why I first placed a library hold for it, but when it came in, I picked it up hoping for ideas on gluten-free foods I could keep easily at the office or when I’m out running errands. What? Don’t I know the difference between gluten-free and vegan? Yes. But I try to limit my meat and dairy even if I’m not 100% vegetarian or vegan. When I’m out and about I don’t want to schlep dairy products around if I don’t have to.

I was concerned when I first started reading this very tiny slim volume and unsure if it was worth it. I’m really happy I gave it a full go and made it past the first section. If the reader is familiar with Kramer’s previous work, I believe you wouldn’t be surprised by the narrative at the start. I guess because it’s so small I wasn’t expected anything like that in the first 35 pages and wasn’t in the frame of mind to accept it. Is it bad? Well, the story doesn’t make for light reading, but it does draw you into Kramer’s life…

What made me realize this was a book I want to learn the magics of and often tuck into my bag? I draft my book reviews on 3×5 cards and make notes as to what page numbers I want to refer to again, be it a knit/sew pattern or a recipe. When I finished the front side of Vegan Go-Go’s index card with my tiny writing and looked back at the page numbers I had written down, I realized that most every number was marked and starred.

This tiny book will tempt you as it is stuffed with recipes such as fettuccini alfredo over zucchini pasta (gluten free!), cauliflower lentil soup, and tofu egg salad?

I’m hungry just writing this…

The Complete Book of Small-Batch Preserving: Over 300 Recipes to Use Year-Round
by Ellie Topp

I haven’t made any of the recipes but am currently reviewing books to decide what I might want to refer to when I finally get a chance to preserve a few things. I took this out thinking my energy and that funny thing called “time” would let me get there this year. I like the aim of smaller yields, but didn’t take good enough notes while I was reading it, so I’ll have to revisit this one again when I’m closer to the project.