It’s hard to believe it’s been a week since I posted last. I have really been discombobulated by this whole hard drive failure! But, I am using a stand-in computer right now, that has most of my recovered stuff on it (with the exception of the corrupted files that I find every fourth or fifth thing I try to open!).
I’ve been doing a lot of local eating, surprising myself for a January in New Hampshire. I also made a trip to Portland, ME to chat about my local, sustainable food choices with Cheryl Laz, the Sociology Department Chair at USM. It was really interesting, and I think it deserves its own post. We made some great local food finds there, including fabulous croissants and bread from The Standard Baking Co., and some fresh Maine shrimp, which became a light, refreshing (?!) shrimp and pasta meal a couple days later. So, here’s my abbreviated report for the last couple of weeks of eating. Some of it will show up again soon in individual posts.
Top, L-R: Fresh Maine Shrimp, Shrimp & Pasta with green beans and squash from the freezer, Homemade Sausage Pizza Bottom, L-R: There’s that pizza again, Roast Chicken with Potatoes and Squash, Roast Pork with Potatoes and Squash
Pizza, pasta, shrimp – we’re enjoying quite a variety, along with the “_______ with potatoes and squash!” I’ve been supplementing with as many pantry items as possible, and not buying any food other than salad fixings and some dry goods. We’re doing pretty well!The temperatures are dropping again tonight, so my thoughts turn to the choices I have in my freezers (of local, sustainable, hormone-free, non-cloned meat!), and the baking and long, slow cooking that I enjoy on the weekends. Happy Friday!
What a spread, Kim!
(sigh but it would be nice if shrimp were in my foodshed) I’m curious about your chat with the sociology prof, so I hope you do post something about that.
The one thing that kind of honks me off about the local-eating thing is the “secret handshake” nature of local suppliers. I mean, there really are local goods to be had in practically every corner of this country, but sometimes you really need to know whom to ask. Being kind of shy that way, I’ve really had to step out of my comfort zone to get things like raw-milk cheese and fresh-ground cornmeal.
Anyway, happy Saturday!
Mmmm, lookin’ good. And thank you for scaring me into backing up my hard drive. It had been way too long.
[...] Kim has a source for local shrimp, which makes want to make her adopt me so I could have a local shrimp source, too! In the two weeks since the last Dark Days update, Kim has made some seriously amazing looking meals – shrimp and pasta with green beans and squash from her freezer stash, homemade sausage pizza, roasted chicken with potatoes and squash, and roast pork with potatoes and squash. Potatoes and squash? I sense a theme! [...]
El: I’ve found that farmers actually really, really like to talk about their products. I’ve also found that they tend to be very much a community, rather than competitors. If somebody doesn’t grow leeks, for instance, around here they’re happy to tell you where you might be able to find them. I was a little intimidated at first, only because I didn’t want to bother anyone. Now, I really enjoy the conversations, because I think the farmers do, too.
Tammy: Back Up Now!