Category Archives: Family

We Become Five

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I went down to our postbox earlier this afternoon, to fetch the latest addition to the family: a Thorny stick insect.

Freya has been interested in having a pet for a few years, now. A stick insect was decided upon, after giving her a choice of pets that would fit our lives and livestyle: Mum is allergic to the fur of some animals, and we live in a flat near the centre of town. Dogs and cats were immediately out of the equation, and whilst a degu had a lot going for it, we still did not know if Jo’s allergy would allow it. So, a stick insect it was.

We encountered a further moral issue. Since most stick insect are parthenogetic, we had to track down species that required two to tango. Our qualm was that we did not feel comfortable with crushing or freezing any fertile eggs produced. Luckily, we found a place just a stick insects throw away that was able to find something that required a partner to reproduce. Unfortunatelt, we could not go and pick up our friend: it had to be sent by post.

We will not know which sex it is until it has grown a bit bigger, when the differences between the sexes will become apparent. For now, it is called Spiken.

When Spiken first saw the light of day since being unceremously placed in a plastic jar and shived into a postbox, it was most lethargic. When we furnished its net and plastic vivarium with oak twigs and a spraying of water, it seemed a little happier, seemingly drinking water like it was going out of fashion.

So now, a few hours after its arrival, Freya has already played hide and seek with it, and is very excited about finally having a pet.

 

Aloo Baingan

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I am quite partial to Indian food. I have fond memories of memories of the British curry houses. Though the recipes I find on the internet are not similar to the take aways I am used to, there are some very interesting and tasty meals out there, the latest being Aloo Baingan (taken from Manjula’s Kitchen (.com).

Ingredients:

1 medium purple eggplant (baingan), un-peeled, cut into 1/2″ cubes
2 medium russet potatoes (aloo), peeled and cut into 1/2″ cubes
4 medium tomatoes (tamatar) cut into 1/2″ cubes
2 tablespoons chopped cilantro (hara dhania)
1 tablespoon oil
Pinch of asafetida (hing) – in its absence I used 1 garlic clove
1 teaspoon cumin seed
1 chopped green chili adjust to taste
1 teaspoon ginger paste (adrek)
1 tablespoon coriander powder (dhania powder)
1/2 teaspoon turmeric (haldi)
1/2 teaspoon paprika (dagi mirch)
1 teaspoon salt, adjust to taste
2 tablespoons water

Also needed:

Oil to fry

Method

Heat the oil in a frying pan over medium high heat.
Frying pan should have at least 1 1/2 inch of oil. To check if the oil is ready, put one piece of potato in the oil. The potato should sizzle right away. If vegetables are fried in low heat they will be very oily.
Fry the potatoes till they are cooked through, turn the potatoes few times while frying. Take out potatoes with a slotted spoon (this allows excess oil to drip back into the frying pan) and place on a paper towel.Test the oil again with a piece of eggplant. Fry the eggplant pieces same way.
In a small bowl, mix the shredded ginger, green pepper, coriander powder, paprika, turmeric, and 2 tablespoons of water to make a paste.
Heat the 1-tablespoon of oil in a pan. Test the heat by adding one cumin seed to the oil; if seed cracks right away oil is ready.
Add cumin seeds and asafetida after seeds crack add the spice mixture and stir-fry for a minute until you see the oil start to separate from the spice mixture.
Add chopped tomatoes stir-fry for a minute.
Add fried potatoes and eggplant mix it gently, let it simmer for three to four minute on medium low heat.
Subji should be not very dry if needed add three to four spoons of water.
Turn off the heat and add chopped cilantro mix it well.

I have just eaten this dish, and the taste of green chili is still causing me to sweat. And this with only half a chili instead of one. It is still a wonderful, fresh recipe, and one that will be added to the list of favourites (minus chili).

Bargain Hunting

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I’ve been regularly visiting the local second hand shop, Stadsmission, the last month, in search of DVD’s for our daughters and games for me. Thus far I have purchased Dungeon Seige 2, The Sims, The Sims 2, The Sims 3, Command and Conquer – The first decade, Age of Empires 3, Age of Mythology and Civilization 4 – Colonization and Lionheart. All for 20 crowns each. Now that is a bargain.

When I will get the time to play them all is another story, but I am slowly making my way through an earlier purchase, Dungeon Seige 1. It is still a mammoth task ahead of me, especially when Command and Conquer itself is a collection of twelve games. Oh, how I shall suffer.

The Fight Begins. Again.

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Sigh. Despite moving Zelda to Freya’s school, the food they have been given the last two days is of an unacceptable standard. Zelda is being inschooled, giving both Jo and I the opportunity to be with her for a few days. Including eating lunch and snack.

The school has a food policy of using organic ingredients, cooked in an on-site kitchen. The problem at the moment seems to be that the old chef has gone, and the new cook does not seem to have the knowledge (or maybe desire) to make interesting, tasty vegan food. This has lead to Yesterday’s lunch being Quorn (NOT vegan) and today’s being a tasteless chick pea, raw parsnip and undercooked courgette mess. Whilst the other children received a fruit smoothie at snack time, Freya and Zelda have been given a bit of banana. Fucking great.

We are on the case already, and shall instigate a short term and long term plan of action to better the food situation for our daughters. I did not give up at Zelda’s last school, the dividends of over a year’s discussions and meetings being an introduction of a daily bean salad and regular soya products at lunch. If the chef thinks he can get away with serving sub standard food then he shall soon realise his mistake.

To Be On TV, Or Not To Be On TV: That Is The Question

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A Swedish TV production company are looking to do a story about a vegan family (ideally a mum, dad and two children). I am in two minds whether to put the family forward for inclusion in the program.

My first reaction when Jo mentioned it was: “No. I have no desire to parade myself and my family for the disdain of the general populace, who will only see the negative in our decision to be be vegan.” But the last twenty-four hours have given me another perspective. Both Jo and I are intelligent, articulate and “normal-looking”. We could be a good advert for veganism, provided that the production compnany portray us in a reasonable light.

So, what should I do? I think I may ask Jo to ring and find out more about the proposed program. At the very least it would mean that we could appear on TV.

Fifteen minutes of fame 🙂