On Life As A Picky Foodie

I had a post written and ready to put up.  Completed, done, signed, sealed, deli--- then I had a conversation with a woman about life insurance.  Because when you’re an adult, you need to talk about things like that.  Eesh.

So we talked about death, this woman and I, and how much DW would get, how much I would get in the event of.  Somehow every amount of money sounds ridiculous.  “We’re sorry for your loss, but here’s the cash we agreed to pay you.”

Now I know, rationally, as an adult, that this is a necessary step to take, but the rest of me was screaming about how wrong all of this was.

Still, I sat through the thirty-eight minutes of questions – do you have a terrible illness?  Have you had a terrible illness?  Have your parents had a terrible illness?  Do you envisage getting a terrible illness?  Is there any reason to suspect you will have a terrible illness at some point? 

Some questions made me laugh: do you regularly go potholing or bungee jumping? 

Other questions were downright terrifying: about alcoholism and drug abuse, about family histories and previous health problems.  I wondered how people who do suffer such afflictions feel having to divulge God knows what to the stranger reading the questionnaire on auto-pilot.

What does this have to do with food, health and general Picky Foodie themes, you ask? 

Well after this young lady had finished making sure my kidneys, liver, lungs and heart have no history of crapping out on me, after she had made sure that I don’t have any STDs, that I’m not HIV positive and that I don’t suffer from psychosis, neurosis or other psychiatric problems, she said “I’m very sorry but I’m going to have to ask you a sensitive question…” she hesitated.  Then she got the courage to continue: “What is your dress size?”

Uh, what? 

I couldn’t resist: “THAT is your sensitive question?”

I’ll let you come to your own conclusions on just how ridiculous that conversation was.  But in honour of my waistline and yours, I would like to share a lovely New Potato salad recipe.  It keeps well, travels well and fills you up regardless of your dress size.

Let me say this: I’m not a fan of the popular potato (I know, I don’t drink nor do I like potatoes.  And yet, I live in England.).  Last week, at the farmer’s market, however, DW mentioned how much he would enjoy some from time to time.  As fate would have it, a great looking spud salad was featured on one of my favourite mainstream recipe sites – Food52.  This is the second time I make this dish in as many weeks, and the second time it disappears remarkably quickly.    

New Potato Salad
(adapted from Food52)

The key to this recipe is to make it while the potatoes are still warm so they can soak up the lovely vinaigrette.  Prep time is around a half hour from start to finish.  It keeps well in the refrigerator for a few days and is hearty enough for grey summer days yet refreshing enough for sunny picnics. 

-  1 kg new potatoes, scrubbed and cut into large bite-sized pieces
-  1 T ume plum vinegar
-  100 gr rocket (arugula)
-  2 T fresh chives, finely chopped
-  2 spring onions, finely chopped
-  1 T mustard
-  1 T balsamic vinegar
-  1 T pomegranate vinegar (optional–replace with an additional T of balsamic)
-  2 T olive oil
-  ½ t salt or to taste

Bring the potatoes to a boil in a pot of water.  Cook for about 10 minutes, until soft but not mushy.  Drain and put in a large salad bowl.

Add the ume vinegar and salt to the potatoes and mix gently so the potatoes pieces stay more of less whole.  Then gently mix in the chives and spring onions.

For the vinaigrette:  whisk together the mustard, vinegar and olive oil.  Pour over the potatoes and mix in well. 

At this point, the mixture should still be relatively warm.  Now is the time to add the rocket (arugula). 

Serve warm or at room temperature. 

Dear Friends;

OK, I’ll admit it: I LOVE SEA VEGETABLES.

If you’re one of those people who is tentative about new tastes, you might be cringing right around now.  But if you have it in you to give them a try, I promise, these powerhouses of nutrition will not let you down. 

Our stress-filled lives leach important micronutrients out of our bodies, and so people find themselves craving salty snacks, nuts, chocolate and other potentially mineral-rich foods in an effort to restock their depleted selves. 

There are many varieties of sea vegetables and their unique qualities make them great additions to soups, salads, stews, stir-fries and rice dishes.  In other words, if you’re not quite ready for a full-on sea vegetable salad, you may still be able to add them to your meals without causing too much upheaval. 

Energetically, sea vegetables are enduring and yet with their ability to resist even the strongest of currents, they are the ultimate foods to consume when one needs to “go with the flow.”

Along with supplying trace minerals like selenium, zinc and copper, sea vegetables contain protein, chlorophyll, calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, iodine and tons of fibre.  They are also rich in B vitamins as well as vitamins C, A and E in addition to rebalancing over-acid conditions.  The brown algaes bind to heavy metals and help us rid our bodies of them.

When used in cooking, sea vegetables can be quite salty and coarse to the touch.  Some, like arame or hijiki, should be soaked.  To avoid losing vital nutrients, don’t use too much water.  A great way to ensure you’re getting the maximum out of you sea vegetables is to use the soak water in salad dressings and in your cooking.  Just remember: since most sea vegetables are naturally high in sodium (in the form of a vital but much-maligned mineral – not to be confused with table salt), make sure to taste your food before adding more salt.  

Here’s a quick overview of some of the most popular varieties:

Dulse: This dark red sea vegetable adds a wonderful saltiness to salads.  Because it tends to dissipate in water when dried, there is no need to soak it in advance.  Dulse has a milder flavour than most other sea vegetables (everything is relative), it is high in fibre and especially packed with vitamins like B6 and B12, potassium and iron.  It is also high in protein so a great way to supplement any plant-based diet.

Kombu: A form of wild kelp, all you need to do if you want to up the nutrition to any stock, stew, or pot of beans is add a piece of kombu.  Many people then remove the kombu before eating but that is in no way necessary.  It is especially high in calcium, magnesium, iron and iodine – great for people who are hypothyroid.

Hijiki, Arame:  easy to confuse, both arame and hijiki are dark, almost black, and reedy.  They soften with soaking and make great salads on their own.  Also, try pairing with Asian-style dressings as well as sweeter vegetables like shredded carrots and beets for colour, taste balance and crunch.  The main difference is that hijiki is saltier and arame tends to be on the sweeter side. 

Wakame: my personal favorite.  I snip it into pieces and throw it on pretty much anything from salads to vegetables to rice dishes.  Wakame expands when wet or cooked and becomes quite slippery.  It is the green thing you’ll often find in your miso soup.  It is high in vitamins, and minerals like folate, phosphorus, calcium and magnesium.

Nori:  the easiest sea vegetable to eat, nori is packed with protein, fiber, vitamins and minerals.  Nori is what is used to make sushi rolls.  It is sold in strips that you can wrap around or use as a receptacle for avocado, hummus, vegetable strips, leftovers – pretty much anything.  Just be sure not to let it sit for too long as it quickly become limp and soggy.     

Here’s a simple autumnal recipe to get your creative juices flowing:

Roots Salad with Sea Vegetables and Sesame Oil Vinaigrette

Prep time: less than 10 minutes with a food processor that includes a grater function.

Serves 2 as a side. 

Ingredients:

            For the salad:

- 2 carrots

- 1 piece burdock

- 2 T sesame seeds (black or white)

-  ¾ cup loosely packed arame

            For the vinaigrette:

- 2 T toasted sesame oil

- 1 t ume plum vinegar

- finely grated fresh garlic and ginger, to taste

- turmeric – freshly grated or else use ¼ t dried powder

- 1 T fresh lemon juice (optional)

- salt to taste

Instructions:

Soak the arame in just enough water to cover until soft. 

Grate the carrots and burdock.  Combine in a large salad bowl.

Then rinse and pick apart the as you sprinkle the softened arame over the mixture.

Sprinkle the sesame seeds over the salad

For the vinaigrette, combine the oil, vinegar and (optional) lemon juice in a jar with a lid.  Finely grate the garlic, ginger and turmeric root (or the powder) and add to the liquid as well as a pinch of salt (be careful not to add to much as the ume vinegar is very salty already).  Cover well and shake vigorously.

Pour over the salad and mix well.  Taste and adjust the seasoning to suit your personal taste.

optional add-ins / replacements:
* tamari
* apple cider vinegar will also do the trick although you might have to adjust the quantity of salt
*  if you can’t find burdock, try other roots like beets or daikon or radishes; or simply add more carrots

with love,
Gabriela