Abercrombie & Feast

I posted about foods that I miss from America, and I posted about foods that I’ve fallen in love with here in the UK. But, the series feels really incomplete without posting about the foods I loved in Australia.

The thing is, we lived in Australia for a long time. A little over four years. I know that isn’t a long time in the grand scheme of the universe, but in the story of my own life, four years in one location is a long time.

I grew up in a very small town in Georgia, and spent about 13 years of my life there. Prior to that, and I don’t really remember the details very well because I was in diapers, we lived in both New York and North Carolina.

Then, when I was 16, we moved to a bigger town in Georgia about 4 hours away from where I grew up. I lived in this town for about 2 years, then I went off to college in New York.

In the four years I was at university I lived in Syracuse, Brooklyn, Hong Kong, Washington DC and, occasionally, back home in Georgia.

After I graduated I moved to South Dakota for six months for a job. Then I moved back to Georgia to move in with Andy and we left four months later for Australia.

So, my life, from the age of 16 to right about now, has been a bit scattered. I love it and I wouldn’t trade it for all beer in Germany, but it has made it hard to know where home really is. Four solid years in Australia (albeit, interrupted by tons of fabulous travels) seemed very permanent to me. When I get homesick now, about 50% of the time it’s for America and 50% of the time it’s for Australia.

Anyway, that’s a very long intro into what was supposed to be a quick little list about the foods I love, and miss, from Australia.

1. Avocados. I mentioned this in my post on foods I miss from America, but I can honestly say I never had a great avocado until I moved to Australia. In Sydney we could get beautiful, creamy avos almost all year around. I ate a few of them a week. Avocado spread on mega grain toast with a sprinkling of salt and pepper became my favourite breakfast. I could get lovely avo as a spread on a sandwich at lunch anywhere in town. Avocados are everywhere in Sydney, and they are almost always great.

2. Oysters. Well, all seafood really. The oysters in and around Sydney are especially wonderful. I think Andy first started eating oysters when we moved to Sydney and now, they are one of his favourite types of seafood. Delicious and fresh and widely available.

3. Meat pies. I know, I know. Such a cliché! But honestly, after a long night at one of the many excellent pubs and bars in Sydney, is there anything as satisfying as a meat pie with mash and gravy from Harry’s Café de Wheels in Woolloomooloo? We took some American mates there after a night out for Andy’s 30th and it is still one of my favourite memories of our time in Sydney. Iconic.

4. Wine. This isn’t a food, but a huge part of our Australian experience was defined by wine. We travelled all over the country (Margaret River, Barossa Valley, Mornington Penninsula, Mudgee, Hunter Valley, Orange) tasting Australian wines. Some were explosive, strong and practically had to be chewed. Some were delicate, lemony and begged to be sipped outside on a hot, Sydney night. They were all a treat to learn about and sample. We had some wonderful friends who were at least as into wine as we were, and some of our best times in Australia were spent sharing a beautiful bottles with our mates.

5. Ramen at Ichi bon Boshi. We used to live within a 5 minute walk of some of the most authentic Japanese ramen in Australia. We’d eat there at least once a week. It was tiny, dingy, packed. We tried many of the items on their large menu, but we always came back to the steaming hot bowls of ramen. There are days now, drizzly, cold and grey English days, where I think that the price of a round-trip ticket from London to Sydney might not be too expensive for a bowl of ramen at Ichi bon Boshi.

You’d think that after almost five years of living abroad I’d be over my American food cravings. But, yesterday I gave you a list of five foods from America that I’m really missing lately. Just in case any of you are playing along at home, that list has changed today. I wouldn’t mind a bagel this afternoon, but I could REALLY do with some corn bread. See, I told you the list changes daily.

Putting together that little list made me think of all the yummy British foods I’ve fallen in love with since we moved here more than 6 months ago. I thought I’d give you a list of my five new favourite British foods, just to prove that I’m not some homesick whinging American who thinks that everything is better in the States (totally untrue.)

1. Beans on toast. This is SO simple, but Americans don’t really eat a lot of things “on toast.” The baked beans here aren’t like American baked beans- they aren’t as sweet. Here, the beans are more savoury and tomato-y. Warmed up and poured over a slice of well-toasted bread for breakfast… heaven.

2. Curries. Ok, I know this isn’t actually “British”, but Indian food in the UK is amazing. I’ve never been to India, but I’ve eaten Indian food all over the world. Whether it’s authentic or not, Indian food in the UK is damn tasty.

3. Twiglets. British people who read this might laugh, but I’m a huge fan of Twiglets. For you Americans out there, Twiglets are a snack food that are shaped like little branches or twigs. They are made out of whole wheat flour and are intensely savoury because (I think), they are coated in Marmite powder. Something like that. They are great with a beer whilst watching football (soccer.)

4. Coronation chicken. Chicken salad with curry powder, slices of apples and sometimes raisins added in. Sweet and savoury at the same time (my favourite flavour combo!), this has become my new sandwich filling of choice… occasionally. As it’s also made with lots of mayo or yoghurt, I don’t eat it very often. But what a yummy treat!

5. Stilton. I saved the best for last on this list. Stilton, a British-made blue cheese, is A-MAZING. Creamy and strong and perfect with a bit of onion marmalade on a cracker. Holy deliciousness.

You know, I feel better after making these lists. There’s a lot to miss about living in the States (and Australia, for that matter!), but there’s tons of wonderful things here that make me so glad I live in the UK. I’m a pretty lucky girl, huh?

I have been thinking about the things I miss from America lately. I’m not sure why, but I’ve been feeling a lot more homesick since moving to England than I did while we were in Australia.

It might be because we left such a wonderful group of friends behind in Sydney and we’re only just starting to make good new friends here. It might be because we’re SO much closer to home now (a nine hour flight instead of a 24 hour flight) … so close and yet, so far. It might be because we’ve gone home to Georgia twice in the last six months. That is unusual for us and did get us back into the routine of being “American” more than we have been in the past 4 years.

For whatever reason, I’ve been missing my family and friends and the food. Oh, the food. So, I thought I’d put together a little list for you. My Top Five most missed US foods. This list changes literally every day, but today, the things I miss the most are:

1. Proper Southern biscuits. Right off the bat I’m going to confuse any British readers of this blog. Biscuits = cookies in England. Biscuits = fluffy rounds of buttery bread-ish heaven in Georgia. It’s really hard to explain to British people what an American biscuit is. Go ahead, Americans. Try to find the words to explain a biscuit. “Umm… it’s round and made of flour and sometimes butter and sometimes buttermilk and they rise up and they’re kind of like scones but not sweet and a little flakier and they are more like a breakfast food, but you can eat them all day.” So hard.

2. Cajun food. Ok, I know this isn’t just one food, but a huge range of foods. But, I still miss it! When we go home we bring back huge suitcases full of Cajun seasonings. I tried to make fish with Cajun seasoning last weekend, just like we used to eat in our favourite Cajun restaurant in Atlanta. It was a but a pale imitation of the deliciousness we’re used to. And don’t even get me started on gumbo and jambalaya. I might just shed a tear.

3. Mexican queso. The Mexican food in England is generally pretty bad (they think that Old El Paso is proper Mexican!), but the total lack of good queso is the worst bit. Also, the avocados here suck, but good avocados are something I miss more from Australia than from the States so I won’t moan about that here.

4. Graham cracker crusts. ‘Tis the season to make all kinds of yummy pies with graham cracker crusts. But, sadly, graham crackers aren’t available around these parts. Instead, I’m supposed to make crusts out of something called Digestive biscuits (biscuits being used the in the British sense here, meaning cookies.) Honestly, I think it’s the name that puts me off. Digestive biscuits sound like something you’d eat to keep things moving smoothly in the bathroom if you know what I mean, and I think you do. Give me graham crackers any old day.

5. Bagels. Toasted twice, so they are crunchy on the edges, with a schmear of plain cream cheese. The local grocery store here sells “bagels”, but they are the poor man’s version of a real live American bagel. The bagels in the shops here are flabby and have the wrong crust to filling ratio. I know there are neighbourhoods in London where wonderful bagels can be had, but here in my little corner of Hampshire, we’re in a bagel waste-land.

Writing this has actually made me think of some of the wonderful British foods that I’ve come to adore in just 6 short months. I think I’ll write about those tomorrow. Check back.

Any expats like me out there? Let me know what foods you miss from home!

Sunday was a day of disasters in my kitchen.  Tragic, really.  It was my first day spent cooking in several weeks, and I was super excited about spending all day whipping up some goodies.  I planned some lovely sandwiches for lunch, a dip with pitta bread for an afternoon snack, a loaf of pumpkin bread to send into work with Andy on Monday and a Cajun spiced fish dinner. 

 Well, the sandwiches were a little dull and I could barely taste the fancy mustard I used.  The pumpkin bread was a total catastrophe.  It was weird and wet and chewy in the middle, but the outside was dry and flavourless.  I literally threw the entire loaf in the bin.  And my fish dinner was… ok.  Not the flavourful explosion that I had hoped for.  Just a bit bland and boring. 

 If it weren’t for my baba ganoush, I would have thrown in the tea-towel and ordered Chinese food (again.)  But thankfully, the baba ganoush saved the day!  I’ve made baba ganoush before, but Andy thought that this was the best he’d ever had.  Praise, indeed!

Baba ganoush means “spoiled old daddy” in Arabic.  They say the name comes from an old, toothless man whose daughter used to mush up aubergine (eggplant) for him to eat.  I think that is the sweetest story ever and if my own father is reading this (Hi, Daddy!) I promise to mush up his eggplant for him if it ever comes to that.  Given my track record in the kitchen on Sunday, it may be the only thing he will get to eat!

 Baba ganoush is a smoky, smooth blend of roasted aubergine, tahini, lemon juice and garlic.  It’s lovely served as a dip with plain pita bread and I adore it as a spread on sandwiches and wraps.  Best of all, it’s fairly easy and almost impossible to mess up.  Not that I didn’t try. 

 Baba ganoush
I really think the reason that this was so good this time was because I used rapeseed oil, rather than olive oil.  I ran out of olive oil (the horror!) and had only locally grown rapeseed oil in my pantry.  The rapeseed oil doesn’t have as strong a flavour as olive oil, so we could really taste the aubergine and tahini. 

Makes approximately 1 cup of dip

2 aubergines, pierced all over with a small, sharp knife
2 cloves garlic, very very finely chopped
2 tbs tahini
juice of 1 lemon
salt and pepper
4 tbs rapeseed oil + more for garnish
1 tbs chopped fresh coriander (cilantro)

 Preheat your oven to gas mark 4 (180C, 350F.)  Place the aubergines on a cookie sheet and place in the oven.  It’s very important that you’ve pricked the aubergines all over so they don’t explode!  Cook the aubergines for about one hour, until they are dark and wrinkled and the flesh is very soft.

 Remove the aubergines from the oven and allow to cool.  In the meantime, chop the garlic and add it to a food processor.  When the aubergines are cool enough to handle, cut them in half and scoop out the flesh.  A warning- it looks gross.  It will get better, but initially it will look pretty nasty.  Scrape as much of the flesh out as you can and add that to the food processor with the garlic.  Pulse a few times to combine the garlic and the aubergine and begin breaking down the aubergine.

 Add the tahini, lemon juice and a nice sprinkling of salt and turn the food processor on to medium speed.  Slowly pour in the oil.  You may not need all of the oil.  Watch the mixture and turn the processor off when it’s thick and creamy and light brown. 

 Taste for seasoning and adjust as needed.  Add more salt, lemon juice, pepper, etc if you’d like.  Place the baba ganoush in the fridge for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavours to fully meld.  Serve sprinkled with a little extra oil and some chopped fresh coriander (cilantro) and fresh pita bread or carrot sticks.

Have I ever told you all that I love to act?  If I see a stage… I want to be on it!  If I see a costume… I want to be in it!  If I see a microphone… I want to sing karaoke!

Ok, karaoke isn’t acting.  But, I have been doing some real acting at the local theatre for the past few months.  Local theatre is a great way to get to know people when you’ve just moved (as I have!) and don’t really have many friends in town yet (now I do!)  I’m performing a tiny little role in a big, dramatic production and I’m having so much fun! 

Carrots, spinach, eggplant and sweet potatoes in our organic delivery box this week. 

Too much fun to eat, apparently.  When I started thinking about what to post this week I realised I hadn’t really been cooking much as rehearsals got more intense last week and performances started this week.  There’s been a lot of toast, especially peanut butter toast.  Lots of sauteed vegetables from my new organic veg delivery service, dumped into a big pot with some chicken broth and blended into soup.  Tons of take-away salads and Diet Cokes.  But… not much else. 

I’m sorry!  I would like to say that I’ll do better next week, but next week we’ll be performing every night and twice on Saturday.  It’s looking like another week of wonton soup and Indian take-away for us.  But I’ll be back soon, I promise!  In the meantime, leave me your ideas for a great dinner I can make next Sunday night to celebrate the end of all this hard work and take-away food.

Last Saturday afternoon, at about 5.00pm, Andy and I entered a happy cheese-coma.  We’d eaten so much strong, rich cheese over the course of so many hours that we felt our minds go blank.  Our steps slowed down.  Our eyes glazed over.  We longed to lie down for a rest. 

But, we couldn’t rest!  We were still at Cardiff Castle in Wales, site of the 2009 Great British Cheese Festival.  There were thousands of others just like us… wandering around, dazed by the sheer amount of cheese to be tried. 

It was a perfect autumn Saturday, blue skies and sunshine and cider and live music and cheese, cheese, cheese!  What a celebration of the genius of British cheesemakers.  We tried simple cheddars and gooey white-rind cheeses and Stiltons so strong they made my eyes water.  We had cheese made from cow’s milk, cheese made from goat’s milk, organic cheese and cheese with garlic added in.  All of them different and all of them delicious. 

I’d like to say that we went to Wales to explore the culture and the language and the breathtaking landscapes.  But, honestly, we were there for the cheese.  I’ve been trying to learn more about European cheeses since we arrived in the UK and what better place to start than the Great British Cheese Festival?? 

We took two classes during the day, each led by engaging and funny cheesemakers (are there any other kind???)  We learned what makes blue cheese blue and we learned what makes soft cheese soft.  We learned that we love Stilton and I don’t really like cheeses with other flavours added. 

When the cheese coma finally set in, we reluctantly took our leave of the Cheese Fest.  We plodded through the rolling green park beside the Castle and back to our lovely old B&B.  We napped briefly and dreamt of gooey, stinky, creamy, yummy cheese.  Those were sweet dreams!