Spring Kai
Cooking, history, heritage, relationships, sharing, artisan & local producers and trades(wo)men, farming, agriculture, animals and the environment; the circles of life, sustainability and the effects of consumption have been principles, themes and foundations I have grown up with since I was a wee one. My family had a lifestyle property out of the city where we had animals, extensive gardens and produced an abundant variety of vegetables and produce and got all elbows and gummies in, and the majority of properties I have lived in I have been a part of cultivating gardens. My childhood friend's family owned a good chunk of Arapawa Island and another bay called Green Bay in the Marlborough Sounds; places we would fly and boat to for weekends and extended breaks- here too, even as grasshoppers we were all hands to deck and active in being independent and self reliant. From very early on in my life my experiences combined with an adventurous disposition cemented a love for relationships and cycles; how to live with nature, time, each other and the commitment and integrity it takes to nurture, develop and sustain associations. Plus we learnt first hand the rewards pushing out of our comfort zones could bring us. My memories are filled with glorious experiences out in our land, in every condition while learning diverse skills and partaking in the building blocks of what it means to support ourselves, others and the community.
'Organic', 'sustainable', 'ethically minded' these are all phrases fashionably promoted in modern society. 'Coined' perhaps being a more appropriate term, because often now they are used to cash in on others; pull heart strings with a little social and emotional blackmail and tout the 'correct' way to live & consume. My family, and those we know did it well before anything was fashionable because they love living like that and because they genuinely like to help out, do their bit & fix things.
Conscious consuming seems to have got really uptight all of a sudden. It's all good going and buying those free range chook eggs and organic beef- but have you stopped and thought about what your stress levels are like doing this? I mean- it's fabbo helping the animals/ environment but the human getting it needs to be happy also. I watch so many people running around like blue ass flies, afraid to admit they're totally overloaded, afraid to say that they'd rather not be so 'busy' and keeping up appearances when they are totally run ragged. You know that free range meat- well they are farming it so the animal is happy, because less stress means tender produce and a better all round product & system.
... um... human, you are no different. Don't you deserve to be a tender product of a beautiful system?
Labels often aren't what they seem- people getting on and doing things with the right motivations don't shout from the rooftops- it's part of their DNA. The biggest sharers often have next to nothing; the richest often have no cachinga, the wisest little 'formal' education, the most beautiful are not models, and the ugliest are sometimes the most aesthetically pleasing. The biggest movers & shakers don't do it with noise, pandemonium or back patting and the most powerful are often not in positions with titles. I learnt simple things from the land and Mother Nature's rules that have traveled with me into everything I do: Live with dignity; help each other out ;)
I'm an organic free range human who adores nothing more than to create cuisine for myself and my loved ones. This year being on the hop has meant I craved and required easy wholesome solutions to dinners and quick answers to my desires for resourcefulness with a dash of creativity smacked in. I had never really considered sharing photos on Insta of what I chuck together perhaps because they aren't like my fancy presentations for parties and get togethers, but after a friend popped over and commented how much she loved them, I continued to do so- and really enjoyed it.
Plus this is what I love and reward myself with in real time- no preening. Real food ❤ reaaaally easy (jezzus Gordon R watch out! lol)
More daylight hours, warm temperatures and party season starting requires tasty solutions. Here's the recipes that match up with those tempting photos I posted that ya'll kindly shared your appreciation for. Ennnjjoy.
Yum!- hope you have fun! P.S. Here's an active link for the plaiting video :)