<p>Themajorityofmycookingconsistsofthrowingtogetherwhatever's in my fridge and cupboards. And, gladly, what I'vegrownorsurprisinglyharvestedfromtheyardthatcamewithmynewapartment!
<p>Likemostpeople,thewayIcook(andshop)haschanged.It's more sparse, probably a bit boring, and at the same time more creative as I replace ingredients with what I have. Getting a "want/need/crave" item around meal times is no longer part of my life. In the beginning of the pandemic, I was that woman retreating, jumping back or even running away when people approached. The woman who snapped at people, and had to calm down in the quietest part of the store (if you'reinneed,trythedietaryrestrictionorhealthfoodsection).Foracouplemonths,Ionlywenttoonestore,closeby,whereIknewwhereeverythingwas,soIcouldgoinandoutasfastasIcould.Afriendjokinglycalledmeanoldlady,Icallittakingcareofmymentalhealth.Isoonbeganshoppinginthemorningwhenit's more quiet (yep, right after granny hour), and almost a year later I still don'tgoaroundpeakhours.Idon'tplanmeals,Ijustgrabavarietyoffruitandveggiesforuptoaweek,andaddtofu,seitan,tempeh,lentilsandbeans,sometimesafun(thoughgenerallylowinprotein)burgeroranadd-water-nut-burger-mix.Thedownsideisthatmymealscoulduseabitmorespiceandspunk,theupsideisthatIbuyandeatwaylesscandy,chocolate,cookies,chipsanddessert-typethingsthatlureyourlowglucoselevelsintherushtowarddinnertime.</p>
Or:lastweekafterdinner,Isuddenlyfeltlikeasweetdessert.Ididn't have anything readymade but I did have chocolate sprinkles, flour and oatmeal. So I looked up a recipe for cookies and started dragging the main ingredients out of the cupboards. A word of warning: although it'sfuntotry,youcannotjustsimplyreplaceingredientsthatseemsimilar.I've made scones with coconut creme instead of soyghurt. Not a great idea. I'vesubbedflourwithsomeleftovercoconutflour.Notagoodideaeither.Theconsistencyrequiresotheradaptations,anditallendsupbeingawet,soggymess.Othertimesadaptingrecipesworksoutgreatthough!Chocolatesprinklecookies.</p>
<p>Themajorityofmycookingconsistsofthrowingtogetherwhatever's in my fridge and cupboards. And, gladly, what I'vegrownorsurprisinglyharvestedfromtheyardthatcamewithmynewapartment!</p>
<p>Likemostpeople,thewayIcook(andshop)haschanged.It's more sparse, probably a bit boring, and at the same time more creative as I replace ingredients with what I have. Getting a "want/need/crave" item around meal times is no longer part of my life. In the beginning of the pandemic, I was that woman retreating, jumping back or even running away when people approached. The woman who snapped at people, and had to calm down in the quietest part of the store (if you'reinneed,trythedietaryrestrictionorhealthfoodsection).Foracouplemonths,Ionlywenttoonestore,closeby,whereIknewwhereeverythingwas,soIcouldgoinandoutasfastasIcould.Afriendjokinglycalledmeanoldlady,Icallittakingcareofmymentalhealth.Isoonbeganshoppinginthemorningwhenit's more quiet (yep, right after granny hour), and almost a year later I still don'tgoaroundpeakhours.Idon'tplanmeals,Ijustgrabavarietyoffruitandveggiesforuptoaweek,andaddtofu,seitan,tempeh,lentilsandbeans,sometimesafun(thoughgenerallylowinprotein)burgeroranadd-water-nut-burger-mix.Thedownsideisthatmymealscoulduseabitmorespiceandspunk,theupsideisthatIbuyandeatwaylesscandy,chocolate,cookies,chipsanddessert-typethingsthatlureyourlowglucoselevelsintherushtowarddinnertime.</p>
<p>Or:lastweekafterdinner,Isuddenlyfeltlikeasweetdessert.Ididn't have anything readymade but I did have chocolate sprinkles, flour and oatmeal. So I looked up a recipe for cookies and started dragging the main ingredients out of the cupboards. A word of warning: although it'sfuntotry,youcannotjustsimplyreplaceingredientsthatseemsimilar.I've made scones with coconut creme instead of soyghurt. Not a great idea. I'vesubbedflourwithsomeleftovercoconutflour.Notagoodideaeither.Theconsistencyrequiresotheradaptations,anditallendsupbeingawet,soggymess.Othertimesadaptingrecipesworksoutgreatthough!Chocolatesprinklecookies.</p>
<p>***withsomenon-spicyportionsofmyveggiestogivetothecats.OfcourseIdoresearchonwhatthey're allowed to have, in small doses, and they were very interesting in trying pumpkin, sweet potato and broccoli. Especially the little cat has a sweet tooth, and wants in on the fruits as well. So far she'striedmango,kiwi,lychee,andkakifruit.</p>
<p>****ButthemainexceptionthispastyearismyquesttocopyCoppi's coconut macaroons. They sell them at Coppi Koffie on the Bergweg, and I love them so much that when I felt less comfortable going out in March/April 2020, I started making them myself. The first time, I made them for a friend's40thbirthdayinApril.Insteadofafuncelebrationinthepark,herbirthdayweekendwasasuperstressfulstay-at-homeversionofaChristmasdinner,whereshewascateringtoallofherfamily,andherboyfriend's family. The typical running around serving everybody on your own day. So we went for a "distance walk," and ate coconut cookies. This version followed a recipe that adds flour, so they weren'tmacaroonsatall,butcrispcookies.Slightlyfailedandstale,actually,althoughIlseassuredtothankmeforthisbirthdaygift.</p>
<p>****ButthemainexceptionthispastyearismyquesttocopyCoppi's coconut macaroons. They sell them at Coppi Koffie on the Bergweg, and I love them so much that when I felt less comfortable going out in March/April 2020, I started making them myself. The first time, I made them for a friend's40thbirthdayinApril.Insteadofafuncelebrationinthepark,herbirthdayweekendwasasuperstressfulstay-at-homeversionofaChristmasdinner,whereshewascateringtoallofherfamily,andherboyfriend's family. The typical running around serving everybody on your own day. So we went for a "distance walk," and ate coconut cookies. This version followed a recipe that adds flour, so they weren'tmacaroonsatall,butcrispcookies.Slightlyfailedandstale,actually,althoughIlseassuredtothankmeforthisbirthdaygift.</p>
<p>Ihavemadethemfourtimesnow(IgotdistractedbycopyingSpirit's scones), and tried a different recipe each time. I'mnotevenremotelyclosetoElise's version at all. Not even after I told her that if I can make these, and make them well, all the corona isolation will have had at least some... productive outcome, upon which she revealed her ingredients to me, and when I tried it like that, it still wasn'tthewayshemakesthem,butit'sbeenafunchallengetokeepworkingonadaptingtherecipe.Bynowitalmostfeelslike,thatifIfinallymanagetomakeitthewayElisemakesthem...Allthisendlesssolobaking,soloeating,willbeover,maybe?</p>
<p>BynowI've babbled on for way too long to have space for recipes, and you can figure out most of my simple baking on your own, so here'sthemainidea....</p>
MyfamilyhasawiderangeoflikesanddislikesandIkeptthisinmindtoomuch.Momisonalowcarbdiettobalanceherinsulinlevels,soIreplacedapplejuicewithzerosugargingerale,servedcold.Mysisterdoesn't like warm alcoholic drinks, nor ginger. So she got plain cold spiced rum (already infused with ginger, I hoped she wouldn'tnoticeandshedidn't).Herboyfriendappreciatesfineliquors,soIaddedadoubledoseofrumtohismix.Intheend,theoriginalrecipewassocompletelywarped,thatIendedupmakingitagainformyselfonDecember31st,solo,thewayIwantedtomakeit.</p>
<p>MyfamilyhasawiderangeoflikesanddislikesandIkeptthisinmindtoomuch.Momisonalowcarbdiettobalanceherinsulinlevels,soIreplacedapplejuicewithzerosugargingerale,servedcold.Mysisterdoesn't like warm alcoholic drinks, nor ginger. So she got plain cold spiced rum (already infused with ginger, I hoped she wouldn'tnoticeandshedidn't).Herboyfriendappreciatesfineliquors,soIaddedadoubledoseofrumtohismix.Intheend,theoriginalrecipewassocompletelywarped,thatIendedupmakingitagainformyselfonDecember31st,solo,thewayIwantedtomakeit.</p>
Placeasmall,sturdyceramicbowlinsideapanwithwater.Usetheburnerthat's closest to your working area. Bring to a boil and let it simmer low. Break the chocolate into pieces and add to the bowl. Stir with a small wooden spoon until it'sallevenlymelted.</p>
<p>
Throwacouplepiecesoffruit/nutsintothechocolateandmakesurethey're fully covered. Use chopsticks to retrieve them, let the excess drip back into the bowl. Lay the candy on the baking sheet, leave a bit of space in between. If you have any chocolate left at the end, you can drip it in a fun shape. When you'realldone,placethesheetinthefridgeforabout30minoruntilhard.</p>
<p>Placeasmall,sturdyceramicbowlinsideapanwithwater.Usetheburnerthat's closest to your working area. Bring to a boil and let it simmer low. Break the chocolate into pieces and add to the bowl. Stir with a small wooden spoon until it'sallevenlymelted.</p>
<p>Throwacouplepiecesoffruit/nutsintothechocolateandmakesurethey're fully covered. Use chopsticks to retrieve them, let the excess drip back into the bowl. Lay the candy on the baking sheet, leave a bit of space in between. If you have any chocolate left at the end, you can drip it in a fun shape. When you'realldone,placethesheetinthefridgeforabout30minoruntilhard.</p>
