Saturday 28 January 2012

Canned Dreams


Canned Dreams | Trailer from OktoberFi on Vimeo.

When shopping for food people often complain about the high prices. But have you ever wondered how a can of ravioli can cost 1 euro? If you look at the list of ingredients and the metal used for the can, how can all that be worth so little? This film shows the journey of the ravioli can, and it shows you the sacrifices made in order for you to be able to complain that 1 euro is too much. I saw the film today in the cinema where I work, and I realised it is the answer to the questions of all those people I know who wonder about my strange eating habits. Why do I choose organic? Why do I choose local? Why do I skip prepared and canned food? And why don't I eat meat? Watch this and you will know. I cried because of the cruelty of this world that we call civilisation. And I cried because those animals reproduce, because their sole purpose is to exist for us to walk over them. The Polish guy who murders cows for work, he who is describing how he wants to kill the man his wife fell in love with while he himself was sleeping with another woman; if he worked on a small biodynamic farm, planting beautiful flowers, I hardly think he would like to kill anyone. But there is no use blaming the workers, or even the corporate executives and owners. It is us who are to blame. Us, who buy these products which can hardly be called food. We make all this possible. A complete reconfiguration of values is needed. Next time you think real, organic, natural, healthy food is too expensive, think about whether you need those new jeans or that bigger tv. Or whether you would rather put your money into your well-being, health and happiness. Alarm bells should start to ring when a price is as low as that can of ravioli, it simply is not the right value for food.

Emma

Thursday 26 January 2012

Roasted müsli



Home-made müsli can be 1000 times better than the ones bought in shops. Yesterday I prepared a wintery kind, focusing on nuts instead of fruits and on warming spices. Here's how to make it:


What you need

The amount should add up to ca 1 litre

Buckwheat flakes
Millet flakes
Almonds
Brazil nuts
Cashew nuts
Pumpkin seeds
Sunflower seeds
Sesame seeds
Goji berries
Cold-pressed sesame seed oil (ca 3 tbsp)
Honey (ca 2 tbsp)
Ground cinnamon (3 tsp)
Ground cardamom (2 tsp)
Ground ginger (2 tsp)
Ground cloves (1 tsp)




How to do it

1. Roughly crush the nuts and almonds (not the seeds) in a mortar.
2. Mix all the ingredients in a bowl.
3. Spread the mixture on a baking sheet with baking paper.
4. Roast in a 150°C oven for ca 20 minutes, turning at times. Be careful not to burn the müsli! When the kitchen starts to smell good and the flakes and nuts gain a golden colour, your müsli is ready.
5. When the müsli has cooled, you can put it in an air-tight glass-jar and store in the fridge.




This müsli is delicious on a cold winter's morning due to its warming properties. Eat with raw milk like I did, or mix with natural organic yogurt. Remember to use organic ingredients for the best taste and health benefits :) I want to add that the roasting process weakens the nutrient potency of the ingredients, as does heating any food. If this is a problem, you can try making the müsli in the same way, only without the oven. For me the roasting is ok because I don't eat müsli very often, although I think I might make one batch without heating at some point.

I shall be back another day with some more recipes on delicious müslies!


<3 Emma