Appreciate your food

This blog wants to spread a joy of life through simple pleasures.Poverty Food is not about bringing people down but about celebrating their accomplishments despite adversity. And we are not here to preach! But, let's face it... there are degrees of adversity. I think the images from a blog courtesy of Valparaiso University  are certainly examples of "food for thought" on this issue...what do we value most? What takes priority?

Sorry, not trying to be a downer or preachy, but rather just a reminder to really appreciate your food, however humble it may be.  Be appreciative for clean water and simple grub...and yes, be good to your furry friends too. We love them here at Poverty Food too. Finally, Poverty Food encourages you to give to a food bank locally and a charity globally. Most of us can do both....try...even a few dollars can help feed a child. You don't have to give massive sums. A humble gift is fine.

http://blogs.valpo.edu/gjones/about/

Russian Salted Fish

Nastrovia!   Ah the Russians! If there are a people on this planet who understand Poverty Food, it is the Russians. War, famine, cold! These are a people who have suffered throughout the centuries and yet, they have come up with simple, elegant and delicious cuisines using whatever they had on hand.

Try this wonderful recipe for Salted Fish the Russian way!

This recipe comes courtesy of a wonderful website called http://www.rt.com/. A great information source for all things Russian!

Here it is:

Russian salted fish is a stand-alone dish and a great addition to bliny, too.


Ingredients

■Fish (any red fish – salmon, trout, chum salmon)

■Sugar

■Salt

Cooking

Clean the fish inside and outside, cut off the head and the tail, cut out the backbone and split into two. Mix 2 parts of salt (sea salt won’t do, only the regular one!) and one part of regular white sugar. Cover the fish with a thick layer of salt-and-sugar mix on both sides and roll it in baking paper. Store in a cool place for at least a day. The fish is ready to eat – just wash off the salt-and-sugar and cut the fillet off the skin.

TIP:

Great with a bit of lemon juice. Salted fish is a great companion to vodka!
 
 
Dasvidaniya!

Indian Chick Pea Salad

Indian cooking has some of the most innovative yet simple recipes around. There are several variations of this classic however the following is one of the most basic and savory that you will find. And you will find a version of it in virtually every Indian restaurant out there. The secret is found in four simple ingredients: Chick peas, lemon, onion and black pepper!




Here is the simple version:

Drain and rinse one large 24 ounce can of chick peas

Chop several scallions or one medium onion as fine as you can...truly minced
Add to the chick peas and toss well to distribute evenly.

Using one large lemon, squeeze the totality of its juice, eliminating the seeds but allowing
some of the pulp to be added, directly onto the chick pea and onion mixture.

Now, pour about 1/3 cup of olive oil over the salad.

Salt to taste.

Now sprinkle a generous amount( about a good full teaspoon- that is actually quite a lot) over the salad and toss to very evenly distribute.

This salad should ideally be allowed to marinate several hours. You can add additional olive oil and lemon juice as well as other ingredients like tomatoes or peppers, but this simple recipe will satisfy!  Wonderful...tangy...delicious...healthy!!!