Menu for Hope and Bittman’s kitchen

Even if I have to be out of the house in a matter of minutes, I have a leave pass to spruik the annual wonderfulness that is “Menu For Hope” (number 5). It snuck up on us with less fanfare this year but the aim is the same as usual. You have until Christmas eve to buy a $(US)10 ticket or three and go into the draw for many wonderful, food oriented prizes. Ed is hosting the Australasian end so check out Tomato for all the details. Am too busy to do a full link fest but be assured he’ll tell you how to do it and link to the founder, Pim’s, full list of world prizes, some of which can be shipped to this far corner of the world.

The money you donate goes to feed those who can’t afford to feed themselves, this year through the UN World Food Programme school lunch program in Lesotho.


While there is so much hunger and deprivation in the world, its amazing how self centred we still are with our claims of being hard done by here in the affluent West. My favourite article of the week comes from the delightful Mark Bittman, who could have subtitled the piece “shut up and quit whinging”. After posting photos of him cooking in his small NY kitchen he was flooded with responses from people who queried how on earth he could create such good food from such an inadequate space. I love his response. It’s what I say to myself whenever I hanker for a wider oven, top line appliances or even a house big enough to devote a whole room to cooking. I also remember that I lived in this house for many years with a sink, old cooker and no storage. It’s not what you’ve got, it’s how you use it.

If I don’t get a chance to nip back here in the coming week – solstice greetings to one and all. I hope the New Year brings all that you desire, plus a little happiness to the kids in Lesotho.