vegging in after popping out

I've been across the Tasman for a while. My mother was moved recently to a nursing home after a fall. Do you know how difficult it is, in a small city, to get care for someone with dementia who is not mobile? The good news is she's walking again, shuffling and sometimes falling but hopefully that means she can stay where she is. Anyway, long story short, I've not been cooking much of late. So excuse this little cheat, a post I've made elsewhere on the net, tweaked a little for you reading pleasure.



For many years my favourite part of waking up on a Monday was listening to Flip Shelton talk about food on RRR. I miss her vibrant recipes and triathalon updates. I loved her first cookbook Green (now sadly out of print) and have been waiting eagerly for her next publication.

Veg In: Simple Vegetarian Dishes from Around the World is a nifty book of easy to prepare “takeaways” made cheaply and healthily at home. She promises the recipes will save you money, calories and even time. From Greek dolmades to Japanese tempura, Flip sets out simple ways to recreate your favourite vegetarian dishes, as well as innovative baked potato and pizza toppings.

Veg In is a simple but effective cookbook. The recipes are uncomplicated, perfect for novices and under confident cooks. The recipes aren’t rocket science and won’t take all day to prepare. Being written by a Melburnian is an added bonus as all the ingredients are easy to source locally.

This cookbook is ideal for someone who’d like to extend their vegetarian repertoire, omnivores wanting to diversify their diet (or choosing to practice Meatless Mondays) and those newly “converted” to vegetarianism. The majority of dishes are vegan-friendly and many are also gluten-free.

My only criticism of the book is that it has no index, so you can't hunt by recipe or ingredient. I found this rather frustrating and hope if the book gets a second print run that this problem will be remedied. Veg In is probably not for the gourmet cook, for those more accomplished in the kitchen wanting to expand their vegetarian range my pick would be Feel Good Food

Veg In: Simple Vegetarian Dishes from Around the World by Flip Shelton (Wakefield Press, RRP $29.95)

See Lucy's review of Veg In and one of Flip's recipes.

make contact

I've been listening to Cam Smith sweat his guts out spruiking for the RRR radiothon and supporting the local food scene. What a great reminder for local foodbloggers to make contact and support this unique homegrown food program.

How much do you blow on a night out eating and drinking? I’m guessing its often more than the $75 ($40 concession) subscription. Keep Eat It, and all the shows on Australia’s most listened to public radio station, on air by subscribing. Apart from the good food karma you go into the running to win a heap of prizes including an overseas trip, an iPad, wine, food, a $2000 book voucher (how many cookbooks could you buy with that?!) and a whole lot more.

For those further away or not out of bed in time to listen to the show (midday Sundays) the show is now available free as a podcast.

Just click the radiothon link above to subscribe online or call the station on (03)9388-1027.

bread and circuses

Public radio is a bit like blogging. Independence allows freedom, not just from dreary top 100 play lists, mind numbing boring ads and news items pruned to keep the station owners happy but to have whole programs of food without the pressure to sell products. A local food blog seems to have got the connection and now has a sponsorship 'ad' playing at peak times on RRR.

But freedom comes at a cost and without government funding or selling out to the commercial devil, public radio needs money to stay on air.

To keep programs like Eat It on air (too busy to listen on Sunday, I'm so happy it is podcast now) as well as to have some great music and discussions to be your soundtrack in the kitchen - share the love with RRR during radiothon.

If that isn’t enough and prizes of travel or gadgets don’t interest you, food and beverage wise prizes include an espresso machine to make your friends green with envy (complete with grinder, a home coffee course and enough coffee to stop you sleeping for a year), all sorts of beer, chai and even a meal with the Breakfasters at La Luna. Or if you would prefer there is always the boot camp sessions with Fitstyler to compensate for all that over indulgence.

So roll up and subscribe to my favourite circus in town!