MEDLARMAGHEDDON

It's been a while since I've done a food-related post but this year for the first time, I had the dubious pleasure of dealing with what was a) a fruit I knew practically nothing about and b) the inevitable immense harvest.

If the title wasn't obvious, I'm talking about the ancient, obscure, unusual and astoundingly delicious medlar fruit.

POT SET PERFECTION

So, I got down to the make-or-break remains of my store bought yoghurt yesterday. Granted, it was one of those biodynamic, ABC culture brand of creations, but in the interests of sticking with my Plastic Free July commitment then I was really going to have to give this DIY yoghurt thing a go without further ado.

SUGAR FREE, GLUTEN FREE BANANA BREAD (AND PLASTIC FREE TOO)

This recipe is slightly modified from one I found online when I was looking for a gluten free banana bread (I'm lucky enough to live a life free from any dietary intolerances but some of my friends can't eat any foods with gluten). Either way, I don't think it hurts to find grain-free alternatives sometimes.

Considering this recipe packs a pretty wholesome punch, I figured it wasn't too gluttonous to eat a couple of slices for breakfast. Slathered in butter because seriously, what do you take me for? A joyless ascetic?

So, without any further ado, here's the recipe

DYNAMO BREAKFAST

I'm a week into my sugar free month and, apart from probably eating a bit too much fruit as a coping mechanism, plus one mistakenly ordered mocktail over the weekend, I have been doing pretty well all up....considering that in one week, there's been an influx of gourmet chocolates from a returning work colleague, and an afternoon tea to welcome new colleagues that stretched over two days due to excess cake (I'd like to say this was an anomalous week at work, but it's a pretty common scenario).

GONE TO THE DOGS - ZERO FOOD WASTE

Well, that's another Christmas down, and fridges around the country are groaning under the weight of all those family dinner leftovers (in fact there is a food advisory ad campaign doing the rounds here right now to warn people of the dangers of food poisoning from tidbits that may have sat around in the summer heat for a little too long).  I didn't make it though the month completely guiltless despite my zero food waste efforts - I can own up to 1 cucumber, half an eggplant, quarter of a pot of yoghurt and a bunch of mint. So I'll wrap up the year with another quick couple of suggestions before coming up with a different personal challenge for January (but including a resolution to come up with a better food plan system from now on).

Anyway, now might be the time to indulge your pets a little if you do have more food than you can handle on your plates. That glib remark that I made in my first post about never having leftovers if you have a dog was based more in fact than humour. My dog, the first dog I've owned, is a little over 7 years old now and he has been instrumental in keeping my food waste to a minimum since he arrived -  puppy size -  into my life.

BOTTOM OF THE VEG DRAWER

I'm a serial offender when it comes to having a couple of limp carrots, a shriveled chilli and a few black spotted tomatoes hiding away at the bottom of the veggie drawer. But team it up with a dried up cob of fresh corn and some kidney beans and you've got the makings of some delicious vegetarian nachos.

LOST BREAD

Just a sprinkle of sugar, promise

The pre-sliced plastic wrapped grainy bread so favoured by folks in this part of the world is something of an anomaly in France, where they have a much greater fondness for the staple white baguette. Personally I prefer to buy my loaves from a baker (and consequently have an elaborate wrapping system of cloth and paper to keep them fresh for as long as possible in the fridge - though it's worth noting that bread freezes very well).

THE LONE BANANA - GO ZERO FOOD WASTE

nobody loves you, sad banana

Ah, the sad tale of the leftover over-ripe banana. Some people can only eat bananas when they're just past green and no further, personally I think they taste better when riper...but there comes a point...

WASTE NOT

The first question people generally ask about Buy Nothing New Month is 'does this include food?' Well, no it doesn't (unless the freegan life is the life for you, ho ho) but it doesn't hide the fact that food waste is a huge problem in our convenience society (think about it, if we had no waste and ate less meat then we could easily feed, house and clothe 9 billion+ people). Collectively, we Westerners throw out anything up to 40% of the food we produce (this includes food that spoils or is discarded before it even makes it into our homes). I grew up in the New Zealand agricultural/horticultural sector and even by the late 80s, when I was still a young teen, I had a disturbingly clear picture of what soil to plate food production looked like, as well as an insight into how free market trade could crush a local industry.

MY CHAI

I can't remember the first time I had a chai tea, but it was probably at some event including wall to wall tie-dye, dreadlocks and nag champa wafting on the breeze. I do recall the first one that made an impression on me though, at an autumn food festival in South Australia, served from a huge steaming pot, milk and honey already added and being kept on a low boil throughout the afternoon.

DIY DUKKAH

Dukkah, or 'duqqa', is a type of Egyptian side dish made from blended spices, herbs and nuts. This palate-piquing accompaniment can be made using a range of different ingredients - including hazelnuts, sesame, cumin,mint, caraway and coriander. Whichever recipe you prefer, investing in a good mortar and pestle alongside a small collection of common key spices will keep you in cheap homemade dukkah for years! You can of course buy it pre-made in delis but it can sell for prices bordering on the criminally insane.

MARKET STAR

Star apples, also known as cainito or milk fruit, belong to a special food group that I like to simply refer to as Vitamin Purple.

Being something of a novice consumer of this tropical delicacy, I can confirm that eating the flesh too close to the rind will result in close encounters of the sticky latex variety. So unless you're the type that enjoys a dose of PVA-like gloop with your fruit then take care. As the skin is also inedible, to serve they should be sliced open and the halves scooped out.

Only very subtly scented, this refreshingly sweet treat from the West Indies tastes very similar to a lychee, though its texture is more akin to a very ripe apricot. Available from now until November, they keep quite well out of the fridge (a welcome asset in the tropics!) If you get hold of some while they're still a little green, they can keep over a week at room temperature (yes, for the tropics this is a long time). Ready to eat once they're soft and dark purple.

RAPID CREEK MARKETS

Rapid Creek markets are Darwin's only undercover setup, and specialise in a cornucopic variety of fresh produce and prepared food. While all of Darwin's markets have a number of takeaway food stalls, Rapid Creek mostly focuses on fruit and vegetable produce, trinkets are pretty thin on the ground here.

(SP)ICED TEA WITH A CITRUS TWIST

Darwin's year-round temperature profile is essentially varying degrees of 'warm', so I'm always on the lookout for healthy refreshing drinks that I can consume by the jugful without paying a consequent small fortune in dental bills in a few years to come.

This is a recipe I stumbled across many years ago. It's an iced tea drink with a twist -  halfway between a chai and orangina. Perfect for hot weather days, this recipe also puts some of those pot pourri spices mouldering on the spice rack to good use.

EASTER AT MEERT

The pricey but exquisitely turn of the century chocolate, pastry and tearoom known as Meert is the jewel in the Vieux Lille crown. However, aside from popping in for the occasional packet of old style syrup filled waffles (gaufres), it's not an experience I can readily afford. But window shopping is free...(and they're pretty chill about letting you take photos).