River Food

Yesterday, July 25, my dad. my husband and I went fishing. 

We met at 7:30 am.  I guess because it's been so hot.  Maybe because my dad likes to make us lazy kids wake up early.

My dad has a 'special' technique for catching channel catfish.  It apparently works pretty well.  We caught 8 fish totalling about 25 lbs, all of which my dad graciously let us take home. 

My husband, the chef, could have cleaned all the fish in no time, but he generously offered to let me practice my fillet skills and clean all of them.  This isn't really a big deal for me because I've watched my dad clean wild animals all my life.  First you cut off their tails and hang them so they bleed out.  Then you fillet both sides.  With smaller fish (thankfully all we had that day) that's all.  It sounds simple, but getting the knife to do what you want it to do without puncturing internal organs or slicing through bones is a little tricky.

I thanked something greater than myself for allowing me these fine fish, and whacked away.

Last summer the fish I cleaned couldn't exactly be called "filleted," but more accurately they were butchered.  Yesterday though, with encouragement from Gus and little determination, I did a pretty good job of cleaning them correctly.  We put away 3 baggies full of fresh channel cat and left some in the refrigerator for supper. 

I went to school to work a bit, and when I got home, Gus had fish frying on the stove.  The sunflower oil really is the bomb.  He used only Kansas white flour for the batter and the fish came out light and crispy.  A little bit of illegal (this month) seasoning, and I had a delicious local protein. 

Not Just Any Butter

I've never been crazy about butter.  I never eat margarine because my husband, the chef, says it's made from the same stuff as the container it comes in.  Mostly, I'm an olive oil girl for health reasons.  This month, however, olive oil is not an option.  In fact, I haven't successfully located ANY cooking oil produced locally in the Emporia area.  I would like to locate some sunflower oil. 

...but the butter.  I think I said in my last post that it comes from a lady that lives about 15 miles south of my house (in the middle of EVERYwhere).  I haven't met her.  Her son Toby hooked me up.  I don't know how she does it, but I can't wait to find out.  It's the creamiest, yummiest butter I've ever experienced.  My friend Amanda described it as being so buttery it's almost cheesy.  True story.

Normally, I'd be really grossed out by people (especially my husband) talking about eating straight butter, but with this butter, I could learn to become more accepting.

This is not just any butter.

Day 11

I'm still holding strong! Thanks to Scott and Lexy for the great meal last Friday!  They cooked local burgers.  Yum, despite my trouble later since having been a vegitarian for too long.

Last Thursday was my birthday and I think my mom was distressed because she couldn't make me a cake.  We had fish from the Cottonwood River and veggies from the Farmer's Market insteat. 

Today a friend of ours, Toby, brought over 4 pounds of butter that his mom made from her cow's milk!  Hallalujah!!!!!!!  My eggs will be so much better.  Oh heck, everything will be better.

I also ordered some Kansas flour from the health food store today.  It should be in Thursday.  Things are looking good!

This weekend is my trip with my sister, so I will be taking a few days off from eating only local food.  It's tough to define local on a train...

Day 6

Well, So far so good.  This diet is actually quite a bit easier and more enjoyable than I anticipated!  I've learned a lot already about certain combinations of food and different cooking methods. 

Here's what I've been eating the last 6 days:
greens (lettuce and bitter greens)
cabbage
tomatoes
potatoes
beets
broccoli
carrots
garlic
onions
blueberries (only a few)
frozen peaches
eggs
milk
cheese

So far, the only thing that I hoped to find locally produced that I haven't found yet is some type of oil or fat.  I have a lead though: an acquaintance's mother makes butter from her own cow(s).  I'm hoping to secure some next week.  I've had a tough time preparing over-easy eggs without some type of fat.

As for the vegetable preparation, I've found that I really don't need any type of fat for cooking them, steaming works just fine.  Also, the addition of garlic and onions makes everything better.  I haven't even been using salt and pepper!

At this point, I've already decided that this month's experiment will change my eating habits long-term.  The amount of satisfaction that comes from gathering food from local sources far outweighs the convenience of normal grocery store shopping.  Last night I had the opportunity to visit a home garden that blew me away.  They have so much great produce, and the gardener jokingly says he's really selling water.  The seeds are cheap, so the water that it takes to grow the plants is his main investment.   It was there that I got carrots, lettuce and tomatoes. 

Never before in my life have I felt such a spiritual connection to my food.  I prepare a dish, sit down to eat it, but before I do I actually remember to give thanks to something greater than myself that has allowed me to have this wonderfully healthy, fresh food.  I get giddy.

That's all for now!  Off to the Farmer's Market!

The Experiment

For the entire month of July I will eat only food that was produced within a 100 mile radius of my home.  I already receive locally grown produce every week from Pioneer Bluffs CSA in Matfield Green, KS and will shop at the Emporia Farmer's Market.  I plan to fish the Cottonwood River for catfish and will be eating chicken eggs from my friends' flocks.

Since I am only attempting to eat locally for one month, I'm going all the way.

No coffee
No sugar
No oil

My only exception will be beer.  I will drink locally brewed beer despite its non-local ingredients.

Also, my sister and I are taking a weekend trip to NM, so I will have a 2 day vacation from the diet.

The Inspiration

About 5 years ago I stopped buying meat at grocery stores.  I began eating seafood and wild game for my meat intake.  Luckily my husband and my father both hunt and fish, so I have been well stocked.  Last January instead of creating a New Year's Resolution I decided to try a new diet for the month.  I went without eating dairy products and gluten.  For those unfamiliar, gluten includes anything with wheat flour.  I spent that month eating a whole lot of fruits, veggies, rice and eggs.  This January I decided to challenge myself again by going Vegan for the month.  When February came around, the only thing I really missed was cheese.  Since then, I have been totally vegetarian, still eating dairy and eggs.  

The underlying reason for my selective diets is my environmental concern.  A friend told me once "not eating meat is the best thing you can do for the environment."  I hadn't ever really thought about the environmental impact of my food consumption, but ever since that awakening, I have been concerned.  A common statistic is that most meals travel 2000 miles before being consumed.  Thus was born my July diet challenge of eating exclusively locally produced food.