Hello from the Paleo Expedition where the journey has been
an adventure. Though technically not an
official expedition (for one thing the crew did not include a specialized cook
-major mistake, and for another we have not left the comforts of our North End
home), the following experiences are in my mind comparable to a romantic voyage
to parts unknown:
Restaurant Void: It
is with mild astonishment that I have gone two whole weeks without any restaurant
meals. If this trend continues for the
rest of the expedition, I will set a personal record for “not eating out”. I think the last time I even came close was
when I was still living with my parents (and not responsible for providing all
of my own meals). Even as a poor college
student, I would buy the $5.00 Domino’s pizza that would set me up for a couple
of days (although I’m not sure Domino’s fits under the “restaurant” category).
Sailing on the Five Cs:
I have had to restock my spice rack since cooking has taken over most of
my free time. It is strange that all of
my recent purchases begin with C - Cinnamon, Curry, Chile Powder, Cumin, and
Cayenne Pepper. We have not experienced
drastic amounts of sea-sickness, although a Curry/Carrot combination did not go
over too well.
Dangerous and Delicious Discovery: I had vaguely heard of Jicama and may have eaten it once or twice, but still
thought of it as some kind of Jamaican Flower.
However, several sources in Paleo cookbooks called this vegetable a
great potato substitute, so I casually chopped one up and placed it in a
soup. It was so yummy that after dinner
I did some research on Jicama and learned the leaves and peel are
poisonous. When I casually mentioned my
findings to Phin, he immediately began experiencing stomach pains. I had some doubts on the carefulness of my
chopping, so it was with great relief that after more investigation I was able
to assure Phin I had not poisoned him. His
relief was short lived when I told him my reasons for knowing with such
certainty - ingesting the peel is associated more with death than mild stomach
pain. I do plan to use Jicama more
frequently in my cooking, although “Food Safety Phin” is now in charge of the chopping. (A Jicama chainsaw that could also be used
for pineapples would be a handy kitchen appliance.)
The Value of Adrenaline:
The first week was kind of a bummer with headaches, fatigue and general
moodiness (I’m not saying who experienced what symptoms). We discussed the probability that we could
survive on a diet of meat, vegetables and fruits, but the fact that it was so
difficult made it seem worth it. We
could tell our bodies were in the detox process and that made us eager to get over
this phase and experience the benefits of healthy eating.
Treasure Hunting:
Finding breakfast meats without sugar or soy products was much like a
treasure hunt. It was a happy moment
when we discovered a small selection in Whole Foods. This joy was tempered slightly when we
realized we would have to embark on a different kind of treasure hunt to pay
for this extremely valuable find, but savoring sausages made this a worthwhile splurge.
In conclusion, we are surviving and not yet reduced to
eating tuna fish out of a can (although in some ways that sounds easier). I would love to send a postcard to all of
you, but so far post offices seem scarce and carrier pigeons have long ago
disappeared (bird seed is not encouraged here).
Suffice it to say, we are having a wonderful time and wish you were
here. (Well the last part of that statement is true.)
