(no subject)

[turps]

I forgot to say, I had a semi name change during the last few weeks.

The hospice has an amazing team of transport volunteers who come and pick you up and bring you home for free. I had some excellent chats with them, and a few days in one booked me in, made sure I was settled in the waiting area and said 'see you later, Tania' as he left. I didn't correct him as he was heading out of the door, and I figured he'd just had a brain blip as my name was right there on the list of pick ups.

Except, he kept saying it every time he was my driver, and after a while, it felt too awkward to say anything. So yeah, to him I've been Tania for the last three weeks. Which stuck in my mind as he was the person who brought me home yesterday, and I got called Tania for the last time.

It's the first day of the double bank holiday Jubilee weekend and we've spent it going shopping and having the excitement of finding a new regular Olio lady who lives nearby. I picked up some olive bread, almond croissants and basil pesto from her, plus a bottle of skimmed milk after she asked if I was sure I didn't want any as she'd been sent eight bottles. Apparently, she picks up from Tesco three times a week so I'll have to keep a lookout.

Which reminds me, I said I'd say what I thought about Okra after I cooked and tried it and it's not for me. The taste is okay but the texture is really off-putting. It may be how I cooked it but I can't say I feel the need to try it again.

I've been enjoying looking at all the new MCR photos, and really liked some more shots as shared by devinsarno on Instagram. I know people say they're not ageing but these show they are, but in a very good way. Well, apart from Mikey who is apparently turning into a celestial being.

Comments

[lilysea]

Olio lady?

[turps]

Olio is an app that has been set up to help combat food waste.

People sign up to be food waste heroes and pick up food that would have otherwise be thrown away from supermarkets, cafes etc that have signed to the scheme. Then list it all and give it away free to people who request the items via the app.

I've been a member for a while and have a regular person I tend to get items from on a Sunday, so was pleased someone else nearby has also signed.

People also use it to give away personal non-food items, and lend items, though that doesn't seem to be as popular as the give away side.

[lilysea]

Oh wow, that's super cool!

Are you in a high-density city?

I'm wondering how many people per square kilometre you need to make it work...

[turps]

Are you in a high-density city?

I'm wondering how many people per square kilometre you need to make it work...

I've just checked out how many people live in my town and apparently it's just under 37,000. So not that high density really.

Which is the problem about the app that you've highlighted. It only works well if the people are there to support it. It's a reason I was pleased to see another person being a waste not hero, as it means there's now three different people offering food over the week. I could easily never buy bread products/croissonts/pastries again as they always tend to be offered, fruit and veggetables are also relatively regular, really, anything that needs to be sold fresh.

But my son, who lives just outside the middle of a big city could easily get enough groceries for the week without paying anything simply because there are so many people willing to distribute and so many shops/cafes etc that want their leftover food to be used and not just thrown in a bin.

So yeah, it's very much a location based thing in terms of success.

[i_amthecosmos]

Okra requires careful cooking to mitigate the slime factor. The best one is cooking with tomatoes, which inhibits that reaction. Frying it also helps. Or, you make a stew (with tomatoes), and let the liquid thicken it. This is what makes gumbo gumbo.

But I get it, lots of people can't deal with the weird green pods! Evan can't-he didn't grow up eating it.

Oh, and prickly pear cactus pads have almost exactly the same taste. They are a slog to cook from scratch, but make an authentic burrito ingredient.

[turps]

I tried stir-frying the okra. I did use a recipe but the slime factor was still high so maybe I didn't fry enough. And as I'd never tried it before the slime factor at all was a shock. I'd heard people say they were slimy before but didn't realise just how slimy.

I like the sound of everything you've mentioned here, and can imagine thickening would help a lot so at some point I would consider trying if it was cooked by someone who knew what they were doing. But the dish I tried, nope.

If I'm ever in your area I'll have to come for dinner and you can show me how it's done.

[i_amthecosmos]

I've never stir-fried okra. The method here is to lightly batter it in white cornmeal. Maybe the breading helps.

The classic okra and tomatoes dish also includes corn. It's a good summer stew.

[frausorge]

I don't know, it could be useful to have an established alias. "Terri? Oh no, there's no one by that name here. I'm Tania, see, this driver who took me to multiple appointments can vouch for that."

Olive bread sounds delicious. I can't blame you w/r/t the okra, though. I never managed to find a way to cook it that really appealed to me.

I like what you said about the guys, they're aging and aging well! I hope Mikey avoids getting raptured long enough to finish the tour though.

[turps]

I like the way your mind works, an alias could be very handy to have *g*

The olive bread was very tasty, I've just had some toasted for breakfast and enjoyed it. The okra not so much, I would try it again cooked by someone who knew what they were doing. But would never try it again myself.

I like the grey hairs and slight wrinkles that are visible on them now. It's a sign of a life lived and that's lovely to see, especially as they all look well on it. But yeah, stay on Earth Mway!

[dine]

hi Tania!

you got some cool items from Olio lady - hopefully she'll have more great stuff soonish

[turps]

Hello! *g*

I've just had some of the olive bread toasted for breakfast, and very delicious it was too.

[misbegotten]

That's how I feel about okra too. Terrible texture.

[turps]

I'd read that okra was slimy, but really didn't expect it to be as slimy as it actually is.

[spikedluv]

In read the Olio explanation above and that sounds very cool! Tania. *g*

[turps]

I'll have to change my name on here too and confuse everyone *g*

Olio is a cool app, though really depends on how many active users are in your local area. In my town there are three who regularly take in excess food from big supermarkets and others that will post occasionally. Plus someone who collects and gives away stuff from KFC. Though I don't get that one as they pick up when the shop is closing and as it's freshly cooked have to give away the same night, and the last thing I want to be doing at midnight is going to pick up chicken.

[jacieleigh]

Dang! Wish I had an Olio lady around here! Where I worked, people would bring in the surplus from their gardens, usually Jalapeno peppers and tomatoes.

I don't think I've ever had fresh okra. I've had it in canned gumbo soup, and frozen, battered and deep-fried at restaurants (which takes away the 'healthy' factor).

[turps]

Olio is such a good concept. We have three ladies who regularly give away from big supermarkets and others that give away personal food they have an excess of, or have tried and didn't like. For example, a while back I bought new cereal bars to try and didn't like them, so gave them away to people who would.

I do like the idea of taking in excess Jalapeno peppers and tomatoes, too. It makes sense not to waste things.

Well as of now I wouldn't recommend fresh okra. I would try it again cooked by someone who knew what they were doing. But I suspect it's going to be a nope.

[turlough]

Hi Tania! ;-D

What a shame the okra had such disgusting texture. Food should never be slimy!

Wonderful photos! Though now I'm wondering if Frank has any skin left not covered in tattoos. And Mikey is obviously in the process of being abducted by aliens :-)

[turps]

Hi hi!

I agree, food shouldn't be slimy at all. The thing is, people said slimy but I never imagined the quantity of slime, like slime trails as you chew amounts D:

I could go with the being abducted by aliens idea. As for Frank, I'm surprised he can still find room for his tattoos. He needs a bigger body.