Help! I Have No Kitchen (with Organic Roll Up Recipe)
From Lisa Barnes
The past month has been a bit kooky in the kitchen. First we were without refrigeration. An ancient sub-zero died and our landlord couldn’t figure out how to remove it (800 pounds! up three flights in a townhouse). It was an adventure at first. Ice chests for the food and I told the kids it was like camping. But it sure got old trying to dig through all the ice to find the cream cheese (always at the bottom) to make my son’s favorite wrap for school lunch in the morning. For someone who teaches how to create convenience for family cooking by freezing quantities of purees for baby and left-overs of family meals – this was a challenge. Cooking with no leftovers seemed wasteful. Next we had a new refrigerator outside on our deck (no really – waitng for someone to solve the subzero issue). I have a huge appreciation for refrigeration. My friend Kristi joked about my going totally green and how I’m cutting back on electricity by not having a refrigerator. She even found this article in the NY Times about people giving up their refrigerator by choice. Now that’s a commitment.
In December we bought a fixer house and have been remodeling the kitchen and baths (as green as possible but we’ll have appliances). With a move in date approaching, I’ve been so excited. A new kitchen with a new refrigerator (not a Sub Zero) inside the actual kitchen.
However as remodels go, there’ve been glitches. We moved in this week and the kitchen wasn’t finished. However what was working was the new refrigerator. Funny, irony. Now I’m about 6 days in without a range. No problem I thought, I’ll do more raw foods – better for us anyways right? Well it is cold and rainy outside and salads, wraps and cold foods just aren’t comforting like a nice bowl of hot soup. We’ve been eating out more which is taking a toll (on our wallets and my sanity – taking 2 kids out to eat too often loses its luster). I just want to cook a hot meal and make a cup of tea and eat from our dishes.
We’ve also been undoing (just temporarily) some of our green habits and eating traditions. We’ve used some plastic utensils and old birthday paper plates, I found when packing. I felt bad and bought biodegradable plates, and bowls and then unpacked the silverware (even though I can’t wash it). We also bought bottled water. I know, the guilt! I just don’t want to drink from the one working sink in the bathroom (I’m sure it’s perfectly fine). But we’re increasing our garage and recyclables without unpacking many dishes (which can’t be washed without a sink). We also ate some food in the bedrooms. This has never happened. We always sit at the dining room table or in the kitchen to eat or drink. It’s just a rule. Of course the kids think it’s pretty cool to eat a granola bar and yogurt in their room for an afternoon snack. I just keep telling myself (and the kids) it’s an adventure and once the workers are out of my kitchen we go back to the table.
So I’ve been questioning which of the three kitchen items I could do without the longest… the range, the refrigerator or the sink? Not having the range makes me more creative. Not having the refrigerator takes me to the store and farmer’s market more often, but at least I’m eating very fresh. Surprisingly I think the sink has been the hardest to go without. Not being able to wash/rinse dishes (my husband joked how about taking them outside in the rain), let alone put them somewhere is hard. Plus there’s the water to drink and cook with (again hard with the bathroom sink). And washing your hands (and little sticky faces). Boy I realize we use the kitchen sink quite often.
I know I am going to appreciate my kitchen and fixer quite a bit (I hope soon!)
And to add to the chaos my new book Petit Appetit Eat, Drink and Be Merry was released this week. Here’s my son’s wrap recipe from the book. Luckily there’s a never ending supply of creativity of what can be wrapped up.
Jonas’ Turkey Roll-Up
At the time of this writing my son requests this be packed for school almost every day. The best part is it is simple and can be done in only a few minutes. If my son ever gets out of a rut he’ll realize how versatile this can be too; prosciutto or roast beef slices can be substituted for the turkey. For a veggie option grate or thinly slice veggies such as zucchini, carrots, bell pepper and layer with cheese. I usually make one whole lavosh roll-up for the day, half for my son’s lunchbox and half for my daughter’s on-the-go snack.
1 roll; 2 servings
1 piece lavosh (about 13 × 9 inches)
2 ounces organic Neufchatel cheese
2 ounces thinly sliced organic cooked turkey
Spread lavosh with a layer of cheese. Layer turkey in single layer on cheese.
Starting from narrow side, roll lavosh until you reach the end. You may want to add a small spread of cream cheese to secure roll. Using a sharp knife, make a quick cut in the center of roll. Cut each half in half again. Then each quarter in half, so you have 8 pieces.
Kids Korner Need more glue! My son likes these rolled tightly and packed in his bento-style container. He likes to be sure I spread enough “glue”, a.k.a cream cheese to keep them together without unraveling.
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See also Lisa’s Getting Greener or Getting Fooled – Label Deception
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Lisa Barnes is author of The Petit Appetit Cookbook: Easy, Organic Recipes to Nurture Your Baby and Toddler
OrganicToBe.org | OrganicToGo.com
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Monday, March 9th, 2009 at 9:56 am
I am not one for counter-top appliances much, but seems to me you could stand to borrow or purchase any one or all of the following:
slow cooker – for chicken soup at the very least; poule au pot is very good in this as well. Many basic tagine recipes adapt very well to the slow cooker.
Electric skillet; yes I know, teflon, I don’t use it either. Borrow one for the interim? Ventilate well while cooking? Can steam/saute veg in it as well as do braises, skillet suppers.
Rice cooker with steamer insert – I wouldn’t buy one of those deluxe ones but perhaps a friend can lend you one? big one with an insert so you can cook up a grain and steam a veg on top, all at once. If not, then at least a basic rice cooker – try cooking brown rice with a 1/4 cup of lentils, broth or bouillon cube, olive oil: pilaf! Garnish with chopped cilantro, onion and possibly hot sauce.
And last but not least – a hot plate. I made great meals in a Cairo, Egypt kitchen equipped with one hotplate. Fed 8 people for a dinner party. My favorite dish was chicken, sweet peppers and tomatoes skillet saute dish that was a relative of chicken Marengo. That and some whole grain rice or burghul in the rice cooker makes a hot, nourishing meal.
March 9th, 2009 at 11:36 amI am not one for counter-top appliances much, but seems to me you could stand to borrow or purchase any one or all of the following:
slow cooker – for chicken soup at the very least; poule au pot is very good in this as well. Many basic tagine recipes adapt very well to the slow cooker.
Electric skillet; yes I know, teflon, I don’t use it either. Borrow one for the interim? Ventilate well while cooking? Can steam/saute veg in it as well as do braises, skillet suppers.
Rice cooker with steamer insert – I wouldn’t buy one of those deluxe ones but perhaps a friend can lend you one? big one with an insert so you can cook up a grain and steam a veg on top, all at once. If not, then at least a basic rice cooker – try cooking brown rice with a 1/4 cup of lentils, broth or bouillon cube, olive oil: pilaf! Garnish with chopped cilantro, onion and possibly hot sauce.
And last but not least – a hot plate. I made great meals in a Cairo, Egypt kitchen equipped with one hotplate. Fed 8 people for a dinner party. My favorite dish was chicken, sweet peppers and tomatoes skillet saute dish that was a relative of chicken Marengo. That and some whole grain rice or burghul in the rice cooker makes a hot, nourishing meal.
March 9th, 2009 at 3:17 pmOoops, should have added great post! Waiting on your next one!
Ohhh I could not with 5 kids live without my frig. I shudder to even imagine it!
I have no problem washing dishes in the bathroom and I have a woodstove that I often cook on…the frig on the other hand is a must have!
Good luck with your remodel, been there, done that, and don’t envy you!!! Kim
March 10th, 2009 at 8:33 amDitto to the above from Leila, but would like to emphasize that your local thrift store is the place to shop – no need to make more of these appliances when there are so many of them available and you will only need them for a short time. Just return to the source for a write-off when your fabulous new kitchen is ready! I cooked for almost a year without appliances or wood stove of any sort in Alaska while building a new home – it is a fun challenge, especially for bread-like things. Could even make bread, but got to be quite fond of dumplings!
March 10th, 2009 at 9:38 amThank you to everyone for all your helpful suggestions. Sounds like many have certainly rose to the challenge of going without a kitchen (and all the luxury ammenities).
Another thing I did was “borrow” (AKA invite myself over) a kitchen and make a communal meal. No one can refuse a visitor, or friend who will come cook in their kitchen, make everyone a meal, sit and eat together, then clean up before leaving.
As of today, everything in the kitchen works. I am very happy and even more appreciative since I’ve gone without.
March 17th, 2009 at 9:22 pm