A New Level of Culinary Innovation

As I mentioned in my last post, it's been cold here...really cold! Definitely way too cold to walk 1+ miles to a proper grocery store, only to have to haul armloads of groceries home on the icy sidewalks. Lucky for us, there is a "Co-op" right around the corner. Until you've visited the Co-op for yourself, it's really hard to picture. I'm not sure that there's really an equivalent in the States. It's less substantial than your typical small town, corner grocer, but offers more than a convenience store would. Picture the variety of products offered at a Super 1 (for our Northwest readers) or a Kroger (for our Midwest readers), all crammed onto four, very short aisles. The Co-op could perhaps be the equivalent of 7-11's answer to Super Target...basically a souped-up convenience store.

Why am I going to such great lengths to explain the idea behind the Co-op? Because, for the past two weeks, the Co-op has been our sole source of food. Now, you may think that means that we have resorted ourselves to alternating meals of cold cereal and Cup-O-Noodles, but if you did, you'd be wrong!

I bring you the four culinary delights we've learned to create from items only available at our glorified convenience store:

1. "Scottish" Stir-Fry (earning its name not from its culinary origins, but from our wonderful Scottish friend Rosalynne who gave us the recipe)


2. Spaghetti


3. Pepper and German Salami Pizza


4. Chicken Quesadillas


Looking back on this list, it has suddenly become obvious just how strongly we have rejected British cuisine. I think in our last months here, I will make it my goal to identify at least one British meal that we can embrace and bring back with us as a fond memory of our time here... Wish me luck, as this could be a real challenge!