This is my first fall and winter season living fully off grid. I cook all of my meals by using 1 single cast iron skillet, a small pot, or a kettle. I use 1 single camp stove which runs off of propane. And... I love it!
Some might think it's unconventional and I ask, "why"?
The cast iron skillet turns into its own stove, and the propane cooks hotter than any expensive electric stove top. Everything is easier to clean, and it makes cooking less of a hassle and actually enjoyable. It might not be for everyone, but for 1 person it is more than perfect.
I have been able to use my actual wood stove to cook on top of with a cast iron skillet, but it does take more attention and time, and I do love to cook breakfast on it when I can. There is something about it that is very relaxing!
However, using propane makes transitioning to living off grid much easier. The convenience reduces a lot of stress while completely changing your lifestyle. I find that to be very important. So I do have the option to cook on the wood stove when I want to or if I needed to. In the summer when I was cooking outside, I just decided to grill chicken over the fire... and it felt like I tasted chicken how it actually should taste, for the first time.
I also eat seasonally, cook all of my own food, and shop as local as possible. That means this winter it has been a lot of local beef, pork, dairy, eggs, sausage, beans, cabbage, kale, root vegetables, squash, oatmeal, soups... and pancakes. :)
Sometimes my cooking is just a modge-podge of what I have in the fridge and cabinet. Don't underestimate butter noodles with salt and pepper with sausage!
What matters to me is cooking mindfully. I have found that making the choice to cook with what is available around me has made me 100% more conscious of what I choose to fuel my body with. It also connects me with the physical land around me, and my community. I am well aware that I did not grow, raise or harvest this food myself, and I am mindful of the fact of how lucky I am that other people did and the time and effort it took. It makes me feel so grateful to have so much available to me, and I do not take it lightly.
I have found myself to feel healthier and much less stressed cooking and eating like this. I can't say enough about eating what is local and available to you and in season. It is not only good for your body, it's good for your mind and soul.
Some simple things I have enjoyed eating this fall and winter:
Satueed sweet vidalia onions with salt and butter
Cubed and sauteed butternut squash with grated cheese
Sauteed kale with garlic
Crispy bacon fried eggs :)
Vegetable soup with thinly sliced cabbage
Local maple and pork beans
Seared local steak with Kate's Maine Butter
Bone broth soup
Cubed steak added to barley vegetable stew
Yes, I love to eat and I love to cook. It grounds me, and is both a mindful practice as well as a creative act of love. I take my time, I pray over my food, and I make sure it tastes good... always!!! I find it to be very important to me. In the chaos of the world, return to food. Where does it come from? Who? Does it make you feel good? Balanced? Inspired? Did it come from the ground? The trees? The animals? The sea?
These could be whole new ways of living for us. Simple practices make great change.
Komentar