Breakfast today was simple. My ideal combination of espresso and an organic croissant was supplemented by my favourite chocolate spread. This is another example of an organic product that changed my opinion about a particular food. Conventional chocolate spreads are far too sweet for me. This organic spread strikes the perfect balance and makes a lovely pain au chocolat out of a humble but tasty croissant. After a short interlude, during which my friend's cat decided to squat the laptop, it was eyes down for a busy working Sunday, all about biodiversity in India. Once again I realized how important a healthy, organic ecosystem is and the rich diversity of traditional agriculture. One aspect of the study I found interesting was the idea of a seed bank to save the seeds and conserve a wide variety of different plants, each one adapted to its own special microclimatic conditions, from wet to dry, and from lowland farms to hilly cultivation at high altitude. This study was about rice(Oryza sativa) cultivation in particular. There are so many traditional varieties of rice, each one adapted to its own regional circumstances. If we are to adapt to climate change we shall need to conserve as wide a variety of food plants as possible. Here are some traditional Indian recipes from the Navdanya organic movement.
While visiting Anya's Godful Food I got an idea from our exchange of comments:
Anya, you have given me an idea. I will also carry a bar of chocolate with me, and try very hard not to eat it. It will have to be a very expensive, inspiring bar and I'll be curious to see just how long I can hold out.
10 Февраль 2008 г. 3:41
anya комментирует...
Cookiemouse, you go for it! And remember we are here to encourage you when the craving gets too irresistible! But then, if it's too irresistible, what's the use to struggle against it? ;)
So what do you think my idea is? More will be revealed tomorrow.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Chocolate breakfast
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9 comments:
Coffee and chocolate are two of my very favorite things, nice breakfast. Not sure, but I imagine in might be hard to find a vegan croissant.
Nice to see someone bringing up biodiversity, especially in regards to seeds. I know that many corporations (many of them American ones, such as the one in my lovely home state, Monsanto) would love nothing more than to homogenize our seed pool beyond what it has already been, but I fear that would spell disaster for our species. In a lot of ways it has already as many small peasant farmers in the so-called 'Third World' have been forced off their lands as they cannot afford the 'agricultural inputs' to have the yields to compete on the global market. Subsistence farming is a thing of the past for most people. And the soil has just become, as someone I can't remember who put it so well, 'a way to turn petrochemical (and natural gas) inputs into food'. I like a lot of the work Vandana Shiva has done is this area.
You are right, if we hope to be able to adapt to changing climates, we are going to need foods that grow in a variety of soil conditions in a variety of climates. Not to mention modern industrial farming isn't really good for people, the Earth, or other creatures, the chemicals we put onto our crops end up in the soil, the water, our bodies, etc.
Anyways, pretty interesting idea, trying to resist chocolate like that. I guess it builds will. I think I would have much difficulty though. Good luck!
Adorable cat by the way.
I think that Vandana Shiva and Navdanya are showing us a sensible way forward. What is most ridiculous is the idea that some corporation can patent a seed that has been used by women for thousands of years. Only when we learn to respect the earth and the soil can we really be healthy. As you rightly point out, Jennifer, to limit the gene pool of our seeds would indeed spell disaster for species.
Your chocolate challenge sounds incredibly difficult! I'm impressed...
The cat is darling!
Yes, it is quite a temptation.
Chocolate for breakfast? Sounds like a good idea to me ;o)
That kitty is so adorable! Can I kitnap it? :)
This morning for breakfast I had organic raisin bran cereal. It's about as organic as I've been, I'd say. Although last night I had some "organic" salad. At least, that is how these products are labeled.
As far as chocolate is concerned, I've been experiencing the most decadent of them all - Godiva. My husband and I went to spend about $50 at the Godiva boutique and it didn't take us long to eat all the truffles we bought. I just had the very last one. It was a dark chocolate key lime truffle. I wish there were more.
CCV, I agree. Chocolate for breakfast is great, which is why I was so happy to discover this spread.
Sophia, those Godiva truffles sound very tempting. Makes me want to go to Belgium on a chocolate truffle tour.
Belgium sounds like an ultimate destination for chocoholics!!
I'm so curious about your chocolate experiment. Are you still holding out? ;)
The post is inspirational as always!!!
Well, I haven't started yet. First I have to find my ideal chocolate bar. Tomorrow I'm going to go to the organic store to choose one.
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