hmmm interesting challenge..... sadly a few of these item would be too much of an issue to get my hands on in the immediate future but i'll go to the store tomorrow and see what i can do (always love a good challenge like this)

0ok i know i'm a few days date in complleteig the challenge (i was sick and working all week) but here i go i will TRY to upload pix and recipe tomorrow (fuck means i gotta write it down as ai go lol)

I made that list using a randomiser to select a protein, mixed vegetables and other, so here is my concept for a two course meal.

I'm thinking of a green soup using the kale, parsley, basil and cream followed with a squid ink pasta served under a tomato based sauce made using capsicum or chilli pepper, goat or lamb(diced or minced), egg plant and basil with the optional addition of some finely shredded carrot and other Italian herbs. Both dishes could have a light sprinkle of edible flowers for colour including any of the following: borage, thyme flowers, mint flowers, nasturtium flowers and or marigold.

*hugs*

*hugs back*

Thank you! Sometimes Vargr needs a little nudge to remind wuffy of the important things out there. This ol' wuff's set up a reoccurring donation to our local Care & Share (a member of the Feeing America org).

On the Challenge side: That looks VERY interesting! Vargr's never cooked with Squid Ink before! Took a bit of thinking, but this is what Vargr's planning, to meet it!

"Greek-ish" Nachos Supreme!
Homemade Parti-colored Tortilla chips of yellow (turmeric), red (tomato), black (squid ink), & natural (corn). Topped with:
- Greek-inspired lamb or goat mince, seasoned w/ basil, garlic, oregano, parsley, thyme, onion, olive oil, dried crushed California red pepper
- Roasted eggplant & avocado “guacamole” w/ ripe jalapeño, garlic, salt, onion, lemon juice, brightened with minced red bell peppers
- Sliced olives and roasted corn/pepper salsa
- Crunchy Garlicky Kale Chip shreds
- And Feta cheese

Sided with Lamb Meatballs (Ground lamb, mint, paprika, basil, onion, parsley, garlic, bread crumbs, egg, olive oil, salt & pepper), in a basil, oregano, rosemary creme gravy finished with a bit of lemon for brightness, on toothpicks.

In other words, a "finger food extravaganza".

Unfortunately, will be a bit before Vargr can actually round up all the necessary ingredients and find time to make this. But it ought to be both fun and tasty!

Take your time bud, the challenge doesnt have a time limit :B

For anyone in position of having trouble putting food on the table for children and you're in US, be sure to apply for free or reduced breakfast or lunch for kidlet. Or even just free milk. Those programs have slightly different criteria than SNAP and WIC so even if you did not qualify for those, you may qualify for free or reduced. Almost all schools have switched to some sort of electronic ticketing system, so nobody will be able to point out your kid is getting the reduced price meal.

If you're in REALLY dire straights and already qualified for free lunch and breakfast for kidlets, ask the food service director if they have a backpack weekend program. Those programs basically provide kids with a backpack full of single serve, no cooking required foods to last them through the weekend. The kiddo just makes a discreet stop on way out on friday afternoon and picks up their backpack from cafeteria.

If you want to help out with one of those types of programs, Feeding America funds a bunch of the Backpack program. Or inquire direct with your local school food service if they have one. Many have informal ones that aren't associated with national program.

Good to know!

I didn't know squid ink was edible!

As for the sentiment on hungry children, this makes my heart swell. That has been my whole life. We were homeless for 3 or 4 years and that nightmare ended just a year and a little bit ago. I really appreciate it when people defend kids like I was because it's so unfair when people tell me my childhood was bad because my mother was a "moocher" or something terrible. Honestly, some of them really are moochers (and I know a few, unfortunately) but there are so many people on SNAP or WIC benefits that seriously need it for a variety of personal hardships that aren't as easy to overcome as people think. I could go on and on about it, but I just wanted to thank you for even mentioning it. Nobody seems to really care about kids or parents on SNAP because the stigma is that they're mooching from the government, without bothering to think that maybe it really does help people somewhere.

From Chris: As it stands, I want to be MORE than just a fur that shows off my cooking - and that even with all of my faults (and I admit that I have quite a few!), that I do have a conscience!

Yes Squid ink is edible it's often used to colour pasta and in some of the more exotic pasta shops here in Australia you can purchase squid ink pasta. I've seen it on a few of the cooking shows recently too that are currently seen on the local TV station here.
*hugs*

What people need to realize is that yes, there may be and are some people out there who abuse the system...but the children of those people are the ones who are truly suffering, as they didn't ask to be brought into a world where they couldn't be taken care of and given the very basics needed to survive--and EVERYONE needs food! :( Think of the children, and know you're helping THEM to grow strong. :)

Where's the garlic ?

If you have it in your pantry, feel free to use it :P

In Australia most of our primary and many of our secondary schools have breakfast programs. We have a variety of charities working in known low income areas. In Adelaide some agencies operate out of trucks a few times a week and supply sandwiches, sausages in bread, fresh fruit and bread. There is usually about one every night except for Saturdays both North and South of the Adelaide CBD. A few local churches do dinners once or twice a week but one has to put up with being preached at and some won't go to the churches. We have a big place run by Nuns in Hutt St Adelaide that feeds the homeless etc every day. They put on a meal at least twice a day and have morning teas as well. There are aid services that supply three major aid packages a year and three over night packages a year as well as budget counselling, one utilities payment and one telephone payment per year etc.

Personally I help out where I can but generally its more local to people in my street, I don't sell the excess eggs that my chooks produce I give them to neighbours, same with any excess. I used to do a bread run from the bakery then to church and deliver to an aged care village and several disadvantaged households. I've retired but still keep my hand in when called upon.

*hugs*

From Chris: Atta girl :3

Driving a food truck like that would be amazing to me. Just to know you're doing good for SOMEONE out there who got dealt a crappy hand and needs a little pick me up. I do my best to not judge a person by their current state in life--after all, you never know how they got there, how close they are to (hopefully) improving it....and also, that you could very well be in the same spot or worse someday yourself. It's humbling. :)

You forgot that all those children there are living on food aid.

While food aid is a good approach for temporary, not recurring causalities, I think it's a bad solution for structural, recurring food problems.

For example, people in Africa are too much used to food aid, that they used it as primary food source instead of solving the food problem (or population growth problem) at their own. Stopping food aid would urge them to solve the food / population growth problem or perish. And no that isn't called inhumane, that's called evolution and continuous improvement.