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cimoreneWhen I first moved to Finland, it was like moving to a culinary wasteland. Luckily, I'm not exactly a foodie or anything, just raised by one and kind of unconsciously spoiled by a lifetime of homemade-everything, world cuisine, and the best available ingredients.
But getting older definitely has its upsides! Staple foods that didn't exist here when I moved here but have now arrived, in order of arrival:
The thing is, they've had avos here the whole time, but when I arrived they were a luxury item on a par with peanut butter and cheddar cheese - bought only at the big yuppie stores - and they were basically inedible: shipped when way underripe, they were rock-hard and would never ripen properly. They were also way, way too expensive considering the shitty quality, so I basically had to go cold turkey from a 2-4-avos-a-day diet.
But in the last year or so they, along with peanut butter, have migrated from the yuppie stores into our corner store, and now I've started seeing, well, not completely sucky ones! Hass, some grown in Mexico, not rock-hard. I mean, they're not the delicious, fresh, in-season organic stuff I was used to in Texas, but I impatiently ate one before it was completely ripe today, and it was still tasty (since it was past the chalky stage) and totally free of The Dreaded Stringiness!
Now that instant sugary fake coffee and peanut M&M's are back in my life on a regular basis, and passable ranch tortilla chips and salt & vinegar chips on an occasional one, it's hard to believe I ever went without. So as long as I can prepare it myself (thus avoiding repeats of The Rice That Is Fried Fiasco, The Sauceless Rice and Turkey Scandal, or The Ground Beef and Elbow Macaroni Without Toppings Incident), I'm pretty much completely satisfied with the food situation as it stands in my life, or at least I would be if there were Goldfish crackers and red beans & rice mix available too (but they were always at the bottom of my list in terms of likelihood).
But getting older definitely has its upsides! Staple foods that didn't exist here when I moved here but have now arrived, in order of arrival:
- decent quality instant chocolate and vanilla coffee beverages (still waiting on the decaf, though)
- a reasonable approximation of Cooler Ranch flavor Doritos
- plain (for baking) & peanut (for eating) M&M's
- salt & vinegar potato chips
- Avocados!!!
The thing is, they've had avos here the whole time, but when I arrived they were a luxury item on a par with peanut butter and cheddar cheese - bought only at the big yuppie stores - and they were basically inedible: shipped when way underripe, they were rock-hard and would never ripen properly. They were also way, way too expensive considering the shitty quality, so I basically had to go cold turkey from a 2-4-avos-a-day diet.
But in the last year or so they, along with peanut butter, have migrated from the yuppie stores into our corner store, and now I've started seeing, well, not completely sucky ones! Hass, some grown in Mexico, not rock-hard. I mean, they're not the delicious, fresh, in-season organic stuff I was used to in Texas, but I impatiently ate one before it was completely ripe today, and it was still tasty (since it was past the chalky stage) and totally free of The Dreaded Stringiness!
Now that instant sugary fake coffee and peanut M&M's are back in my life on a regular basis, and passable ranch tortilla chips and salt & vinegar chips on an occasional one, it's hard to believe I ever went without. So as long as I can prepare it myself (thus avoiding repeats of The Rice That Is Fried Fiasco, The Sauceless Rice and Turkey Scandal, or The Ground Beef and Elbow Macaroni Without Toppings Incident), I'm pretty much completely satisfied with the food situation as it stands in my life, or at least I would be if there were Goldfish crackers and red beans & rice mix available too (but they were always at the bottom of my list in terms of likelihood).
(no subject)
Date: 23 Apr 2010 03:29 am (UTC)I feel this sudden urge to send you a care package of 100% artificial American foodstuffs.
(no subject)
Date: 23 Apr 2010 04:11 pm (UTC)Once I saw a box of Lucky Charms in Helsinki for €17. Which is like over $20, I'm sure.