Dinner Salads

My dinner salad last night. Lettuce, carrots,

homemade bacon bits, top sirlion steak.

 

Dinner tonight was a salad of lettuce, homemade bacon

bits, top sirloin steak, baked baby brussels sprouts.

Yes, there was a special on top sirloin steak. Yummy.

Food of the People

My previous post United by Food touched on commercialized food distribution which was not "the norm" in the Common Wealth of Independent States (Russia). In 1993, there was not a fast-food establishment on every block let alone in every town.  Grocery stores didn't have large varieties or quantities of food. Very little processed food was available (at least in the places I traveled). Most food was fresh and obtained in open air markets.

 Women sell fresh vegetables at this open-air market in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. 

Sampling was encouraged.

 A group from a small village has prepared food - mostly potato and onion based - to sell to those traveling through the remote reaches of Kazakstan by train.

After reading this and my previous post, you might begin to see a trend in my traveling photos. Yes, they are centered on food. Although at the time, the food theme was consciously unintentional, I think my inner love of food found a way to express itself by capturing food related moments.

Fast Food: Russian Style

With the commercialization of food, fast-food tends to look the same no matter what country one is in.

I visited a McDonald's just a few days after it opened in Moscow. And yes, even in Moscow, I was able to special order my meal.

                                                                The following pic's are of: 

the place-mat showing the complete menu, 

double cheeseburger anyone (tastes just like it does in the U.S.A),




and eating with a couple friends at a stand-to-eat table. Yep, there were not any chairs in this Mickey D's.

At the time, there was also a Pizza Hut in Moscow. The interesting thing about it was that each person only got one small napkin. Now that can be a challenge.

United by Food

Yesterday, the 4th of July, we celebrated the United States of America's Independence. Besides family and fireworks a large part of our celebration centered around food and I was reminded of the time I celebrated our nations independence while I was in Russia.

I was a member of a women’s softball team playing against teams throughout Russia – known at that time as the Common Wealth of Independent States. No matter where our travels took us there was always food to be eaten. On July 4, 1993, we were in the town of Tychkovo. A group of people in the small town including an opposing softball team took it upon themselves to help us celebrate our independence day.

It was a joyful celebration with the centerpiece of the event being food. The photo shows the food being laid out just as soon as we reached the Moscow River. I should have waited just a bit before snapping the shot because they proudly added bottles of vodka to the spread. It was a relaxing fun filled day with games, dancing, wonderful people, and lots of delicious food.

I’ll never forget the hospitality and thoughtfulness shown to us that day. Even though we live worlds apart geographically, I do know that friendship and peace prevailed as we ate, played, and celebrated together.

Throughout my travels, I’ve found that food is the one common denominator that can bring us all together. I raise my bottle of water (my beverage of choice) and propose a toast to love, joy, and peace fulfilled and united through food.

Bacon - No Sugar Added

For those with sugar issues, I have found Bacon with No Sugar Added at Ralphs grocery in Southern California. Even without the added sugar and with less sodium it still tastes great. It cooks up nicely and looks good.

Yes, this was breakfast this morning. I guess I could have made a better-looking fried egg but I was too hungry to think about that.

If you have Candida (overactive yeast in the gut) issues this No Sugar Added - Bacon may be just what you're looking for.  I know I'm enjoying it.