Cows with guns - the milk wars.

While my ethical and financial consciences warred over the Coles milk wars post supermarket trip, I saw an arms and militaria fair in my neighbourhood. Hah!

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Right next to the supermarket. War all around.

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For the uninitiated, the milk wars are the big supermarkets reducing the price of the staple grocery products, and not supporting the producers. First milk, then bread, then olive oil, now beer. And these annoying ads. Count yourself lucky I didn't post the ad with the singing.

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I felt guilty for not going to my local grocer. But today I needed garbage bags and cotton buds, which my grocer does not stock. I wondered if the milk wars have been ethical panic created by the media. And I then remembered I was once employed by the Coles group, and so I needed to support the hand that once provided for the good times I had at uni: Bands in Melbourne. Lots of clothes from, God forbid, Westco. And a few Vodka Cruisers.

I seriously thought about my actions in Coles too much, fearing my conscience would be punished by my ultimate fear - a farmer squirting milk on me. I hate the thought of milk touching me.

I divided my purchases into Coles and non Coles brands. 

Lots of non Coles brands. Hurrah!

Only three Coles branded items. Good work. But three plastic bags. I'm going to milk squirting hell.

 

Overall my ethical and financial consciences were clear. Mostly because I didn't attend the arms and militaria fair.

This song came into my head. Irony. Cows with guns.

Now that I've rationalised my participation in the milk wars, I am wondering why I am being brainwashed further by tabloid media (ahem - Sunday night shit on Australian TV). If I saved my first kiss for my wedding day, it'd never happen. Nor will marrying a $100 million man. God why am I watching this tabloid shit?

The big issues people. The big issues.

Frugal cooking - vegetable curry

With food supplies affected by natural disasters, the price of bananas at a shortage and costing $12 per kilo, and the milk wars in the big supermarket chains, it's really important we continue to support our local grocers and farmers. Eating well doesn't have to be expensive though.

Last night I made a kick arse healthy vegetable curry for less than $7 (for three serves) and most of my ingredients were bought from the local grocer or from my parents' garden. All ingredients were in my fridge, freezer or pantry.

I chopped a clove of garlic and one onion (from grocer), and softened these in a small bit of olive oil in a ceramic pot on the stove.

Then I put all these things in the pot:

These organic carrots were on sale from my grocer - a bunch for $1.50. This is half a bunch and I chopped them roughly.

I had four spears of corn (from grocer) that I used in a stirfry last week. I chopped them in half.

Mum gave me a few fat white zucchinis from the garden. I cut this in half lengthwise, and in half again and sliced it.

I used half a tin of chickpeas and the end of a piece of ginger.

And about six dates, chopped in half. Dates from Coles.

I used up a small amount of frozen peas - also from Coles.

And some Greek yoghurt (Coles) - about two tablespoons. I hardly ever eat flavoured yoghurt. The thought of the artificial 'fruit' and sugars that go into flavoured yoghurts scare me.

The curry sat on low heat for an hour. I spiced it up with a mix of cumin, coriander, sumac, sesame, salt and fresh chilli (from the jar). It smelt so delicious.

And this is the end meal, served with rice. Tasted very yummy and so healthy too. It was sweet and mildly spicy and really comforting