It’s been a tough few days just prior to the start of the Man v Carrot challenge. After a long warm and fairly moist spring the hot weather hit with vengeance. 38C, 41C, 40C and 40C. It has been quite a challenge keeping things alive. Today is going to be particularly interesting as a strong hot northerly is in play today. Pauly’s garden never seems to suffer as much, but he won’t give up the secret.
But the posturing is over – The challenge has begun!
Last night I travelled to the suburbs of fear to Pauls place for the all important weigh in. Putting on weight during the challenge period will result in instant disqualification. No reason for the rule, except that going vego for a week MUST result in weight loss. Either that, or all that stuff I’ve been saying about vegetarianism all these years is wrong. And we couldn’t have that could we?
After my last carno meal of spaghetti bog and a few beers plus a full bladder I came in at 7#.5kg and Paul who has leaned up after a few days of surfing came in at a massive 8#.5 kg (incidentally #=somewhere between 5 and 9 - let's face it, if was between 0 and 4 I would have put the numbers in).
So here I am on the first morning. I finally braved the heat (it was 35.6 at 10am) and harvested the beans that I should have pulled off two weeks ago, some nice ripe yellow capsicums, a cucumber that was hiding in the undergrowth (that means I have 2, not one as I reported previously), a few radishes hiding amongst the beans, and of course some rich ripe Improved Apollo tomatoes.
Today’s menu: 1) Tomato on extra virgin olive oil (variety Picual what else with tomatoes! - from Tatiara in SE South Australia) smeared toasted bread, 2) Long yellow capsicum stuffed with spicy rice, 3) fresh garden salad smothered in EVOO, and 3) overstewed lumpy bean and lentil soup - prison style, and a cob of corn. (the rice, lentils and bread must not exceed the daily allowance of 200gms).
And for the doomsdayer Paul, here is the most advanced of my corn cobs. Yes a tiny weeny bit overdone at the top, but fully formed golden yellow yummy ears in every position available. I had a peek and the rest look totally plump (like you and I buddy!), so beholden the golden I say.
Celery is looking very good and that is quite a good selection of vegies for day one.
ReplyDeleteLentils - you are really going vego.
I can't wait to hear thre review of tonight's gruel.
The corn - well you can tell its yours - it came too early, the end is withered and overall it looks all dried up.
Paul :)
Richard - the secret is what I learnt from you - Water, but I do it before the heat hits, a big soaking in the am before the sun is upon the plot.
ReplyDelete