$3ADDP: Day 7

My mom used to tell me stories about her time as a college student in Vietnam. She came from a well-to-do family and college students were sent to different parts of the country by the government to study agriculture at the different farms. These farms, more often than not, were owned by poor families who had no choice but to host these students who were sent to them. Many of these families could barely afford to feed their own children let alone some uninvited guests.

In true Asian hospitality, they did it with a smile. My mom, being a well raised young lady, took her own food from home with her for the first few days so she wouldn't impose on the family she was staying with. When she ran out of food, she accepted their hospitality, politely horrified to find that they would spoil rice until maggots would form to eat with their newly cooked rice to give it some flavor. One day when she came back to the house she found there was no food to eat and all the children were starving. She gave one of the kids money to buy go to the store to buy "chau" a form of fermented tofu that is slightly spicy and very salty. When she opened the jar, which would normally last at least 4-5 meals because of it's pungent nature, the children devoured it with rice and it was all gone. They were so thankful, it was a luxury to them. The store they bought it from rarely even sold one jar because it was so expensive in comparison to what the villagers were able to afford.

But in my mom's own village, "chau" was something that was considered poor food. Typically monks would eat it because it was vegetarian and it was inexpensive. Oddly, when she was pregnant with me it was the one thing she kept having cravings for and now when I want something quick, easy and comforting, I eat a cube or two of the fermented tofu on rice and feel a little bit brighter.

It's interesting to think of the many dishes that are considered poverty cuisine in some countries are some of the best dishes to come out of any culture. Gnocchi, polenta, rice and beans, etc. I think I'm going to have to look into some of these dishes to prepare for the rest of the month.

As I was looking for something quick and easy to prepare for dinner I started tearing through my cupboards for some of this "Chau." I cursed myself for not having a jar and instead had to pull out a package of extra firm tofu, cube it up, and toss the leftover soba sauce and napa cabbage salad on top and microwaved it for 2 minutes. Husband loved it but it didn't hit the spot for me. I'm going to have to go out and buy a jar and remember my times in the womb. Lol.


Breakfast: Oatmeal ($0.15 - 150 calories), egg ($0.17 - 90 calories), cheese ($0.10 - 20 calories) - Leah. Oatmeal ($0.17 - 170 calories), Coffee ($0.33 - 10 calories) Josh.

Lunch: Soba ($0.33 - 220 calories), memmi ($0.08 - 20 calories), napa cabbage salad ($0.50 - 62 calories)

Snack: Sample Pasta at Mom's ($0.50 - 200 calories) - Leah Only

Dinner: 1 cup rice ($0.25 - 231 calories), 1 cup broth made from bouillon ($0.02 - 40 calories), 1 egg ($0.08 - 35 calories), Tofu ($0.25 - 45 calories), memmi soup base ($0.15 - 40 calories)

Josh: $2.16 - 873 calories.

Leah: $2.58 - 1153 calories.

P.S. Josh just told me, after I asked him if he was still hungry because he took in so little calories, that he cheated and had 1 slice of garlic bread, a small amount of pasta and a side salad from Buca Di Beppo. Uh... wow.