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The post by 1chicagochick has inspired this post. I did comment on her blog entry that I am still one to cook for myself. I managed to cook quite a bit in China (as a way to avoid Chinese food from time to time - I liked SOME of it, but longed for western style food!), but at home I do like the feeling of satisfaction of cooking something from scratch. I love home cooked food and am happy to create from my myriad of recipe books.

Not that I've had a great opportunity since being home.

And not for the next week or so. You see MM decided (or if the truth was known was "ordered" by his dietician") to go on a strict diet. He's gained weight since his heart surgery so needs to take stock and do a bit more in this area. He was told to go on a program that is all prepared. A "shake" for breakfast, a bar for lunch and a soup for dinner. All neatly in a box of individual packs. I pondered the logistics of me eating real food and MM eating this "stuff" and without thinking too hard volunteered to go on it with him. Bad mistake.

I can't describe the taste of the packaged stuff. I've had to tone down my language about it. I mean, how could anyone in their right mind "enjoy" this style of food. I know some people are waiting until we can take a pill with all our daily nutritional needs without having to go to the fuss and mess of cooking/eating real food.

I can't wait to eat real food. I'm really over the program already, but I agreed to do two weeks on it. Two weeks and I'm only on day four and really missing my real food.

As it happens, the day I am due to switch from this gross boxed "stuff" - mind your language Elly - I will fly from Brisbane to Adelaide. I can already taste the food that will pass my lips on day one. I'm even calculating what I can have on the plane trip. Breakfast is not served on this flight - I have to order from a meagre menu on board, or pack my own. I'm thinking of the Blueberry Muffin that will grace my tray on the flight. Is 7.15 am too early for a glass of wine? I miss that luxury, but feel I can abstain until I arrive at my folks' home in Adelaide. (Not that I have a drinking problem, but coming from the state that grows some of the best fine wines, I've indulged from time to time.) The fact that I can't have any at the moment, weighs heavily on my mind. Just as I see food, restaurants, etc everywhere I go right now, knowing that I must be strong and stick to my promise.

MM has lost weight already - but despite my dedication, I've lost a measly couple of ounces I think. It doesn't seem fair to go to these dire lengths - I know it is only four days or so, but you'd think I'd have lost at least 3 kgs!!! Really!!

Now Adelaide is a foodies paradise. So many fresh foods are grown there. Obviously lamb, beef and pork are plentiful, and being on the sea, fish is too. The market gardens on the outside of the city and in the Adelaide Hills supply wonderful fresh produce to one of my favourite places, the Adelaide Markets.

The Markets have been an institution in Adelaide for decades and I remember as a teenager, I'd visit them as they were only minutes from Adelaide Girls High School where I was a student.

It is one of the favourite places for me to visit when I go to Adelaide. It is a gourmet's paradise. Row upon row of market stalls where someone spruiks the details of their wares. The atmosphere is exciting. The food is - well, IT IS a foodies paradise.

Strangely I've not spent a lot of money there. I actually enjoy looking and tasting. Sure I buy things, but one of the dilemmas for me is that I'm usually going to fly back home to Brisbane a few days after the market venture, and it is not practical for me to take many things back home, and I barely manage to eat the things I do buy before it is time to board the plane.

Still, it is worth the visit.

My paranoia about food will probably have me asking my folks to take me to one of the wineries in the McLaren Vale area - not far from where I grew up all those years ago. Once again, it is more to enjoy the atmosphere, as it is not practical to hump a stock of bottles onto the plane. But I love the vista fo the vineyards, and the atmosphere of the wineries that are open, and yes, a sip or two of the latest vintage is nice too.

Why am I so focused on food now? Because right now, I can't have any. Now, about home cooking.........
that will be my next post.