Kathleen M. Hurley
Spring Semester 2014- I am officially in my last semester of undergrad. Innately it's filled with lots of "lasts", but this semester is also filled with a first. My first DAAP class. You might be wondering why this is a big deal...well it's a big deal because I've taken primarily science classes for my four years at UC. I'm accustomed to taking copious notes, regular exams, and having very specific syllabi. This is not the case in DAAP or in the Honors program. For my last semester I’m breaking out and taking Dubai: The Sky’s the Limit. This class focuses on the creative explosions and growth occurring in Dubai, U.A.E. Our first project for the semester is to explore how our own lives mimic the waste production that occurs in Dubai (desalination, construction waste, etc.).
In addition, we have been studying the works of Hassan Sharif and his use of thrown-out materials to create art. Joe & Vince (the professors) have asked us to create our own piece of art from waste in our lives and disciplines. When I first thought about this project, I could only think about the fact that I couldn’t create a piece of art. I’m not an artist, what am I doing in this class? Then I realized that my art is my cooking and my food!
Several things came to mind when I thought of food and waste:
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This Business Week article from 2013
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Food waste is the number 1 filler of American landfills.
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Food Waste in Dubai
Food Waste is prevalent in Dubai too. During the fasting period of Ramadan, more than half of all waste is food waste. A typical day in Dubai will see 33-38% food waste building up in landfills. About 7800 tons of waste are generated each day in Dubai!
For my "art" project I will be presenting a dish of Dubai, traditionally served during Ramadan. Herees is made of very basic ingredients: wheat, some meat (could be canned), onion, and a few spices. This filling meal is very basic, but provides lots of flavor after a day of fasting. (233 calories & 11 grams of fat per 1 cup serving).
See my inspiration recipe here. I chose this recipe because it is something that many Americans would be able to prepare and would have access to the ingredients (including those receiving packages from a food pantry).
What's in my pantry?
Scroll through the pictures below to get an idea of the foods you can find in my pantry. I don't have many canned proteins (tuna, chicken, etc) that many food pantries are looking for, but I do have rice and beans which can be combined for complete protein and a delicious meal. I will also be preparing an easy rice, bean, and veggie dish for my "art" project (308 calories & 6 grams of fat per 1.5 cup serving).
Recipes from the Pantry
Below are a few meal ideas for those of us who are trying to use items in our pantries and those Americans who are receiving additional assistance from a food pantry:
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whole wheat pasta with tuna & marinara sauce
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chicken tacos (using canned chicken and a prepared taco package)