Cooking

Since my arrival in China I have eaten out. Largely because they kitchen facilities are not exactly conducive to cooking, secondly this may be the only western contact you have in your day and lastly why would you cook when it is so cheap to eat out.

This all came to a sudden end for me. With my partner in crime returning to America, the arrival of new teachers who don't enjoy the Chinese cuisine, my new teaching roster and it being way to cold for a Queenslander I started cooking. My dishes became simple one pot receipes.

Blair had purchased a crock pot so I tried it out. Ever since October I have been living on Chicken Cacciatore, Minestrone soup, pumpkin soup, vegetable soup, cabbage soup. Throw everything in the crock pot and it will be ready when you are.

I've had to set up my kitchen. I had to buy the basic kitchen utensils and serving plates to survive. Certainly nothing like my kitchen at home. I even made a trip to Jinan to buy some western style products that you can't buy here in Tai'an.

I will bequeath all sorts of things to the new occupier of my apartment.