My Dad is in Australia right now (hi, Dad!). Here's a little packed lunch in honor of his once (and future?) home. First, could it be? Yes! It's a Vegemite sandwich! I made the "Love It or Leave It Vegemite Sandwich" from Vegetarians in Paradise -- a thin layer of Vegemite, veggie ham, pineapple, and grated carrot. Next to the sandwich are a side of baked potato crisps.
And even though it cost a fortune, I couldn't resist packing in a fresh paw paw (papaya). My grandmother grew up near her Uncle's paw paw farm in Queensland, and told stories of plucking them ripe from the trees and eating them in the shade. She missed them when they moved to America; back then fresh papaya was something you could only dream about in the deserts of eastern Washington.
For dessert, I used my Twinkie pan to make Lamingtons -- sponge cakes dipped in chocolate and rolled in coconut (follow the link to the recipe, but watch out or you'll be eating chocolate icing for breakfast with a spoon...or no, maybe that's just me...).
Verdict: Americans, don't go flipping out on me ("Vegemite? Now you've gone too far, Jennifer Shmoo!"). Vegemite and its English cousin, Marmite, are actually quite good! Spread thinly, they have a salty, savory, beefy taste that reminds me of strong miso. But pineapple on a sandwich? Shmoo thinks that's just crazy-talk, and asked that it be removed. He got inspired by my Aussie stories and took his wooden hopping kangaroo for show-and-tell; I wish I had gotten it in the picture. Now how do you pack paw paw without it getting a bit mushy? 4 stars.
47 comments:
Dear Mrs. Schmoo,
As a vegetarian leaning towards veganism, I always frind your son's lunches to be delicious looking and inspirational.
But vegemite? Vegemite??? Bleeeerch! (For the record, I have disliked vegemite since Aussie friends had me taste it and marmite since attempting it on toast while in England)
Oh well, you can't win'em all.
Sincerely yours,
A Canadian-born vegemite-opposed fan
PS: But I really do love your blog! Really!
Hi
I have been reading this blog for sometime. I can't express how impress I am that you create such wonderful lunches for your child.
Like Andrea I'm Canadian born and Vegetarian however I love Vegemite and it's British cousin Marimite. In Vancouver,British Columbia there is an Aussie bakery chain "Cobs" (Baker's Delight in "Down Under") that makes Cheese and Vegemite Buns!. Mmm...
Maybe you want to try making a vegan version for Shmoo.
I remember a French foreign exchange teacher back in high school telling us she liked America, but thought peanut butter was the most disgusting thing she had ever eaten.
Wow, lil Shmoo's lunches are so diverse, he is so blessed! It makes me wonder what kinds of foods he will enjoy when he's older. Probably more varieties than what some of us have known or eaten.
We also had papaya trees in the backyard back home and I remembered eating them fresh from the trees after my older siblings picked them, and not without singing a folksong that centers around a papaya tree.
I think marmite and vegemite are an acquired taste. My friends in England wax on about how comforting it is on toast when they are sick. To me, it's just gross. But then, one of my friends visited me in America and tried root beer for the first time and he thought it was absolutely repulsive. It's not my favorite, but it's not that bad.
Wow, lots of Canadians here...I'm Canadian too =) but what on earth is Vegemite and Marmite? I better do some research...
As for papayas without the mushiness, maybe freeze them as the weather gets warmer? They're quite cheap where I live, but I haven't been able to find nutritionial yeast here...
I recommend konjac jelly/devil's tongue/konnyaku, btw
Hi, I am an Aussie and it is great to sdee someone other than us Aussies liking vegemite. It really is a staple over here. There is nothing like vegemite on toast and cup of tea to cheer you up on a bad day.
We would generally have the vegemite only with butter on a sandwich, although it is not uncommon to add cheese as well.
When you made babka yesterday I was about ready to kidnap your kid and substitute myself in his place. But LAMINGTONS?! I hope Little Shmoo realizes how good he has it.
When I was a kid -- this was California -- there was a song on Captain Kangaroo that went, "Picking up Paw Paws; putting them in my pocket". Never thought they were talking about papayas. Would have made for messy pockets if they were ripe.
I just want to say thank you so much for the work you do on your blogsite! I love checking out your lunchbox ideas and great recipes!
Keep up the good work~you have a family of fans down here in South Carolina!
~Alisha Duhon~
I forgot to ask if you have any sort of avatar link that I could display on my Myspace site? I would love to get more people to check out your lunch boxes since they really encourage a heathier lifestyle for our children!
Nice lunch box! I love lamingtons. I also love vegemite/marmite but probably not in the same sandwich as pineapple :P
Ah, so funny! One of the kids in my preschool keeps saying, "What's a paw paw patch? What's a paw paw patch?" because it's in a song on one of his CDs. I didn't know paw paws were papayas! Mystery solved!
This has nothing to do with the lunch, but I'm glad you posted it.
I can't believe I found a recipe for vegan lamingtons! I'm Australian and been away from home for 7 years - reading about a vegemite sanga and lams for lunch is GREAT!
So did shmoo eat all of his sandwich? How did he like the vegemite?
I just don't know what I will do come summer when there are no new lunches to read about! *whines* Hopefully fall will come quick!
Barbara
I love marmite! I eat it nearly every day for B12 goodness.
Oh, and sweet sweet lamingtons. Thanks for the recipe!
Can't stand paw paw though... and I don't know about pineapple on sandwiches... but on burgers and pizzas it's great... Beetroot belongs on sandwiches and burgers though!
sorry about the question but... what's Vegemite?
This is just too strange. Last night, at a charity event, the local agricultural coordinator told me of a farm where I can get blackberries later this summer. Then, he mentioned that this farm also has Paw Paws. The friend I was talking to was delighted to hear this and he and she had this little mini conversation about paw paws.
Since I'm not from this area of the world, I was a tad clueless. I asked the spouse this morning what a paw paw is -and got the same blank stare I gave last night.
Then, today, in your blog, you answer my question. How's that for having your finger on the pulse?
This American loves Marmite! <3 And I also second the toasted (vegan) cheese & Marmite/Vegemite sandwich.
^.^ Yay, vegemite! I first expirienced it when an exchange student from Australia came to my school. How I miss it though as no place near me seems to keep it in stock.
Hello all,
I too am an Aussie thats been reading this wonderful blog for a few months! Yay the Aussie lunch, although I personally am a vegemite purist who can only have it with margarine on fresh or toasted bread.
I'm not sure if the 'what is vegemite?' question was answered but I'll answer it anyway: vegemite is this extremely salty spread that has the consistency of something like a very dry peanut butter and is made from yeast extract.
It is something of an acquired taste and can be very overpowering if spead too thick. I've heard it called axel grease by some overseas individuals as it is really black and kinda gross looking (a picture is on wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegemite)
Its brilliant stuff!
Thanks for the Lamington recipe! I never thought to even attempt to make a vegan version!
Yea, an Australian themed lunch! My daughter takes vegemite and cheese sandwiches to school quite often.
Another Aussie-type sandwich that Schmoo might like is a salad sandwich, which has lots of fresh veggies, like shredded carrot, cucumbers, radish, lettuce, and always pickled beet-root in it.
Pineapple in a sandwich, is indeed a crime in some parts of the world. Well, at least it should be!
Other sandwiches to try: Vegemite and lettuce, and also Vegemite and Salt & Vinegar Chips/Crisps (sounds weird, but it totally works, at least when you're a kid!)
FYI: What I heard was that Vegemite is owned by a company that's owned by Phillip Morris (the tobacco company), so we switched to Marmite, owned by Sanitarium.
that you jennifer for sharing your appreciation of the more-versatile-than-credited vegemite. i discovered the many uses of vegemite while backpacking across oz, a hungry vegan in the land of bush tucker. vegemite and tomato sandwiches were quite the savior. try adding hummus, avocado, tomato, and vegemite to some sprouted toast! it's amazing, mate!
Greetings from Sydney! Excellent lunch today. Keep up the good work - I really love your blog.
I'm australian and love vegemite spread thinly in patches (its all about moderation with the stuff) on toast with vegan maragarine and a springle of nutrtional yeast. I've got my chinese fiance addicted to it too.
But vegan lamingtons well done! I've missed them since turning vegan.
And well done for a pretty authentic aussie lunch. I saw the aussie part and thought to myself 'oh noooo please don't let it be mock kangaroo or something horribly fake australian'. Every time I see australian pub/restaurants overseas they serve kangaroo something which very few aussies actually eat.
I'm another Australian living in Melbourne. Thank you for packing a wonderful Aussie lunch for Shmoo. Children here particularly like vegemite and butter on salada biscuit sandwiches (they have little holes in them) and when you squeeze them together little vegemite worms appear. What fun!
I like my vegemite sandwiches with cheese, and sometimes I have them with cheese and celery. Sounds gross, but it's delicious if you try it.
Now I have to buy some lamingtons tomorrow!
An aussie lunch! How cool. I have always been a sucker for the completely awesome aussie accent (terrible, I know. But I'm an accent nut). I think half the reason I like Lost is because there are so many australians in it!
Wonderful!!!
I'm not Australian, but a New Zealander by marriage who really misses lamingtons! I went vegan while living in NZ, and I've never made them myself, so it's been a long time.
As for Vegemite, it is very sparsely used around here because it is SO expensive in Canada, for such a tiny jar. I keep meaning to ask relatives to send it by the caseful for our Christmas present each year, but never remember...
(I prefer vegemite on its own, though, with just margarine. I can't quite imagine it with pineapple!)
I just bought some marmite today from the grocery store. When I get around to trying it, I'll get dh to make it up for me as he's a pro (British). I was quite surprised at how expensive it was for such a tiny jar. It was almost $5CAD!
Class, I'm in Burlington and I can get Marmite and Vegemite at Fortino's which is one of the "Loblaw's group of stores", so maybe try Loblaw's.
My uncle lives in England, but grew up in Canada and says everyone in England eats Marmite and he thinks it's vile stuff. His girlfriend is English and she loves it. Eats tons of it. I have some but use it when making a recipe of PETA's seiten or for riching up broths in soups & stews or in gravy. We don't much care for it otherwise.
dear jennifer,
the mites rock. vegemite is now owned by Kraft, which, in turn, is owned by Philip Morris (the tobacco company) ... or so say Adbusters. so marmite is an alternative, and i think it's a bit sweeter than vegemite.
i'm a kiwi, so having marmite is totally necessary in our flat, and my american husband eats it sometimes, with toast. i think he's inuring himself to it. i like it with (vegan) cream cheese, as well.
and buh tuh wuh, i think that english marmite is heaps stronger than the antipodean versions.
jennifer, SUCH a cool suprise to see your aussie lunch today. thank you.
love from leila
p.s. are you doing culturally themed lunches? american, jewish, aussie ...
I love vege and marmite. As a kid I used to put it on a spoon and lick it like a popsicle. I think it's the salt.
I am in Vancouver too and right near Cobs, but didn't know they made buns like this. Thanks I will check them out.
Thanks for all your hard work on this blog. Your lunches are extraordinaire.
As always great looking.
Mmm, vegemite. My favourite is actually vegemite & peanutbutter on a sandwich - yum! I grew up eating it so never thought that it was weird at all.
Now peanut butter & jam/jelly, now that's revolting :P
Every culture has something that someone else from another culture would find yucky I think.
Diana
Pineapple in a sandwich? Well, okay. I eat it on pizza, so sure.
Vegemite or Marmite on a sandwich? Yes! I love that stuff.
But both? I'm with Schmoo on this one. Such extremes of sweetness and saltiness were not meant to co-exist within the same mouthful.
However the Lamington is six different types of awesome and you have made me totally crave papayas, so the lunchbox still gets a big thumbs up.
Mmm, it's smell good!
Sandwich+potato crisp are super!
Indian Crispy Rolls
I'm not sure about how to keep papaya from getting mushy, but i do know something to add to make it tastier - lime juice squeezed over it! - its better than sugar or salt when the fruit isnt that sweet.
Thanks, Paraks & Morgyn, for the tip on squeezing lime juice over papaya! I'll give it a try next time I'm feeling rich enough to buy a fresh papaya.
Reader response seems to vary on the topic, but I'm pretty sure pawpaws and papaya aren't the same thing - pawpaws used to grow wild on my parents' farm in the American Ozarks, and I'm also familiar with the "Pickin' up pawpaws, puttin' 'em in your pocket" song from early childhood. But you've inspired me to do a little searching to find out ...
Ah! I did find a site that said the Pawpaw is native to the U.S. but that the tropical papaya Carica papaya is also called a Pawpaw in Australia! So there ya go.
Mmm.... Lamingtons... I'll have to try that recipe--where do you get the twinkie pan?
Yeah, the paw paw fruit is pretty common in the Appalachian area. They sort of taste like a mix between a banana and an apple. Every year here, there is a paw paw festival where there is paw paw EVERYTHING! And every fall, this local brewery makes a Paw Paw Wheat beer, which is like a golden ray of sunshine being poured into my throat. Seriously the best beer of all.
I love vegemite; then again, I was started on it very young by an Australian mother. It is wonderful for you and I think it tastes delicious! I love it on toast with margarine. YUM!
That seems like a very lovely Australian vegan meal. Although it's very tempting, I really am trying to cut down on desserts. Lol. I want a twinkie now. Lol.
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