More Updates on Life Across the Pond:
1. Thursday, February 5th was World Nutella Day. I had planned to try to come up with a recipe using Nutella. I even bought a new jar specifically for this purpose but well, this is what happened a couple of nights before the big day:
Yup, thats a chocolate chip cookie with Nutella on top...
The saddest sight ever... an EMPTY jar of Nutella.
If you’re looking for recipes though and don’t want to eat Nutella on chocolate chip cookies or with a spoon, like I enjoy, then check out: www.nutelladay.com
I’m planning on trying out some of the recipes. They look amazing! Happy World Nutella Day!
2. I made a new friend here in London. She actually goes to the same school as I do back at home and has a similar name as I do, so I think I’m going to call her OJ (no not Simpson)… OJ as in other J. Anyway, yesterday we decided to take a trip to Tate Britain to see the exhibit ‘Altermodern.’
Let me just say, if you’re in London and haven’t seen this exhibit yet, go! It’s worth paying the fee to view the exhibit (Tate Britain is free but to see this exhibit there’s a fee… with a student ID card it cost me £4.90.) Altermodern addresses a new movement in art that’s arising as the world becomes more globalized and interconnected. It’s basically post-postmodernism. The art work is at sometimes a bit weird but extremely interesting and frankly, really really cool!
Here’s a link with more info on the exhibit http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/exhibitions/altermodern/default.shtm
If you go see the exhibit, let me know what you think! Oh and when you get to Gustav Metzger’s piece entitled ‘Liquid Crystal Environment’ grab one of the big pillows and lie down on the floor for at least ten minutes to enjoy it. I was completely entranced by his piece and would probably pay the fee again just to go there if I’m having a bad day. It’s so relaxing!
3. In other news, I’ve finally figured out what’s causing my allergic reaction. I’m vegetarian and so I often buy “fake meat” products to help my body get the protein it needs. I bought a variety of products here in the UK when I first arrived and assumed they were all made out of soy like they are in the United States. Apparently they’re not! They’re made out of fungi called mycoprotein. On the website of the company that manufactures these products, the company advises that anyone who is allergic to mold or penicillin be careful when ingesting their products (this information isn’t on the package of any of the products though… because London was trying to kill me.) About 1 in 100,000 people have severe allergic reactions to mycoprotein. Yup, I’m allergic to penicillin and am the lucky 1 in 100,000 people! Since I’ve stopped eating this stuff I’ve thankfully been fine. I just wish I found out about this ingredient a lot earlier. I wasted so many days being sick.
Seriously what the hell is wrong with soy? Why use a fungus to make fake meat? Whatever… London, you’re not getting rid of me that easily! Stupid fungi…
-J
