Australia, blogging

Friendly Friday Challenge – Unique Treats

Forestwood

I was contextually reading about the 1800’s, in Munster, Ireland, when I came across this:

As part of the British colony, it [Munster], provided grain, meat and linens for booming English cities, while its own citizens faced poverty and sometimes starvation. This was particularly acute in the remote regions of Munster, where most families were reduced to a diet almost entirely of potatoes and milk.

But they showed a stubborn streak of resourcefulness by adapting their diet. For instance, they combined cow blood with grains and seasonings to make black pudding, a protein-rich dish that helped a person feel full longer.

Ancestry.com
Irish Black Pudding

N.B. I have not tasted the questionable delicacy, pictured above, nor do I recommend it. But the image does fit nicely with Sandy’s Friendly Friday Challenge theme – Unique Treats, just not a unique treat of mine!

Unlike Sandy’s experience, Australian potato chips are likely to be unambiguously labelled as to their flavour. i.e. Plain, Salt and Vinegar, Barbeque, or Sour cream and Onion etc.

Although a weird treat(?) Aussies do eat and one that is labelled clearly, are Kangaroo sausages, aka kanga bangers, and the horrid, but iconic spread, called Vegemite. For the uninitiated, Vegemite is a pungent black coloured yeast extract, rich in Vitamin B, that’s commonly spread on toast, but also reputed to be an effective mosquito repellant. (N.B. to repel mozzies, eat it, don’t apply it to your skin. But hey, it might work equally well if you do!).

Pictured below is the kind of Aussie Treat I will occasionally eat, favoured by Princess Mary of Denmark, Hugh Jackman and almost EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO HAS TASTED a TIM-TAM.

If it is good enough for the Prince of Denmark’s wife, it is fine by me. And so much tastier than blood pudding.

Join in with the Friendly Friday Challenge. A new prompt every two weeks.

Friendly Friday
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Published by Forestwood

A philosophic Aussie writes here at StPA, one who will readily admit to loving Scandinavia. I'm interested in global politics and what drives us to be who we are. Scratch the surface and you'll find a practical Environmentalist with an egalitarian bent, trying to unleash a little creativity via the written word. Scandinavian culture, literature and traditions are close to my heart, even though I'm Australian. Travel and courteous discussions greatly broaden the mind, so I travel if I can and am always up for a vigorous, respectful discussion. I'm an avid reader, a writer and I enjoy photography and crafts, particularly traditional art forms. I hope you'll find 'Something to Ponder About,' in my WordPress Community.

58 thoughts on “Friendly Friday Challenge – Unique Treats”

  3. A huge question mark for me reading this post. I am an Estonian-born Australian – love and know my food ! Surely black pudding and pig’s blood pancakes are the most delicious food items I eat as often as available and certainly for most birthday celebrations and all holidays ” A huge and wondrously tasty delight !!! And kangaroo is certainly on my table each and every week – often in the way of sausages. As I have full medical and nutritional qualifications the so-called kanga bangers sausages are the only ones I eat because they are way healthier than any other which can be bought !!! Vegemite taste may be an acquired one but I certainly have it in my pantry . . . and I do happen to be a ‘foodie’ and a world-wide food blogger . . . where am I missing on a busy Election-Day 🙂 ??? These surely are everyday foods, not some kind of treats !!!

    Liked by 3 people

    1. You can have as much Vegemite as you like, Eha! You are welcome to it as you are black pudding. I do occasionally eat a kangaroo steak, but not the sausages, but the fat content would be comparatively better than pork or beef sausages, I am sure! It is lean and low fat meat! I just not such a big meat eater at all these days. I doubt that pigs blood pancakes will ever be an everyday food for me.

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      1. laughter If only you knew how delightful they taste !! Absolutely nought ‘weird; about look or flavour . . . I guess one’s place of birth matters but friends all over Europe just adore and you kinda come from Scandinavia 🙂 !! Wonder how you feel about sour milk and raw spiced anchovies then . . . bethinks way back I may have had more problems eating small WHOLE raw fish heads, insides and all and uncooked plant buds and roots at formal dinners in Japan 🙂 !!!

        Liked by 1 person

      3. Back twixt politics !!! . . . Well, then you SHOULD have someone make you the pancakes . . . English-style black pudding has hardly any flavour . . . the Scottish haggis may be better. No – have not read your ryokan experiences – next week, definitely . . . too many arguing politics with me at the moment -have to go tell a few . . . hmm !!!

        Liked by 1 person

    1. I used to send them over to Denmark, after one of our exchange student’s fell in love with them when living out here. Most everybody who tries them loves them. If you have a international deli, you might find them. I saw Tim-tams for sale once in a deli in Berlin!

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      1. Yep, it’s a staple part of a full breakfast here! I also visited a black pudding “factory” once – one of the worst smelling places I’ve ever experienced….the stench of boiling animal blood isn’t too pleasant…

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    1. Wow. To think Tim-tams have reached so far is incredible. So Philipinos can access just the traditional version? Really, that is the very best. And I wonder have you tried sucking up coffee or hot chocolate through half a Tim-tam after biting off one end?

      Liked by 1 person

  7. I think of myself as a somewhat adventurous eater – until I read the comments here. I don’t eat organ meats, I don’t want to try haggis or blood pudding or brains. Heck, I don’t even eat many of the strong cheeses. Boring, that’s what I am!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Boring is just fine, Zazzy. I am not a fan of the strong cheeses either and everyone’s bodies and digestive systems are different. Our family don’t eat curry, chilli or Mexican food.

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      1. I like spicy foods including curries and chilis and Mexican. But my body doesn’t like them anymore so I’m becoming more and more bland. I miss those spicy things! Touchy digestive systems are no fun.

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  10. Amanda, thanks for sharing. However, you did lead me to start singinig “Land down under” by men at Work. Here is the applicable stanza and chorus.

    “Buying bread from a man in Brussels
    He was six-foot-four and full of muscle
    I said do you speak-a my language
    He just smiled and gave me a Vegemite sandwich

    And he said
    I come from a land down under
    Where beer does flow and men chunder
    Can’t you hear, can’t you hear the thunder
    You better run, you better take cover, yeah”

    I thought I would share this ear worm. How are the Kanga Bangas? They look like they could be served as a breakfast side or in a bun with mustard, onions and relish. Keith

    Liked by 1 person

    1. That is now my earworm for the rest of the evening. And what a great song it is but unfortunately it was a financial disaster due to a sinister copyright claim. Do you know that story?

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      2. The flute riff in the song Down Under was added into the song after its initial release. Although it was most likely accidental and noone realised they had infringed copyright of an Australian children’s song produced 75 years before, the new owners of the musical copyright saw a chance to make money from the hugely successful single. They wanted 60% of the royalties from the song – and lead singer Colin Hayes said it would send the band members bankrupt. The new copyright owners ended up with 5%. https://www.abc.net.au/news/2010-07-06/kookaburra-gets-last-laugh-in-men-at-work-case/893668
        As for the election result, I was pleased that there is hope for a new era with a thoughtful, unifying leader. However, despite being the only party that can form government he will have to negotiate with a large swing to the greens and the independent candidate which are so called “teal” candidates. Similar thinking but not a party, just independent candidates, running on a backlash against the leanings of the coalition to the religious right. I am hopeful that much change will happen and it started last night with the Prime Minister elect committing to an indigenous voice in parliament. For a man who was raised by a single mum on a disability pension and grew up in public housing to graduate from a prestigous uni and rise through politics to lead the Labor left wing, the party and now the country, and be true to those values, it gives hope to all disadvantaged groups and minorities. I am so far pleased but no doubt the media aka Rupert and his henchmen, will crucify them as it backed the now defeated coalition. And we will have some cleansing of the rorts and corruption with an national integrity commission to examine political doings and politicians!
        And I hear Macron is smiling!

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      3. Thanks for sharing. I was thinking of doing a post here. Americans are terribly uniformed on global (and domestic) issues. Can I cite you by name or at least by reference? Keith

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      4. Indeed, you may cite me. I was thinking of doing a post as well so happy to pingback to yours. My post will speak about the teal wave of female candidates which is a new phenomenon and the lurch to the right of the once moderate party. This election had a different feel. People were disgruntled with the major parties and Australians don’t like to be taken for granted, especially by politicians. People are turning to independents if they listen to their electorate!. The mandate seems to be that politicians need to be accountable, to be consultative and listen to the people.

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  12. We eat black pudding in the UK too – it’s a traditional element in a full English breakfast. I grew up with it and don’t find it odd, in fact I rather like it, but it’s not to everyone’s taste! But then I like Vegemite too, although I prefer our similar Marmite 🙂

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    1. I probably would taste a small portion of black pudding, but I’ve never had the opportunity. Meat has blood in it and if I eat steak, I do tend to like it rare to medium rare, Sarah so the sound of black pudding should not bother me too much. I think the visual image of adding blood to grains seems wrong, somehow. Although I acknowledge for the Munster folk, a stroke of culinary genius that helped them survive.
      My diet is certainly more like a Scandinavian diet than a British/Irish one. No Vegemite or blood based delicacies.

      Liked by 1 person

  13. Wonderful post Amanda!

    It occurs to me that naming has a lot to do with appeal. Kanga Banga made me chuckle & I’d try it. Blood pudding on the other hand? No, even though hubby says it’s delicious.

    Tim Tams are even available in Toronto. I find them in the International aisle tucked away with Mcvities Digestives and imported shortbread. I’ve never tried sucking up my coffee with it but now I have to.

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  15. I’ve never had a Tim-Tam but I’m just going to go ahead and say I like them. I’ll look for them the next time I get to an international grocery store.

    Liked by 1 person

  16. I make my own haggis…I used to make black pudding when in France…but have any of you tried andouillette? There I draw the line. You would see a caff advertising plat du jour for a price…push open the door and be hit by a smell like that of the drains of Calais in high summer and it was clear that the plat du jour was andouillette.

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Andouillette sounds putrid. It would be hard to eat something that smells so bad. But then there is Swedish surstrømming – or fermented fish. Smells awful apparently. The closest I have come to that was an unopened can!

      Liked by 1 person

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  18. Uhm that cow blood with grains sound very similar to what my grandfather used to feed me – pig blood with rice (yikes, i know) . I’ve never tasted Vegemite although we have it here in Singapore too. 🙂

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