Live Below the Line. Day two and a curry of sorts.

This week I am participating in Live Below the Line, surviving on meals costing no more than $2 a day to help fight extreme poverty.

Day two of Live Below the Line was a pretty easy one. Having said that I can hear my belly grumble whilst writing this prose. I awoke from my slumber periodically between lunch time and 3:30 pm after only having fallen asleep at about 9:30 am after a wonderful night of working. I went to sleep just past midnight so it wasn't a massive day of eating.

Yesterday, I looked in my fridge at all the wonderful things I couldn't eat. The olives, capers, broccoli... Le sigh. It felt as if I were looking in a shop window at the things I wish I could afford but were just out of reach.

I'm certainly feeling very grateful for all I have right now.

With my selected ingredients, I made a simple curry. It would have been great with some rice. I did, however eat it with rocket. Oh, how I do miss a nice, fresh salad. I almost feel like I'm on some crazy diet that doesn't include fresh foods. It's a bit nuts but this whole process has certainly made me re-evaluate how I eat. As if going vegan wasn't enough.

I also had more donations yesterday from the wonderful Janey Mac, Beck Callahan and Andreas Murphy. Thank you all for supporting me on this little journey and raising much needed funds to educate and assist with the issues surrounding extreme poverty. You too can donate here. Even if you can only spare $1, every little bit counts.

Split pea and Potato Curry. 
A very similar recipe to the soup. Surprisingly, I had housemates say it smelled amazing and my lover even said it tasted delicious. I told him he could have it with rice if he wanted and he said no. How sweet.

Time: 5 minutes prep, 20 minutes to cook in a pressure cooker, 40 minutes on a stove.
Serves: 4.


Ingredients:

• 4 Potatoes, peeled and diced.
• One sliced onion.
• Two cups of split peas.
• 2 T of curry powder.
• 2 T of tomato paste.
• 3 cups of water.
• A few shakes of salt and pepper. 

Method:

Pressure cooker: Place all of the ingredients in the cooker and place the lid on. Bring the pot to pressure. Reduce heat and cook for 20 minutes. Reduce the pressure. Take the lid off. Stir and serve.

Stove top: Place all of the ingredients in a pot and stir. Bring to the boil. Reduce the heat and simmer for about forty minutes, or until the split peas are cooked and the sauce has reduced. 

Day 2 Meal Plan.

Breakfast: Split pea Soup.

Lunch: Split pea and Potato Curry with Rocket.

DInner: Lentil and Mushroom Stew.

What's your idea of charity?

I was struck at work the other day whilst over lunch, the nurses were discussing tthe idea of charity. Many had the idea that we perform an act of charity at work, being nurses and this is partially true.
Some said that they were happy to throw some change in the direction of a charity if they were walking passed.

But what would happen if we all donated to a charity on a regular basis?

I donate to three charities monthly and others on the odd occasion. I have chosen three charities that I feel strongly about and want to make a difference in these areas. Donating on a monthly basis may seem crazy to some but seriously, the amounts that I choose to give add up to less than $1.50 per day.

Considering the amount of crap I spend money on ("No... I do not need to buy that bottle of water, which creates waste and I have the luxury of getting water from a tap, anyway."), knowing that I am actually making a difference without even noticing is the most amazing gift we can give to ourselves and others.

Plus it's tax deductible.

Don't get me wrong, I know not everyone can afford even to buy a coffee at work but more people can than can't. Perhaps rethink what you spend your money on and help save the world just a little more.

If you honestly can't do this, there are other ways to help. Trust me. I know all about having to be incredibly creative even if only to feed yourself. In my first year of uni and first year out of home, I made $180 a fortnight and paid $105 of that in rent. The rest went to bills, petrol, study books and bus tickets and what little I had left went on food. We once made a curry out of only onions and spices, so trust me, I know what poor is.

I was still able to donate my time to my local youth centre and I was still able to give blood. Giving blood is especially exciting because not only do you save 3 lives with each donation, but they give you food and juice and a small present. Score!

I have a need in me to give. I can't help but give myself a little pat on the back knowing I have made someone's life a little easier. I hope you get a kick out of it too.

Let us help those who can't help themselves.

Donate to the Pakistan appeal! Right now, 20 Million people have no food, clean water or shelter as one fifth of the country is covered in water. Please help. Every little bit counts. ♥
You can donate through Unicef now.

Give a little...

I am a member of three charities, meaning that I donate money on a regular basis to them. I never would have considered doing this, until I moved to Sydney and started working for a variety of charities, and realised just how much they do to help others. I now give small amounts each month, and i honestly don't even notice when the money comes out of my bank account. Even when I was a poor, poor student, I still managed to give small amounts for the greater good. And come tax time, it certainly makes a difference to my return.
By doing this, even on my darkest days, I know that I am helping fund campaigns aimed at protecting human rights, animals and the environment.
Even if you feel you can't do this, signing a petition can make a world of difference. Amnesty International have been able to save people from prisons with as little as 400 signatures and not much else. Go to amnesty.org for more information. Here is the perfect place to start. Free Burma's Political Prisoners. Burma are coming up to an election and we need to ensure that this election is not as corrupt as it has been in the past and that no blood is shed. You CAN help.