Lithuania | My Food Odyssey

Oct 3

Suburban Dublin at Night | www.myfoododyssey.com

Nighttime

Before we set off on our great adventure around Europe we lived in a top floor apartment in suburban Dublin. Our high vantage point gave us a glorious view. The apartment buildings were set around a courtyard and the fact that you could see into the lives of others in their apartments always reminded me of Hitchcock’s “Rear Window”. Beyond our complex we could see the ruins of an old castle and the glittering city lights, and all with the calming and imposing backdrop of the Dublin Mountains. I loved it. Read more

Oct 1

Zucchini / Courgette Muffins | www.myfoododyssey.com

27 Comments

Zucchini Bread/Muffins [Recipe]

It’s feast or famine with this self-sufficiency malarkey. For months on end you produce hardly any food at all, then come the end of August you have fruit and veg coming at you from all angles. There are wild mushrooms to be foraged, apples and damsons to be picked and vegetables to be harvested. Read more

Sep 22

Apple & Anise Jelly | www.myfoododyssey.com

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Apple & Anise Jelly [Recipe]

There is something incredibly autumnal about the smell of cooking apples. The sweet, caramel smell is as comforting as the blanket you might throw over your knees now that the evenings are getting a little chilly. It is a smell that immediately transports me back to my youth, when stealing apples from an orchard near our house was an autumn tradition. We had plenty of apple trees at home, but somehow the stolen apples were far more enticing. Read more

Sep 19

19 Comments

I’m a Finalist!

Holiest of molies! There I was, quietly enjoying my holiday back in beautiful Ireland, when a fellow blogger sent me a message saying only “Have you seen the finalist list!!!” I could only assume that she was talking about the Blog Awards Ireland & was hoping from her tone that I was on the list. I opened the page & quickly scrolled through the list, then literally leaped for joy when I saw “My Food Odyssey” listed. Read more

Sep 10

12 Comments

Into the Woods

I went into the woods because I wished to live deliberately. I wanted to live deep and suck out all the marrow of life, to put to rout all that was not life, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived.

I first encountered this quote from Henry Thoreau’s Walden in Dead Poets Society, one of my favourite films during my formative years. It struck a chord with me at the time and perhaps planted the seed that has led me to the life I live today. Read more

Aug 31

Coffee break, Portugal | www.myfoododyssey.com

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Dialogue

Sometimes silence is golden. I love these two photos taken on our tour round Europe last summer. This was about 2 months into the trip and, being cooped up in the van for several hours per day, we’d had plenty of time for chatting. Here we are taking a well-earned break from conversation. My mind is probably still on our wonderful trip to Porto a few days earlier. Arūnas is fiddling with his phone, sneaking first a picture of me and then a picture of the tree we’re sheltering under. A wonderful little moment of calm – no words needed. Read more

Aug 20

Palanga, Lithuania | www.myfoododyssey.com

5 Comments

Silhouette

There’s something calming about silhouettes. I can’t quite explain it but the lack of detail in the foreground contrasted with a softly light background makes a scene look peaceful. Perhaps it is the lack of facial features or expressions. These photos were taken of the pier in Palanga, where couples & families come to watch the slowly setting sun. Some just sit quietly, some walk gently along the boardwalk. I think the silhouettes really reflect the calm & relaxed atmosphere. Read more

Aug 17

Lithuanian Wedding Food | www.myfoododyssey.com

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A Lithuanian Wedding

Everyone loves a wedding. The romance, the rituals, the gathering of friends and family and, of course, the food. Weddings are different the world over. While the end result is the same – the joining together of a couple in love – the ceremonies and customs can vary enormously. Read more

Aug 7

31 Comments

Creating an Idyllic Life in Adakavas

We recently had an article featured in our local newspaper, Tauragės Žinios. We’ve done our best to translate it for you. Some phrases just don’t translate that well – I hope we haven’t lost any of the original content or sentiment with our translation. Enjoy!

From his native Adakavas a decade ago, like many Lithuanians at the time, Arūnas Vladička decided to go abroad to work. Although he planned to spend only a few months in Ireland, while there he met his future wife, June Molloy, and ended up staying for longer. Now they are creating their idyllic life back in Adakavas. June bravely, albeit with an accent, speaks some Lithuanian. They are about to finish completing their new home beside Arūnas’s parents’ house. It’s easy to sense from the couple how much it all means to them – the house renovation, the fresh Lithuanian air and life without constantly rushing. Read more

Aug 1

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Klaipėda Sea Festival

I grew up by the sea and wherever I am in the world I am always drawn back to the coast. So when our neighbours asked if we wanted to go with them to the Klaipėda Sea Festival we jumped at chance. Read more

Jul 25

2 Comments

Containers

I love portable food. I don’t mean fast food, but wholesome, tasty food, ideally in a portable container. Something a little more sophisticated and squish-proof than a sandwich but with similar versatility. Lithuania has lots of them, including kibinai & čeburekai, but my favourite has to be the classic Cornish pasty. This one is from Rick Stein’s deli in Padstow. Between the pasty & the view, it was a lunch made in heaven! Read more

Jul 23

32 Comments

Turning 40

It wasn’t as bad as I expected. Actually, I’m not sure what I expected. I’ve been doing a countdown to my 40th birthday for about 2 years, wondering what “luxury item” I’d treat myself to for the occasion. A car was top of the list for a while – either a BMW or a 4-wheel drive. A new watch also featured – one of those fancy ones you see the tennis stars modelling in the glossies. In the end I opted for something with far more longevity than any of those items – I chose this life. Read more

Jul 15

Old-fashioned Weighing Scales | www.myfoododyssey.com

8 Comments

Relic

After several months of rows and hard graft, our house renovations are almost complete. Once we’re safely installed I plan to bring you a series of before-and-after posts explaining the changes we’ve made. To whet your appetite I thought I’d share a few of the relics we found in the house when we first bought it. They don’t feature in the new house just yet, but I might restore them over time and use them as decorative pieces. Read more

Jul 9

22 Comments

Beelzebub, the Hero

Something is rotten in Toyland. I’m not getting any eggs. I haven’t quite figured out what’s happening but I suspect the hens might be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder after an intrusion incident. Read more

Jun 20

Friday Favourites | www.myfoododyssey.com

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Friday Favourites Hiatus

There may have been a row or two in the house this week. Or possibly even three. I know there was one about skirting board. And one about banisters. And a real humdinger about the cock (who is still alive, but on his absolute final warning). I can’t think of any others right now but I get the feeling I’m leaving something out. Read more