The Nations! (And Fika!)

Hmm, I am terrible at updating. As if that's a surprise. But that's not very interesting, what is interesting is:

Student Nations!
There are thirteen student nations at Uppsala University, each one representing a different district of Sweden(Stockholms nation, Uplands for the province of Uppsala, etc..). As a side note, there are more than 13 districts in Sweden; just not all the nations were created at the same time and some have merged together to form one larger nation. If you want a list of them, go here. They were originally created as a method of controlling the unruly student populace; as was the norm in the Renaissance, all the students at university were very wealthy(and therefore often petulant) people. Therefore, the city and university made nations and forced people to join the nation of their respective hometown as a way of ensuring that the information got back there whenever they did a misdeed. I think it's a pretty clever way of controlling the students, to be honest. People no longer are forced to join any nation now, however; they choose which one they want off what the different nations offer.

I joined Uplands nation, the local nation of Uppsala and the surrounding region. It has around 2600 members, making it a medium sized nation; the largest has over 5000 and the smallest around 800. The only person that I can think of that is of international renown that was part of the nation is Arrhenius, the chemist & physicist. But I digress; Uplands nation has various clubs within it such as movie club and a game club which are pretty awesome. They also jazz night and a kashmiri restaurant, both of which I've heard good things about. All the nations have their own pub, almost all have a nightclub, different hobby clubs(almost all have a band and some sort of theater group), offer housing to their members(housing is very difficult to come by in Uppsala because it is a highly regulated market), and often will give out scholarships as well. Overall, the nations are the backbone of socialization in Uppsala; their really isn't much to do in the city outside of the nations.

Fika
Most simply, Fika is coffee with a sweet pastry. It's a social event which all the swedes participate in with great regularity(which is something because in the winter they aren't even vaguely sociable). At Fika, one will have coffee, eat pastries, and socialize with friends usually by candlelight; it creates a very nice and relaxing atmosphere. Fika is also practiced in the summer, merely minus the candlelight(as it's no longer necessary due to the long days). It doesn't seem overly unique of an action to me, just the devotion to it is more of a Swedish thing than elsewhere.

An Introduction to Uppsala!

From now until June 6th, I will be student at Uppsala Universitet! It's one of the premier universities in Scandinavia, as well as the oldest, having been founded in 1477 by the Catholic Church, though it has long since broken from those roots. It's now associated with the Church Of Sweden, a Lutheran denomination. It's had quite the storied history, with scholars such as Celsius and Linnaeus(he created the dual name system used for naming plants that is still in use). I'm not going to really ramble on about the history, but you can read more here(it's quite interesting, to be honest).

Uppsala

I'm going to skip talking about traveling here, as it was a wholly unexciting experience. Instead, Uppsala is worthy of conversation! It's a city much like Ann Arbor, MI but much calmer because people always ride bikes instead of insisting on attempting to drive everywhere. It's a fairly lively city, though the college students are usually fairly contained by the Nations, which I will explain in more detail later. Since the university itself exists from 1477, one can correctly presume that the city itself dates much older than the university itself; it was once one of the main centers of paganism in Sweden, as can be seen in Burial mounds north of the city. A Catholic Bishop was installed here in 1164, and the Cathedral was built in the 1400's. The cathedral is magnificent:



Some say it's not as nice as other Cathedrals because it's built of local stone instead of imported quarry stone; I think such a concept is absurd. It's of amazing style and I think the brick makes it more unique looking, it's the only cathedral I've ever seen in that style and the brick colors give a textured look.

The other thing of note in the city is how colorful it is: large volumes of the buildings are colored in pink, yellow, or green. It's not the occasional building either, it's the majority. I'm not sure why, though I would guess it's because you get somewhat desperate for color in the middle of the winter, as it's more often cloudy here than not and at the current moment there is right around five hours of light. And that's a month after the winter solstice, mind you. So I can't really blame them in that respect.



The Swedes have different ways of dealing with the dark, which I'll explain in my next post with the Nations :)

Rice & Tomato Dish

Being a poor college student is catching up to me; I haven't been able to go grocery shopping in the two weeks since my parents came out due to a lack of funds. Unfortunate as this is, it does give me the opportunity to be more creative in my cooking skills(lest I be eating white rice plain). Furthermore, since my mother was kind enough to bring me some home-canned tomatoes when she came out to visit, I decided that a nice rice & tomato dish sounded nice, despite the fact that I had no idea how to cook such a thing. This leads to the natural conclusion: mix alot of stuff in a bowl and see if it turns out well. Thankfully, it did.

Rice & Tomato Bake

1 cup long grain rice, any variety(wild rice would actually be very nice)
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 large Onion, chopped
5-6 cloves Garlic, minced

1 tbsp Spanish Paprika
2 tsp Cilantro
3/4 tsp Thyme
3/4 tsp Black Pepper
1 tsp Sea Salt

1 pint jar of tomatoes(canned tomatoes are unsafe; if you don't can tomatoes yourself use about 2-3 large tomatoes instead, cutting them up and stewing them beforehand)
1 1/2 2 cups water

Mix everything in a large metal bowl, making sure the spices are stirred in very well. Start on the lesser side of the water, you can add in more later. Put it in a baking pan and bake at 350˚ for around 1 hour, 15 minutes, checking on it every 25 minutes or so to make sure it hasn't dried out. If the water level seems too low, just pour more water on and mix it all up well; after it bakes for another five minutes nobody will be able to tell that you ever did this anyway. It's finished when the rice is nice and soft.

As for the spices, the amounts of each can be increased or decreased as to preference; I didn't actually measure anything that was going into the dish besides the rice. Oregano and rosemary would both be fairly nice, and hot pepper could be added if an extra kick was desired.

Happy Cooking :)

Herbal Remedies Three

My herb collection just keeps growing, yes. A man does need a hobby after all. My tinctures are done as well, so I can testify towards the effectiveness of some of these herbs in that form. The others I've only used externally so I can give them a thumbs up in that respect(as can over a thousand years of herbal lore).

Pokeroot - This is probably the most dangerous herb I'll mention, so take note of that. You are to take a single drop of the tincture per day to help overcome colds, chest infections, etc.. as it works as cleanser of the lymphatic system among other things. Do not use for more than two weeks and dear lord, do not overdose(I've heard stories of people becoming lightheaded and ill from 2-3 drops a day). From my experience it's quite effective though.

Pleurisy Root - It is an herb for the affliction within it's very name, "Pleurisy"(known to me as "The Royal Clusterf*ck", but that's another discussion). Pleurisy is when the pleura, a membrane between your lungs and chest wall become inflamed to a viral or fungal infection(rarely the latter). It's insufferably painful, causes severe, unexplainable weight loss, and basically makes you meaner than a rabid wolverine on cocaine. So basically, anything that can help with it's pain is a godsend(the hospital just gives you tylenol or vicodin and tells you to duke it out). It's an expectorant, a diuretic, a cathartic, and an anti-spasmodic. As well as helping with the inflammation a bit. The only thing to worry about is the diuretic part, as it could cause a potassium or calcium deficiency if used in the long term.

Devil's Claw Root - This is probably one of the more popular up-and-coming herbs used today. It's an anti-inflammatory and a pain killer used for chronic issues such as arthritis and cancer(I've heard first hand about it being a supplement for cancer patients from doctors). It's also sometimes used as a digestive aid, though that is up in the air. This is easily found in Europe in Standardized extracts, especially in Germany(Germany has a regulated medicinal market of herbs, unlike the US). It needs to be used continuously to be most effective, but it has been shown to be effective.

Yarrow - This is a perennial herb of ancient renown. It was known as herbal militaris because the fresh or re-hydrated leaves can be applied to wounds to help staunch the blood flow and as an antiseptic. It is also used internally for the treatment of severe bruises and inflammation, both useful after battles. Yarrow is also said to help induce sweating, lower fever, help digestion, and aid in menstruation. It's a must have in the cabinet of just about anyone.

Myrrh - Yes, Myrrh. As in "Frankincense, Myrrh, and Gold" kind of Myrrh. This tree resin, likely originating in what is present day Somalia/Yemen Region, used to be worth it's weight in gold to the people of the biblical times. This is because it's a potent anti-septic, often used today to ensure oral sanitation and hygiene. Myrrh is also a component in some perfumes/incense and liqueurs. I use it to make a toothpaste along with a few other things.

Egg Substitute

Many vegan recipes call for eggs to be substituted with "Ener-G" egg substitute. However, this is filled with corn and does not bode well for us. I figured I'd post this substitute than can be used in leu of it, for future reference:

Ener-G Type Egg Replacer

1 cup potato starch
3/4 cup tapioca flour
2 tsps baking powder

Mix all well.
Store in airtight container.

To use:
1 & 1/2 tsp powder + 2 Tbs water = 1 egg.
1 & 1/2 tsp powder + 1 Tbs water = 1 egg yolk.

I got this off of a GardenWeb forum, which is a very useful site. If you want to see the other useful egg substitutes, check out www.theppk.com; Isa give a full explanation for each.

Herbal Remedies Two

I'm jumping into Herbal medicine more and more these days. Since pleurisy has become my White Whale of sorts and doctors don't really seem to be helpful in anyway, herbs are my last refuge. I recently ordered a stock of herbs for respiratory ailments, most notably "Pleurisy Root", to treat the affliction of that name. I've discovered some other herbs of use in the meantime though.

First, however, it is good to know how to make a tincture:

Get your hands on some decent quality, 80 or 100 proof potato vodka(I use Luksusowa). Warm apple cider can also be used, from what I've heard. Mix one part herb per five parts alcohol and let it sit for at least four weeks, preferably six. While it is brewing, I recommend putting them in a canning jar and tightly sealing the lid; store in a cool, dark place as well. At the end of the brewing time, strain the herb out, squeezing it strongly to get all the fluid you can. Store it in amber bottles to protect from sunlight damage and make sure it's away from children, as they are very potent and can cause harm if misused.

Another Warning: Do not ingest essential oils of herbs unless you have the

expressed consent of a medical professional. Most are highly toxic in even small amounts.

Thyme - This stuff is truly a lifesaver. It is a potent anti-septic(especially if you have the refined oil, though that is dangerous to use internally, a few teaspoons will kill you), a digestive aid, and an excellent cough remedy. To make thyme tea, seep 1-2 tsp in a cup of boiling water for ten minutes. The stronger the tea, the better really. Also, if you mix in around 2 tbsp of honey per cup of extremely strong thyme tea and cook it down, you can make your own cough syrup. To use as an anti-septic, make a tincture and apply a few drops to the cleaned wound.

Cayenne(Red Pepper) - It is more proper to say "Red Pepper", as Cayenne is not actually a very common pepper in terms of quantity of sale in the US and any truly hot pepper will do the job. It can be used as a digestive aid, chronic pain, shingles, and cluster headaches. It is most commonly taken as an infusion, where 1/4-1/2 tsp will be used per cup of water after a meal(it will probably upset your stomach if you haven't eaten). To help with chronic pain, mix 1/2 tsp of the powder per cup of warm vegetable oil and apply to the areas in pain. Before you think that's just going to burn and feel unpleasant, remember that capsaicin, one of the active constituents of Red Pepper, is commonly used in pain creams and lotions. And don't forget to just put some in your food for some spice!

Cloves - I unremittingly love cloves in pretty much any context. I love clove tea, cloves in my smoothies, cloves in my hot toddies, and cloves in my baked goods, naturally. Cloves, besides being delicious, can serve three very useful functions: a digestive aid, a disinfectant, and an oral anesthetic. The last is most commonly done with the essential oil: as your doctor about that stuff that they rub in your mouth before shots; it most likely contains clove oil. If you drink clove tea it is much less potent but it will still cause a slight numbing of the tongue and mouth. As a digestive aid, make the tea out of 1-2 tsp of ground cloves per cup of boiling water and let it steep for at 10 minutes. I warn you,

however, that if you're new to the tea you'll want to err on the side of less, not more, as the tea is very strong tasting. The tea can also be used as mouthwash.

Allspice - This is actually the berry of a large tree found in the Caribbean(native) and south of the Border in various places. It can do basically all the same functions as cloves can, though it is not an anti-bacterial. The tea of 1 tsp of the powder per cup of boiling water is a good digestive aid and a slight oral anesthetic. If you live somewhere that you can get the fresh berries, you can crush them and apply that to painful joints and muscles for some relief. For us northerners, it is just a delightful tea and spice.

Cilantro(Coriander) - As a digestive aid, it is not a very potent one compared to peppermint or chamomile. However, coriander seeds have an amazing citrus and sage flavor that is a delight in a tea. Seed 1 tsp of bruised seeds(or 1/2 tsp powder) per cup of water for five minutes. The fresh, bruised leaves can also be used as a temporary anti-septic.

Pysillum - I guarantee you that you have seen this plant more than pretty much any plant in your life. It grows literally anywhere; it pops through sidewalks, in fields, in your yard, even through the heat of blacktop. The brand named laxative aid Metamucil is basically ground pysillum seeds. What is this prevalent herb? The plant in flower:

If you still don't recognize it, get the hell out of your house and go look at your sidewalk. You will find that, and its' large broad leaves fairly shortly. The leaves are what I'm more interested in anyway. Take the leaves, crush them, and apply them to rashes, bites, burns, or anything that itches and it'll take away all that sensation within a few minutes. The small leaves can also be eaten as a salad green; the larger ones are more bitter and stringy, so avoid them.

As a general rule of thumb, limit the intake of tincture to 1-3 mL(.2-.6 teaspoons. A shallow 1/4 tsp to shallow 3/4 tsp) and infusions(tea) to three cups a day. Always check for verification, as some herbs you want a very small amount; I'll mention that in my next herbal post.

Raw Chocolate Pudding

Pudding is not something that a vegan should really crave or try to eat: they're basically egg yolks, starch, and sugar cooked together to make a creamy delight. I am, however, an overwhelming stubborn person. I wanted some damn pudding and I will get some pudding. However, this recipe didn't really come from that craving, it came from me messing attempting to make an avocado drink(don't ask). Enough of my ranting though, here it is:

Almost Raw Chocolate Pudding

2-3 Medium Hass Avocados

2 Tbsp Maple Syrup(to taste)

2-3 Tbsp Raw Cocao Powder(you can also use 1/4-1/3 cup of chocolate chips you melt in a pan)

Water until proper consistency.

This is as easy as it looks: Put the avocado flesh into a blender with the water and syrup. Mix well and add in the cocao/melted chips. Mix well and then add more chocolate or syrup to taste. It'll hold in the fridge for a day or two and is excellent with fresh fruit.