The Breakfast Radio Diaries 126 - Green pasta covering machine

We're running out of potatoes, I'm battling pesto's against each other and I'm struggling to remember the last time I used a camera that didn't have a mobile phone attached to it...

WE'RE ALL GOING ON A SUMMER HOLIDAY

After missing out last year for Covid related reasons, finally my little bloke Jackson gets to do his school camp - and boy is he excited. A couple of nights away with his friends, food and activities, what more could an 11 year old ask for? 
(Although for some reason it's a five hour bus trip to get there and back. Considering it's only for a few nights, that seems quite the hike for a camping trip - surely there's closer grounds that five hours travel time?)

We've got the pack list and one of the items on it is a camera - but not a phone camera. Which got me thinking this morning on the show: how long has it been since I last used an actual camera as opposed to photographing anything with my phone? I'm sure I still have my old Cannon pocket sized instant somewhere but I really can't recall when and where I used it last. I mean I could dig it out, but would the battery still work? Will I be able to find the right charger for it? Do I have a spare SD memory card for it floating around? (Not sure).

As I write this, I'm trying to Google one of my previous mobiles that looked like a phone on one side and a camera on the other. I'm going to say this was mid 2000's and I'm looking for it because I think at that stage the camera tech on it (all 5 massive megapixels from memory!) was slightly better than the camera I had, which relegated the poor Cannon to the nearest desk drawer. And since then, it's been phones all the way. The on board cameras have gotten better, there's more space to fill up, it's always in my pocket and I don't even have to switch it on to take a happy snap, it's always ready to rock and roll!

Edit: I found it! - A Sony Ericcson K850i from 2007/2008 The buttons and green trim are making the memories flood back! Remember this beast?

Now you still can buy cameras, that hasn't changed but from a brief look unless you scope out a dedicated camera store, there certainly isn't the level of range as I experienced when I bought my last one (which was a very long time ago to be fair). 

Maybe we'll get him a disposable camera if such a thing still exists?

FIRST THE GREEN STUFF, BUT NOW..

Earlier this year we had the lettuce shortage and trying to buy a head of iceberg lettuce would cost you a small fortune. As of now though a quick trip to the nearest Aldi has shown them back at the far normal price of just $1.99. Just 2 bucks for something that's holding a fair bit of water isn't bad at all really.

But with the flooding going on around the nation, it seems the humble spud, the humble potato could be in high demand. The price of potatoes could be going up and that means the Sunday roast might just have to give the baked spuds a miss. 
Now before you scoff and say 'Tis okay good fellow, I rarely buy potatoes from the fruit and veg section huzzah!' let me remind you what this will also affect:

-Bags of mashed potato

-Potato chips (the snack kind)

-Potato chips (the oven and air fryer kind)

-Fries at fast food venues

-Potato gratins (spelling?) at Aldi

-Gnochhi (made of potato)

-Pub wedges

And so much more. And as I stated on the show earlier and shall repeat here: 'I don't care how health concious you are, you can't convince me that kale chips are a valid replacement..'

BATTLES OF THE O'S

As in 'pesto', as in the jar stuff ready to smother your pasta with. After jumping back onto the pesto love train earlier this year (and being disappointed by a restaurant version of the stuff), today I've found a worthy contender for my new favourite. 

Before today, Jamie Oliver's Green Pesto was holding court in my fridge but then the Romano Basil Pesto jumped out at me from the shelves of Aldi on the way home and I thought 'Well I eat plenty of the stuff, why not give this one a try and see which one we like?' And so from my findings today (based on a late breakfast of chicken and pesto pasta): 

-Jamie's Pesto is the finer of the two in terms of going through the chopping machine compared to the Romano. 

-Jamie's is also lighter in colour for whatever reason. Maybe the basil wasn't as green as it could be at the time of production?

-Jamie's has a slightly nuttier texture

-The Remano seems to have a touch more oil to it and doesn't look as dry.

-The Remano Basil Pesto also has a bigger initial flavour hit and lingering aftertaste based in the old 'wack of teaspoon of this stuff into your gob and see how you go' test.

-I can taste more of the cheese in the Remano.

-Priced at $1.89 at Aldi, the Remano is a bargain compared to Jamie's $4.50 effort at Woolworths. 

Based on all that (and the pasta) I think I'll be sticking with the tastier Remano effort for now (sorry Jamie.) But if you know another alternative in a jar I should try, let me know below. I'm more than happy to continue road testing along the pesto path!

TOMORROW

We talk movies and the names you give your cars.. (a shout out to Beast, Brap, Lex and The Staggin Wagon, all previous rides of mine.) 

Chat then!

-Almigo