teriyaki salmon (yes, it's vegan!)

+ pancakes, protesting & paying the rent

This piece was written on Dharawal land. Always was, always will be Aboriginal Land.

come in! sit down! have a pancake, and let’s talk injustice.

We’re gonna get political here. When do we not? Ignorance is a privilege, one that I could exercise, but I’d never dream of it. You have to do what you can, even when it all feels helpless.

Firstly, my heart still breaks for all women, girls & those who can give birth in America. The fact that at my age, my grandma had more global rights than I did is truly stranger than fiction. There are no words really - just that I worry for you; and I worry for me, since Western trends seem to converge - as much as reproductive autonomy should not be a ‘trend'. I worry for those who have never even been able to think of getting access to birth control, let alone an abortion. Abortions save lives. They protect women; and forced birth is an act of violence.

for my US subscribers — bunnings is a chain of hardware stores that a lot of cis het men seem to worship lol

We showed up to the rally on Gadigal land in solidarity for those affected in the US, and because medical misogyny is global. Here in Australia, although abortions are somewhat accessible, the legislature is incredibly fragile.

Before I share my recipe, I’d also like to acknowledge that it’s NAIDOC week; where Australia celebrates the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. However, as allies, we must also verbalise our solidarity with Indigenous folks who are still affected by ongoing colonisation, police brutality and forced removal.

The inaction from major authorities in regards to the 512 Indigenous people who have died in custody since 1987 is shocking. No one in particular has been held accountable; this only sustains a broken system of institutional racism and violence that has shaped our prisons since colonisation.

I’m calling on my subscribers on this tiny platform, to listen to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders by going to Blak-led rallies, sharing Indigenous creators’ work; supporting 100% Indigenous-owned businesses; writing to your MP; and donating to the organisations below, in order to Pay the Rent.

I am living on stolen Dharawal land, and I will always feel grateful. Here are a couple of my recommendations, but I encourage you to listen to Indigenous voices; I can only amplify them.

Subscribe to Presence, by Amy McQuire. Excellent journalism with excellent perspectives. Supporting Amy means you can help her build a sovereign Blak media space that highlights issues of justice and violence in the colony.

Another Substack I love is Yubu Napa Art Gallery; it showcases the gallery’s latest collections from brilliant Indigenous artists in Central Australia.

If you can; you can donate to these organisations:

• You can donate to the Aboriginal Legal Service in your area. Fights for a fair go in court and pushes for reform of laws that harm Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. 

• Black Rainbow, a National NFP advocacy platform and touchpoint for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBQTI peoples — 100% Indigenous owned and operated

• Deadly Connections, works with people that have been impacted by the justice system or child protection services

• Sisters Inside, supports incarcerated women and girls in QLD

• Healing Foundation, addresses the intergenerational trauma of colonisation and child removal

• Djap Warrung Heritage Protection, protecting the sacred 800yo birthing trees of Djap Wurrung country.

Before you read my recipe, please consider donating a few dollars to one or more of these organisations - maybe by forgoing your morning coffee or something like that!

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ingredients.

• firm tofu, pressed and cut into 2 blocks (as shown above)

• juice of 1 lemon

• 3 tbsp soy sauce

• 1 tbsp brown sugar

• 1 tsp sesame oil

• 1 sheet nori, torn into small pieces

• 2 tbsp white miso paste

• 1 drop pink food colouring; 1 drop red

• Salt & pepper, to taste

  For the ‘skin’:

• 2 sheets nori

• 1 sheet rice paper

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how to.

1. Prepare all ingredients by mixing in a container. Score the tofu so that it can absorb the marinade.

2. Place tofu in the marinade and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight (minimum 1 hour). The longer you leave it, the deeper the flavours will be.

3. To prepare the skin, place a sheet of nori that is slightly larger than the tofu piece over the top of the tofu, shiny side up. Secure the edges by pressing down. Do the same with a sheet of rice paper (soaked for 10 seconds in cold water) and it should lock it in nicely.

4. Preheat some olive oil in a frying pan. Fry skin side down on medium heat until crispy, then reduce heat to low and fry the other side until cooked to your preference.

5. Serve with all the poké bowl add-ons and enjoy!