Valentine’s, Cornish Pasties, Earth from Space.

I hope lots of you are doing romantic things today. Matt bought me a lovely bouquet of flowers and gave me a card. Friends wanted us to join them at a restaurant tonight, but we don’t go out to restaurants on high days and holidays, too crowded and the standards are not always as good we find. Much prefer to stay at home and enjoy a glass or two of wine. I remember one year we broke this rule and went to one of our favourite restaurants in Cambridge. The meal was acceptable, but only just. They were way too busy to do a really decent job. We were disappointed, not surprising.

I didn’t know they had a championship for Cornish Pasty makers. I came across this article from the Eden Project in the UK about the current champion pasty maker and it includes tips for making them, should I pass them on to the baker I buy mine from do you think? If you Google Cornish Pasty you will find all kinds of shapes and sizes, but to me, this is the proper shape and the ones I always encountered in Cornwall where, believe me, we ate quite a few of them. I must admit I have never tried making them, but I confess I am not much of a pastry cook. I actually posted a recipe for these last year.

Wednesday night we watched Nova, Earth from Space. What an incredible 2 hour programme revealing all the things which have been discovered about the Big Blue Marble by all the satellites which are orbiting our planet. There was so much information, in fact information overload, so I would want to see it several more times. I hope it will be shown frequently. It is astounding what has been learned from these orbiting satellites showing how everything interacts with everything else to keep our planet viable. If man were not around the planet would be pretty well self sustaining. However, the programme’s last section spoke about man’s effect on our world and our production of greenhouse gases and what its doing to the planet. It also emphasised that the satellites, which are beginning to wear out, need to be replaced so we can maintain our ‘eyes in space’. They estimate within the next few years, only half of the current satellites will still be in orbit. Things which were shown and explained; how a desert storm from the Sahara can feed the Amazon rain forests. How a gigantic underwater waterfall (this is what attracted me to the programme in the first place) can help to provide sustenance and oxygen for the world. How volcanoes and forest fires are beneficial. I have definitely got to see this programme again.

This sandwich appeals to me, might prepare something along these lines this week. Obviously, if you are vegan, you can leave out the goat cheese or sub it with something else.

Loaded Veggie Sandwich

By A Nutritionist Eats
WebMD Recipe from Foodily.com

Ingredients

4 small zucchini

1 teaspoon olive oil

1/2 yellow onion, thinly sliced

5 ounces arugula or spinach

2 roasted red pepper slices

2 ounces goat cheese

2 tablespoons tapenade

sprouted bread or buns

Instructions

1. Prepare zucchini and onion. Heat pan over medium heat and spray with cooking spray. Cut zucchini in half lengthwise and then into 1/2 inch thick slices. Add to pan and cook for about 2 minutes, flip over and cook for another 2 minutes. Repeat until all zucchini have been cooked. Set aside and let cool.
2. Heat small pan over medium heat. Add 1 teaspoon olive oil and onion slices. Cook, stirring occasionally until onions are soft and browned. Set aside and let cool.
3. While pan is still hot add spinach or arugula if you prefer it wilted.
4. Layer bread with goat cheese, tapenade and veggies.
5. Devour your delicious and very healthy lunch.

Have a great day