Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Volcanoes, Reading, As We Know It.

I can't help wondering how long we are going to survive. I keep seeing reports on TV shows about all the major volcanoes, or super volcanoes, which could erupt at any time and nobody knows when. If they do erupt, they will cause untold damage to the environment and the ash clouds will cause winter like conditions over large portions of the world. I learned of a new one near Santorini in the Med. Santorini itself is a volcano, but this one which is underwater is way more powerful and way more likely to blow apparently. To quote "Kolumbo is an active submarine volcano in the Aegean Sea, about 8 km northeast of Cape Kolumbo, Santorini island. The largest of a line of about twenty submarine volcanic cones
extending to the northeast from Santorini, it is about 3 km in diameter with a crater 1.5 km across."  I heard about this one in a TV programme on Sunday night. Then, of course, there is one in Yellowstone Park which is classified as a super volcano and would create untold devastation in the Americas. I just  found this map of the predicted Kill Zone for Yellowstone. I think I will move further east although my part of Canada is not in that area, It seems the effects will spread east anyway. And yet they figure life originated in the underwater hot water zones of volcanoes.

I have been reading a lot of Juliet Marillier lately. Particularly the Shadowfell trilogy which is, I think, classified as young adult. I don't fall into that category but I am really enjoying them. Then a friend, Carrie Butler, has just released a trailer of a book which will be coming in December. It is titled As We Know It. Looks like quite a story and the trailer is excellent, Carrie made it herself.


Deep beneath the ocean, stretching hundreds of miles alongside the Pacific Northwest coastline, lies the Cascadia subduction zone—a fault on the verge of unleashing a catastrophic earthquake, thirty times more powerful than the San Andreas. Unfortunately, like most tourists, Elena Cordova is oblivious.

She’s got her own pent-up stress to deal with, a humiliating breakup that’s driven her to end her tenure as a human doormat once and for all. So, when a pickpocket makes off with the last remnant of her relationship, she takes action—only to get trapped with him when disaster strikes.

Now, if either one hopes to survive, they’ll have to get past their initial impressions and work together . . . because in fifteen minutes, half the town will be underwater.
To read more go to Melissa  Maygrove's blog. If the book is as good as the trailer, it should be an awesome story.

Wild Mushroom Quesadillas

You don't have to use wild mushrooms, of course, but if you can get chanterelles — oh man. It takes a bit of time at the stove, but when the quesadilla is done, you have a great handheld food that is,
among other things, very kid friendly.

4 Tbs vegetable oil
1 lb chanterelles, black trumpet or other wild mushrooms (or substitute oyster, crimini or clamshell mushrooms; do not use shiitake), roughly chopped
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
½ cup minced yellow onion
4 oz grated Oaxaca or domestic Muenster cheese
4 oz grated panela or aged mozzarella cheese
4 oz grated cotija or Parmesan cheese
? cup finely chopped cilantro leaves
½ tsp dried oregano
pinch of ground coriander
8 8-inch flour or corn tortillas, preferably homemade

1. Place a medium sauté pan over medium-high heat and add 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. When oil shimmers, add mushrooms and a generous pinch of salt. Sauté until mushrooms release their liquid, liquid evaporates and mushrooms begin to brown, about 10 minutes.

2. Add onions. Sauté, adjusting heat as necessary, until onions are soft and entire mixture is golden brown but not burned, about 5 minutes. Remove from heat and allow to cool slightly.

3. Using a food processor or a knife, finely chop mushroom-onion mixture, then transfer to a large bowl. Add grated cheeses, cilantro, oregano and coriander. Season to taste with salt and pepper.

4. Place a large nonstick or well-seasoned skillet over medium heat, and add remaining 2 tablespoons vegetable oil. While pan heats, place a large spoonful of mushroom-cheese mixture into center of a tortilla, and fold tortilla in half to make a half-moon. Place filled tortilla in preheated skillet and cook, turning once, until tortilla is nicely browned on both sides and cheese is melted. Repeat to make 8 filled tortillas. Serve immediately.

Servings: 8

Source: New York Times

Have a great day.
 

21 comments:

  1. When I visited Yellowstone in 2009, a friend was sure I was putting myself in danger. When you understand how the continents on earth were formed, you understand that nothing lasts forever. One program I watched recently said that the continents are slowly moving towards each other and will in 200 million years or more again form into one large land mass. Ever seen a documentary on Krakatoa? That is truly scary in that it could happen again.

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    1. Bit the same as when I went to San Francisco in '88. I thought it was dangerous, everyone was saying "the big one" was going to happen at any time. 200 million years eh? have to be prepared then LOL. I think all these super volcanoes are scary Denise, there are a lot of them around.

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  2. I think we're safe from a Yellowstone blast.
    Carrie's new book and trailer look awesome!

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    1. I would hope so Alex.

      It is a great trailer isn't it?

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  3. I wouldn't want to live on Santorini island.

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    1. I wouldn't want to live near Yellowstone either Diane.

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  4. Thank you so much for sharing, Jo! I appreciate it. :)

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    1. You're very welcome my friend, you did a really good job on the trailer Carrie.

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  5. Thanks for the link-back.
    Carrie's trailer is awesome! (Hint: So's the story.)

    Interesting recipe, as always. :)

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    1. A pleasure Melissa. It sure sounds good.

      Thanks

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  6. According to the chart, I'm in the safe zone. Wouldn't that be ironic? We worry and worry about global warming and then have a volcano send us straight into an ice age? I used to lose sleep over worry. Now, I do what I can and leave the rest to God.

    I never thought of making veggie quesadillas. I love that idea!

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    1. Well, I guess you are right, stop worrying about the things we can do nothing about Liz.

      I was going to buy some tortillas but didn't do so today after all.

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  7. I believe that when Mother Nature gets tired of us, she'll let us know.

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    1. That's one way of looking at it Ivy

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    2. Just my thoughts and beliefs but when she's done with us, she'll let us know.

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  8. I lived in that region and yeah it was scary, but you had to do the whole 'denial' thing in order to survive living in the shadow of Rainier, which has the potential of wiping out a lot of people and cities. All you could hope is that you'd get some kind of warning, like when St. Helens started to bulge. Unlike quakes, of which I've been in many, which have no warning at all.

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    1. Been in a couple of tremors here, surprisingly, but hardly noticeable. I have always wondered how people could live close to volcanoes. As you say, you do the denial thing JoJo.

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  9. Media...news, scientists are natural pessimists who love to say we will all die. I almost think they want to have us deal with another flu pandemic like the Spanish Flu of 1918. They were making all these comparisons to the flu from just a few years ago and number of people who died is so low compared to the number of people who die daily from the basic flu. It is scary and I bet there will be a major earthquake or volcano erupting but we will not all die and the world will not shrivel. Actually it will be devastating but not the apocalypse. If you wat to see a good documentary you should watch the documentary On Krakatoa...excellent

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    1. I know where you are coming from Birgit, but I do believe these super volcanoes are frightening enough on their own. Hopefully, we will not be around to find out.

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  10. Those super volcanoes are frightening - and if one does go off every part of the planet will be affected. One that erupted in the 600s caused a severe world wide famine because the sunlight was partially blocked.
    I'm a great fan of Juliet Marillier. Loved the Shadowfell trilogy, too, for all it was marketed as YA and her latest adult Blackthorn and Grim series is just as good. I think the latest one in the series, Den of Wolves, is coming out in the US next month. It's already out here and I really enjoyed it.

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    1. I remember a few years back, Helen, when one in Iceland prevented Glenda Larke from flying home from Britain.

      I like the Blackthorn and Grim series too. Although I could smack Blackthorn occasionally. I am waiting for Den of Wolves from the Library.

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