Pandas, Recliner, Beans,

Yesterday, Bao Bao the Giant Panda left DC Zoo to go to China. I understand the Chinese wanting to conserve pandas and they are doing a great job, but Bao Bao was born at the DC Zoo and I think she should belong to that zoo. The agreement is any Panda born in another country has to be returned  before it is 4 years old. Pandas must wonder what on earth is happening to them. The Chinese lend Pandas to zoos for a few years and then they have to be sent back. I know they are planning to introduce as many Pandas as possible back into the wild, but I think that is only the babies which are being acclimatised over the years. Saw a movie about it on TV. However, I suppose they need her for breeding purposes. The Chinese really seem to have got an excellent breeding programme under way. I wonder what all this shipping back and forth costs. I understand they are no longer on the endangered list which is great. Later I heard that breeding is exactly why they want her back. She went back in a special plane with better treatment than a first class human passenger, lots of bamboo and even some sugar cane which they called Panda caviar.

I am very upset, my recliner broke last night. I can no longer lift the foot rest up into position, well I can but it won't stay there.  I have contacted a place called Furniture Medic by both email and phone message but not heard anything. Maybe I should try somewhere else. I think, but of course am no expert, that a spring broke. Checking the price of new loungers, I hope it a) can be repaired and b) won't cost too much. It is, or was, such a comfortable recliner. This is the same idea although not the same chair.

Originating in the UK, I love runner beans which I have seen in the States labelled flat beans or pole beans . In fact, in the UK we have several types of runner beans but here, locally, I can get the flat ones now and again - they come from a grower in Ontario called Zing Healthy Foods. I checked them out and found this somewhat different, to me, way of serving them. I normally French cut them. I bought some more beans today and will try it out. Since I started blogging I have tried a lot of different recipes. Good for me/us.

Amazing European Runner Beans in Olive Oil

150 g (1 package) Zing! European runner beans, trimmed and sliced into 3 inch pieces

1 yellow and 1 red Zing! pepper, sliced lengthwise
1 small clove garlic, finely chopped (small?)
1/2 Tbs olive oil
1/2 cup (125 ml) water
salt and black pepper to taste

1. In a skillet, sauté garlic in oil until tender and just turning brown. Add the Zing! European runner beans, salt and pepper. Mix well and sauté 1 to 2 minutes. Add the Zing! red and yellow peppers and sauté 2 minutes. Add 1/2 cup (125 ml) of water and simmer until the liquid has evaporated and the beans are tender. Enjoy hot or cold. Serves 2 as a side dish.

Source: ZingHealthyFoods

Have a great day