Happy Earth Day 2024!

The apocalypse is not something which is coming. The apocalypse has arrived in major portions of the planet and it’s only because we live within a bubble of incredible privilege and social insulation that we still have the luxury of anticipating the apocalypse. - Terence McKenna

The current climate change narrative causes climate anxiety in many people, especially among the younger generation. Unusual weather patterns, instant reporting and the 24/7 news cycle are not helping at all. Manufactured fear is counterproductive.

On this Earth Day 2024 I do not want to talk about the climate change preaching hypocrites flying from one conference to another in their private jets. I also do not want to talk about the very profitable carbon emission trading. Instead, I'd like to talk about the destruction of nature and the scandalous abuse of people and resources happening every day behind our backs.

Some of my readers might be aware of child labor in African lithium mines. Some may even know about the child labor in the carpet industry in Nepal or Pakistan, or the children working in the cotton industry in cotton producing countries. Many are aware of the slave labor in China and the human trafficking happening in so many countries. But did you know that children are being sold to farmers in West Africa to work on cacao plantations? Maybe next time you are buying a bar of chocolate you will make sure that the raw materials for the product come from fair trade with no child labor involved. 

To save the planet we are told that the animal farms must go because of the devastating amounts of CO2 and methane they produce, but did anyone tell you how detrimental to nature are the mono-cultures of soy or corn. Or how much water is being used to produce the almonds for your vegan almond milk or the avocados for your avocado toast? How about the tons of pesticides used in conventional farming that are destroying not only the fragile balance of life in the soil but also polluting our groundwater supply? 

Enormous profits are being made by the agribusiness conglomerates. At what coast? And who is actually paying the price? 

How about the fast fashion and the senseless mountains of textile trash and pollution this business model produces? What about the people working in the sweatshops to satisfy the ever growing demand for cheap goods?  

How about the built-in obsolescence that keeps the "engines" of capitalism running? It is actually scandalous that the products we buy "die" on us short after their warranty expires, forcing us to replace them with new ones. In many cases the new product is cheaper than the repair of the broken one. Worse even, in many cases the repair option does not even exist. On the other hand, it would be extremely naive to believe that we could slow, or even stop, the endless production of goods and return to the standards of the pre-industrial era.

I have no answers to these questions. However, I believe that each of us should do some research. We should take responsibility for our own actions, reconsider our choices, and hold the companies responsible for pollution accountable. We probably will never be able to stop the mindless consumerism so prevalent in our societies, but we could at least start in our own backyard and try to educate others. 

 

Burning issues such as the destruction of natural habitats, deforestation, topsoil degradation, environmental pollution, potable water scarcity on our planet, and the mountains of trash that we produce every day - to name only a few - should be our main concern right now. The Earth will survive without us but we will not survive without the Earth. Unless we increase our environmental consciousness, we as a species will not make it.

With this sentiment I wish you all a very happy Earth Day 2024!

By Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2024

Spaghetti with Agretti or the Friar's Beard

Agretti, also known as the barba di frate, barba dei frati, riscolo, rosciano or roscano agretto, is an unusual vegetable, or weed, with a rather short harvest season and an exquisite taste. In English it is known as the friar's or monk's beard. The plant belongs to the family of Chenopodiaceae and forms small bushes and thrives in the wild in coastal regions of the Mediterranean basin, in the soil with high salinity. It is a halophyte or salt-tolerant, plant. Under special conditions, the plant can also be cultivated in the garden. 

Agretti is very popular among the gourmets in Italy during its growing season in Spring. It can be consumed cooked or raw. Uncooked it has a slightly tart, salty taste.

Like any green vegetable, agretti (Salsola soda) is rich in chlorophyll and fiber. It is also a good source of vitamin A and C, some B vitamins, carotenoids especially lutein, and minerals including calcium, potassium, magnesium and iron.

I made this simple dish for the first time ever, and it was delicious. If you can get the ingredients, give it a try. The amount of agretti I used was about half of the cooked pasta, proportion 2:1. You may want to use more and change the proportion to 1:1 or even 2:1. Although I was very happy with the outcome, I probably will double the amount of agretti the next time I cook this dish. 

I was very lucky to get the incredibly tasty and very ripe Amalfi lemons that are now in season. I decided to use the juice and the aromatic zest in this recipe. Lemon juice harmonizes perfectly with the friar's beard.

Ingredients: 

• spaghetti or any other pasta of your choice, enough for two people
• 1 small bunch agretti
• 4 Tbsp virgin olive oil
• 4 large garlic cloves
• 6-8 sun dried tomatoes halves
• 1 heaping Tbsp capers
• juice of 1 Amalfi lemon
• 1 Tbsp lemon zest 
• generous amount of freshly ground black pepper
• shaved Parmigiano Reggiano or Pecorino Sardo cheese for garnish
  

Gather all the ingredients and prepare them before you start cooking.  

Method:

• Soak the sun dried tomatoes in water to soften them. Once they are soft, chop them up roughly. To save the time you may want to use the soft sun dried tomatoes that were preserved in olive oil.
• Wash the agretti and cut off the though white ends. Set aside. 
• Peel and roughly chop the garlic.
• Cook the pasta in slightly salted water. Follow the package instructions to get it right. I like my pasta al dente, you may want to cook it for a little longer. 
• A few minutes before the pasta is ready, toss the agretti into the pot and cook together with the pasta until the noodles are cooked to perfection. 
• Reserve one cup of the water from cooking the pasta. You will need it for the sauce. Using a sieve, sieve off the noodles and agretti. Let it drain and discard the remaining cooking water. 
• In a large pan gently warm up the olive oil. I use medium heat. Toss in the garlic and cook it until fragrant. Be careful not to burn the garlic or it will taste bitter. 
• Add chopped sun dried tomatoes to the pan and cook for a minute or two, stirring gently. Add the capers and continue for another minute still watching the garlic. 
• Transfer the drained pasta and agretti into the pan and mix well with all the other ingredients. Add the reserved water from cooking the pasta and mix well. Take the pan off the heat. Add lemon zest and lemon juice and mix again. 
• Portion out the pasta. Add a generous amount of black pepper and garnish with shaving of aged Italian cheese. Serve right away and enjoy in good company! 

Tip: You can replace the agretti with garlic scapes to create another delicious dish.

By Dominique Allmon

Dominique Allmon©2024

Happy Year of the Dragon!

Year of the Dragon

On February 10, 2024 Chinese people all over the world celebrate the beginning of the Lunar New Year of the Dragon. The Lunar New Year is also celebrated in Japan, Korea and Vietnam.

 

The symbol of the dragon in Chinese culture is very ancient and dates back to the fifth millennium B.C.

In Chinese mythology and folklore, the dragon is an auspicious symbol of power, strength,  wisdom, good luck, and prosperity. In imperial China the dragon symbolized the imperial power of the Emperor. The throne on which the Emperor sat was called the Dragon Throne.

Dragon is usually portrayed by a long, lizard-like, scaled four legged creature that controls the realm of weather and water and is responsible for rain, floods, and hurricanes. Unlike European dragons, Chinese dragons are not evil predators, but they may be tempestuous and very unpredictable.

Dragon is one of the twelve animals in the Chinese zodiac. He is the fifth animal that arrived at the feast given by the Buddha. He is the only creature that is imaginary.  

Year 2024 is the year of the Wood Dragon. Wood is one of the Five Elements in Chinese philosophy. In the Five Elements system it is represented by the color green. The wood element brings qualities like growth, renewal, creativity and flexibility to the normally tempestuous nature of the dragon.

The Chinese geomancers associate Year of the Dragon with a new beginning and good fortune. This is a good year to start a business, expand your vision and explore new opportunities. Any new venture, including marriage, is bound to succeed. 

 

People born under this sign of the Wood Dragon are not only very gifted and lucky, they are also very ambitious, adventurous and rather optimistic when facing their challenges. They are considered to be loyal, compassionate and generous friends, and charismatic, visionary leaders. 

Those less fortunate who suffered losses and misfortune in the past may expect some positive change in the new year since the Wood Dragon combines the prowess of the dragon with the creativity of the wood element. 2024 is expected to be a year of growth and innovation. It is the year to freely express your ideas, pursue your dreams, fulfill your vision, and advance your career. In order to succeed, you need to be creative and flexible.

No matter what the predictions for the Year of the Dragon may be, remember that you are the ultimate master of your fate.  

Wishing everyone Happy and Auspicious Lunar New Year - Dominique

 

   新 年 快 樂 !

 

By Dominique Allmon

 

Dominique Allmon©2024