The big picture

I hope you will enjoy my latest taste discovery ---- a wonderful risotto made with arborio rice and winter squash. It's intended for the pressure cooker but I expect you could do it on the stovetop with more time and attention. It was so good, mine was almost gone before I thought to snap a picture:
Risotto with Winter Squash

Here's a sudden jump from my kitchen to the world situation, with a message from Paola in Ireland:
Dear Eve,
I have just read a newsletter (form the cookery school I attended over 15 years ago) about a possible trade agreement that would be a disaster if reached... it is an issue very close to my heart - and I am trying to spread the word in any way I can think of :) - so I thought that as the mindful cooks circle is always expanding it could be a place to start...
...in the following link there is a clear explanation and links to a petition to the EU (it's a safe link , it is Darina Allen's blog, of the Irish Ballymaloe cookery school) http://darinasblog.cookingisfun.ie/2015/04/urgent-for-all-food-lovers.html
To summarize, the EU, Canada and USA are in the process of going into a trade agreement [TTIP] which when it comes to food poses serious threats to the European food production - from pressure to use GM crops to increased hardship for small food producers in benefit of big corporations. ...
...may your day be filled with joy!
Paola

Thanks, Paola --- it gives me joy to know that people everywhere are waking up to what's happening with these trade agreements.
I followed your link and read it with great interest ---- very eye-opening for an American! ---I hope everyone will read it. I was glad to find I was eligible to sign the petition to the EU --- you don't have to be European to do that.

Where I live, we mostly hear about the TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) which poses all the same problems, giving corporations the power to undo our environmental laws. While the people of Europe worry that their food standards will descend to USA levels, we worry that our standards will drop to those of Malaysia. Clearly, all of us who hope for a safe food supply are in this together! We had a rally and march in Portland last weekend --- one of many across the country and around the world. There are numerous online petitions about the TPP ---I've signed a bunch of them. Here is the one from 350.org: https://campaigns.350.org/petitions/say-no-to-corporate-power-grabs-reje...

I also heard from Christel in Germany this week who told me about the 2015 Food Revolution Summit offered by John and Ocean Robbins. It's free and online and it starts very soon----Saturday, April 25---- and lasts till May 3. If you want to join the revolution, better sign up fast! This link tells all about it: http://foodrevolutionsummit.org/

These are exciting times indeed, with so much at stake for the future of food, and so many of us joining in wherever we can.

Coming back from the big picture to the near at hand, we're about to gather around the table in Portland for our Spring Potluck. If you are in the area, let me know!

Happy cooking,
Eve