No Sleep til Pluto
August 4, 2014
“We must learn to reawaken and keep ourselves awake, not by mechanical aid, but by an infinite expectation of the dawn.”
~ Henry David Thoreau
The term “moving toward a new horizon” is used to describe a journey to new ways of thinking, living or being, usually indicating an improvement in one’s current situation or a change of things for the better. However, if you are the planet Pluto (oops, I mean “icy dwarf planet”), the new horizon is moving toward you.
The New Horizons space probe was launched by NASA in 2006 in order to study Pluto, its five known moons (Charon, Styx, Nix, Kerberos and Hydra) and objects within the Kuiper belt (a region of our Solar System that extends beyond the planets). On its way, New Horizons, the first probe to travel to Pluto, has already journeyed over the storms and around the moons of Jupiter. Flying by Jupiter also assisted the probe by providing a mid-course gravitational assist (kind of like using Jupiter’s gravity as a sling-shot to propel New Horizons on to Pluto).
New Horizons will encounter Pluto on July 14, 2015 and the probe has had to make six course corrections along the way, the most recent a couple of weeks ago.
When we as individuals are moving toward a desired goal, in search of a new horizon, things don’t always go smoothly. More often than not, one encounters unexpected delays, unanticipated roadblocks and unplanned-for circumstances. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Those difficulties, big and small, test our desire and resolve. They often help to steer us down an ultimately better path, even if, at first, we experience frustration or disappointment.
If you are trying to do something new, to make a change for the better or bring a new idea into being, remember to keep your eyes on the prize. If you are forging a new path, the way will not be well-worn and smooth by nature of its very newness. You should expect bumps in the road and, like the New Horizons spacecraft, make the necessary corrections and keep going. One day at a time, put one foot in front of the other; do something every day to move yourself forward toward your goal and eventually, the new horizon will find its way to you.
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Wake up your taste buds with this vegetarian version of the classic Southern-style gravy made with coffee.
Mushroom Red Eye Gravy
This veggie version of Red Eye Gravy is super flavorful. Serve for brunch over polenta, grits or mashed potatoes. I stirred mine into 2 cups of cooked quinoa and it was amazing! Omnivores can try it over steak, as both coffee and mushrooms compliment the flavor of beef. Be sure to look for the Fair Trade Certified symbol on your coffee. See the link to Fair Trade USA at the right, under Elaborations, for more info on Fair Trade.
2 & 1/2 tablespoons butter
8 oz of cremini or button mushrooms, cleaned and sliced thin
1 teaspoon smoked paprika
1/2 cup strong coffee
1/4 cup water
Salt and black pepper to taste
In a medium-sized sauté pan, over medium high heat, melt butter and add mushrooms, stirring constantly until mushrooms release their liquid. Add the smoked paprika and a pinch of salt. Add coffee and stir to incorporate mushrooms and butter and deglaze the pan. Stir in the water and bring just to a boil. Reduce heat to medium and cook for 5 minutes, stirring often, to reduce (gravy will be thin). Taste and add salt and black pepper to your liking.
Makes about 1 & 1/2 cups (with mushrooms)
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