Episode 435-The Drought Of Our Lifetime, Food Shortages, Rice Pudding
**RECIPE BELOW**
On today’s show, I discuss the western drought situation and bring some up-close and personal experience to this as I live in one of the hardest-hit areas in the west, Utah.
NOTE: The powers that be will use this drought to pound the table on carbon emissions and “climate change“ a natural cycle, as a means to an end. That end is eliminating fossil fuels, promoting electric cars, and stopping animal agriculture and traditional family farming. So, while we have a drought, be mindful it fits their climate change agenda so they will make lots of news about it. I want you to be informed!
We are experiencing a serious drought out here in the west, the last two winters had very low snowpack in most areas so there was little to no spring runoff or melt. In the west, we rely on snowpack to fill our reservoirs, not rainfall. In my town we average about 9 inches of rainfall per year, so far in 2021, we’re under 3 inches according to most estimates.
Basically, it never rains yet we irrigate golf courses, yards, parks, splash pads- all with meltwater. Currently as of June 1 st 2021 we are slightly behind our usual average in my local area, but others are not as fortunate. Lake Powell and Lake Mead are extremely low at around 31-34%. Those two water sources serve millions downstream, in AZ, CA, and NV. So their low level is a bad situation. Southwest Utah has 4 reservoirs that strategically supply water to Washington Cty so we don’t rely on the Colorado river (as far as I know) to supply our water.
Over in CA, they are restricting water to farmers and I fear that will get much worse which results in less food being produced; fruits, vegetables, nuts, olives, grains, beef, chicken, pork as all require lots of water to produce. Only time will tell how bad it gets.
On a brighter note, rice pudding is today’s featured recipe idea. I will be updating this post soon with photos.
Here are some links to check out:
2021 could be one of the driest years in a millennium, and there's no relief in sight
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-qDYi9HfQkI
What about us? Ute Tribe asks as Utah moves to protect its share of the Colorado River.
https://www.sltrib.com/news/environment/2021/03/05/what-about-us-ute-tribe/
This is a great example of a company that is growing lots of food responsibly, but not in CA, this model would be in every state and we’d be a lot more secure as t grocery store shelves remaining fill.https://www.muccifarms.com/our-farms/why-greenhouse-grown/
Crumbling Chinese Buildings:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XopSDJq6w8E&t=303s
Why Is Everything In China Falling Apart?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9eXi3RL8q4
More Chinese Falling Infrastructure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zplHlJDs1U
Resources for this episode:
Cherry Rice Pudding
Ingredients
- 80 g Aborio rice (Risotto style)
- 250 g milk
- 100 g evaporated milk
- 20 g Sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla extract or 1 vanilla bean with seeds scraped out
- 2 egg yolks
- 30 g Vermont maple syrup
- 125 g whipped cream (sweetened or not-your choice)
Instructions
- Rinse rice under cold water to remove excess starch.
- In saucepot add milk, rice, sugar, and vanilla, bring to boil then reduce heat to low and cook stirring often for about 25 minutes or until rice is tender and suspended in a creamy mixture, remove from heat and allow to cool to about 140 degrees.
- Beat egg yolks with syrup then whisk into rice mixture, pour into another work bowl, and cover with plastic wrap in-contact. (press plastic on the surface of cooked rice-prevents skin from forming)
- After it's been chilled (see chef's note) fold in whipped cream, garnish with pitted cherries.
- Alternatively, add cherries to the rice mixture after it's been cooking for 20 minutes, this may make the mixture red.
Notes:
Chef's Note:
It's a good idea to cool the rice pudding once in the new bowl to about 50 degrees or so before placing it in the refrigerator, do this by using an ice water bath.