For All Things Are Possible With Q

Did you happen to read about the recent cargo delivery to the International Space Station? (view story) After I read it, I began to think that it's expensive to ship the supplies, the delivery takes a long time, and there's limited space and weight restrictions on the cargo being transported. But it's the best way we (those remaining on planet Earth) can give the brightest and most capable minds that our planet has to offer, a nice taste of home - "SpaceX also sent the crew a gift of fresh fruit from an employee's father's orchard," company president Gwynne Shotwell said.

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Gene Roddenberry created the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. The introduction is: "Space: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Enterprise. Its continuing mission: to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no one has gone before." 

Set in the 24th century, the crew of the Enterprise sometimes travels great distances from Earth. Roddenberry imagined that by this time the people of Earth would've created the technology necessary to avoid the above mentioned cost, delivery time, and limited space and weight restrictions that we in the 21st century are posed with. So, he created a future without money, and one with a machine that would eliminate the need for transporting air, water, clothing, spare parts, and food to a ship in space - a replicator. To order their most sought after foods and beverages, the crew of the Enterprise tells the replicator what they want to eat or drink, and that item materlializes on the replicator shelf.

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If I were stationed aboard the Enterprise, I would be compelled to program some of my favorite breakfast recipes into the replicator database - The Topper and the Wake Up Wowser.

The Topper

A sandwich made with a toasted, buttered bagel; 1 fried egg; 1 thick slice of ham, fried; 1 hash brown, hot; and 2 pieces of American cheese. Stack everything on to the bagel, and enjoy! WARNING – I asked my doctor if it was OK for me to make this for breakfast every day. He laughed and said, "Sure, go ahead if you want to live a short, unhealthy life."

 

 

Wake Up Wowser

A drink made by juicing 1 pear, 1 apple, 2 oranges, and 1 sweet potato. Give it a good stir, and enjoy! This is a healthy drink that tastes great! Your kids will love it, too! My niece and nephew are my "juicing assistants," and the Wake Up Wowser is one of their favorites.

 

If programmed into the replicator correctly, I'm sure that my fellow crew members on-board the Enterprise would enjoy my meals! Listed below are some of the crew's most ordered beverages and signature dishes:

Jean-Luc Picard - Earl Grey Tea

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William Riker - Gagh (a serpent worm that's eaten while still alive)

photo credit: DatarkNZ via photopin cc

Deanna Troi - Chocolate (video)

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Data -  Cellular Peptide Cake with Mint Frosting

 photo credit: Reggie Rachuba via photopin cc

Geordi La Forge - Fungilli

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Beverly Crusher - Warm Milk Toddy

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Worf - Klingon Bloodwine (video recipe)

photo credit: DatarkNZ via photopin cc

Ro Laren - Hasperat

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Guinan - Prune Juice

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Q - Old-Fashioned Lemonade (recipe)

photo credit: Marshall Astor - Food Fetishist via photopin cc

Ten Forward

 

I hope I live to see the day when it's possible for someone to get a job as a cook in space. That's where I'd want to be - exploring strange new worlds, seeking out new life and new civilizations, and all along enjoying the best food our world has to offer! We have a long way to go before we can travel through space and time, as those of the starship Enterprise do, but if we commit ourselves to becoming healthier, more educated, and more technologically advanced, we'll get there someday.