🥪 🧡 A Really Good Sandwich: A Cozy Story About Simple Joys

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00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:07,590
Welcome to The Slow Life.
I'm Jennifer Vino and I create,

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00:00:07,640 --> 00:00:12,050
narrate and design the
soundscape of this village of

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00:00:12,060 --> 00:00:15,810
cosy stories to relax and
unwind.

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00:00:16,860 --> 00:00:20,250
Each week I share an original
story.

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00:00:20,320 --> 00:00:25,350
Read 2 times so you can relax
even more during the second

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00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:29,050
reading.
I'm happy to announce my

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00:00:29,060 --> 00:00:36,270
website, theslowlife.ca.
It provides a space where we can

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00:00:36,280 --> 00:00:40,640
connect and I can bring you all
things cozy.

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00:00:43,050 --> 00:00:47,690
Let's settle in with some easy
breathing at your own pace.

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00:00:48,790 --> 00:00:53,840
With each inhale, let fresh air
fill the space around your

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00:00:53,850 --> 00:00:58,840
heart.
With each exhale, feel the calm

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00:00:58,850 --> 00:01:04,440
air spread through your body and
flow out through your arms and

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00:01:04,450 --> 00:01:09,070
legs, gently in through your
heart.

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00:01:11,010 --> 00:01:21,540
Gently out through your body, in
through your heart, out through

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00:01:21,550 --> 00:01:27,300
your body.
And now let's begin.

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00:01:30,380 --> 00:01:36,490
This story is called A Really
Good Sandwich and it's about

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00:01:36,560 --> 00:01:44,390
building up an appetite,
creating edible art and, well, a

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00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:51,720
really good sandwich.
My goodness, I love a good

19
00:01:51,730 --> 00:01:55,730
sandwich.
In fact, I've dreamt about them

20
00:01:55,740 --> 00:02:00,060
from time to time.
The look and taste of certain

21
00:02:00,070 --> 00:02:06,000
ones I had years ago still pop
up in my memory at the funniest

22
00:02:06,010 --> 00:02:10,590
times.
So today I'm going to make

23
00:02:10,600 --> 00:02:16,010
myself a really good sandwich.
A proper one.

24
00:02:16,330 --> 00:02:19,730
The kind I'll think about later
with fondness.

25
00:02:21,280 --> 00:02:26,390
Before any of that, though, I'm
winding down the long walk I set

26
00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:31,140
out on this morning.
It started with the simple

27
00:02:31,150 --> 00:02:35,820
thought of stretching my legs,
but became a meandering

28
00:02:35,830 --> 00:02:40,530
adventure along familiar streets
and quiet trails.

29
00:02:42,100 --> 00:02:47,290
My steps felt light at first,
then purposeful for a while,

30
00:02:47,700 --> 00:02:52,470
then delightfully aimless, which
is exactly how I like them.

31
00:02:54,030 --> 00:02:59,660
The weather has cooperated with
clouds drifting around in a way

32
00:02:59,670 --> 00:03:04,220
that makes the sky an
entertainment in itself, with a

33
00:03:04,230 --> 00:03:08,170
light breeze that keeps me spry
the whole way through.

34
00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:14,150
Arriving home, my legs are
humming enough to make me feel

35
00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:19,520
I've done something useful with
them, and my stomach is chiming

36
00:03:19,530 --> 00:03:26,440
in with opinions of its own.
I sighed dramatically as I take

37
00:03:26,450 --> 00:03:31,920
off my shoes and hang my coat as
if it has just seen me through

38
00:03:31,930 --> 00:03:37,780
an epic expedition.
I smile, pleased to feel

39
00:03:37,790 --> 00:03:44,000
accomplished before lunchtime.
I take a moment just to breathe

40
00:03:44,010 --> 00:03:49,990
in the familiar scent of foam,
the trace of morning coffee, the

41
00:03:50,000 --> 00:03:54,850
coolness of air that hasn't been
disturbed for a couple of hours.

42
00:03:56,270 --> 00:04:00,380
I laid a fire in the wood stove
to take away the chill.

43
00:04:01,760 --> 00:04:05,530
And then the thought returns.
The sandwich.

44
00:04:06,480 --> 00:04:09,330
The one I promised myself
earlier.

45
00:04:09,860 --> 00:04:14,640
The one that has been growing
more elaborate in my imagination

46
00:04:14,700 --> 00:04:20,579
with every step of my walk.
I head to the kitchen to begin.

47
00:04:22,200 --> 00:04:27,310
I lay out everything I need on
the island, setting the stage

48
00:04:27,320 --> 00:04:32,500
for the event.
Fresh farmers market bread with

49
00:04:32,510 --> 00:04:37,680
a crust that gives just the
right crunch and a soft inside,

50
00:04:37,690 --> 00:04:40,940
sturdy enough for everything it
will hold.

51
00:04:42,510 --> 00:04:48,300
I give it a gentle squeeze, then
slice 2 generous pieces and

52
00:04:48,310 --> 00:04:52,280
place them side by side at the
back of the cutting board.

53
00:04:53,700 --> 00:04:59,450
Next comes the homemade hummus.
I open the container and breathe

54
00:04:59,460 --> 00:05:06,220
in its savory, garlicky warmth.
I spread it generously across

55
00:05:06,230 --> 00:05:12,160
one slice of bread, letting it
fill in the tiny air pockets and

56
00:05:12,170 --> 00:05:18,250
smoothing it right to the edges.
It's the perfect foundation, the

57
00:05:18,260 --> 00:05:22,850
way someone might prepare a
canvas before adding the finer

58
00:05:22,860 --> 00:05:27,900
brush strokes.
A good sandwich, after all, is

59
00:05:27,910 --> 00:05:33,870
an edible kind of art.
On the other slice, I spoon ODA

60
00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:38,810
glossy layer of basil pesto,
bright and fragrant.

61
00:05:39,060 --> 00:05:43,630
It's colour alone makes the
whole thing taste better before

62
00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:49,780
I've even taken a bite.
As I spread it evenly, the aroma

63
00:05:49,790 --> 00:05:55,770
of basil and olive oil rises up,
promising a little Zing to

64
00:05:55,780 --> 00:05:59,760
balance the hummus on the
island.

65
00:05:59,770 --> 00:06:03,130
A line up of ingredients waits
for their turn.

66
00:06:04,320 --> 00:06:09,110
I reach for the cucumbers.
Cool, thin slices that will

67
00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:13,830
freshen every bite.
They layer with such neat

68
00:06:13,840 --> 00:06:18,620
precision, like roof tiles
arranged to keep everything in

69
00:06:18,630 --> 00:06:24,250
its place.
Red bell Peppers follow, sliced

70
00:06:24,260 --> 00:06:30,510
into very slim strips that add a
sweet crunch, then a scatter of

71
00:06:30,520 --> 00:06:34,730
shredded carrots that brings
both colour and texture.

72
00:06:36,370 --> 00:06:42,540
Fresh spinach comes next, soft
and leafy, settling in a fairly

73
00:06:42,550 --> 00:06:48,960
neat pile, not too unruly.
I top it with a handful of

74
00:06:48,970 --> 00:06:53,720
sprouts, fluffy, tangled and a
little chaotic.

75
00:06:54,130 --> 00:06:57,560
A wild garden perched on top of
the mound.

76
00:06:59,180 --> 00:07:03,110
I turned to the right.
Bava Caddo that gives way to the

77
00:07:03,120 --> 00:07:05,590
knife with the slightest
pressure.

78
00:07:06,670 --> 00:07:11,600
Its pale creaminess is smooth
and buttery, and I fan the

79
00:07:11,610 --> 00:07:14,290
slices over the sprouts with
care.

80
00:07:15,810 --> 00:07:21,820
Cheese, mild and perfectly
pliant, follows, draping softly

81
00:07:21,890 --> 00:07:25,260
over the avocado like a
finishing touch.

82
00:07:25,510 --> 00:07:31,170
But I'm not done yet.
For more balance I add slices of

83
00:07:31,180 --> 00:07:37,730
pickle meant exactly for this
and thin rings of red onion just

84
00:07:37,740 --> 00:07:44,870
enough to awaken the senses.
And I believe a swirl of mustard

85
00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:48,040
gives any sandwich the step up
it needs.

86
00:07:49,650 --> 00:07:54,720
A pinch of salt and a few twists
of freshly cracked black pepper

87
00:07:54,870 --> 00:07:59,200
fall like confetti in
celebration of every flavour

88
00:07:59,210 --> 00:08:03,870
coming together.
And finally, I pull out the

89
00:08:03,880 --> 00:08:08,850
small jar of sandwich sprinkle I
bought at the farmers market.

90
00:08:10,190 --> 00:08:15,020
It's a fragrant mix of toasted
seeds, herbs and something

91
00:08:15,030 --> 00:08:18,020
citrusy I can never quite
identify.

92
00:08:19,590 --> 00:08:24,600
I just it generously across the
mountain, watching it catch and

93
00:08:24,610 --> 00:08:30,290
cling wherever it can.
The moment it lands, the smell

94
00:08:30,300 --> 00:08:35,370
shifts subtly, promising that
this sandwich won't just be

95
00:08:35,380 --> 00:08:41,789
good, it will be remembered.
I stand back for a moment,

96
00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:46,010
admiring the stack of
ingredients as if it were a

97
00:08:46,020 --> 00:08:51,480
small sculpture.
All those layers, crunchy,

98
00:08:51,530 --> 00:08:57,070
creamy, fresh, tangy.
Rest patiently on the bread.

99
00:08:58,680 --> 00:09:03,850
With both hands, I lift the top
slice and bring it down gently,

100
00:09:04,080 --> 00:09:08,510
pressing just enough to hold
everything in place without

101
00:09:08,520 --> 00:09:13,790
squashing the artistry.
The sandwich settles with a

102
00:09:13,800 --> 00:09:19,200
satisfying sound.
I suspect it might fall apart

103
00:09:19,210 --> 00:09:24,160
the instant I delve into it, but
that's all part of the charm.

104
00:09:25,460 --> 00:09:29,190
The best sandwiches are always a
bit untamed.

105
00:09:30,730 --> 00:09:34,920
More than a few sprouts peak out
at me from the edges.

106
00:09:35,680 --> 00:09:40,900
I'll tidy them up as I go at
this point.

107
00:09:40,950 --> 00:09:46,100
Some people might neatly slice
the sandwich in half, but today

108
00:09:46,110 --> 00:09:50,130
I leave it whole.
There's something fun about

109
00:09:50,140 --> 00:09:54,800
picking it up in its full,
slightly impossible form.

110
00:09:56,550 --> 00:10:00,600
I sit down right here at the
island and pull the plate

111
00:10:00,610 --> 00:10:04,910
closer.
The first bite is everything I

112
00:10:04,920 --> 00:10:08,870
hoped for.
The bread crackles in exactly

113
00:10:08,880 --> 00:10:14,060
the way I like the greens and
veggies do their job with

114
00:10:14,070 --> 00:10:19,510
refreshing taste.
Sprouts leap out on to the plate

115
00:10:19,690 --> 00:10:22,860
and I welcome them back into the
next bite.

116
00:10:24,360 --> 00:10:28,770
I know without question that
someday the memory of this

117
00:10:28,780 --> 00:10:34,770
sandwich will appear again,
vivid and delightful, making me

118
00:10:34,780 --> 00:10:38,000
smile just as I am in this
moment.

119
00:10:39,460 --> 00:10:44,180
It's something so simple,
something worth dreaming about.

120
00:10:48,490 --> 00:10:56,180
A really good sandwich.
My goodness, I love a good

121
00:10:56,190 --> 00:11:00,180
sandwich.
In fact, I've dreamt about them

122
00:11:00,190 --> 00:11:04,500
from time to time.
The look and taste of certain

123
00:11:04,510 --> 00:11:10,450
ones I had years ago still pop
up in my memory at the funniest

124
00:11:10,460 --> 00:11:15,040
times.
So today I'm going to make

125
00:11:15,050 --> 00:11:20,450
myself a really good sandwich.
A proper one.

126
00:11:20,780 --> 00:11:24,180
The kind I'll think about later
with fondness.

127
00:11:25,740 --> 00:11:30,850
Before any of that, though, I'm
winding down the long walk I set

128
00:11:30,860 --> 00:11:35,590
out on this morning.
It started with the simple

129
00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:40,270
thought of stretching my legs,
but became a meandering

130
00:11:40,280 --> 00:11:44,980
adventure along familiar streets
and quiet trails.

131
00:11:46,530 --> 00:11:51,760
My steps felt light at first,
then purposeful for a while,

132
00:11:52,150 --> 00:11:56,910
then delightfully aimless, which
is exactly how I like them.

133
00:11:58,480 --> 00:12:04,110
The weather has cooperated with
clouds drifting around in a way

134
00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:08,670
that makes the sky an
entertainment in itself, with a

135
00:12:08,680 --> 00:12:12,610
light breeze that keeps me spry
the whole way through.

136
00:12:14,170 --> 00:12:18,600
Arriving home, my legs are
humming enough to make me feel

137
00:12:18,610 --> 00:12:23,960
I've done something useful with
them, and my stomach is chiming

138
00:12:23,970 --> 00:12:30,870
in with opinions of its own.
I sighed dramatically as I take

139
00:12:30,880 --> 00:12:36,370
off my shoes and hang my coat as
if it has just seen me through

140
00:12:36,380 --> 00:12:42,210
an epic expedition.
I smile, pleased to feel

141
00:12:42,220 --> 00:12:48,440
accomplished before lunchtime.
I take a moment just to breathe

142
00:12:48,450 --> 00:12:54,440
in the familiar scent of foam,
the trace of morning coffee, the

143
00:12:54,450 --> 00:12:59,300
coolness of air that hasn't been
disturbed for a couple of hours.

144
00:13:00,730 --> 00:13:06,820
I light a fire in the wood stove
to take away the chill, and then

145
00:13:06,830 --> 00:13:09,970
the thought returns.
The sandwich.

146
00:13:10,930 --> 00:13:13,780
The one I promised myself
earlier.

147
00:13:14,310 --> 00:13:19,080
The one that has been growing
more elaborate in my imagination

148
00:13:19,150 --> 00:13:25,020
with every step of my walk.
I head to the kitchen to begin.

149
00:13:26,650 --> 00:13:31,760
I lay out everything I need on
the island, setting the stage

150
00:13:31,770 --> 00:13:36,950
for the event.
Fresh farmers market bread with

151
00:13:36,960 --> 00:13:42,130
a crust that gives just the
right crunch and a soft inside,

152
00:13:42,140 --> 00:13:45,390
sturdy enough for everything it
will hold.

153
00:13:46,960 --> 00:13:52,750
I give it a gentle squeeze, then
slice 2 generous pieces and

154
00:13:52,760 --> 00:13:56,730
place them side by side at the
back of the cutting board.

155
00:13:58,150 --> 00:14:03,900
Next comes the homemade hummus.
I open the container and breathe

156
00:14:03,910 --> 00:14:10,670
in its savory, garlicky warmth.
I spread it generously across

157
00:14:10,680 --> 00:14:16,610
one slice of bread, letting it
fill in the tiny air pockets and

158
00:14:16,620 --> 00:14:22,700
smoothing it right to the edges.
It's the perfect foundation, the

159
00:14:22,710 --> 00:14:27,300
way someone might prepare a
canvas before adding the finer

160
00:14:27,310 --> 00:14:32,350
brush strokes.
A good sandwich, after all, is

161
00:14:32,360 --> 00:14:38,220
an edible kind of art.
On the other slice, I spoon owed

162
00:14:38,230 --> 00:14:44,360
A glossy layer of basil pesto.
Bright and fragrant, it's colour

163
00:14:44,370 --> 00:14:48,670
alone makes the whole thing
taste better before I've even

164
00:14:48,680 --> 00:14:54,210
taken a bite.
As I spread it evenly, the aroma

165
00:14:54,220 --> 00:15:00,210
of basil and olive oil rises up,
promising a little Zing to

166
00:15:00,220 --> 00:15:04,200
balance the hummus on the
island.

167
00:15:04,210 --> 00:15:07,580
A line up of ingredients waits
for their turn.

168
00:15:08,760 --> 00:15:13,560
I reach for the cucumbers.
Cool, thin slices that will

169
00:15:13,570 --> 00:15:18,280
freshen every bite.
They layer with such neat

170
00:15:18,290 --> 00:15:23,060
precision, like roof tiles
arranged to keep everything in

171
00:15:23,070 --> 00:15:28,700
its place.
Red bell Peppers follow, sliced

172
00:15:28,710 --> 00:15:34,960
into very slim strips that add a
sweet crunch, then a scatter of

173
00:15:34,970 --> 00:15:39,180
shredded carrots that brings
both colour and texture.

174
00:15:40,840 --> 00:15:46,990
Fresh spinach comes next, soft
and leafy, settling in a fairly

175
00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:53,400
neat pile, not too unruly.
I top it with a handful of

176
00:15:53,410 --> 00:15:58,160
sprouts, fluffy, tangled and a
little chaotic.

177
00:15:58,570 --> 00:16:02,010
A wild garden perched on top of
the mound.

178
00:16:03,630 --> 00:16:07,540
I turned to the right.
Bava Caddo that gives way to the

179
00:16:07,550 --> 00:16:10,040
knife with the slightest
pressure.

180
00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:16,050
Its pale creaminess is smooth
and buttery, and I fan the

181
00:16:16,060 --> 00:16:18,740
slices over the sprouts with
care.

182
00:16:20,250 --> 00:16:26,280
Cheese, mild and perfectly
pliant, follows, draping softly

183
00:16:26,340 --> 00:16:29,720
over the avocado like a
finishing touch.

184
00:16:29,970 --> 00:16:35,620
But I'm not done yet.
For more balance I add slices of

185
00:16:35,630 --> 00:16:42,180
pickle meant exactly for this
and thin rings of red onion just

186
00:16:42,190 --> 00:16:49,320
enough to awaken the senses.
And I believe a swirl of mustard

187
00:16:49,330 --> 00:16:52,490
gives any sandwich the step up
it needs.

188
00:16:54,080 --> 00:16:59,170
A pinch of salt and a few twists
of freshly cracked black pepper

189
00:16:59,320 --> 00:17:03,650
fall like confetti in
celebration of every flavour

190
00:17:03,660 --> 00:17:08,319
coming together.
And finally, I pull out the

191
00:17:08,329 --> 00:17:13,300
small jar of sandwich sprinkle I
bought at the farmers market.

192
00:17:14,640 --> 00:17:19,470
It's a fragrant mix of toasted
seeds, herbs, and something

193
00:17:19,480 --> 00:17:22,470
citrusy I can never quite
identify.

194
00:17:24,040 --> 00:17:29,050
I dust it generously across the
mountain, watching it catch and

195
00:17:29,060 --> 00:17:34,720
cling wherever it can.
The moment it lands, the smell

196
00:17:34,730 --> 00:17:39,820
shifts subtly, promising that
this sandwich won't just be

197
00:17:39,830 --> 00:17:42,290
good.
It will be remembered.

198
00:17:43,900 --> 00:17:48,130
I stand back for a moment,
admiring the stack of

199
00:17:48,140 --> 00:17:51,810
ingredients as if it were a
small sculpture.

200
00:17:53,300 --> 00:17:59,050
All those layers, crunchy,
creamy, fresh, tangy.

201
00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:05,500
Rest patiently on the bread.
With both hands, I lift the top

202
00:18:05,510 --> 00:18:10,760
slice and bring it down gently,
pressing just enough to hold

203
00:18:10,770 --> 00:18:14,810
everything in place without
squashing the artistry.

204
00:18:16,280 --> 00:18:20,070
The sandwich settles with a
satisfying sound.

205
00:18:21,430 --> 00:18:26,560
I suspect it might fall apart
the instant I delve into it, but

206
00:18:26,570 --> 00:18:32,240
that's all part of the charm.
The best sandwiches are always a

207
00:18:32,250 --> 00:18:37,710
bit untamed.
More than a few sprouts peek out

208
00:18:37,720 --> 00:18:44,450
at me from the edges.
I'll tidy them up as I go at

209
00:18:44,460 --> 00:18:47,630
this point.
Some people might neatly slice

210
00:18:47,640 --> 00:18:51,680
the sandwich in half, but today
I leave it whole.

211
00:18:52,820 --> 00:18:57,010
There's something fun about
picking it up in its full,

212
00:18:57,020 --> 00:19:03,180
slightly impossible form.
I sit down right here at the

213
00:19:03,190 --> 00:19:05,780
island and pull the plate
closer.

214
00:19:07,350 --> 00:19:10,420
The first bite is everything I
hoped for.

215
00:19:10,890 --> 00:19:14,960
The bread crackles in exactly
the way I like.

216
00:19:15,370 --> 00:19:19,920
The greens and veggies do their
job with refreshing taste.

217
00:19:21,170 --> 00:19:26,400
Sprouts leap out on to the plate
and I welcome them back into the

218
00:19:26,410 --> 00:19:30,900
next bite.
I know without question that

219
00:19:30,910 --> 00:19:35,680
someday the memory of this
sandwich will appear again,

220
00:19:36,190 --> 00:19:41,860
vivid and delightful, making me
smile just as I am in this

221
00:19:41,870 --> 00:19:46,080
moment.
It's something so simple,

222
00:19:46,330 --> 00:19:53,630
something worth dreaming about.
I wish you sweet dreams.