Comments on: You Say Tomato, I Say My Mouth Is Full http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/ Sat, 11 Oct 2008 00:16:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Sara http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-18045 Sara Sat, 29 Apr 2006 21:31:09 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-18045 That's it; I'm going seed-shopping tomorrow. I can't plant tomatoes out here until after Memorial Day, but I can start the seeds in my little water-wicking greenhousey thingies from Lee Valley (http://www.leevalley.com), purveyor of awesome and reasonably priced gardening paraphernalia. I want hundreds and hundreds of tiny tomatoes this summer. I can't wait. Oh and by the way, nettle people, I recently tasted a glorious, tangy, creamy gouda which had a liberal sprinkling of nettle leaves in it. Though hitting a patch of them while wearing shorts in Alaska one summer sent me to the bath to soak in cold tubsful of Dr. Bronner's Peppermint Soap (the liquid stuff) in a very strong solution for about a week, aged into cheese these things are absolutely lovely. If you see this cheese at your local fromagerie, do ask for a sample. I bought a quarter pound while my true love was on vacation in China thinking I would save some for him to try, but instead ended up eating the whole thing that afternoon without even the benefit of crackers. I just kept shaving off thin slice after thin slice and letting each melt on my tongue, and before I knew it, well, the cheese had vanished and another pound or so had been added to my hips. Winna, hit some of my links (in post 29) to learn more about asparagus. The white stuff is white because the growers keep it buried as it grows, so it never develops chlorophyll. This is expensive and silly, but apparently irresistible to the German palate. The purple stuff is sweet, tender and edible raw. The ordinary green stuff you apparently already know. I blame the patriarchy for the fact that I don't have purple asparagus in my mouth right now. Of course, if I had a higher IQ, maybe I could think of a way to change that, but since I don't I'll just have to wait for the season to develop. That’s it; I’m going seed-shopping tomorrow. I can’t plant tomatoes out here until after Memorial Day, but I can start the seeds in my little water-wicking greenhousey thingies from Lee Valley (http://www.leevalley.com), purveyor of awesome and reasonably priced gardening paraphernalia.

I want hundreds and hundreds of tiny tomatoes this summer. I can’t wait.

Oh and by the way, nettle people, I recently tasted a glorious, tangy, creamy gouda which had a liberal sprinkling of nettle leaves in it. Though hitting a patch of them while wearing shorts in Alaska one summer sent me to the bath to soak in cold tubsful of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint Soap (the liquid stuff) in a very strong solution for about a week, aged into cheese these things are absolutely lovely. If you see this cheese at your local fromagerie, do ask for a sample. I bought a quarter pound while my true love was on vacation in China thinking I would save some for him to try, but instead ended up eating the whole thing that afternoon without even the benefit of crackers. I just kept shaving off thin slice after thin slice and letting each melt on my tongue, and before I knew it, well, the cheese had vanished and another pound or so had been added to my hips.

Winna, hit some of my links (in post 29) to learn more about asparagus. The white stuff is white because the growers keep it buried as it grows, so it never develops chlorophyll. This is expensive and silly, but apparently irresistible to the German palate. The purple stuff is sweet, tender and edible raw. The ordinary green stuff you apparently already know.

I blame the patriarchy for the fact that I don’t have purple asparagus in my mouth right now. Of course, if I had a higher IQ, maybe I could think of a way to change that, but since I don’t I’ll just have to wait for the season to develop.

]]> By: Pony http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17900 Pony Fri, 28 Apr 2006 16:55:53 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17900 I've done all that , she wailed. I'm thinking the rabe I get here is too mature. Or took to long to fly here. I'll check it at the farmer's markets come July. For now, kale and mustard greens simmered, drained, chopped and sauteed in olive oil with garlic, blended (leftover from last night's mujadara) carmelized onions on thinly sliced levain French toasts. See. I know my way around a kitchen. I’ve done all that , she wailed. I’m thinking the rabe I get here is too mature. Or took to long to fly here. I’ll check it at the farmer’s markets come July. For now, kale and mustard greens simmered, drained, chopped and sauteed in olive oil with garlic, blended (leftover from last night’s mujadara) carmelized onions on thinly sliced levain French toasts.

See. I know my way around a kitchen.

]]> By: winna http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17898 winna Fri, 28 Apr 2006 16:53:42 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17898 Why does my food never look as good as Twisty's? That salad is almost too beautiful to eat. What is the difference between white asparagus and regular asparagus? I love asparagus, but the white asparagus always looks suspicious to me, as if it were raised in a nuclear power plant. And asparagus is such a beautiful plant anyway, with the subtle purples and greens and the bright green against the plate when it's blanched. I live on it this time of year. Why does my food never look as good as Twisty’s? That salad is almost too beautiful to eat.

What is the difference between white asparagus and regular asparagus? I love asparagus, but the white asparagus always looks suspicious to me, as if it were raised in a nuclear power plant. And asparagus is such a beautiful plant anyway, with the subtle purples and greens and the bright green against the plate when it’s blanched. I live on it this time of year.

]]> By: Ron Sullivan http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17893 Ron Sullivan Fri, 28 Apr 2006 16:36:28 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17893 I dunno, Annie, I've always been an adventurous eater/drinker. I don't recall ever having been (or being told I'd been) one of those kids who'll stick anything in her mouth, and I wasn't the class birthday-candle or crayon eater. Maybe /flips hair/ I'm just a sensualist at heart. Pony, try a dash of lemon juice or vinegar on the broccoli rabe. And I second the garlic notion. I dunno, Annie, I’ve always been an adventurous eater/drinker. I don’t recall ever having been (or being told I’d been) one of those kids who’ll stick anything in her mouth, and I wasn’t the class birthday-candle or crayon eater. Maybe /flips hair/ I’m just a sensualist at heart.

Pony, try a dash of lemon juice or vinegar on the broccoli rabe. And I second the garlic notion.

]]> By: Annie http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17881 Annie Fri, 28 Apr 2006 15:52:23 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17881 Pony, I was that way with beets. The greens I could deal with, but the bulbs I just couldn't cope with for the longest time. However, like you, I was determined. In my mind, beets were just too beautiful to be cast aside. Not sure why, but probably because I am frequently slow on the uptake about idiotic and obvious things (my head being so frequently up my ass about "serious" shit), I'd failed to consider that I'd only ever eaten the prepared beets from cans and jars. Once I started fussing with them myself I became a true devotee. Now I eat 'em up raw, roasted, even once enjoyed borscht made for me by a Russian student I tutored. Shit, I've even been known to plop a few of the nasty ones from the salad bar on my plate. I'm not sure if it's to remind me of what beets aren't supposed to taste like, or if it's some wacked out narcissistic power move on my part: No Beet Will Defeat Me! or something moronic like that. So...MOTS: don't give up on the broccoli rabbe. Pony, I was that way with beets. The greens I could deal with, but the bulbs I just couldn’t cope with for the longest time. However, like you, I was determined. In my mind, beets were just too beautiful to be cast aside. Not sure why, but probably because I am frequently slow on the uptake about idiotic and obvious things (my head being so frequently up my ass about “serious” shit), I’d failed to consider that I’d only ever eaten the prepared beets from cans and jars. Once I started fussing with them myself I became a true devotee. Now I eat ‘em up raw, roasted, even once enjoyed borscht made for me by a Russian student I tutored. Shit, I’ve even been known to plop a few of the nasty ones from the salad bar on my plate. I’m not sure if it’s to remind me of what beets aren’t supposed to taste like, or if it’s some wacked out narcissistic power move on my part: No Beet Will Defeat Me! or something moronic like that. So…MOTS: don’t give up on the broccoli rabbe.

]]> By: Pony http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17879 Pony Fri, 28 Apr 2006 15:34:02 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17879 I eat bitter and truly love it. Arugula, wild greens etc. but brocolli rabe defies me. Trying again. Thanks Annie. I eat bitter and truly love it. Arugula, wild greens etc. but brocolli rabe defies me. Trying again. Thanks Annie.

]]> By: Annie http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17871 Annie Fri, 28 Apr 2006 15:03:12 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17871 Garlic, Pony, lots of wonderful garlic! And if the bitterness is what turns you off, try blanching it a bit first in some salt water and a pinch of baking soda. I prefer it bitter, but I know others don't. Also, when you saute it don't be afraid to scorch it just a bit. That carmelizes the wee bit of sugars in the plant. Garlic, Pony, lots of wonderful garlic! And if the bitterness is what turns you off, try blanching it a bit first in some salt water and a pinch of baking soda. I prefer it bitter, but I know others don’t. Also, when you saute it don’t be afraid to scorch it just a bit. That carmelizes the wee bit of sugars in the plant.

]]> By: Pony http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17868 Pony Fri, 28 Apr 2006 14:50:43 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17868 Anyone know how to make brocolli rabe edible? I'm determined I'm going to like this stuff. Anyone know how to make brocolli rabe edible? I’m determined I’m going to like this stuff.

]]> By: Pony http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17865 Pony Fri, 28 Apr 2006 14:43:16 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17865 Ron Tyler's Honest Herbal (Steven Foster & Varro E. Tyler PhD) recounts this bit of folklore about nettle itch: Nettle in, Dock out Dock rub nettle out. Then says: "No objective evidence supports this claim, aside from the fact that firm rubbing--by itself--was found to produce a short-lived lessening of the pain inflicted by laportea species. It is also possible that the time and effort spent on finding a dock leaf is sufficient to distract the victim from the itching caused by nettle rash." Ron

Tyler’s Honest Herbal (Steven Foster & Varro E. Tyler PhD) recounts this bit of folklore about nettle itch:

Nettle in, Dock out
Dock rub nettle out.

Then says:

“No objective evidence supports this claim, aside from the fact that firm rubbing–by itself–was found to produce a short-lived lessening of the pain inflicted by laportea species. It is also possible that the time and effort spent on finding a dock leaf is sufficient to distract the victim from the itching caused by nettle rash.”

]]> By: Annie http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17863 Annie Fri, 28 Apr 2006 14:41:12 +0000 http://blog.iblamethepatriarchy.com/2006/04/26/you-say-tomato-i-say-my-mouth-is-full/#comment-17863 Ya, Mandos, so when she hits her rebellious teenage years she'll be whipping up Broccoli Coladas when her parents aren't home and distilling Kale in a shed down by the river. My kid eats a lot of greens willingly, but Jeez, a continuous craving? Yikes! Good thing most 4 year olds are potty trained. But hey, now that I think of it, I remember hearing from someone that it's normal for little kids to go through food fixations like that. Ya, Mandos, so when she hits her rebellious teenage years she’ll be whipping up Broccoli Coladas when her parents aren’t home and distilling Kale in a shed down by the river. My kid eats a lot of greens willingly, but Jeez, a continuous craving? Yikes! Good thing most 4 year olds are potty trained. But hey, now that I think of it, I remember hearing from someone that it’s normal for little kids to go through food fixations like that.

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