Random Observations 17
November 21, 2020 77 Comments
One never knows from whence inspiration will come. Today, it came from Wells, England.
My very dearest friend, Alys, a wonderful cook and master baker, found a recipe for the American dish called Green Bean Casserole. I thought it was my responsibility as a true, patriotic American, to tell her – ugh! We don’t eat that stuff anymore. If you’ve had it once, you’ve had enough of it. If we are of ‘a certain age’, I’m certain we could all write books, the titles of which would be “Green Bean Casseroles I Have Known”. It is one of those ‘traditions’ about which passing I do not lament.
And then there’s this. I had a wonderful gentleman friend, Les – an Englishman and submariner – who used to make me laugh whenever he spoke about English food. It seems to this American that the English have a lot of ‘food rules’. I was rather forcefully informed that one never eats toast that is dark; one must always put the clotted cream on the toast first and then the ‘conserve’ or the lemon curd. Only someone ‘naff’ would reverse the order. With rules in mind, I share with you the video Alys shared with me this morning:
I don’t consider myself an ‘animal person’. I would never hurt one but aside from the (a little more than casual) desire for a French bulldog, I don’t have much interest. Now I’ve discovered Bondi (pronounced bond – eye) Vet out of Australia. There are several vets that the program features but more so Dr. Chris Brown – who is the poster child of “My word, what a hunk!” But he’s a nice guy, family man, quick to laugh and he loves animals. They have another Bondi Vet production called The Vet on the Hill – out of London in the UK. As I watch these videos, I’m struck by the great big hearts of those folks who treat animals big and small. I don’t know that I could do it. I thought the human body could produce some pretty disgusting things but we’ve got nothing on the animal kingdom. Please be advised, these programs show more than we’re apt to see on US vet programs – they show their animal operations and while I’m not squeamish, they can be a little – what is that phrase our cousins across the Pond use … ‘eyewatering’.
I’m still not talking about the you-know-what and now I’m not talking about the non-election, either. What will be, will be and all we can do is hope and pray. A lot of praying.
You’re probably right about us Brits having a lot of rules about food but they do vary from region to region. For instance, while Raps might talk about putting clotted cream on toast, the majority of Brits would cringe at that idea – clotted cream goes on scones and as for the order of the cream and preserve, it differs from Devon to Cornwall. No one in their right mind would put clotted cream on toast. Toast is best left for things like marge, marmite or jams/curds. I agree though, that carcinogenic toast is horrible even though Tina likes it!
Tea is easy – bag in a cup, water and milk and it’s done. Tina will squeeze the life out of the bags until it’s brown but I like mine milky and as a Northern lad, chips must, MUST, be covered in lashings of gravy. Northern boys like their gravy!
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In defense of Raps, he knew I wouldn’t have a pack of scones handy.
If you don’t like dark toast, you ain’t – well, maybe you should rethink it.
Lon is WILD about gravy with french fries. He’s from Maryland so we make allowances for him.
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I think we’re done with the toast debate – it came, it went and my side won! š
Good on Lon. Beer, sports and chips with gravy! If Tina and I ever get over there to see you, you can take Tina out and me and Lon can eat and drink our way through countless sports!
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Sounds like a plan to me!!!
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Gravy improves everything but steak and prime rib, including a slice of white bread. Everyone knows that. French fries with gravy? You bet.
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(excuse me as my stomach evacuates its contents) Prime Rib is the singular most disgusting food I have ever had the greatest misfortune of seeing. Shudder. Ugh! First of all, the damn thing is still bleeding … double shudder … second of all, the liquid fat congeals on top of the still oozing blood … Visually the most disgusting thing I can think of.
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Sorry, Audre, but at least 50% of the population completely disagree with you.
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You’re wetting my taste buds! I could eat a prime rib but we’re on chilli tonight and takeaway tomorrow (probably meat feast pizza for me) – we’re painting the bedroom tomorrow so will have to stay in the lounge in the evening while it dries.
Gravy on chips, gravy on mash, even gravy on pasta! Mmmmmm
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Gravy, like beer, is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy.
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Now here is a minefield because what Americans often refer to as gravy is not what WE Brits think of as garvy. Are you referring to gravy made with milk or do you mean gravy based on meat juices and drippings? Very important to iron out thse differences in the interest of entente cordiale.
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When Americans say ‘gravy’, they mean based on meat juices and drippin’s, lol. You know that cowboy Ken guy? See if he has an episode about redeye gravy.
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Neo – there’s no accounting for taste; or the lack thereof.
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39 Pontiac Dream – this is where the love kicks in. If it makes You happy, I’m happy. I’ll be dining alone, thanks. LOL!)
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I’ve just popped back to leave a few tunes – just finished mowing the lawn in near darkness (the best time) and was listening to a collection I put together a week ago. Some of the music, I hadn’t listened to for a while and 3 in particular made me feel as though as I was mowing in bright sunshine. Anyway, enjoy:
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That’s an eclectic selection. On our cable tv music channels, there’s one called ‘Atmospheres’ – very much like this selection. I have it on excellent authority that is wonderful music to nap by.
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Neo – have you ever noticed that gravy – like beer – is the same color coming out as it is going in? Food for thought.
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Still doesn’t put me off gravy! Mmmmmm…
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You made me L-O-L for real, hahahaha.
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Tried to think what an old southern (U.S.) boy could add to this random observation conversation.
Then it came to me!
You never tasted Momma’s fried squirrel gravy on biscuits. Mmmmmmm… š
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Love you, Unit, but now you’ve triggered my gag reflex …
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Oh well, Mark America told me once now many years ago, there is something better to fry.
Down Texas way. BTW he’s French decent from up east. š
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No, you don’t have to watch the video. š
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Hello 39. Three things: first, although we don’t normally put clotted cream on toast it would be good on lightly toasted brioche bun. Second: I quite like well done toast although not incinerated and third, tea. I think tea is actually more complex than a lot of people think because everyone likes their tea made differently. I like mine really strong with hardly any milk, sometimes I have to have two teabags. I have just sent Audre a little china teapot and some Miles teabags to experiment with. So much about tea depends on the variety, the quality, hard or soft water, milk – full fat, semi skimmed, skimmed, teabags or loose leaves. It can be quite tricky when you have three or four people who all like their tea a different way. Like the scones, jam, cream thing you have to be careful not to upset folk by not doing it THEIR way.
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I’m looking forward to a taste test: three teas – Yorkshire Red, Miles Tea, and what we get in America called “English Breakfast Tea”.
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You and Tina are sisters and I claim my Ā£10. You have your tea like she does and your toast. All you have to do now is admit to being a hard rock fan and I’ll seek you out for a DNA test! š
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A little hard rock never hurt anyone …
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Tea is terribly simple. My rules are simple. Avoid anything with tannin, which means I go for tisane rather than straight tea. The chap is right about good quality, temperature and infusion. Latterly I have taken up with teabags, and they are not as bad as I had thought. Milk and sugar in tea!! Gracious me, I suppose for those from up North … if one has to.
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If I ever get to England, I have decided I will simply drink coffee and thus not offend anyone – except, of course, those who hate coffee.
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Well, if you’re with me you can drink whatever you like made however you like of course.
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I would expect nothing less. That’s why people love you so much.
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Ah well … on the subject of how to make coffee … š
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Laughing out loud – please, don’t get started, lol!!!
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From what I hear, you’ll be sorry. Remember what the War Department said during the war, “The British can’t make coffee, but that’s all right, Americans can’t make tea.” I suspect it’s still true. I know people who hate Starbucks but enthuse about them in England.
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If you ever come to us, ask Tina to make your tea. She’s very considerate and will do it how you like. Me? I’d make it and if you didn’t like it, more for me! š š
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Typical man. Had a birthday party for Lon one time – brought out the birthday cake with the candles and all lovely looking and everyone sort of sat up, ready for the cake. Lon says, “I don’t want any cake.” I said, Lon! You’re not the only one at the table!
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It annoys me also how many Brits put the milk in before taking the teabag out…I usually take my tea black, but if I make it for someone else I never out the milk in with the teabag.
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I canāt stand that! I am with you, black. I will take a little Lenin with Earl Grey in summer xx
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It seems to me that some Brits basically use tea as a milk delivery system…
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Ditto with coffee, though I plead guilty to a good cappuccino – with milk hand frothed, canāt stand these machines. Not, of course, that I am a fussy little madam, oh no š¹
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Well, if it makes you happy, then that will keep the rest of us smiling. I don’t drink much coffee, but I used to enjoy it after formals. Then we would go back to a friend’s room and have Chinese tea, which I also found a good pick-me-up after the port and cheese, etc. That was some years ago now. As for office Christmas dos, which are now my nearest equivalent, ours will be a virtual one this year, as I imagine all businesses’ will be.
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I find tisane better, no tannin. Ah, office Christmas parties … mmm, perhaps not, says she remembering parties past and sore behinds! š±
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One does hear awful horror stories. I was insulted by someone (who I suspected was drunk) from a different firm last year (they had the room below ours), but otherwise, it was an enjoyable evening (part of which I spent discussing matters with a colleague who used to be a rabbi).
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You bloody Hun, only Germans do that. Well, and me.
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I’m going to have to get a note book to take down all this tea information.
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Well, in general I would say our society has a lot if unwritten social rules.
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I do it either way. To me, it doesn’t matter if the milk goes in first or last. If it tastes like tea, I’m golden! š
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Ah! But you see, Les said if you put the milk in first, it chills the cup and tea goes cold faster.
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I’m also a fan of hot squash, which we might have to explain to our American friends if they aren’t already familiar via TCW. Not sure if Jess likes hot squash, but I really hope she does. I need good vibes in all things these days.
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Unit – that stuff doesn’t bother me but thanks for not demanding that I watch it, lol. Many years ago my mom went to Arizona and actually tried fried rattlesnake. Said it really just tasted like chicken. But this is the same woman who tried to get us to eat cow tongue and beef liver. None of which have ever crossed my threshold since the day I went out on my own.
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I still have yet to try my parent’s favorite… pickled pigs feet. Might try it now that I know they remove the nasty hoof. š
https://www.southernliving.com/culture/rick-bragg-pigs-feet
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Mom loved pigs feet. She must have been a reincarnated Southerner.
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We more culturally/dietilectually united than MSM and politifact check will let us know. š
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We occasionally (rarely though) have beef liver sauteed with onions and mushrooms. Always ask myself “What I did I do to deserve this for supper?” But it filled me up and I always woke up in the morning. (Up to now at least). Tomorrow hopefully will be another day. No liver tonight. š
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When we smelled that liver upstairs in the kitchen, we’d run outside and ask friends if we could eat at their house!
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An aversion to him I guess. š
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liver-Eating_Johnson
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Audre, there’s a snake on this page. I nearly fainted when I saw it. Ohmigod, who put THAT on here. I am palpitating.
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OMG, ALYS!!!! So sorry!!! Unit didn’t know – and quite frankly, I didn’t think about it. Will you survive????
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I am having a lie down to get over the shock. Close call Audre.
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(giggling behind hand) Ohhhh; poor Alys. Do have lie down, my dear. I promise, no more nasty shocks or surprises.
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Oops, U.S. has extra ventilators now. Might request one on U.S./British free trade agreement. Before Trump concedes though. Maybe though 39 would want a breathalyzer. No, he done mowed and painted and now in his lounge, safe and sound. š
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Laughing.
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Gosh, it’s Saturday afternoon. Some foolishness in store. š
Thought, what’s instore for Trump supporters? What would Attila the Hun do?
Searched Google and got answer ” what Attila and Winne Pooh had in common”. Middle name “the”.
More jokes.
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Very droll.
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I be a bit waggish at times. (In my own mind maybe). Anyway I don’t keep the same jokes going and expecting a laugh the next time. š
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You, my friend, are a gem.
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Rejoicing is/can be for us all, even in 2020. š
Happy Thanksgiving all. Will get to see my son from Miami, Lord willing. Screw the lockdowns. š
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Unit – haven’t heard that in ages. Kinda nice and homey.
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He’s good! And that’s one hymn Margaret hasn’t gotten to yet. š
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I’m rarely certain whether they’re hymns or songs.
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You’ve a point there.
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Unit – that’s one of my all-time favorite movies, Jeremiah Johnson.
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‘Ah! But you see, Les said if you put the milk in first, it chills the cup and tea goes cold faster.’
It depends how quick you are. The milk barely has time to settle before the water goes in. You have to be Speedy Gonzales with the mixture otherwise he was probably right on that one.
D’you know, I don’t think I’ve ever seen so many comments under an article on here. Well done, Audre. š
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“Speedy Gonzales” ? That’s not only racist, 39 – it’s also cultural appropriation! Shame on you!!! (wink)
(blushing) Thanks for your kind words, 39.
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Nicholas – ‘hot squash’. As in acorn or butternut???
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Reblogged this on boudica.us.
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Reblogged this on Boudica BPI Weblog.
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