Sometimes I am astounded at my own ignorance. I always thought that corn played some role in the processing of corned beef. I've wondered what corn's role is in corned beef, but I assumed it had a role. Alton Brown's "Good Eats" show on the Food Network never fails to educate me, and recently Alton gave me a crash course on corned beef. Silly me! Corn has absolutely nothing to do with it! The word "corn," as a verb, survives from the medieval era and means to preserve with salt. So "corned beef" is beef - usually brisket - that has been preserved in brine water. I just wish there was more consistency in the world. We call pork that has been preserved with salt "salt pork." Why don't we call it "corned pork?" Or why don't we call corned beef "salt beef?" Oh well - never mind. Alton whetted my appetite for corned beef. It's simmering on the stove right now.
I'm reading Alice in Wonderland for the first time - studying up before I see the movie. I can identify with Alice since I've fallen down a few rabbit holes myself. I remember having certain parts of Alice in Wonderland read to me when I was a child - "The Mad Hatter's Tea Party" which is alarmingly similar to some family reunions - and "The Queen's Croquet Ground" which has a lot in common with organizations I've been involved with. Nothing in Wonderland makes sense.
After watching Bret Baier's 20 minute interview with Obama yesterday, I'm inclined to think that we all have fallen down a gigantic rabbit hole. "Interview" doesn't describe what went on between Bret and Barack. Barack gave a 20 minute speech - he's good at speeches. When Bret Baier tried to ask a question, Obama told him he was "interrupting." I don't think he answered one single question that Bret interrupted him with. The part of Obama's speech that stuck in my mind was when he acknowledged that his healthcare bill is "unpopular." But, he said, it is the "right thing" to do; and in time the American people will realize that it was the "right thing" to do. I was glad that Bret finally just gave up on getting any answers. I think if he had "interruped" one more time, Obama - like Alice's Red Queen - would have shouted "Off with his head!"
1 comment:
Who knew??? All those years we ate corned beef hash, I guess I never really thought about where the corn came in, but you're right: It makes no sense. But then again, the English language is full of inconsistencies!
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