In this all-coronavirus-all-the-time news climate, it takes a lot for a non-COVID-19 story to break out, but the right-wing outrage machine tried to make a big deal about the expensive ice cream in Nancy Pelosi's freezer. Nancy Pelosi is not a socialist, no matter what Republicans say, she is a wealthy, well-connected woman who can afford $12/pint ice cream. If she were a socialist, their outrage would be just as ridiculous- my friend Frenchie, the man who took my profile picture back in the day, once told me, "Republicans hate nothing more than a socialist who has more money than they do." These are the same sort of people who tried to portray Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez' Yorktown family home, pretty much a 'starter place' not much bigger than a bungalow, as a demesne. They support a trust-fund baby with a gold-plated toilet who pretty much says 'let them drink Lysol', but they howl when a successful elderly woman doesn't subsist on cat food, or at least gruel.
I have to confess to being decadent myself. Since I haven't spent any money in a bar since March 10, I've been buying the fancy 79-cent/pound Savoy cabbage instead of the 59-cent/pound green cabbage. Oo La La, Mr Fancypants!
In the interest of full disclosure, I've been subsisting mainly on 'perpetual stews', pretty much the sort of stone soup that we would call 'suicide stew' as young-uns (empty the fridge and cupboards into a pot and pray that it's good, as it invariably is). A couple of incarnations of this have been based on Iberian cocidos or fabadas, bean soups simmered with bits of meat and a variety of vegetables, with tonight's being lima beans with Linguiça- Savoy cabbage just seems appropriate for these dishes. It's funny, my favorite YouTube chef just posted a video recipe for something not unlike what's been simmering on my stovetop all day:
He even mentions throwing stinging nettles into the soup as the 'green' component. Now, THAT is a luxury that anyone can afford.
Nettle soup is considered a delicacy in England, and is very good for you. Never had it myself but not because of any aversion to the idea. (Makes note to pick some next time I'm where it's growing.) You could throw spinach into your stew if you prefer with much the same effect.
ReplyDeleteAs for Queen Nancy, not only she is supporting small artisanal businesses during this economic nightmare with her habit, icecream is not a bad thing for little old ladies who are bit too thin in my entirely non-medical opinion. Better than whisky, certainly, which was my mother-in-law's guilty habit.
Wingnuts just don't want anyone having nice things who aren't them, and will make up any utter rot to justify dumping on the offender. I mean, Speaker Pelosi has *two* double fridges! Imagine! Made of stainless steel, even, (like every other refrigerator on the market) Just because she has a family and entertains!
I and the spousal unit have a large double fridge just for us, which is almost always stuffed with food. No kids, never entertain, and not full of icecream (unfortunately.) How very dare a rich old lady with kids and grandkids have *two*?
Perpetual stews are wonderful things. I always have them on the go in the winter (all two months of it here.)
I actually consume a lot of nettles in the Spring, they being ubiquitous at my workplace. Nettle soup, nettle pesto, creamed nettles, nettle fritters, nettle hortopita... they are nutritious and taste very good. Just wear gloves when you pick them.
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