Wednesday, February 17, 2010

WIPE THOSE TEARS FROM YOUR EYES!












Other than stubbing a toe, slamming a door on a finger or peeling onions, there are many things that cause a monsoon to emanate from my eyes! A song; a sad movie; a happy movie; a book; animal documentaries; man’s inhumanity to man; man’s inhumanity to animals: the soaring voice of Pavarotti; a beautiful sunset or sunrise; some trips down memory lane; an unexpected kindness; insensitive remarks; anger; frustrating people; inspirational people and moments. The list goes on and on - at this rate, it sounds like I’m crying all the time! There's never a drought around here!

Of course, movies such as “Out of Africa”, “The Way We Were”, “Message in a Bottle”, “P.S. I Love You” and “The Notebook” (also, the endings of “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” and “Roman Holiday”, naturally; both I’ve seen a million times), for instance, cause an avalanche of tears - no light precipitation there; more like the “wet season”!

With clarity, I remember the first time I watched “Imitation of Life” starring Lana Turner, Sandra Dee and Susan Kohner. The year was 1959. Mum took me along to see it one Tuesday night…a school night. Once my tears began to flow, they couldn’t be dammed. (It was I who was damned!) It was such a sad, sad movie! Walking home, I cried all the way, still distressed! I think that was the last time my mother took me along with her to see a movie! She wasn’t game to attempt it again! I’m sure you, like me, have slunk out of the movies desperately trying to hide red, swollen eyes! Unfortunately, I viewed both “Beaches” and “The Horse Whisperer” at afternoon matinees!! I’ll never fall into that trap again! Hang on! I did! Back in September, I went along to a morning matinee to view “Mao’s Last Dancer”. All was going well until a scene in which his parents arrived to watch him perform with the Houston Ballet Company! That moment was enough to open my floodgates!

My Nana, who was a gentle, calm lady of Scottish heritage always said: “We, in this family pee out of our eyes!” Oh! Dear! I fear that is true…in my case, anyway!

Watching Olympic skaters Evgeni Plushenko and Evan Lysacek perform their stunning routines in the men’s figure skating definitely left me misty-eyed and in awe. Their performances made me speechless (something that doesn’t happen often even though I live alone – I do talk to myself – often (and answer) – and to my two furry rascals equally as often – and they answer me as well…so it’s a pretty gabby household on all accounts, but you know what I mean!

Plushenko performed to “Concierto de Aranjuez” by Spanish composer, Joaquin Rodrigo. This concerto alone causes me goose-bumps whenever I listen to it. It’s been a favourite of mine for many, many years.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8LL1x6J2rU&feature=related

Where was I? Oh, yes…tears. Back to onions…wipe those tears from your eyes…use a very sharp knife for chopping onions, peel under water (the onions, not you), or store onions in the crisper – that works in stopping the flow of tears - or have someone else chop them!

Onion & Artichoke Salad:

3 red (Spanish) onions, finely-sliced
75g (1/3rd cup) caster sugar
1/3 cup red wine vinegar
400g can artichoke hearts in brine, drained and quartered

Place onions in a bowl, cover with boiling water and stand 10 minutes. Drain, rinse under cold water and drain on absorbent paper.

Combine sugar, vinegar, 1 teaspoon salt and cracked black pepper to taste in a bowl. Stir to dissolve sugar. Add drained onions. Stir to combine and stand for at least 2 hours. Stir in artichoke quarters, cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

Beef with Onions (Chinese Cuisine):

500g (1lb) round, blade or skirt steak
½ teaspoon bicarb soda
3 tablespoons hot water
3 teaspoons cornflour
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1 tablespoon Chinese wine or dry sherry
1 egg white
2 large onions
Peanut oil
2 tablespoons beef stock

Freeze meat until just firm enough to cut into thin slices; cut slices into strips about 1cm (1/2 inch) wide and 4cm (1.5 inches) long; put into a bowl. Dissolve bicarb soda in hot water; pour over meat; knead or beat with chopsticks or fork until meat absorbs the liquid. Leave overnight or at least 4 hours.

Combine the cornflour, soy sauce, wine or sherry; lightly beat egg shit and mix in well. Quarter the onions; cut into quarters crosswise into halves; separate the layers.

When needed, drain the beef strips; add to the cornflour mixture; stir well. Meanwhile, heat enough oil in wok or pan to deep fry the beef. Add the beef strips, a few at a time; fry for 1 minute, remove; drain. Pour oil from pan, leaving about 2 tablespoons. Add the onions; stir-fry until tender, but still crisp. Add the beef strips; fry, stirring for another minute. Stir in stock; cook, stirring for another half minute. Serve with rice – or noodles.

Stuffed Onions: (Or Stuff the Onions)!

4 medium onions; peeled
2 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup finely-chopped walnuts
½ cup wheat germ or bread crumbs
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon red wine vinegar
1/4 cup chopped Italian parsley for garnish

Preheat oven to 176C (350F). Slice about a half inch off the top of each onion. Hollow out a bowl shaped space to hold about 1/4 cup filling. Slice enough off the bottom to let onions stand upright. Combine remaining ingredients, except parsley. Place about 1/3 cup of water around onions. Bake 30 minutes, adding water, 1/4 cup at a time if needed. Stuff onions. Bake another 30 minutes or until softened. Garnish with parsley Serve warm.

16 comments:

  1. Hi Lee ~~ I am a great crier also. Even watching the news, there are so many sad stories, or even if something wonderful happens, I cry
    and at sad movies etc etc.
    I am glad the rain helps with the humidity up there.
    Thank you Lee for reminding me that
    "there is no one standing over my shoulder, telling me what to do."
    That is an order, I can accept.
    Take care, my friend. Love, Merle.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Those who cry easily do not have hard hearts. Peace

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Merle. Nice to hear from you. Thanks for your comment.

    Hi Lady Di...I'm just a marshmallow, really! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Nice to see you back blogging again and sharing some exquisite memories with is as well as evocative portrayals to blend in cleverly with a mouthwatering recipe for a summer treat.
    Best wishes

    ReplyDelete
  5. Thanks, Lindsay...it's good to see you again, too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Lee,yeah we softies cry easily don't we... I don't mind that any more (used to be embarrassed) but I would still like to be able to talk coherently during the downpour!!!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Oh! Talking incoherently during a torrential downpour makes it more authentic, Peter! ;)

    ReplyDelete
  8. I usually just have tear escapes when I'm at the movies but there was one that caught me by complete surprise and had me bawling like a baby...Sleepers. I like a good tearjerker movie though. Sometimes I need to unclog the pipes.

    I'm really glad you are blogging again you tell a great story and inspire me to want to write properly again.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You're right, Robbie...it is good to have an unclogging of the pipes. Mine must be the most unclogged pipes ever! lol

    Thanks for your comments...that's very nice of you.

    ReplyDelete
  10. I think there are a few of us around like you, Lee. I don't watch RSPCA Rescue for that very reason! I also laugh until I cry, which I did only last week...actually a couple of times last week.

    No wonder I keep the tissue makers in employment!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Oh! I'm with you on RSPCA Animal Rescue, Robyn! I've never watched itand refuse to do so...even the ads are enough for me!!

    I crack myself up here, even alone! My two furry four-pawed rascals usually cause my hysterics!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I can't eat onions in great quantity and I don't like pearl onions at all. Small doses, OK.

    You've got to add some tear-jerker sports movies to your list--Rocky, Karate Kid, Hoosiers. Or maybe
    that's a guy thing.

    While down in Florida this past week, I saw a rather poignant scene. It was a young musician who appeared down on his luck, nodding off on a park bench, his guitar case propped up next to him. His loyal companion, a big dog, was sleeping on the bench as well, his head resting atop the guitar case. Thought of that song Mr. Bojangles.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Hi Dave...he might have been Mr Bojangles' grandson! That scene would have made a good picture. You should have caught it on film/digital.

    I love onions and eat a lot of them.

    I agree with you...there are a lot of sport movies that get the old tear ducts working overtime!

    Thanks for calling by...cheers! :)

    ReplyDelete
  14. Hi Lee,

    Yum, that recipe sounds good.

    BTW, I cry a lot too. I cry at sappy movies, sad moments, and those new commercials about abused animals. And I won't even watch the commercials about starving children.

    The one movie that really does me in is; Love Affair (1939), or the one with the same plot, but with Cary Grant; An Affair to Remember (1957).

    Janice~

    P.S. I got a little misty eyed watch those skaters, too.

    ReplyDelete
  15. Hi Janice! I thought Evan Lysacek really deserved his Gold medal. He was superb,and I would have love Johnny Weir to have won a medal, too. In my opinion, I don't think any of them skated as well in their final as they did in their semis - but I guess that is expected sometimes. Their nerves must be going right over the scale!

    ReplyDelete
  16. Pink Kamagra Pink Kamagra is also known as a Lovegra. Get the latest Lovegra prices and buy Lovegra pills and tablets from kamagra4me.co.uk with free prescription and worldwide delivery.

    ReplyDelete