Tuesday, May 12, 2015

WHO KNOWS? I’VE NOT A CLUE - MAYBE YOU KNOW - I DON’T KNOW!



Audie Murphy - Second World War Hero - and Movie Star Cowboy

When we’re young we think we know everything. When we’re old and grey with our teeth in a jar beside our bed we no longer think we know everything - we know we know everything! You know I’m kidding! You do know that, don’t you?  

Maybe you and I don’t know everything, but I know you know you’ve met some who think they know they do.  I know I have.  Be honest! You know you have.  I bet even you and I have had our moments of glory when we’ve been guilty of a similar transgression.  I know I have; that much I do know; and I should know!

Mrs. Weller, one of our neighbours when I was growing up (I’m still in the process of growing up. It’s a slow, long process. I know many of you can empathise) was a simple, gentle soul. She was a person who never uttered a bad word about anyone, you know. 

Her husband’s name was Audie - “Audie” as in the baby-faced Audie Murphy, the Second World War hero and cowboy movie star . 

Audie Weller was neither, but he was a hero in kind; he was a butcher.  The couple had no children, you know.

Mrs. Weller completed all her sentences, or almost every one of her statements with – “you know”…you know.

Most of the time I didn’t know what she was talking about, but she kept telling me, as well as everyone else within earshot that we all did know.  Mrs. Weller never took into account perhaps the listener didn’t know. 
You know, I often noticed some captive listeners nod pretending they knew; perhaps some did know - I don’t know.

You know how frustrating it can be when you’re relating a story about which only you know the details because you personally played a part in the story you’re narrating, and the person to whom you’re telling your tale insists on interrupting frequently,  talking over you, and then practically taking over as if they already know the story!  It’s as if they participated in the actual event and they know more about it than you do!   

How can they know?  They weren’t there!  When I find myself in such a situation I end up shutting my mouth and let the other person continue on his/her all-knowing way. It easier to do so because it becomes obvious what I knew I knew I didn’t know at all. Much easier and more polite than clonking them over the head, you know!

We also have our “those-in-the-know” - the “faucet experts” aka “experts’ – the drips under pressure; those who love to tell us what they know.

You and I know they learned what they know from someone else who learned it from another in the know, and so on down the line until it reaches you and me.  Sometimes it’s all made up just to cover up what they really don’t know!

A current fad that’s being shoved down our throats (because the “experts” know what’s good for us; not, of course, because they’re making a mint from it) is the Paleo Diet aka the Caveman Diet; a diet based on what our ancient ancestors ate.  If Paleo is so great how come the life expectancy of humans nowadays is much longer than it was in said ancestors’ day?

Those-in- the-know who know everything about Paleo tell me I shouldn’t indulge in dairy products. Tough cheddar! I’m not relinquishing milk or cheese for any caveman! He can go wave his club elsewhere!

I’m told to give up wheat, rye, canary seed (I’ve never eaten canary seed; I know I’m pretty chirpy without it), barley, legumes, processed oils, potatoes etc., etc; an endless list that goes on and on.

I’ll have you know I’m not giving up olive oil, either!

One Paleo exponent said he realised how bad an early breakfast of boiled potatoes made him feel, so he gave up having them.  Who has boiled potatoes for breakfast? I don’t know anyone who does.  Do you know anyone who has boiled potatoes for breakfast? 

I know those-in-the-know believe they know, but I also know I don’t have to believe everything they insist on telling me they know.  I do know I don’t have to blindly follow them…you know what I mean.

Rump Steak with Salsa Verde: Using 400g of a variety of tomatoes cut large ones in half; leave smaller ones whole; place in shallow dish. Combine 1tbs x-virgin oil, 25sp red wine vinegar and 1/4c caster sugar; season; shake well; add to tomatoes; gently toss. Salsa Verde: Process until finely chopped 1c firmly packed flat-leaf parsley, 1/2c firmly packed basil leaves, 1/4c firmly packed mint leaves, 1tbs drained capers, 2 chopped gherkins and 1tbs Dijon mustard; transfer to bowl; add 1-1/2tsp white wine vinegar, 1/4c x-virgin olive oil and 1tbs cold water; stir. Oil grill or pan; heat on med-high; season 650g rump steak with cracked pepper; cook 4-5mins each side for medium or as preferred. Add salad leaves to tomato; toss. Serve sliced steak with salsa verde and salad.

Red Lentil-Crusted Goat Cheese Salad: Combine 3/4c al dente cooked red lentils, 1 cup each cooked brown and green lentils in bowl; add 5 spears of cooked broccolini, roughly chopped, 1 sliced endive head, 2tbs x-virgin olive oil, 1tbs red wine vinegar; season; set aside 30-60mins. Place 1/4c cooked red lentils on tray; roll 270g goat cheese, sliced into 6x2-inch slices in lentils to coat; place into baking pan. Halve a ruby grapefruit; separate segments from one half.  Whisk together juice from other half with juice of 1 lime and 1/8c x-virgin olive oil; add segments; season. Distribute lentils onto 6 plates. Just before serving, heat cheese slices 3-5mins in 175C oven until warm, not melting; place on lentils; drizzle with vinaigrette.


Mashed Potato Puffs: Heat oven to 200C; lightly grease cups of mini-muffin tin (either a 12 or 24 cups). Whisk together 2 cups mashed potatoes, 3 large beaten eggs, 3/4c grated Parmesan or Gruyere, ¼ chopped chives or finely-chopped shallots and 1/4c diced cooked bacon or ham (optional); season to taste. Spoon mounds of mixture in each muffin cup; sprinkle tops with some of the grated cheese. Bake 20mins or until set, browned on top and hot through. Cool in pan 5mins, then gently release from the pan; serve immediately with dollops of sour cream, if desired.

Potato-Brie Frittata: Grab 150g Brie; slice thinly; set aside until later. Preheat oven, 180C. Lightly grease (or spray) 20x30cm lamington pan; line base and two long sides with baking paper; allow sides to hang over. Boil 3 halved desiree potatoes (about 600g). Peel them if you prefer…I never peel potatoes. Cook 10-15mins or until just tender; drain and set aside a few minutes to cool a bit. Heat 1tsp olive oil in non-stick pan over medium heat; add 1 halved, thinly sliced red onion; cook, stirring occasionally, 5mins or until onion softens. Using a fork, whisk together 8 eggs, 1/2c sour cream and 2tbs finely chopped fresh chives; season with salt and pepper. Thinly slice the potato; arrange half of the spuds in a single layer over the base of the lined pan; top with half the onion; then arrange half of the thinly sliced Brie over the onion; repeat the layers with remaining potato, onion and Brie. Pour over the eggs; bake in oven, 30min or until golden and just set; set aside approx 30mins to cool. Using serrated knife, cut frittata into squares to serve.

Kidney Bean Casserole: In pan sauté until tender, 3/4c chopped onion, 1/3c chopped green capsicum (pepper), 1/3c chopped celery and 2 minced large garlic cloves. Add 910g drained canned red kidney beans (or a combination of kidney beans, chickpeas, cannelloni…whatever takes your fancy along those lines), 1c peeled chopped fresh tomatoes, 1 can diced tomatoes, 1tbs tomato paste, ¼ chicken or vegetable stock, 1/2tsp chilli powder/flakes, pepper and a dash of hot sauce. Cover; cook 15mins. Spoon 2c cooked long grain brown rice into bottom of lightly greased casserole dish; spread bean mixture over rice.  Sprinkle grated cheese over the bean mix. Place in preheated 190C oven for approximately 15mins…until bubbling and cheese is golden.


One of the Best Smoothies I Know: Blend 1 kiwi fruit, 1 banana, 1/2c blueberries, 1c strawberries, 1c raspberries, 1/2c orange juice and 1c yoghurt or milk. You know what to do next! 


Even if you don't know...I do know that Chapter 10 of my seemingly unending story..."Music to My Ears...To All the Cats I've Loved Before..." etc., etc., will follow this post... 


34 comments:

  1. I have a know-it-all in the family. Some years back I gave him a subscription to Choice magazine so he could be a better informed know-it-all.
    Me, I know very little. And am happy to learn.
    Just the same I distrust people who see everything in black and white. I think there are many, many more shades of grey.

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    1. G'day, EC.....I think it's best to not to know everything...and to admit to not knowing everything! lol

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  2. Boiled potatoes for breakfast? Seriously?

    And what the fuck is canary seed? I'd think that would be something canaries eat.

    Sick of the fad of the moment diets. Different stuff works for different people.

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  3. I totally agree with your reaction, RK! lol

    We used to feed our canary canary seed when we were kids. I can't remember if I ever tried it, though!!!!

    I'm with you about being sick of fad diets...I think a lot of them are made up on the spur of the moment just so those making them up can make a few dollars!!!

    Thanks for popping in. :)

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    1. Canary seed is mostly Millet grain. Says the pretend know it all.

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    2. Hahahahaha! River...I'm sure Graham and I pecked at it when we were kids, when we were feeding "Sweetie", our canary! lol

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  4. Boiled potatoes for breakfast? Well, I've kind of had them, in the form of bubble and squeak (leftover veg and potatoes, fried up) and had hash browns as part of a 'full English' last weekend. How the American hash brown ended up part of a full English, I don't know! But they didn't make me feel ill. I enjoyed them!

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    1. Hey AJ...yes...we all have had those...but that wasn't what this fellow meant. I love bubble & squeak...I've not had it in ages, though. And I used to cook hash browns often years ago, too...when cooking the breakfasts in a couple of motels I used to manage. I've not cooked them in ages, either. A bit different to a bowl of boiled spuds, though.

      Good to see you...thanks for coming by. :)

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  5. I know what you mean, you know...?

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  6. I knew you'd know, Mr. Ad-Man, you know...

    Thanks for popping in...it's nice to know you! :)

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  7. now I know what to do with all those blueberries in my freezer. heck if I know, but if someone tells me they know I wouldn't do such and such, I reply, How do you know? which I've known to say on more than one occasion.

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    1. 'Tis good that you know, Linda. It's always good to know, particularly when you thought you didn't know! lol

      Thanks for dropping in. :)

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  8. Audie Murphy! My dad's favourite cowboy. I liked him too, I recently found a couple of his movies at a discount store and bought them.
    "Sometimes it's all made up just to cover up what they really don't know." Ahem. That's me. I do that. Not so much now, but at the checkout I was a self-made expert on a lot of stuff. The trick is to speak with confidence and without faltering. Then people believe you.

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    1. That's for sure, River....re your last statement! lol

      Wow! Fancy being able to find a couple of Audie Murphy movies! I've not seen one in years. I'll have to have a look around, too. I liked him, also when I was a kid. He used to always get a tic in one of his cheeks when he found himself in a bit of a spot. I was only thinking about that today.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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    2. I found the movies in one of those stands out the front of discount places where many DVDs are around $9.99, the discount stands often have really old stuff and black&white movies too. Audie Murphy movies were in two packs, that is two movies in the one case. If I remember they were only $6.99.

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  9. I made a copy of everything - it looks sooooooooooooo good. My favorite might be the blueberries!

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    1. Hey Sandie...I hope you enjoy the recipes....you can't go far wrong using the blueberries...they're very good for you. :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  10. No Paleo diet for me either - love my cheese! And I make a smoothie that's similar to that - it looks exactly like it, but mine has gin in it. :)

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    1. Now that's a smooth smoothie, Lynn! Maybe not one to have at breakfast! lol

      Thanks for swinging by. :)

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  11. So you are not on the Paleo diet Lee and wouldn't recommend it?
    Now when are you going to share your writing for the local newspaper with us? The last one you mentioned was on fast food?

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    1. Hi Carol....I don't recommend any diets, Carol. I'm not qualified to do so.

      I eat just about everything that is on the Paleo diet, anyway...along with what the Paleo "experts/fanatics" say not to eat, as well. The best diet is to eat healthily 99% of the time; do everything in moderation...and allowing yourself to be free to be a bit wicked at times is good for the soul! Nothing wrong with lashing out on a special treat once in a while, and no one has the right to try to make me feel guilty for doing so, other than me...if I choose to feel guilty Now, I must finish off this Peters Drumstick! :)

      Actually, Carol, this post is an extended version of one I wrote for the local rag.

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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    2. Wonderful advice Lee ~ thank you for sharing.

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  12. I know that I wish you could come to Georgia and cook for me. your recipes look divine.

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    1. Aha! Don't hold your breath waiting for me to arrive, Kay...you'll not only go purple in the face...but you'll starve, too! lol

      Get cooking, girl!!!! Thanks for coming by. :)

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  13. Too many fads, not enough finking! (I had to mangle the spelling there for the sake of poetry!)

    Mr. H seems almost as happy to be here as I am to have him here - although he fond of sleeping the day away under our bed!

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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    1. I agree, Stewart. I fink you might be right!

      I'm glad Mr. H has settled in well...he's a fine looking fellow...and very easy to love, I'm sure. :)

      Thanks for coming by. :)

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  14. Personally, I think the Paleo diet is great. I am seeing and feeling the benefits of the diet for a long time now. Not only have I lost weight, but I feel much more energised, and much better in myself. I think the reason is that whilst the paleo diet may be a diet, I do actually eat much much varied food than I did previously. All I've done is taken out the stodge that my body finds hard to digest, and added more types of fruit, veg, and indeed meat.

    I've now actually taken an interest in cooking paleo meals, which I can guarentee is 100% better than throwing some ready meals in the oven like I used to.

    I'm a real foodie, and would not survive on any other diet, but Paleo has been very good for me. I've written about one of my favourite cookbooks: http://cookbook-reviews.net/review-the-paleo-grubs-book/

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    1. Hello there, Katie...I've always eaten lots of fresh fruit and vegetables...I eat fish, meats including chicken. I eat legumes, brown rice, wholegrain bread etc. I drink milk; and I eat cheese...and I have no intentions of ceasing doing so. I even operated my own greengrocery and health food store a few years ago.

      I believe I've always eaten well, and very rarely do I eat "ready" meals or fast-foods. I can't remember the last time I had either.

      Each to their own...I'm not attempting to sway anyone with my beliefs and way of doing things...we all make our own choices, or should do so.

      I cooked professionally for many years...and I always used the freshest and best produce...and I've always done so for myself as well. I'm very fortunate that I live in an area where locally-grown produce is readily available. We have rich, red volcanic soil here on the mountain. Many locals here grow and sell their home-grown produce...either on roadside stalls or at what is called "The Green Shed".

      Welcome to my blog...I've not met you before that I know of, anyway....thanks for coming by. :)

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  15. Methinks cavermen would have been well-pleased to eat your food back then.

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    1. Methinks you might be right, Jerry! Thanks for coming in. :)

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  16. Sometimes I think clonking them on the head would end the know it all drool. I knew if I know that I could if I knew. You knew that you could so you did and I know that you did too. Peace
    BTW The best diet is LIMIT your portions. Cave men food indeed now I have heard everything except boiled potatoes for breakfast. The only decent potato food for breakfast is Hash browns. Well I am from the south.

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  17. Hey there Lady Di, Yep...moderation is the key in one's eating...and for those who think they know it all! lol

    I agree with you about hash browns, although I've not made nor have I had them in quite some time.

    Thanks for popping in. :)

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  18. Yes...welllll...I think I DO know!!Hahahaaaa
    FUN post sweet lady!
    hughugs

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    1. Hey Donna...I'm glad you enjoyed my bit nonsensical nonsense! Thanks for popping in. :)

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