Random Roundup.
On Thursday I finally got to go down to E’s LiveCity venue. Just in time for an awesome Brazilian band. I almost quit my job to join the band.
On Thursday, I also misheard a student who said, “To span is to stretch across.” I thought he said,”To span is to stretch a frog.” Wait, what? Stop! NO stretching frogs!
I also realized that I have almost no phone numbers memorized. The ones I do have memorized are those of my friends’ parents, from waaay back. Because a few of my friends are staying at their parents’ houses, due to their own homes being in upheaval, it is nice to be able to call them by punching in a sequence of numbers, as opposed to scrolling down my faceplate. It kind of…humanizes it. But phone numbers I have memorized?
Mine
E’s
Arwen’s
Morgan’s mom
Gen’s mom
Halfmoon Bay (which was my home in the summertime, so the second number I ever memorized)
My aunt
The Commissary in Port Hardy (that no longer exists)
Translink
My grade 10 boyfriend’s parents (who may or may not still live there)
That’s it. If I lose my cellphone, I am hooped.
Also, I blew an ipod speaker. I didn’t know I could do that. I haven’t been listening that loudly. Much. I think I can blame John Bonham, though.
Yesterday I had to explain the concept of onion dip to some students. When I thought about it, I realized it is probably classified as a traditional North American dish, which I didn’t think we had, apart from foods that First Nations people ate, before the smallpox and cable TV and reserves and all that.
It seems to me that there are several North American traditional recipes, if you count ‘traditional’ as ‘everybody knows how to make it’. Most of ‘em are post- WWII, and rely heavily on processed foods, though. Think of Ambrosia Salad or some of those Southern creations that all seem to involve Velveeta. Can I even buy Velveeta here? I never tried.
I did try to buy garlic bread at No Frills today, though. No garlic bread. I suppose that means it is a Frill. But chili prawn wonton wrappers are available? A staple? I don’t get it. In my house, garlic bread is a way of life.
Garlic bread, because E will be home from LiveCity for dinner tomorrow. Lasagna and garlic bread and Caesar salad for us for Sunday dinner!
Some Stuff | Liz February 27, 2010
By Beth, February 27, 2010 @ 9:48 pm
I think French Canadian Pea soup counts as traditional. There’s also Tourtiere but that may have come from France. We were the first to put in squirrel and ground hog though. Not that many people do that these days.
By Liz, February 28, 2010 @ 1:17 am
See, that’s the thing when you think about traditional. Where do we draw the line?
By Arwen, February 28, 2010 @ 2:05 pm
From what I’ve heard, the way we have pizza with thick crust out of a box from the freezer is traditionally North American. g.
What about grilled cheese? That can be processed if you’re a processed cheese fan, but it doesn’t need to be. Although it probably didn’t originate here. PB & J, though! I think peanut butter is North American, yeah? (Googling…) DAMN. Peanut butter was patented in Montreal, according to Wikipedia!
My brain was overly happy to dump all the phone numbers, and now I have only little remnants. Usually the last four digits. I’m a little alarmed at how unable I’ve become…
By Liz, February 28, 2010 @ 7:21 pm
Oooh, tons more. Arwen! Although grilled cheese=Croque Monsieur, right?
That’s the other thing. Everyone has done everything with food. Take dumpling-like foods, for example. What culture doesn’t have “some flavoured stuff wrapped inside some kid of starch”? Calzone, gyoza, potstickers, Cornish pasties, pierogy, sausage rolls, ravioli, bbq pork buns, etc.
That is a party I always have wanted to have: The bring-your-favorite-dumpling-like food party.
By Robin, March 1, 2010 @ 11:06 am
OMG! Dumpling like food party sounds heavenly! Of course, it’s one of the reasons why I like dim sum so much. that and the sticky rice.
I’m always surprised by my ability, when in desperate need and no access to any lists, to pull someone’s phone number out of thin air. I haven’t had to memorize anyone’s number in over 10 years.
By elswhere, March 1, 2010 @ 4:08 pm
I think sweet pies—apple, cherry, pumpkin, etc. plus stuff like pecan pie and molasses pie—are North American. The Brits have what is basically meat pies, but not so much sweet, and the French have fruit tarts, but not exactly a pie.
Also: chocolate-chip cookies.
By Liz, March 1, 2010 @ 11:52 pm
Robin, I envy you your brain.
I think you’re right as well, Els. Why, though? Brits and Europeans had access to fruit centuries before North America was even colonized by the white guys. They had pastry. Why not put them together?