Knife-wielding Feminists

From Alex:



Jambo!

It's 77° and sunny here in Suburban Heck, and as you can see, we are right in the middle of the first pool party of the year, a party that is certain to end badly for someone at some point, when the pool will be shut down as a punishment for something or other. For right now, though, things are swinging:



It is time to start making the African Ginger Soft Drink that I like that nobody else in the family does, but it is so totally NOT ABOUT THEM. In sub-Saharan Africa, everybody makes their own version of this, versions most likely better than mine, but if you've never tried the Ginger Soft Drink before, you're stuck with me.

This recipe makes 3 quarts of concentrate, to be mixed with soda water* or Perrier or regular water or don't dilute it at all and see if I care. If you can't live your life without a garnish in your beverage, you're probably an alcoholic. The next time your bartender turns her back on you to answer the phone, lunge over the bar and root wildly through her garnish tray with your filthy hands and steal some lemon or lime wedges. Bartenders love it when you do that.

6 Cups boiling water

1 Cup grated fresh peeled ginger root (this means 3 or 4 big chunks of ginger, the peeling and grating of which is tedious and annoying. But the rest is easy, so it balances out.)

1 Cup sugar

2 teaspoons whole cloves

4 cinnamon sticks

1/2 Cup lime or lemon juice

1 Cup orange juice (or pineapple, or guava)

8 Cups cool water

*Pour the boiling water over the grated ginger root, sugar, cloves, and cinnamon in a large pot or bowl. Stir. Cover and let sit in the sun for an hour.

*Strain the liquid through a fine sieve or cheesecloth. Add the juices and water. Throw all that grated ginger your worked so hard on into the garbage. Let the mixture sit for another hour. Store in fridge.
____________________________
*What is the difference between selzer water and club soda? Anything? I have no idea.

Favorite food to crunch: croutons
Favorite comfort food: lightly salted/peppered fresh mozzarella slices
Food that makes the best noise: fajitas
Favorite picnic lunch: tomatillo salsa, corn chips, hard boiled eggs, pickles, spring water from an actual spring
Favorite food scene in movie: Peppermint clit from Girl, Interrupted
Favorite food lyrics: 'eggs and toast like bread and wine' --Carrie Newcomer
Best food smell memory: popcorn with nutritional yeast while reading books outside on a blanket
Favorite summer snack: beer
Food that reminds me of the ocean: lobster, even though I no longer eat it
Favorite winter snack: bruschetta
Most likely to eat for lunch: yogurt, bread, and cheese
Least likely to eat for lunch: steak?
Makes me gag: tapioca
Favorite wild foods: dandelion greens
Favorite medicinal food: green tea
Foods that reflect my heritage: nisua
Food most like me: Morningstar Farms buffalo veggie wings--so good and yet so spicy I can't always handle them
Favorite raw food smell: garlic

Okay, frog, you asked for it! :)

Favorite food to crunch: Heath bar.
Favorite comfort food: Pasta.
Food that makes the best noise: Cereal?
Favorite picnic lunch: I don't go on picnics, but I guess fried chicken would be good for this.
Favorite food scene in movie: I don't go to a lot of movies either, but I just saw the dinner scene in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers this morning, and that tickled me all over again.
Favorite food lyrics: Nillson's Lime in the Coconut, currently being massacred by Coke.
Best food smell memory: Hot dogs at Coney Island.
Favorite summer snack: See above.
Food that reminds me of the ocean: And again.
Favorite winter snack: Ama-ebi!
Most likely to eat for lunch: Nowadays, probably a Lean Cuisine.
Least likely to eat for lunch: I miss the salad buffets from Manhattan...
Makes me gag: Lima beans.
Favorite wild foods: I wouldn't know wild from tame. Mushrooms?
Favorite medicinal food: I don't eat medicinal food, so I'll say tea.
Foods that reflect my heritage: Bagels and lox, gefilte fish, matzoh, knishes, latkes.
Food most like me: Probably latkes (potato pancakes).
Favorite raw food smell: Garlic

I think all of the KWF cooks should do this…
Favorite food to crunch: Chips
Favorite comfort food: Double Stuff Oreos
Food that makes the best noise: Popcorn
Favorite picnic lunch: brie, sweet italian bread, frozen grapes, and lemonade
Favorite food scene in movie: I can’t decide. Tell me yours in the comments instead.
Favorite food lyrics: I don’t know if it was real or in a dream/lately waking up I’m not sure where I’ve been/there was a table set for six and five were there/I stood outside and kept my eyes upon that empty chair/there was steam on the windows from the kitchen/laughter like a language I once spoke with ease/and I’m made mute by the virtue of decision/and I choose most of your life goes on without me —Emily Saliers
Best food smell memory: deep-fried cheese curds at the fair
Favorite summer snack: watermelon
Food that reminds me of the ocean: juice boxes
Favorite winter snack: macho nachos
Most likely to eat for lunch: sandwich, chips, and a Dew. Or leftovers.
Least likely to eat for lunch: Frozen entrée.
Makes me gag: cilantro
Favorite wild foods: raspberries
Favorite medicinal food: I think Oreos are medicinal…but my real answer is tea.
Foods that reflect my heritage: cabbage rolls, potato pancakes, pasties, and cheese. Not all at once.
Food most like me: pineapple
Favorite raw food smell: citrus

From PPB.