HUNGRY GERALD

The great Yiddish writer, I.B. Singer, was a confirmed vegetarian. He was asked if he didn’t eat chicken because of his health. His reply; “No, for the chickens’ health.” HG recalled this as he watched an internet video of some 300 pounds of large, bloody pieces of beef dumped into a giant cooking receptacle. HG was revolted as HG thought of the butchering of inoffensive cattle. No, this didn’t make HG a vegetarian. The oldster will have occasional lamb chops, pork chops, bacon and sausage. Unlike Singer, HG eats many chickens in dishes prepared with skill and creativity by BSK. However, if HG did become a vegetarian, HG would be happily nourished by a dish BSK made last night: Couscous With Tomatoes, Okra and Chickpeas.  In addition to these ingredients, BSK chopped peppers, garlic and onions–heated a pan with olive oil and gently cooked the melange of vegetables and chickpeas. BSK flavored the dish with tomato paste, fiery Harissa, Aleppo pepper and a half cup of red wine vinegar. Lots of parsley was added to the cooking dish. BSK substituted quinoa for the couscous (It made a nice bed for the spicy food).  BSK added chorizo to BSK’s bowl. None for HG. As usual, HG’s bowl got a splash of Sambal Oelek. HG drank much red wine, toasted BSK’s chef skills and was blissful  The abundance of okra, HG’s favorite veggie, made HG happy.