COFFEE HITS THE CEREBRAL CORTEX

As we all know, when they tell you that the call came from within the building, always look behind you. Worst case scenario: the monster who was supposed to be dead is rising up. Best case: Nadia the old Russian woman is gnawing a cucumber. Or maybe that's also a worst case scenario. My experience with elderly Russians says it could be either.
If it's a Russian of either gender, the conversation may turn to turnips.


"In old country, turnips are glorious! American turnip, no good!"


It's not just me. I think everyone has issues with Eastern European social skills.
And Americans. on the whole, are not so heavily into turnips.

An internet search of turnip recipes turned up caramelized turnips, cheese crusted turnips with bacon, and creamy Southern turnip suprise.
What's commonly refered to as a 'turnip' in Chinese style recipes is actually daikon, a radish (raphanus sativus), whereas the actual turnip is a cabbage root (brassica rapa). Scotsmen and Slavic types will be bitterly disappointed if you give them a daikon instead. They had so hoped for real turnips! They will probably weep. I'm just guessing here. Their cuisines are remarkably similar. Boiled onions, boiled turnips, boiled groats, boiled sheep stomach.

In what is sure to be a blow to Scots and Slavs everywhere, turnip season, normally from October through the winter, is going to be delayed a bit this year. Global climate change.
And the crop may not be up to par. Kind of watery.


I feel the pain.


Perhaps I shouldn't read internet news articles at five thirty in the morning. The mind is all jangly at this hour. Caffeine, nicotine, highly refined sugar. Buzz, buzz, buzz.



==========================================================================
NOTE: Readers may contact me directly:
LETTER BOX.
All correspondence will be kept in confidence.
==========================================================================