.

“Now will you look at that – how can they …” “Shhh, Paul, let them be.” “This looks interesting – but look at that line!  What do they base that on … “ “Shhh, Paul, let them be.” “Okay, but someone needs to say something to that kind of thinking!  And look – they are at it again!  Just what do they think …” “Shhh, Paul, Let Them Be.”

Reading these posts and blogs can be “work” sometimes.  Why can’t people “get it” (“Like you get it, you mean?”) – why does one side use “science” to beat up the other side’s “science” (“Like you get it, you mean?”) – and why does the bible keep being used like a “told you so” rather than …” “Like you get it … don’t you mean?”

– – – – – – – –

There is a perfectly green vegetable called okra.  It is not something we see much in the supermarkets in the UK.  And I think I know why.  A cookery programme took a chef to a field where it grows and the chef picked and ate a fresh okra, and was blessed with slime.  Slimy fingers.  A slimy taste.  Slimy yeuchhh – all from just one okra.

Visually and orally (without any feel, smell or taste test ) I was convinced – Never In My Kitchen, Never On My Plate.

And here is how an online recipe “sells it” –

Ridged along its length, the green, slightly fuzzy pod contains rows of edible seeds that release a mucilaginous (sticky, viscous) liquid when chopped and cooked, which has led to it being used to thicken soup and stew recipes, such as Cajun gumbo, but it’s also served whole as a side dish.

“mucilaginous (sticky, viscous) liquid” is short for “mucus”

(and we all know and love “mucus”)

– – – – – – – –

And now they why:

(one intended, and one not)

– – – – – – – –

Before cooking with okra, the man (whose field the chef was put into) simply bathed them in vinegar with a sprinkling of salt.  He washed them as one washes something delicate – and then left them to consider the universe for 45 minutes.  Then he washed  them in clean water – and used them as I would use any vegetable.  The chef who had been mucused was now a fan: no more mucus – now a fresh vibrant perfectly green vegetable like any other!   And here is why that might be interesting:

“Okara contains potassium, vitamin B, vitamin C, folic acid, and calcium. It’s low in calories and has a high dietary fiber content. Recently, a new benefit of including okra in your diet is being considered. Okra has been suggested to help manage blood sugar in cases of type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.”

What is not to love?

(once you know how to deal with mucus)

– – – – – – – –

And the “unintended” … ?

– – – – – – – –

I was looking for a nice mucus picture: the scummiest, yeuchhiest, most gag-inducing image to shock.  And the gaggiest images were labelled “mucus plug”.  And there were enough of them with the same name to arouse my curiosity: “mucus plug and birth”?  So I went a-looking and found this:

“Mucus Plug: Bloody Show. Throughout pregnancy, a mucus plug blocks the opening of the cervix to prevent bacteria from entering the uterus. Before labour, this mucus plug is expelled allowing the baby to pass through the cervix during labour and birth.”

I am not suggesting mucus is a great dietary addition.  But the gaggiest images were no longer “gag-inducing” to me.  I think that small paragraph is a real “wow” paragraph.  I have four children, and three (soon to be four) grandchildren – and I never knew.

And whilst I am not suggesting we “ooh” and “ahh” over “mucus plug pictures” … I am saying that I cannot use those pictures for a (cheap) gag-inducing moment.

– – – – – – – –

“What’s your point, Paul?”

YOU are, GSHJ. YOU are.

.