Okay, maybe I lured the children to my house with candy so I could talk to their parents while doling out chocolate bars. Most folks liked the fact that I was urging the community to vote, but many didn't know about the "marriage amendment." Since I'd already helped canvas the neighborhood with a combination of Commonwealth Coalition literature and some flyers with my own anti-homophobia and pro-civil rights messages, I was surprised that so many people hadn't gotten the word about the upcoming attempt to write discrimination into our state's constitution. Well, not really. But, more on that later. This is an annecdote, not a dissertation. It turned out to be a fruitful discussion with 20 or 30 batches of parents.
While I was busy whittling my pumpkins, Karen was inside turning the seeds into tastiness. From 101cookbooks.com:
(be sure to parboil the pumpkin seeds before starting the flavoring/toasting process. It makes them less chewy.)
Sweet & Spicy Pumpkin Seeds
1 egg white
1/4 cup natural cane sugar
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
scant 1/2 teaspoon fine grained sea salt
1 cup fresh pumpkin seeds
Preheat oven to 375. In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the egg white, sugar, cayenne and salt. Add the pumpkin seeds and toss well. Drain off any excess egg white (using a strainer) and place seeds in a single layer across a baking sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes or until seeds are golden. Sprinkle with a bit more sugar and cayenne pepper when they come out of the oven. Taste and season with more salt if needed.
Curried Pumpkin Seeds
1 egg white
2 teaspoon curry powder
scant 1/2 teaspoon fine grained sea salt
1 cup fresh pumpkin seeds
Preheat oven to 375.
In a medium-sized bowl whisk together the egg white, curry powder and salt. Add the pumpkin seeds and toss well. Drain off any excess egg white (using a strainer) and place seeds in a single layer across a baking sheet. Bake for about 12 minutes or until seeds are golden. Sprinkle with a bit more curry powder when they come out of the oven. Taste and season with more salt if needed.
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Yes, that was sarcasm. Most of the parents of young children in the Byrd Park neighborhood are not surprised that we are faced with the option of writing hate into the Bill of Rights. However, many don't recognize the "one man, one woman" mantra that dominates our political arena as anything other than the same old white noise from the white men who run this state. So, I try to hammer home a critical analysis using my own set of slogans as quick as possible, while plying their children with candy and toys (and drinking beer on my porch). It's not very sophisticated, but it's the best tactic I've come up with so far: politics where and when you don't expect it.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, can anyone help me figure out how to post pictures on my site? It keeps turning my JPGs into PNGs. Did I just say that? I don't even know what it means.
Hey jason g - I'm looking forward to more posts and, I'm looking forward to seeing my link on your site. Happy Thanksgiving! BTW, what will you be serving up on turkey day?
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