Just About Krauted Out...

Ode to the Caboche

I wonder if the cabbage knows

He's much less lovely than a scented Rose;

Or does he squat in smug content,

A source of semi-noble nourishment;

Or if he pities her for her sins

The Rose who has no vitamins;

Perhaps the only thing his green heart knows-

Is the love-fire that lights from the gift of a Rose.

braised, stewed, slawed, stuffed or krauted, i've eaten more cabbage, prepared more ways, in the the last week than i have in my previous twenty-odd years combined. the glorious colewort is a huge part of hungarian culture, and my pops exploits it like britney does her offspring. and so it got me thinking...

just as the word f*ck can be used as a replacement in a wide array of grammatical categories, cabbage can be, in it's many forms, as well. it's tough leafy greens have many uses and descriptions. for example, it's essential in borscht, and what would cole slaw be without cabbage? cole? without the beloved cabbage, the german's couldn't have come up with sauerkraut, and the koreans', kimchi. in european folk medicine cabbage is essential for treating acute inflammation and some even claim it is effective in relieving painfully engorged breasts in breastfeeding women. cabbage has several famous relatives as well: broccoli, cauliflower and collard greens, just to name a few.

just like f*ck, cabbage has a more negative side as well. during world war II "kraut" (cabbage) was used as a racial slur to describe germans; and in hebrew, "rosh kruv" (cabbage head) is used as a derogatory term to imply stupidity. but again, just as f*ck has it's endearing qualities, cabbage does as well. in france the term "ma petite chou" is used as a term of endearment from a man to a woman, and means 'my little cabbage.'

and so, you see, there is a connection between f*ck and cabbage, and not just when proclaiming 'that f*cking cabbage gave me gas!' (which it often does, especially when consummed in it's boiled form.)

and with that, i say, you too should rejoice in the joys of cabbage!

[a special shout out to wikipedia, food network and dictionary.com for the info.]

EXPERIENCE+CHANGE=2008