Friday 11 November 2011

The power of words

I love words.

I think I always have.

My mother has said I always have....I believe her.

Recently I spoke of how much I miss reading.

I think about reading a lot- I wish I could translate that thinking into actual reading.

While I have been stuck in my readers block I have been thinking about the power of words.

I have ALWAYS been confused & a little dismayed by this old rhyme:

STICKS & STONES MAY BREAK YOUR BONES
BUT WORDS WILL NEVER HURT YOU.

Do you remember being recited this as a child?

I do.

It NEVER made sense to me.

I have always been in awe of words.

By the messages we can convey with them.

By how we can use them to express how we feel.

They have an incredible power..... more powerful than most things.

Words can last a lifetime- can change the direction of our lives.
Words can fill our soul with joy & warmth.
But INCREDIBLE hurt can be inflicted by words- hurt that stays buried & aching forever.
Broken bones mend.

I love to read how different people put words together.

I guess it is EXACTLY this that I miss about reading other peoples words.
I miss how when I read,  it opens a window into thoughts that perhaps I couldn't put into words or pictures that I couldn't portray.

This week I read some lines from Charles Dickens- still as powerful & magnificent as he ever was.

Such inspired language. So rich & beautiful.


It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us, we were all going direct to heaven, we were all going direct the other way - in short, the period was so far like the present period, that some of its noisiest authorities insisted on its being received, for good or for evil, in the superlative degree of comparison only.
Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities
English novelist (1812 - 1870)
It reminded me how & why I love words so very much.

I was left taking a deep long breath.  Flummoxed by the beauty and fullness of his words.

It left me still.

It had reminded of the power of words.

GOURMETGIRLFRIEND'S ZUCCHINI FRITTERS with DILL & FETA:
Zucchini's are just BEAUTIFUL at the moment.  I love them but I konw lots of people who are not fussed.
Try this EASY PEASY recipe and enjoy.  It is the same basis as Potato latkes- you can just substitute the zucchini for Potato.  Your kids could make this recipe quite easily.
They are great served on their own or as an accompaniment.
I served mine alongside a pan-fried Snapper fillet for a really quick dinner last night. So simple & delicious!

WHAT YOU WILL NEED:
  • 2 zucchini, grated
  • 2 eggs
  • 1/2 cup flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • a bunch of dill, chopped
  • S & P
  • 200g feta, crumbled.
  • olive oil for shallow frying
  • sour cream to serve- optional
METHOD: 
Squeeze the grated zucchini to remove excess moisture.


 

Add eggs, dill, feta, flour, baking powder & salt & pepper.
Mix ingredients well.
 Heat a non-stick pan to medium heat.  
Add 2 teaspoons of Olive Oil.
Use a tablespoon to pick up a large spoonful of mixture and add to pan.
I fried 3 at a time.
Cook on each side for 3-4 minutes.
Remove and serve immediately topped with a little dill, some crumbled fetta & a dollop of sour cream.



11 comments:

  1. Oh you gorgeous girl! Them fritters, I want to make. Thank you!

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  2. Words as well as being destructive and hurtful can also be incredibly healing and positive.
    I am always amazed and conscious of the power of words, and the benefit or cost of careful or reckless expression. Behind the text is the subtext and its more helpful than not to be aware of this ...
    Love Greg

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  3. I couldn't agree with you more lovely! And I too never understood why people said names could never hurt them. Of course they bloody can! I feel far from myself when I'm not reading and blogging helps me release a log of the words in my head and heart too but writing them out, giving them voice and sometimes letting them go too. I love reading your words! And I love that I am going to adapt my recipe for tonight's dinner to yours. Xxx

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  4. I never understood either how people could say words will never hurt you when they wield a unique power to haunt and hurt deeply for a long time. Beautiful Dickens, I miss reading for pleasure too. It's lovely to hear you were able to spend some time reading him this week, even if only for a few lines.
    I love zucchinis too and can't wait to make these. xx

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  5. Thank you...lovely words and another beautiful recipe...happy Friday Gourmet Girlfriend!

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  6. Of *course* you love Dickens!

    Lovely post, as always. Like you, there are some adages and narratives that were meant to make sense of things, but just really never did...

    Totally want those fritters, now, too!

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  7. To have found a fellow lover of food, words and Winnie the Pooh while searching for a quote for a blog post?

    Well, I'd call THAT serendipity :)

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  8. I made these (with the first zucchinis of the season out of the garden) and they were yum!

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  9. my first fritter success story!!!! We even topped them with some smoked salmon slices. DELISH! Felt very gourmet indeed!

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  10. these look gorgeous, can't wait to make them! how many does the recipe usually make?

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  11. it will make about 6 large fritters

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