Wednesday, June 8, 2011

This That and the Other Ones.

I consider myself well read.  Since I am an avid reader, I've found that my vocabulary, growing up through high school anyway, was far beyond my years.  Today it continues and I still challenge myself to find new meanings to words that I don’t know.  I also edit another blog for readability, accuracy, and content. 

Recently I decided to get into the debate of the usage of the word “One”.  My Goodness!  This debate of whether or not the word “One” can be used as a plural has been a debate for many of years. 

Many grew up with the old adage that “One” is singular, ALWAYS.  Not always.  There are exceptions to this rule, and it all depends on context. I won’t explain it fully; I just found it amusing that people will argue about this like it was Sex, Religion, or Politics!! 

Recently I said the phrase “these ones” and was informed that talking of such shows that I’m more common and basically grammatically incorrect.  Since I’m very proud of my literature background, I decided to see if I was indeed wrong and needed to work on my lazy common speech. 

I wasn’t wrong.  In the modern world, ONE is acceptable as a plural word in certain circumstances. 
Context.  Here is a list of sentences, removed from full context.  See which ones you think are correct!!
  1. I really like these ones
  2. Do you prefer the chocolate ones or the strawberry ones?
  3. Can you bring me the ones that are the most fresh?
  4. Are these ones to your liking?
  5. I would like to buy the ones that grow the quickest.
  6. Which ones do you prefer?
  7. He went home after work to his loved ones.
  8. These books are mine.  Where are the ones you bought?
  9. I’ll take these ones.


Many of these are in response to something that has been said, or in question.  The point being that One can be plural.  Actually, it’s my opinion that all are grammatically correct.  But perhaps 1, 4, and 9 are the most “lazy” or “common”.  If you are with your friends in an informal setting, I see no reason why any of these should get you brandished. 

Now, if you were at a more Formal setting, none of these should be used.  You would then say:

  1. I really like these.
  2. Do you prefer the Chocolate {insert whatever “they” are} or the strawberry?
  3. Can you bring me the {insert whatever “they” are} that are the most fresh?
  4. Are these to your liking? Or Are these {insert whatever “they” are} to your liking?
  5. I would like to buy the {insert whatever “they” are} that grow the quickest
  6. Which do you prefer? Or which {insert whatever “they” are} do you prefer?
  7. He went home after work to the people he loves.
  8. These books are mine. Where are the books you bought?
  9. I’ll take these or I’ll take these {insert whatever “they” are}.

  
While I may not be perfect in my speech, I was taught very well.  The fact that this has been a debate amongst many only proves there is not a right or wrong answer as to which is the most correct. 

Some may look down at me, but when I want you to know that I am specifically pointing to a certain object (ones), and then I may lapse and say “these ones” or “those ones”.  If that’s the worst of my speech, then just get used to it.  At least I’m not adding “s” or “ar” to everything like other regions of the Americas!! I live in Washington.  Not Warshingtin.

Context is so important.  Have you ever seen a phrase that states:  “Best Movie” When you know they may have actually written “Best Movie to excuse yourself after the opening credits and go to the bar”.  When we only focus on one aspect of speech, you miss the whole point.

I will write differently depending on my audience.  Technical writing, journaling, blogging, brochures, anecdotes and so on.

Okay, last thing then I’m off my soap box. 

Do you say Paella like the Spanish?  Or how it’s spelled out in English?  Do you take the origin of the word into thought when you use it in a sentence?  In Spanish, the two ll’s make a “Y” sound.  Do you say Pollo (chicken) or Polo (sport)?  Both are correct!  Or how about Burritos.  Do you roll your r’s??  Not everything is as consistent as it should be. 

I am just saying that with the globalization of our cultures, we are starting to mix languages and rules of grammar.  While these one rules may be more correct that the previous ones, I don’t think you should put someone down if they use a slightly informal or common speech.  I’ve heard it said that English is one of the hardest languages to learn.  It may very well be true.  We do not speak in structured sentences anymore.  Formal language has been replaced by more common usage. 

Okay, done off my soapbox.  It’s Wednesday and it’s Produce Box Day.  Hmm. . . . maybe I’ll take some pictures and tell you all about Full Circle Farms’ CSA box.

Until Next Time!!


BNBAmy

Thursday, June 2, 2011

My Food Adventures

So here I sit.  Thinking about all my food adventures.  Going places and experincing different foods. All in this country of course!  New Orleans will always be one of my favorites.  Recently I went to Las Vegas.  I had the BEST EVER meal at Lupo.  I had no idea I'd fall in love with Pork Belly.  It was so good I wanted to lick my plate.  I refrained, but just barely!!




But this is the part of me that craves adventures.  I love trying new things, visiting new places, learning some of it's history, and just appreciating where I am today.  That meal at Lupo- Pork Chop with Apple-Fennel Marmalade and rasher of Pork Belly. The pork was brined and smoked.  This was a more rustic, yet elegant dish.  It was something that you could have made many years ago, but with today's technology, it's simple and elegant.  Perfection.

My own creations are not that simple.  Since I love to try new things, I have an abundance of stuff in my cupboards.  I like to get out of my Food Comfort Zone every once in a while.  That's why I have Beignet Mix, Sushi Rice, Dried Beans, Curry Paste, four kinds of Vinegar, and a Spice Collection that would Wow just about any other Home Chef!!

Over the years my experiments have improved.  When my old friend Mo and I used to use Grape Nuts, Honey, Green Food Coloring, and whatever else I could combine, we'd laugh about the horrible stench (still can't stand Grape Nuts).  But these days my applesauce wins them over!

It's also great that I'm dating a guy who is open minded about food.  Well sort of.  He won't try my sushi.  Not that I blame him.  He's my Meat & Potatoes man.  He'll eat the rice, and yes he's had some soy burgers (not that I told him it was soy!), and he'll embrace a good vegetable covered plate. We don't live together, but we spend weekends (and there was the month that he lived with me while he worked close by) and whatever else time together. He can cook, but I love to cook.  Hit or Miss.  Pass or Fail.  I'm telling you, I need a rice cooker at his house (or at least a good pan with a lid that seals well!!).

My creations, or Food Adventures as I like to call them, recently have taken a turn.  While reading my two favorite magazines, Bon Appetit and Sunset, I keep finding inspiration!  Take Crisp.  I always do an Apple Crisp.  I can make an apple crisp without a recipe, and I know it'll be good. I have YEARS of doing so.

So, because B's family are rhubarb nuts (I only started eating it a few years ago), and I'm a strawberry baby, and the fact that I recently made a straw-rhub compote for yogurt, I decided to make a Strawberry-Rhubarb Crisp!  Now I thought it was delicious, coming from a fresh fruit crisp perspective.  But B and family love just Rhubarb.  It's a family thing.  It was good, but Crisp should be apple, and Pie should be Rhubarb.  Well I suck at pie.  I can never get it just right.  That's why I like Crisps.  I can adjust them halfway if I need to.  But with Pie, there are no changes, just Pass or Fail.

Other Fail recipes are Lemon Chicken, Undercooked Fried Rice Stir Fry, Jerk Sauced Pork.

But the Great Pass ideas outnumber the Fails.  Just last night I made Potato Salad.  But not your normal potato salad.  Again, with B's parents, we were looking at a BBQ guide.  Where would we be without the desire to try something new?  I would not have ever made my Blackberry Chicken, Shrimp Wraps, or even the BNB Spice Mixes.  Where would you be without your Dilly or Chipotle Dips??

So in honor of my adventurous nature, this weekend I'll be attempting the Mediterranean Menu from this current Bon Appetit Magazine!  Grilled Steak Salad on Friday Night and Yogurt Marinaded Grilled Leg of Lamb with Cucumber Salad and Mint Tea for Saturday Night!


Then Sunday I'll strike and it's B cook night.  I wonder what he's got in store for me!!

Do you have a favorite Food Adventure?  Something completely fail, or was it surprisingly good?