Indian Tomato Chutney

When I was a kid, there was something of a divide about the pronunciation of "t-o-m-a-t-o" in the United States. While most Americans said "toe-may-toe," with a long "a" sound, it was not uncommon to hear some pronounce it "toe-mah-toe," with a short "a." There was even a song about the difference in pronunciation, along with the similar difference in pronunciation for "potato."* In more recent times, there may still be a few holdouts for the short "a," but the overwhelming number of Americans now use the long "a" sound, although the overall pronunciation often tends to come out like, "tum-ay-tah." In England, and in the rest of Britain, the short "a" is the norm, as I believe it is in Australia and New Zealand. Now, I must admit, I'm not quite sure how they pronounce it in Canada, as Canadians have retained certain things from British English, like the spellings "colour, humour, labour, and centre," but as to spoken versions of various words, it "may" depend upon location, "perhaps" with the areas closer to the United States, and thus more easily able to see or hear American television and radio, being more influenced by American pronunciation, but that's just a guess.  

This chutney is a tomato relish. Of course, if you like heat, you can add more fresh or dried chili pepper. 

Ingredients:

1 cup fresh tomatoes, chopped
1 tablespoon fresh ginger, finely chopped or grated
2 garlic cloves, chopped
1 fresh red or green chili pepper, chopped (or teaspoon chili flakes)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon mustard seeds (yellow, brown or black)
1 tablespoon + 1 teaspoon canola or corn oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander
1/2 teaspoon turmeric
1/2 teaspoon sugar
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro, chopped

Heat the oil in a pan over medium heat, then add the mustard seeds, which will begin to pop in a few seconds, then add the ginger, chili pepper, garlic and salt, cook about 2 minutes. Add the tomatoes, cumin, turmeric, coriander, sugar and cilantro, cook until tomatoes "soften somewhat," but are not mushy. Use a stick blender, a blender, or a food processor and process to slightly chunky consistency. Great with Indian naan bread or other flatbreads, or with rice.

* The song title is "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," made famous in a movie starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

WORD HISTORY:
Pedal-This word for "a lever operated by the foot to move, stop or shift gears, or to control sound on a piano or organ;" and in fact, distantly related to "foot," goes back to Indo European "ped/pod," which meant "foot." This gave Latin "pes," also meaning "foot," and its derived adjective "pedalis" (of the foot, having to do with the foot), and this gave Italian the noun "pedale" (pedal), which was borrowed into French as, "pédale," and this was borrowed by English in the early 1600s. The original meaning in Italian, and then French, was applied to pedals on an organ, then on a piano. The verb was derived from the noun, but not until the mid 1800s.  

A Trump "Interview"

This was published in August 2016, but it's still relevant!


"Hello, I'm Dan Ratherbe in Philadelphia. I'm here with Donald Trump, the Republican candidate for president. How are you, Mr. Trump?"

DT: "I'm fine, but I already know you'll tell lies about me."
DR: "Why do you say that, Mr. Trump?"
DT: "Because you just said you'd rather be in Philadelphia; you know, the city where those traitorous, good for nothing, criminal Democrats just met, but we're already IN Philadelphia, and I don't need Sarah Palin to tell me that. ........ By the way, Sarah stayed at home during the Republican convention to read some newspapers and magazines. She doesn't want any more trick questions from Katie Couric."
DR: "Well, in that case, what newspapers and magazines do you read?"
DT: "See... there you go! You don't listen well, do you? I said, 'No trick questions!' Geez, you scumbags in the media! When I'm elected, you, Katie, and Megyn Kelly will be locked up along with crooked Hillary Clinton and Lyin' Ted Cruz."
DR: "So Katie and Megyn bother you?"
DT: "No, no! Now you're putting words into my mouth. I didn't say that. I know how to deal with women, especially after I consulted with Roger Ailes; now there's a guy who knows about women! Why do you think I said Megyn had 'blood coming out of her ... whatever?' "
DR: "Sir, Roger Ailes just left Fox News after charges of sexual harassment."
DT: "Didn't I just say he knows about women? Boy, you don't listen. Definitely going to lock you up. Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Hey, that's got a nice ring to it."
DR: "So you want to lock up the media and your political opponents?"
DT: "I didn't say that! Man you don't listen!"
DR: "What foreign policy experience do you have, Mr. Trump?"
DT: "I know more about foreign policy than anyone. I own a golf course in Scotland, how's that for foreign policy for you? I was just there recently too; heard a British diplomat give a speech there. I didn't understand much of what he said though. Why don't those people learn to pronounce English good; I mean, it's not like they invented the language over there? Maybe I should run for office in the UK. Could put the 'great' back into Great Britain."
DR: "Well Mr. trump, I suppose you are aware that young people favor your opponent by a large margin. They say they don't like the hate and division you and your campaign espouse. What do you have to say about that?"
DT: "Well they're young, they don't know any better. It's up to me and my campaign to teach them, and we're trying our damnedest to do just that."   
DR: What will you do if you lose the election, Mr. Trump?"
DT: "See, there you go. No wonder I'm going to have you locked up. Lock him up! Lock him up! Well, I'm not going to lose the election. BUT, if in the ever so slightest case you media people and crooked Hillary steal the election from me, I have a place to go and rule where they'll really appreciate me."
DR: "Oh? And where is that, Mr. Trump?"
DT: Well I'll give you a hint ... There's a country where the ruler has been a little sick lately. I only know that from my friend Vladimir. He read Kim Jong-un's emails. Boy does Vladimir know a lot about the Democrats too. Whew!"
DR: "So you're talking about going to North Korea?"
DT: "More lies! I never said that! But that country is a mess, and only I can fix it! And in that country, I wouldn't have lies told about me all the time, because they know how to deal with media people and keep them from lying. Oh wow! I can just see troops marching into South Korea, big statues of me on every corner. More and more I like the sound of my slogan, 'Make North Korea great again.' "
DR: "This is Dan Ratherbe in Philadelphia, but I'd rather be anyplace, but here."

WORD HISTORY:
Satire-This word, related to "sate" and "sad," goes back to Indo European "sah," with the notion of "satisfaction, having enough." This gave Latin "satur," which meant "sated, having enough." This became the basis of the Latin term "lanx satura," with the meaning "a full serving of mixed types of fruit." This meaning then expanded from "full serving" ("collection") to, "collection of poetry," then to "poem or poems that emphasized a person's characteristics; thus, the modern meaning of, "story that pokes fun or ridicule at a person's habits, personality, foolish ways, often with a more serious underlying intent." Latin "satur" gave Latin "satira," meaning "satiric poetry or drama." This gave Old French, a Latin-based language, "satire," with the same meaning. English borrowed the word in the latter part of the 1300s, "probably" from French, but with likely reinforcement by Latin, a language still common in those times among well educated people, which naturally included writers.