… which means to state a fact in a way that allows no doubt
or objection (you know like teachers do!!) … funnily enough this saying
originated right here in 15th century Engerland. Its original
meaning was one of great dissatisfaction of having found bones in something you
were eating which meant that you couldn’t swallow it without first dealing to
the bone (potentially hidden) or encountering some substantial difficulty in continuing
to breathe if you did swallow said object. History seems to have a lot to do
with the fact that a dis-proportionally large number of Britons will not eat
fish on the bone, usually sighting a nasty encounter with a bone that “nearly
killed them” when they were “abroad” somewhere.
Mackerel are a rather extensive family of fish from large to
small, with loads and loads of relatives. Their name means marked, spotted, or
striped and they are indeed a fish that punches above its weight in the good
looking stakes … unlike the ugly and very expensive Dover Sole or the oddly
ginga and very pasty version of a fish, Rouget. They all like the tough
guy in their family too, the King Mackerel, not such a giant but on the edge of
being classified a game fish because it can swim at up to 10 kilometres an hour
… I dare anyone to try that all day every day …
Mackerel is extremely versatile and is equally good whether
eaten hot or cold, and a gazillion tons of it are canned every year. It’s
delicious simply pan fried, is exceedingly popular smoked or peppered, and
makes a very moreish pate. Hence it’s a great addition to any picnic basket …
like the ones that are being dusted off all over the UK today for picnics in honour of the Queen’s official 90th birthday …
3 comments:
What does the pope eat......very funny!
Admittedly sea food does not agree with me in any form!
Mackerel . . . funny, I eat a lot of fish, but can't say that I have eaten mackerel.
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