LENT!!!
Shit, I knew I forgot something!
I remember when meatless Fridays were all year long very well. I was going thru flight school in Pensacola. At the mess hall they would offer a choice of red meat and fish. There was a dispensation for all persons in the military, but since we were not on the front lines I guess it was assumed that some would want fish. The truth was that you could tell who was not Catholic, because only Protestants would eat the fish. If the tables had been turned it would have been the opposite. All I’m saying is that it is human nature to reject something you have to do.
Well, we always had the “Captain D’s” value pack fish dinner. shudder I haven’t eaten at one of those in years-it’s just too much of a reminder of Friday night grease fests.
Now, I do quesadillas, fish tacos, a good mixed salad, or just about anything. I don’t have a big problem finding meatless meals, but I don’t eat a lot of meat anyway. I made a big pot of vegetarian chili this past Friday, and since I live alone, I’m still eating it today :).
We had it figured this way: the six of us go to Local Expensive and Delicious Seafood dinner out and spend 150 bucks minimun OR stay home, eat hotdogs and donate time and money toward the good cause of our choosing. I spent many family hours at the local foodbank, clothing bank, whatever, making a difference in other people’s lives. Instead of giving up eating meat on Fridays for Lent, we gave our time. My dad, however, still felt the need to forgo the hotdogs, and Mom would make him some garlic cheesebread or a bean and cheese burrito with fried onions and potatoes…maybe he just had better taste than we did.
BTW, wasn’t it George carlin who did a whole bit on this? Something about people who are doing time in hell on a meat rap?
I LOVE George Carlin but I seem to have missed this bit—but I CAN SURE IMAGINE WHAT HE SAYS!!! We’re the same age and schooling. I remember that the Church changed their position on THIS and the ST CHRISTOPHER deal at the same time. I was FLOORED by their OOPS! attitude!
As a kid I lived in constant fear of my Father getting killed and GOING STRAIGHT TO HELL because he ate meat on Friday. And I DID INDEED wonder about all those people who had already died. NOW WHAT???
Anyway SAPPHIRE BULLET—the old standbys are still the best.
Open faced broiled cheese sandwichs and Campbell’s tomatoe soup made with vermicelli, macaroni & cheese, (home made–not that “boxed” crap) broiled white fish fillets brushed with tomatoe sauce, pasta served hot with olive oil & parmasean, noodles or rice just with butter. I STILL love all these things. But then again I’m not a big meat eater anyway.