Salad

A discussion of word histories and origins.
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Slava
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Salad

Postby Slava » Sun Jan 31, 2010 9:26 pm

Interestingly, what we most commonly think of as "salad" would most likely be incomprehensible to the people whose word for salt, which lead to the term salad in the first place.

As I understand it, the Romans did like salted foods, but these were more likely "salted" in the way Russian often uses the term, "pickled."

Russian has the idea of "solyonnie" tomatoes, cucumbers, eggs, etc. This is not simply sprinkling salt on them and eating them. This is how they are "put up," preserved for future eating.

I wonder what the ancient world would think of our weird "salads," both kinds, today.
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LukeJavan8
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Postby LukeJavan8 » Mon Feb 01, 2010 12:06 pm

You mention tomatoes. Of course ancients, even
Europeans, especially Italians who use them for everything,
did not know of tomatoes. It was the "new world" and
its colonization by Europe which brought that
fruit/vegetable to them. So many foods - those in
salads today - came from North/South America after
the 1492 incident.
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beck123
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Postby beck123 » Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:16 pm

Aha, Luke! You are absolutely right! Not only tomatoes, but turkey, potatoes, capsicum-bearing peppers (what we consider hot peppers, or chilis today,) edible squash such as pumpkin, zuccini, and summer squashes (as opposed to Old World gourds that were used only as vessels and for fiber,) chocolate, tobacco, peanuts, corn, sorghum (I think,) muscadine, Concord, and scuppernong grapes, and on and on. Thank you, Cristobal.
Beck

"I don't know whether ignorance or apathy is worse, and, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous

beck123
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Re: Salad

Postby beck123 » Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:35 pm

Interestingly, what we most commonly think of as "salad" would most likely be incomprehensible to ...[ancient] people ... I wonder what the ancient world would think of our weird "salads," both kinds, today.
They would recognize them at once for what they are. Here is Apicius, writing at the time of Christ in ancient Rome about both fresh and pickled salad:

(Formula 109) Endive and Lettuce Salad: "Endives [are dressed] with brine, a little oil and chopped onion. Instead of real lettuce, in winter the endives are taken out of the pickle [and are dressed with] honey or vinegar"

He records several recipes ("formulas") for salad dressings that would pass muster in any fine restaurant today. Curiously (or not, considering our modern word for the dish,) each of Apicius's dressings is based on brine (i.e., heavily-salted water)

Google ISBN 0-486-23563-7 if you like really traditional cookery
Beck

"I don't know whether ignorance or apathy is worse, and, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous

beck123
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Postby beck123 » Mon Feb 01, 2010 6:41 pm

And I'm glad you've figured out the avatar, Luke. Now it feels as though it's really you!
Beck

"I don't know whether ignorance or apathy is worse, and, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous

LukeJavan8
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Postby LukeJavan8 » Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:47 pm

Avatar, with all due thanks to Saparris who figured it
out. I am still computer brain-numb. Thanks for your
help, Beck.
-----please, draw me a sheep-----

LukeJavan8
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Postby LukeJavan8 » Mon Feb 01, 2010 7:52 pm

Wow!
Another site to bookmark.
Thanks, Beck

Looks like good food.
-----please, draw me a sheep-----

saparris
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Postby saparris » Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:51 pm

Where did you go, salad thread maker?

Did you leaf? Were we too salty or you? Changing clothes (re-dressing)? Surely you arent' spinached! Dive back en.

I'm done now. Lettuce continue.
Ars longa, vita brevis

beck123
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Postby beck123 » Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:23 pm

Don't stop now! Turnip the volume! Oil keep laughing if you keep pun...ishing us. Toss a few more our way.

Salid - a Middle Eastern dinner accompaniment
Beck

"I don't know whether ignorance or apathy is worse, and, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous

saparris
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Postby saparris » Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:36 pm

I was just “poking” a little salad fun at Slava, tossing a few puns her way—vegetable verbiage, if you wilt. I hope she takes it all with the grain of salt and doesn’t become bleu.

And here’s something to think about: what kind of salad the Caesar eat?
Ars longa, vita brevis

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Slava
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Postby Slava » Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:44 pm

I was just “poking” a little salad fun at Slava, tossing a few puns her way—vegetable verbiage, if you wilt. I hope she takes it all with the grain of salt and doesn’t become bleu.
Yet more emasculation! I don't mind sliced cucumbers and diced carrots and tomatoes, but, please, don't slice and dice me!
Life is like playing chess with chessmen who each have thoughts and feelings and motives of their own.

beck123
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Postby beck123 » Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:51 pm

what kind of salad did Caesar eat?
Something with Romaine, but only in August, accompanied with an orange Ju... aw, you know what I'm going to say..
Beck

"I don't know whether ignorance or apathy is worse, and, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous

saparris
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Postby saparris » Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:55 pm

That's what Brutus et, tu!
Ars longa, vita brevis

beck123
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Postby beck123 » Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:25 am

And yon Cassius et clay. A box lunch.
Beck

"I don't know whether ignorance or apathy is worse, and, frankly, I don't care." - Anonymous

LukeJavan8
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Postby LukeJavan8 » Tue Feb 02, 2010 12:23 pm

Green sickie needed!

I'll make one of these work eventually since I despise
'smileys'
Ø
-----please, draw me a sheep-----


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