January 2021: So That Went Well
The New Era Didn’t Arrive Quite as Planned :-/
As Atlantic contributor Caitlin Flanagan observed on the pod, fate and destiny don’t necessarily follow changes in the calendar. The hope that 2021 would be ‘out with the old and in with the new’ fell apart as early as January 6 — along with word that the vaccine roll-out was not going to go as quickly as hoped. Like, maybe we all won’t see any return to “normality” until the summer. And that doesn’t take into account the still viral political differences festering amongst us.
So apologies to all listeners if the launch of our new season seemed a bit gloomy. Caitlin kicked it off (I blame HER, obviously) with a conversation based on her recent article for The Atlantic entitled “Worst Revolution Ever.” Of special interest to The Femsplainers audience was Caitlin’s implication that the January 6 attack on the Capitol was fueled, in part, by pent-up, angry masculinity — and she joined me to discuss the Boys-Gone-Wild aspect of the insurrection. Here is a video clip, in which Caitlin invokes the long-forgotten authority on Reviving Masculinity, Robert Bly:
Fortunately, a Twitter follower saved Caitlin and me from expounding at too great a length on this subject — by asking us an urgent and important question more in line with our general expertise: Should I Get a Boob Job? On that we both had much to say:
You can listen to the whole episode, “You Say You Want a Revolution?”, here.
The Conspiracy Theorist Next Door
As we limped through the Inaugural, I thought it would be interesting to bring Anne Applebaum back on the podcast. As a Pulitzer-Prize-winning historian, with a speciality in societies that have fallen under the spread of mass lies, I was hoping she might be able to tell us how we were going to get through the aforementioned viral political differences. They do not seem to be going away despite all the upbeat political speeches about “national unity.”
Actually my interest in speaking with Anne again was maybe less high-minded than that sounds. I’m more troubled by friends, neighbors, and even family who are openly going down conspiratorial rabbit holes on their social media feeds. No doubt being confined to our homes for months on end has not helped promote mentally healthy outlooks, let alone stymied hours-long sessions watching crazy YouTube videos about how Gates, Soros et all plan to harness our minds through mass vaccinations (and did we mention that they are also covering up pedophelia and cannibalism in elite political circles?). Anne’s recent article, “Co-Existence Is The Only Option,” (also in The Atlantic!) brought all of her enormous expertise and brain power to solving this problem in practical ways. Sadly, it’s a big, deep one:
And a Bonus Recipe!
One of the things I always forget to mention when Anne is on the program is that we wrote a cookbook together, From a Polish Country House Kitchen: 90 Recipes for the Ultimate Comfort Food, published in 2012. Many people have wondered why this famous and celebrated scholar of Soviet and Eastern European history would author a cookbook — let alone with a journalist (me), not exactly known for her food writing. Others have “joked” about our interest in Polish cuisine, suggesting we’ve compiled 90 recipes showcasing pickles and gruel. So I will tell you the quick story here, with the hope it might inspire you to expand your Covid-cooking repertoire with some delicious wintery soups and stews.
A little more than a decade ago, my husband, David Frum, and I traveled to Poland to visit Anne and her husband, Radek Sikorski — then a Polish cabinet minister (now an MEP for the European parliament). It was a happier time in Poland: The country had not only recovered from its long suppression under Communism, its economy and prospects were thriving under its then-liberal democratic government. Among the many revived industries were restaurants. If you traveled to Eastern Europe when it was still behind the Iron Curtain, you would have dined on such Soviet-era delicacies as soggy cucumber floating in vinegar or grated beets a la pencil shavings. But by 2008, when we went, creative chefs were turning out modern interpretations of cabbage rolls, pierogies, and wild mushroom soups: light, exotic, and absolutely delicious. There was roast game such as venison and wild boar, the latter served with a Polish twist of sour cherry sauce. We took a side trip to Torun, one of the oldest and most charming towns in the country, home of Copernicus and gingerbread.
Anne and Radek had painstakingly rebuilt a Polish manor house located about three hours away from Warsaw. They bought it right after Communism fell in 1989 — long after the original house had mostly fallen too. When they acquired it, it was inhabited by goats and didn’t boast much in the way of a roof. By the time of our visit, they’d fully restored the house and named it Dwor Chobielin. To look at it, you’d never know the house hadn’t stood exactly this way for a century or so— passed over by time and overlooked, somehow, by the brutal decades of authoritarianism and Soviet passion for concrete.
Anne & Radek’s house, Dwor Chobielin. Those who have watched Anne on cable news programs might have noticed the house’s gorgeous, book-lined red study in the background.
In addition to the house, Anne had created an extraordinary kitchen garden, from which she harvested ingredients for our nightly suppers. We both like cooking and entertaining. As I helped her chop mushrooms or wash batches of fresh sorrel, I confessed my admiration for the new Polish cuisine — so different from the version we were used to in North America, especially the traditional dishes served during the Jewish holidays. The bulk of what we think of as “Jewish” food was in fact imported here by Ashkenazy Jews — those who immigrated or descended from Eastern Europe: Think Matzoh ball soup, latkes, the dreaded gefilte fish in a jar. But these recipes have become fossilized over time and at such distance from their homeland. I discovered in Poland the potential for a Renaissance in North American Jewish cooking.
Anne and I testing recipes in her kitchen, August, 2010.
Once I got the idea in my head, I immediately began bullying Anne, hoping to persuade her to write a cookbook. Selfless reason: It would be so good for the new Poland! It-would-be-easy reason: You could photograph it in your house! Selfish reason: Finally an alternative to gefilte fish at Passover! Anne pointed out she was already under contract for — and behind on! — a much brainer manuscript (Iron Curtain: The Crushing of Eastern Europe, 1944-1956). Yeah, yeah, yeah, I persisted. But seriously, how depressing is that? And this book would be so much FUN to write! I think mostly out of politeness and a desire to shut me up, Anne agreed — but only if I helped.
So that’s how this book came about. And as a bonus to you, dear subscribers, for making it this far down the newsletter, I’m including our recipe for “A Boozier Wild Mushroom Soup” — truly one of my all-time favorite soup recipes. It’s simple to make, and will cheer you through the remaining dark, pandemic-y, winter weeks. You can even drink it out of a mug around a socially-distanced campfire with friends.
A Shout Out to Our January Sponsors
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Coming Up in February: Gender & Love & Sex & More
The fabulous Katie Herzog of the “Blocked & Reported” podcast kicks off the month, asking (and answering) the question, “Where have all the lesbians gone?” (Spoiler alert: They are becoming non-binary and trans.) We also welcome back beloved co-splainer Christina Hoff Sommers for that discussion. Next up is our VDay special with superstar dating coach Evan Marc Katz whose advice will help singles improve, among other things, their Covid dating game. And for those looking to improve their sex life (who isn’t?!), celebrity sex therapist Dr. Bat Sheva Marcus, founder of one of the largest women's sexual health clinics, will chat about her new book Sex Points: Reclaim Your Sex Life with the Revolutionary Multi-Point System. Blushes guaranteed.
Speaking of Love and Sex, How About Becoming a Friend with Benefits?
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Stay well everyone.
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