March 30, 2011 – Smriti "Simmi" D. Isaac

Yes, you heard right, I am a big fan of the Blackeyed Peas; always have been since they first came on the scene a couple decades ago. But I’m also a big fan of the kind of blackeyed peas that you can eat.

Here’s some I made yesterday. Called Lobia where I come from, I made these from scratch, meaning, I soaked them overnight and then cooked them directly in a pressure cooker starting out with a tempered seasoning of hing, onions, mustard, and green chillies. Cover and simmer for twenty minutes, and you’ll have the most delectable blackeyed peas to go with rice or roti. Or to eat as is like you would a bowl of soup.

There’s a whole Wiki entry on these lovely peas that I grew up calling Lobia. Check it out here.

And for that other kind of Black Eyed Peas that I also can’t get enough of, check out their Wiki entry here.

This post was first published in my private blog on December 12, 2008.

So, you’ve heard the expression, don’t look a gift horse in the mouth, right? And of course, you know what that means, right?

Well, just on the off-chance that you don’t know, or aren’t too sure, what it means is this: the horse’s mouth, i.e., its teeth are a sure indication of its age and its state of health. And so, looking at its mouth would tell you what kind of horse you’re getting, i.e., how young (and healthy) or old (and sickly) it is.

Likewise, teeth in humans are also a good indicator of overall well-being or the lack of it. Age and disease are a sure giveaway if one were to examine a person’s teeth. Well, that is, unless you have teeth like mine!

Uh huhn, you heard right: my teeth are fantastic. So says my dentist. In fact, I was in his chair just yesterday afternoon for my six-monthly cleaning, and he said what he always does: my teeth and gums are extremely healthy, and are looking great! Of course, he still does what he’s supposed to do, which is give my teeth a good professional cleaning, and then he sends me off with a new toothbrush and toothpaste and a new pack of dental floss.

It’s a great feeling to know that you’ve got a good set of teeth. Even if you’re short by a few like me: I have only 27 while the average set is 32. And I have no wisdom teeth. Not even one. Okay, nothing funny about that, so no exclamation points necessary.

So, here’s to good dental hygiene, and a great smile always. Speaking of which, here’s one of mine.