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--> --> April 16: Some naughty food names By Jeff Cheek Some foods and recipes have risque names or histories. I apologize to anyone who is offended, but these are fully documented stories of a few of these names. AVOCADOS: Spanish explorers discovered this fruit in the New World. They tried to reproduce the sound of the native word and came up with "aguacate," or avocado in English. They might have chosen a different name if they had known that the native word meant "testicles," from the distinctive shape of the avocado. SPAGHETTI ALLA PUTTANESCA: This famous, or infamous, dish was born in the lusty, brawling seaport of Naples and many restaurants still list it on their menus. It means "whore's spaghetti." It got its colorful name because it is a tasty dish that can be prepared in a few minutes. The working girls could prepare a quick dinner while waiting for their next client. CORIANDER: This spice demonstrates the contrasting views from different regions. The Chinese call it "hu-sui" or fragrant plant. The Greeks use coriander sparingly. The root for coriander is the Greek "koris" which means bedbug. They thought coriander smelled like a squashed bedbug. PUMPERNICKEL: The Old High German word for the Devil was "Nickel." The heavy dark bread was known for creating a great deal of stomach gas or flatulence. Pumpern is "a fart." The Germans combined the two words to create a name for the bread: The Devil's flatulence. BASIL: This common spice has a very mixed record. It is "tulsi" in Hindu and is consecrated to the God Vishnu, The Preserver. A western legend says that Salome used basil leaves to conceal the head of John the Baptist after she had plotted to have him beheaded. Rural Italians thought basil was the breeding ground for scorpions. The only way to rid the house of scorpions, and make the basil grow, was to give the seedbed a cussing out every morning. It must have worked. Basil is widely used in Italian cooking. SEX-IN-A-PAN: In 1984, while serving as Education Officer at Misawa AB, Japan, I asked the Officer's Wives Club to give me hand written copies of their favorite recipes. I used these to write a cookbook, "The Misawa Gourmet," as a fund raiser for a scholarship program. We raised $2,200 and I got to read some very interesting recipes. Sex-In-A-Pan from Mrs. Janet Monville, was the most unusual. It does not fit the usual format, and is not for dieters, but try it anyway. Sex-In-A-Pan is delicious. FIRST LAYER: Melt 1 stick butter over low heat, stir in 1 cup flour and 1 1/2 cup pecans, reserving 12 pecan halves. Pour into 9x9 high walled glass pan. Preheat oven to 325 degrees, bake 25 minutes, then cool completely. SECOND LAYER: Mix 8 ounce cream cheese with 1 cup powdered sugar, then add 1 cup Cool Whip. Mix thoroughly, chill in refrigerator. THIRD LAYER: Mix 1 package instant vanilla pudding with 1 package instant chocolate pudding and 1 teaspoon sugar. Add 3 cups milk. Beat until thick, then chill until ready to stack. PREPARATION: Leave in baking pan. Spread second layer over first, then third over second. Top with another cup of Cool Whip, decorate with 12 pecan halves, and chill until ready to serve. Jeff Cheek lives in Medford Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing