If I may engage your attention once more on the subject of the humble lettuce ~ much of course depends on the type of lettuce you prefer. Personally I don't much care for iceberg and we tend to grow mixed lettuce varieties in boxes, both on the window ledge and in the garden. We sow seed over a period of time, ensuring a constant supply of new growth, and simply collect fresh leaves whenever the mood takes us.
But as I meander down memory lane to the days of my childhood, before the arrival in my life of the ubiquitous and indigestible iceberg variety of lettuce my Grandfather and my Father, allotment holders both, would grow what we knew as "Cos" lettuce and also a plain lettuce that seemed to have no particular name other than my Mother calling it the "Sandwich" lettuce. Nowadays it is sold as a "Round Lettuce". Again seed was sown to ensure constant cropping was available throughout the summer months (No Spanish imports in those days).
Anywhoo mother would always take a lettuce, fresh from the allotment, and shred it under running water. No knives were used. She would then place the shredded leaves in a tea towel and take herself into the garden and, taking care not to spray the windows, would grip the four corners of the tea towel in one hand and whirl the bundle containing lettuce leaf around her head to "spin" the water from it. I see one can now buy, from Lakeland Plastics, a device to carry out this function ..... doesn't look half as much fun.
Any leaf not consumed at the ensuing meal would be placed in a bowl of cold water with a carefully scrubbed piece of coal which she swore would ensure the continued freshness of the leaves.
With the advent of modernisation and our conversion from a coal fire to a "Magicoal" electric monstrosity (hopeless for toasting crumpets by) she preserved her piece of coal which did duty for many more summers (until she died in fact) and also got an airing on New Years Eve when it was issued to the tallest, darkest haired member of the family (me) to carry whilst performing my first footing duties at the stroke of midnight.
Sorry ~ you are undoubtedly bored rigid with all this ( I know Nick will be) but there is a wealth of fifties history in there if you care to look for it. Anyone else's mother have these little tricks?
