The Female Gaze

(Photo Credit: Mitchell Layton [access by clicking here and then going to "Photo Gallery"]; Moose [on the left, looking up] and Goose's sign, Comcast Center, 11/23/08)

We've been woefully remiss in our basketball blogging so far in this young season, so we'll begin to make amends this Thanksgiving eve by letting you share in the greatest accomplishment of Moose and Goose's lives as sports fans: the photo above, snapped at Sunday's Lady Terps game against UCLA, which is featured in a gallery on the team's web page. Word on the street is that the Terps got this solid win against a pretty good UCLA team (after LOSING their season opener to -- if you can believe it -- Texas Christian University) because they are beginning to find their groove and chemistry, incorporating new players into a team that still relies heavily on the experience of seniors Kristi Toliver and Marissa "Shoulders" Coleman, both veterans of the 2006 national championship team. There's probably some truth to that, but here in Roxie's World we give a lot of credit to the passionate devotion of Moose and Goose, whose neighbors in the Comcast Center fondly refer to them as "the Sign Ladies" because of the hand-painted signs they bring to every game. I mean, really, people, look at the neat penmanship on that sign! Consider the elegant simplicity of its kick-butt feminist message. Then look at Moose's laser-like eyes, gazing fiercely up at the scoreboard. What is she thinking? Is she worried that Shoulders won't score her 1600th point (which she did, moving into 6th place all-time among Maryland scorers)? Is she annoyed that the scoreboard refuses to count points for Marah Strickland, though Moose knows for a fact that Strickland sank at least two free throws in the second half? Is she wishing Goose had gotten her a hot dog when she went to the concession stand, thinking she could really use a hunk of meat by-product slathered with mustard right about now, and why the heck is Goose hiding behind that sign anyway?

Oh, who knows, kids? Write your own caption. Tell us what you think. Beats hell out of trying to talk to your family, doesn't it? (By the way, the Lady Terps prevailed against South Dakota State this afternoon down in Cancun, 68-56. They play Montana at 7 p.m. tomorrow.)

And because all the other bloggers are passing along Thanksgiving recipes, we'll share with you the reason dog invented cranberries: this delicious recipe for Cranberry, Cherry, and Walnut Chutney. It's from Cooking Light (or, as Moose calls it, Food Porn for the Conscientious), and it'll be on our table tomorrow:

Cranberry, Cherry, and Walnut Chutney

1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup port or other sweet red wine
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 cup dried tart cherries
1 (12-ounce) package fresh cranberries
2/3 cup chopped walnuts, toasted
1/2 teaspoon grated orange rind
1/4 teaspoon almond extract
Orange rind strips (optional)

Combine first 4 ingredients in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Add cherries, and cook 1 minute. Stir in cranberries; bring to a boil. Reduce heat, and simmer 10 minutes or until cranberries pop. Remove from heat. Stir in walnuts, grated rind, and extract. Garnish with orange rind strips, if desired. Cover and chill.

Yield: 16 servings (serving size: 1/4 cup)

CALORIES 108 (25% from fat); FAT 3g (sat 0.2g,mono 0.7g,poly 2g); IRON 0.3mg; CHOLESTEROL 0.0mg; CALCIUM 11mg; CARBOHYDRATE 19.7g; SODIUM 2mg; PROTEIN 1.5g; FIBER 1.8g

Cooking Light, NOVEMBER 2005

Love you, kids, and wish you a bounteous feast and every happiness. We're hunkered down at home, with the Mother of the Moosians and delicious odors wafting through the house. Peace to you and yours and the whole damn planet.