“Feelings” is Parsley

The Fabulous Baker Boys is one of my favorite movies, and I love the scene where Susie and Frank go at it, about the song “Feelings”.  She tells him ‘the song is like parsley, get rid of it and no one notices’.  If you haven’t seen it, please click on the link, as due to technical incompetence difficulties I was unable to put it on this page. 

This morning I got a call from my brother asking if he should buy curly or flat leaf parsley. My reply, flat leaf; curly parsley is for amateurs!   I didn’t need to know what the parsley is for.  As far as I’m concerned there is never a good curly parsley situation.  I’m not even sure why curly parsley still exists.  The only places that still use it as a garnish are retro diners, and white tablecloth restaurants in places like St. Petersburg Beach, Florida.  In fact the only other place I’ve seen it used is on the Seder plate, and I even managed to convince my mom to make the switch to flat leaf. 

Parsley is a great addition to a soup or salad.  It had a bright, green, slightly bitter taste and loads of great nutrients.  It grows pretty well most anywhere; even I can grow it, and I can’t seem to grow anything in my shady side garden.  I like to toss it end towards the end of cooking a sauce or soup, to keep the color, and flavor fresh.  The flat leaf, or Italian parsley has a stronger flavor than the curly, and if you’ve only ever had curly parsley, you may think you don’t like it.  It’s also a great addition if you’re a juicer.  It can freshen your breath after a spicy or garlick-y dinner, and it helps with digestion too.

Image courtesy of thelongestlife.com

Many people say they can’t distinguish between flat leaf parsley and cilantro at the market.  If you are one of those people, just rub a leaf of each between your fingers and then smell them, you will be able to tell right away which herb is which.  

I hope you’ll take a fresh look at parsley, and next time you’re buying it you’ll see that curly stuff and just walk on by.  And if you’re in the mood for a Christmas movie with a bit of an edge, The Fabulous Baker Boys is one of the best!  

By the way, I hope your Friday the thirteenth is a fun one!