Let them eat cake (or a Yule log or cookies shaped like Barney)
Tony Snow isn’t the only one with a little sensitivity problem. As the president flies back from his summit on the war — the one that will have claimed the lives of more than 3,000 Americans by Christmas — the Office of the First Lady is distributing the menu for this year’s White House holiday receptions.
‘Tis the season for the rich and the clueless to display their wares…except in this case it’s being done with our money. Yes, while our sons and daughters are fighting and dying and being blown up by roadside bombs, Our Glorious Leader and official Washington will be chowing down on a holiday repast the likes of which will never see the light of day in Iraq. Man, this is like the “Freshman 15” on steroids.
While those serving in Iraq and Afghanistan will be chowing down on the culinary equivalent of dog food, Chickenhawk Central will be indulging like Romans on their way to the vomitorium. Just look at what we’ll be paying for this year:
Display of Specialty Cheeses and Winter Fruits (Served with a Bountiful Display of Lavish Specialty Crackers and Spiced Pecans).
Colossal Shrimp Cocktail and Jonah Crab Claws (Served with Ramsey’s Cocktail Sauce and Spiced Remoulade).
Stuffed Turkey Breasts with Winter Mushrooms, Cheese and Brandied Cranberries.
Sugar Cured Virginia Ham with Hot Pepper Mustard (Served with Warm Blue Corn Muffins).
Chicken Fried Beef Tenderloin with White Onion Gravy (Served with Tiny Icebox Rolls).
Herb Roasted Lollipop Lamb Chops served with Warm Yeast Rolls.
Honey Cup Mustard Sauce.
Fresh Tamales with Tomatillo Sauce and Black Beans.
Baked White Cheddar Farfalle.
Sweet Potato Soufflé.
Asparagus Tier with Lemon-Garlic Aioli.
Golden and Crimson Beet Salad with Orange, Fennel, and Feta.
Chocolate Peppermint Cookies with Peppermint Crunch.
Pecan Sandie Tree (Mexican Wedding Cookies, Russian Tea Cakes) with Layers of Cookies.
Holiday Ornamental Cookies: Barney, Miss Beazley, Christmas Trees, Snowflakes, Candy Canes.
Red Hat Box Mascarpone Cake.
White Pound Cake with Mascarpone Cream Filling, Red Marzipan Frosting and Red Ribbon Bow Decoration.
Coconut Cake.
Coconut Chiffon Cake, Coconut Pastry Cream Filling and 7 Minute Meringue Frosting.
Chocolate Roulade (Christmas Log): Soft Ganache Frosting with a Chocolate Sponge, Meringue Mushrooms, Magnolia Leaves in White Chocolate, Raspberries.
Mini Tartlettes.
Pecan Pie, Lemon Meringue Pie, Orange Chiffon and Chocolate Boston Cream Pie.
Chocolate Truffles.
Homemade, Bittersweet Chocolate Ganache.
Long Stem Strawberries with Dark Chocolate Dipping Sauce.
Warm Macintosh Apple Cobbler With Oatmeal Crumble.
Pumpkin Trifle.
Spiced Pumpkin Mousse with Whipped Cream and Shaved Dark Chocolate.
If you wait long enough, probably a matter of just a few minutes, you’ll no doubt hear yet another news report detailing the deaths of yet more young American soldiers in a pointless war. You’ll likely also hear of yet more attacks killing yet more innocent Iraqi civilians. Meanwhile, official Washington will be stuffing themselves like a Thanksgiving turkey.
‘Tis the season, eh? Let them eat cake, indeed….
