I have to apologize to my faithful readers. As you know, every month I try to highlight off-beat holidays that we tend to overlook.
Well, I screwed up this month. February 23 was the sixth annual World Sword Swallowers Day. I don’t know how I missed it, because there’s a Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Just up the street from me in Panama City Beach.
Sword swallowers have been around since the days of the Greek Gods, but they became mainstream in 1933 at the Ripley’s exhibit at the Chicago World’s Fair. Since then they have lived by the sword and died by the sword.
I have always admired sword swallowers. I put them right up there with people who swallow live goldfish, burlesque dancers and those midget clowns that cram themselves in to Volkswagen Beetles.
And I missed it. That’s not like me. A female sword swallower with perky breasts downing a 21-inch sword in front of a bunch of people. Shame on me. I like swords. I like swordfish, and I like perky breasts.
Grilled Swordfish Salad with Tangerines & Jicama
½ Cup Olive Oil
2 Tbs. Lime Juice
2 Tbs. Red Wine Vinegar
1 Tbs. Dijon Mustard
2 Tbs. Parsley
1 Tbs. Honey
2 Tsp. Chili Powder
Salt/Freshly Ground Black Pepper
4 Swordfish Steaks
Olive Oil
Salt/Freshly Ground Black Pepper
2 Cups Red Leaf Lettuce
2 Tangerines, Peeled, Seeded & Quartered
1 Jicama, Thinly Sliced
1 Roasted Red Pepper, Thinly Sliced
Combine the dressing ingredients in a food processor.
Grill the swordfish steaks until opaque.
In salad bowls, distribute lettuce evenly and add tangerines, jicama and roasted red peppers. Toss the salad in the dressing. Place swordfish on top and drizzle remaining dressing over steaks. Season again before serving.
Over history sword swallowing has been as much a part of the circus sideshow as jugglers, bearded ladies and Republicans who care. Today, sword swallowers can be seen from street corners to Las Vegas revues. They brush with death or the very least, serious bodily harm.
Danger, swords, swordfish salad, perky breasts, God I love this country.
Happy swallowing everybody.
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