We all know that when someone uses this expression, they are indicating that someone is accusing someone else of behavior that they themselves engage in. For example, if you are holding up a liquor store and another thief comes in for the same nefarious purpose, it wouldn't make much sense to say something along the lines of "how horrible - you shouldn't be robbing this store! Go make an honest living, you!" Assuming both your pot and your kettle are indeed black, that would really (but not literally!) be the pot calling the kettle black.
What I am searching for, however, is a new expression that will describe what happens when someone accuses you of being or doing something that you are not, but that they are. And don't say "well, what's wrong with the word hypocrite," because it isn't as precise as I need here and frankly, it's overused and boring. Let's go back to our earlier example, but you are no longer robbing the liquor store. Instead, you are just standing in line with everyone else, waiting to purchase your life-enhancers (vodka, cigarettes, and lottery tickets).
Said robber comes into the store armed to the teeth and exhibiting poor hygiene to boot. He points his gun at the cashier and acts in a generally menacing way to everyone during the commission of the robbery. He even utters a few words of profanity, just for dramatic effect ("open the fucking register! get down on the fucking ground!").
On his way out the door, he turns to you and says, "what do you do for a living?"
You look around behind you, and to your left and right. He is clearly addressing you and it seems prudent, since he is the one holding the big gun, to answer. In addition, you weren't brought up to be rude, and when people express an interest in learning more about you it seems unfriendly to not engage in the process.
"Me? Um, I'm a lawyer." You obviously don't need to ask the question in return, which is the polite thing to do in most circmstances, but clearly not expected in this one since it is rather obvious how he puts food on the table, or crack in the pipe, or whatever.
"Ugh," he groans, and grabs a few lottery tickets from behind the counter along with several miniature bottles of liquor. "Lawyers are the worst. I just don't know how you live with yourself."
You want to say something clever and cut this guy down a peg or two, not to mention defend your profession, but you also don't want to get shot. So, instead of saying "well you may have an income but I earn a living!" or something along those lines, you keep your smarty pants mouth shut and say nothing.
However, there should be a saying for that sort of situation, because doesn't it happen all the time? I know a woman who was constantly cheating on her boyfriend, and yet her favorite topic of conversation was to gossip incessantly about a friend of hers who she told people was cheating on her husband, even though she knew for a fact she wasn't. We can't say she was a pot calling the kettle black, what can we say? I've got it!
She was the le creuset calling the kettle red! As you can clearly see from the photo above, the le creuset is red, and the kettle is silver and shiny. I'm hoping this expression takes off quickly and somehow I can earn money from it. Perhaps I'll trademark it. Let's use it in a sentence, shall we?
"Sarah Palin claims she performed poorly in her interview with Katie Couric because Katie Couric is unintelligent, woefully unprepared, and profoundly annoying. Boy, that is the le creuset calling the kettle red!"
I like it. I really do. Now on to the food portion of our blog. Last night was a great evening. Taylor and JT came over for dinner, along with the Haddons (very nice couple but they are both far too good-looking and I find that annoying). Patrick and Crista joined us for the happy hour(s) portion of the night, but elected to have dinner elsewhere. And boy oh boy did they miss something special! I forgot to take a picture before we cut into it, so please forgive the leftovers shot.
If you are a lasagna lover, this is the recipe for you. If you are not a lasagna lover, seek therapy immediately.
Three-Cheese Lasagna with Italian Sausage
SAUCE
2 tablespoons olive oil
2 cup chopped onion
1 1/2 cup finely chopped peeled carrots
4 tablespoons minced garlic
1 pound ground veal
1 pound spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
2 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes with puree
1/2 cup tomato paste
1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
2 tablespoon golden brown sugar
1 tablespoon dried oregano
2 bay leaves
1 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
LASAGNA
1 package no-bake lasagna noodles
2 15-ounce containers part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese (about 3 ounces)
1 10-ounce package frozen chopped spinach, thawed, drained, squeezed dry
2 large eggs
4 3/4 cups grated mozzarella cheese (about 1 1/4 pounds)
FOR SAUCE:
Heat oil in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion, carrots and garlic; sauté until softened, about 12 minutes. Add veal and sausages to pan; sauté until cooked through, breaking up meat with back of spoon, about 5 minutes. Drain as much fat as possible from the pan. Add remaining ingredients. Cover and simmer until flavors blend and sauce thickens a bit, 20 minutes should do. Discard bay leaves. Cool.
FOR LASAGNA:
Combine ricotta and 3/4 cup Parmesan cheese in medium bowl. Mix in spinach. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Mix in eggs.
Spread 1/2 cup ora little more sauce over bottom of 13x9-inch glass baking dish. Place noodles over sauce. Spread one third of ricotta-spinach mixture evenly over noodles (I actually pick up the noodles and spread the mixture on them, then put them in the pan). Sprinkle mozzarella cheese evenly over ricotta-spinach mixture. Spoon sauce over cheese. Repeat layering twice. Arrange remaining noodles over sauce. Spread remaining sauce over noodles. Sprinkle remaining mozzarella cheese and Parmesan cheese evenly over lasagna. (Can be prepared up to 1 day ahead. Cover tightly with plastic wrap and refrigerate.) Cover baking dish with aluminum foil. Bake lasagna 40 minutes; uncover and bake until hot and bubbly, about 40 minutes. Let lasagna stand 15 minutes before serving.
This recipe is sooooo not on the diet.
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