Ladies of the Day.

Where I live in Northern Spain, Summer not only means sun, beach, tourists etc. Summer here also sees the arrival of "The Ladies of The Day." That is what my girls and I call the unfortunate females whose only way to survive financially ( or at least feed their drug habit  or whatever) is to offer "services" to men as they drive along the roads here. When I say "services" I certainly don´t mean providing cool drinks or washing windscreens!
When you drive in Europe throughout the day you will pass many "Ladies of the Day" , perhaps you tut at them; perhaps you are disgusted by them; perhaps you feel sorry for them.

But, just think a moment- are you completely guilt free? I don´t mean you stand on the side of the road touting your "wares" to all and sundry- but how many of us have granted "favours" / offered our "services" to our partner for personal gain? How many of us have sex just to appease our partner; put them, or keep them in a good mood; make them feel better or even so they will be more generous in handing out funds for the next days shopping trip? Is this not also a kind of prostitution?
Next, think, as you judge and criticise these women. The people who should be judged and criticised (and in my opinion pitied) are men.It is their caveman style need for having sex (as opposed to making love) that has created this line of work. My ex husband once told me "all cats are grey in the dark"- how true for them!
 Many of us women should be judged, criticised and pitied for "selling" ourselves for personal gain or personal fear (that if we do not "perform" our partner will seek sex elsewhere.) Who is more honest? "The Ladies of The Day" or us wives and girlfriends? They are! Listen up ladies- don´t just lie back and think of England,; don´t do anything you don´t want to do or feel like doing. you are degrading yourselves. As for you men.....keep your eyes on the road and your trousers zipped and butttoned!

Please remember- I am generalising here- not all men think all cats are grey in the dark....do they?

So endeth the sermon for today!  Now a delicious recipe:-

Pasta Putanesca. (whores spaghetti)

Quick and easy. Looks like plain old spaghetti in tomato sauce until the flavours of the anchovies, capers and chilli kick in!

Ingredients.

Spaghetti

2 small (14 - 16 oz) or 1 large (28 oz) can crushed tomatoes

4 cloves of garlic, halved

4 or 5 anchovy filets, chopped

3 Tablespoon olive oil

10 - 12 black olives, stoned and coarsley chopped

2 Tablespoons capers, soaked and drained

2 Tablespoons  parsley, chopped

1/2 to 1 small red chili, chopped

salt

Pasta pot, saucepan or skillet (I use a large non-stick wok) large enough to fit all ingredients.

Method:-
Set the pasta water to boil. Set aside some of the olives, parsley and capers as a garnish.
In a deep pan lightly brown the garlic in hot oil. Add anchovies, crush to a paste with a fork. Add the tomatoes, olives, capers and the chili, cook over medium high heat for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add parsley and cook for a couple minutes more.

Cook the pasta following the instructions on the packet Drain well.

In the pan, or in a warm serving bowl, put the cooked and drained pasta, add the sauce, and mix thoroughly. Some like to add a sprinkling of fresh chopped parsley at this point.