A cabbage once got the job of representing my head.
A grisly tale this.
In 1971 I played the foolish, arrogant, headstrong Earl of Essex in Elizabeth R opposite a formidable Glenda Jackson as Elizabeth.
The young jackanapes got it into his head to start a rebellion against the Virgin Queen.
He’d been her favorite for years and had been forgiven much–but this she couldn’t ignore. He found himself on Tower Green and a rendezvous with the headsman.
The powers that be at BBC Television Centre decided the most realistic way to replicate the sound of a head being chopped off was to lop a cabbage in half!
I have only recently been able to eat them without getting nervous!
Here the abused cabbage is restored to its proper place–on the table.
Not as spectacular, but last night we found ourselves forking a little more and then a little more onto our plates–until there was none!
for 2
1 small cabbage–halved vertically and sliced finely
1 clove of garlic–sliced finely
1 small onion–chopped small
10 juniper berries–crushed
2 tablespoons olive oil
salt and pepper
a splash of water
- Heat the oil in a pan.
- When hot, sauté the garlic until it starts to color.
- Add the onion and stir fry until the onion catches up with the garlic.
- Add the cabbage and the juniper berries and turn all together thoroughly in the garlic, onion and oil mix.
- Cover the pan, lower the heat and cook for a further ten minutes to soften the cabbage.
- Add a splash of water if the cabbage starts to catch (stick to the pan)
- Be generous with the pepper and sprinkle some salt over.
Robin Ellis 