In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking but now, God knows, anything goes.

Hubby and I go out to our favorite bar once a week for date night.  It typically consists of hot wings and cold beer and conversation.  We talk about everyday mundane things like ‘how was your day’ to ‘remember when Joe Namath wore pantyhose’.

Do you remember when Broadway Joe, former quarterback for the NY Jets and later for the LA Rams, did a commercial wearing pantyhose?  With a cymbal roll, the camera slowly pans up hosieried legs, then crosses green satin shorts and the No. 12 football jersey, revealing famous New York Jets team quarterback (1965-1972) Joe Namath.

Joe didn’t actually wear pantyhose . . . "Now I don't wear pantyhose, but if Beautymist can make MY legs looks good, imagine what they'll do for yours."  . . . but apparently he was secure enough in his masculinity to do a national advertising campaign wearing them.  Of course, they threw in a hot chick smooching him at the end of the commercial so that his sexuality wouldn’t be in question.

Okay, that’s all fine and dandy.  But while digging up the little bits of Joe Namath hosiery trivia I came across something I didn’t expect.  Apparently, men do wear pantyhose . . . except that they’re called mantyhose.  They even come with a fly opening in the front.  I’m kind of freaking out.

 

There is actually a company that sells support legwear made exclusively for men.  They’ve been around since 1999.  It’s not supposed to be a product aimed at cross-dressers but the target is the active male . . . . adding warmth-without-bulk for outdoor runners and bicyclists,  a great base layer for hunters, campers and skiers in cold climates.

Still a little creeped out here . . .

Aside from the noted medical benefits to wearing supportive hosiery they’re made with the man’s fashion sense in mind.  Most men wear them under long pants . . . for support or warmth or whatever . . . and overtly flaunting the fact that they’re wearing tights.  

Some men go so far as to wear them with shorts and they have like designs and stuff on them . . . like fancy girlie hose but with manly-ish take.  Really? Uhm . . . sure.

It makes sense they they’re considered viable solution for complaints by men of aching, tired legs, varicose veins, or other circulation issues. But I’m still a little weirded out about the idea of my hubby wearing stockings.   

I'm trying to keep an open mind but it keeps snapping shut.  Sorry . . . 

 Beef And Tequila Stew


2 Lb Sirloin, Cubed
1/4 C  Butter
1/2 C  Onion; Chopped, 1 Medium
4 Slices Bacon; Cut Up
2 Jalepeno Peppers, Sliced
1 C Baby Carrots
2 Stalks Celery; Chopped
1/4 C  Tequila
3/4 C  Tomato Juice
2 T  Cilantro; Fresh, Snipped
1 1/2 T  Salt
1 Can Garbanzo Beans;
4 C  Tomatoes; Chopped, 4 Medium
2 Cloves Garlic;Finely Chopped




Melt butter in a heavy pot.  Add beef.  Cook and  stir beef over medium heat until brown.  


Remove beef with slotted spoon and drain.  Cook and stir onion, peppers and bacon in same skillet until bacon is crisp.  Stir in beef and remaining ingredients.  Heat to boiling; reduce heat.  Cover and simmer until beef is tender, about 1 hour.


To thicken stew, mix two tablespoons of corn starch in 1/2 cup cold water.  Bring stew to boiling and stir in cornstarch slurry.


I topped my stew with dumplings made with Jiffy Baking Mix:


To make dumplings, mix with a fork:


2 c. baking mix (Bisquick or Jiffy type mix)
3/4 c. milk


Drop by spoonfuls onto boiling stew. Reduce to simmer, cover and continue cooking 20 minutes more. Makes 10 to 12 dumplings.  

In olden days a glimpse of stocking was looked on as something shocking but now, God knows, anything goes.

Cole Porter