Joseph Mallozzi's Blog, page 461

May 2, 2013: I Make the Best Whatever! Chicken Breast with Brown Butter and Fried Sage Leaves! Dog Party!!!

Apologies.  I was supposed to do this on Tuesday but between dealing with the dogs, all the hardcore waiting for word on those projects, and working my way through The Mammoth Book of Gangs, I – well – didn’t.  But better late than never and so, with further ado, here are MY results of Sparrow_hawk’s Chicken Breast with Brown Butter and Fried Sage Leaves from our I Make the Best Whatever entries:

As per instructions, I toasted the pine nuts, fried the sage leaves (doing my best not to snack on too many of them in the process), breaded and fried the chicken…and served!  Great flavors with some very nice textural contrasts – the crispness of the chicken coating and sage leaves, the tenderness of the chicken, the crunch of the pine nuts. This dish has made me even more of a sage fan.  My only criticism is that the recipe didn’t call for salt.  I assumed this was because of the presence of parmesan and the seasoned breadcrumbs but, in the end, I felt like I still needed a touch.  Otherwise, a very good dish that, while a little time consuming, isn’t that hard to make.  What did you all think?

Next week’s dish will be dasNdanger’s Puerco Pibil:

Puerco (Cochinita) Pibil5 tablespoons Annatto seeds [achiote seeds]

2 teaspoons Cumin seeds

1 tablespoon Peppercorns

1/2 teaspoon Whole cloves

8 Whole allspiceGrind spices in a coffee grinder [one used ONLY for spices] until VERY, VERY fine. this may take awhile, but be sure to get them as fine as possible.

Next, combine in a blender:

2 Habanero peppers, chopped [remove seeds to reduce heat, or leave in to keep the heat]

1/2 cup Orange juice

1/2 cup White vinegar

2 tablespoons Salt

8 cloves Garlic, chopped

Juice of 5 Limes (DVD calls for lemon, I prefer lime)

Splash of top quality tequila [clear tequila - avoid the ones with a carmel color as it might alter the flavor]

Add in the spice mixture and blend well.

5 pounds Pork Butt [or Pork Loin for less fat, but using loin will make the dish drier]

Banana Leaves

Cut the pork into 2 inch cubes…put in a large plastic bag and pour in the sauce…mix and let sit while lining a baking dish with banana leaves. Add pork and sauce, cover/wrap with more banana leaves and seal the whole thing well with tin foil. Then slow roast at 325 degrees for 4 hours.

Off you go.  Start cookin’!  And let’s reconvene next Thursday with the results.

Hey, who doesn’t like dogs in party hats?  Certainly not me, so when my sister sent the following pics from her dog Roxy’s birthday party, I knew I had to share…

Mom’s pooch, Felix (left), Fernando (back), and the birthday gal (right).

Felix has clearly had too much to drink.

Fernando = the life of the party.

Roxy clowns around as she prepares to feast on her birthday cake.

Fernando may be blind, but I’m sure he can smell that mashed potato icing.

Sis with mom’s other dog, Caramel who, apparently, is “too cantankerous” to wear a hat.  Boo!

The party in full swing.  I think the rottweiler is the designated driver.

I’m going to do a mailbag in the next couple of days so if you’ve got  a question, post it!

Tagged: Chicken Breast with Brown Butter and Fried Sage Leaves

May 1, 2013: Excerpts from the Trio Art Department package!

A little something from the “How’d they do that?” section of the Stargate vault.  Here are some pages from the Trio Art Department package that break down a couple of the episode’s more ambitious stunt sequences…

The crate collapse

The triangle plank (that, incidentally, took Marty G forever to come up with).

Keller falls through the red door

The episode made use of the gimboled set that was built for Stargate: Continuum:

Gimboled set (formerly the Continuum ship)

The opening through which our heroes eventually make their escape.

Underground mine set elevations

 

Tagged: Atlantis, SGA, Stargate, Stargate: Atlantis, Trio

April 30, 2013: Bubba on the mend! Entertaining cousin Evelina!

Following the horrible injury he suffered the other day (gruesome details here: April 27, 2013: Bubba’s Bad Day!), my pug Bubba has been keeping off his left front paw.  Doctor’s orders -

But that hasn’t stopped him from enjoying outdoors.  After a day of getting used to the special bandage, he was back to his old, upbeat self.  Akemi outfitted him with a makeshift (poopy bag) cover to keep his bandage clean -

And off he went!

Monday morning, we brought him back to the vet’s for a follow-up.  As it turns out, the wound is healing nicely and a (worst-case-scenario) partial amputation won’t be necessary after all.  Bubba had his wound cleaned, his painkiller prescription refilled, and even got himself a stylish new bandage:

Before

After

He’s in much better spirits and, of course, asked me to thank everyone for the well-wishes.

Jelly and Lulu empathize

Yesterday, I hosted my cousin Evelina who is in town for the week visiting friends.  It’s been fifteen years since she moved away from Vancouver so I did my best to reacquaint her with her old neighborhood.  Specifically, the eats…

First stop was Fable Restaurant (http://fablekitchen.ca/) which serves up some fantastic lunch sandwiches, among them -

Eggplant Parmesan sandwich with walnut pesto, pea shoots, pickled onions, and raita sauce. 

As usual, I had it with a side of the quinoa salad.  Unusually, I also did it with a side of the sandwich special of day – pulled pork with onion jam – that I shared with my table mates.

From there, it was over to Chocolate Arts (http://www.chocolatearts.com/) for a post-lunch dessert.  One of my favorite menu items there are the chocolate shots, a thicker, richer version of the regular hot chocolate (also available).  As an added bonus, you can sample from a variety of about a dozen different chocolates, ranging from milk to a 76% dark Equateur on the day we visited, before selecting which chocolate you’d like in your shot.  I, of course, had a double -

The chocolate shot

With a chocolate chip cookie chaster -

With just a touch of salt to balance the sweetness. Perfection.

We visited Granville Island and then it was back to the house where Evelina met – and fell in love with – the dogs.  We toured the neighborhood, relaxed, and gathered our strength for…

Dinner at Lupo Restaurant (http://www.luporestaurant.ca/).  We split three appetizers, a pizzetta, five pasta dishes, a couple of sides, and some desserts.  All excellent.  Among the highights -

The prosciutto with caramelized onions, taleggio cheese, and rucola pizzetta.

The octopus carpaccio

Chitarine Amatriciana – hot pepper tomato, pecorino, topped with crispy guanciale.

Pumpkin Tortelloni with amaretti and sage butter.

Lemon panna cotta.  A surprise favorite (once I’d removed the fruit on top). 

The verdict on Lupo?  Akemi said it best: “I lovelovelove!”.

So that’s it.  Yep, that should give you a sense of what you all can look forward to the next time you all come to town.

April 29, 2013: The Supermovie of the Week Club reconvenes! Cookie Monster reviews The Green Hornet!

Do you have low expektations?  Are you annoyed by tings like logic and quality?  Are you a cretin?  If you answered yes to any of dese questions, den you may enjoy The Green Hornet.

Cool, no?  No.  Not really.

Movie open on Russian gangster who visit club owned by rival.  There, he make rival an offer he can’t refuse.  Rival refuse it anyway, so Russian pull out carefully concealed weapon – a big, clunky twin-barreled gun.  How possible for him to sneak it inside?  It not make any sense!  Russian kill bodyguards, make another offer, den get up and leave.  As he leaving, rival notice he forgot his briefcase and say: “Hey, you forgot your briefcase!”.  Seconds later – literally, dats all de time it takes for Russian to get out de office, thru de club, and out de front door – briefcase explode.  It not make any sense!!

We cut to Chateau Versailles where we introduced to multi-millionaire douchebag father and his multi-millionaire douchebag son. Britt. Father is unhappy wit son’s lifestyle.  He unhappier still when he supposedly get stung by bee, have allergic reaction and die.  Britt take over de family business and fire entire house staff – except guy named Kato because he know which buttons to push to make great coffee. Also, Kato be a terrifik mechanic who, for some reason, tricked out Britt’s dad’s car wit all sorts of James Bond gadgetry.  Why?  It not make any sense!!!

One night, Britt and Kato dress up in disguise and take head off father’s memorial statue.  Dey also end up stopping gang of muggers. Well, Kato stop dem.  Britt just try his best not to get in de way.

It not make any – shhhhhhhh.

Disguised Britt and Kato caught on security camera defacing father’s statue.  Britt inherit father’s newspaper and insist it publish headline story on mysterious criminal defacers, one of which he name Green Hornet.  Soon, everyone very interested in Green Hornet.  De media, citizens, even de Russian gangster.  But why?  Why de heck everyone suddenly interested in some guy just because he took de head off a statue?  Why powerful Russian gangster is worried about being upstaged by a costumed vandal?  IT NOT MAKE ANY SENSE!

Green Hornet and Kato in…De Case of de Missing Plot.

In order to decide next course of aktion, Britt have to hire self-proclaimed “criminal expert” temp to tell him what Green Hornet will do next.  Using her “expert insight”, he follow her predikted pattern: beating up criminals and generally causing trouble for Russian gangster.  Why Britt need to hire some temp to tell him what to do? IT NOT MAKE ANY SENSE!!

Faster den a speeding truck.

Russian try to kill Green Hornet and Kato – but dey eskape.  Den have a falling out because Britt tink Kato dating temp.  Den Kato tink Britt dating temp.  Ho hum.

Kato accept Russian’s offer to kill Green Hornet and get de drop on Britt (after completely implausible flashback sekwence in which Britt piece together complikated backstory for benefit of confused viewer.  It not make any sense by de way) – but it turn out he have no intention of killing him after all.  In de end, it not really matter because, for some reason, Russian gangsters and his thugs start shooting up de place before Kato can go thru wit it.  Why?  IT NOT MAKE ANY FREAKIN’ SENSE!

Shoot out!  Car chase!  Fights!  Entire floor of newspaper building destroyed but newspaper staff unaware dere be anyting going on until a half a car drive out of de elevator.  IT NOT MAKE ANY FREAKIN’ SENSE!!

Bad guys killed.  Britt, dressed up as Green Hornet, get shot in shoulder and eskape.  But he unable to go to hospital because den police will know HE de Green Hornet.  So he and Kato and temp come up wit brilliant plan: De next day, Britt give public speech – and interrupted by Kato who fake shoot him in de shoulder and drive away. Presumably, hospital staff won’t know difference between fresh and day-old gunshot wound and everyting a-okay.

Britt and Kato put head back on statue, restoring dignity to father’s legacy.  Sadly, same can’t be said for Green Hornet franchise.

Verdikt: Seriously!  It makes no sense!

Rating: 3 chocolate chippee cookies.

Tagged: comic book movies, Cookie Monster, Cookie Monster film reviews, Cookie Monster movie reviews, Cookie Monster reviews The Green Hornet, Cookie Monster superhero reviews, film & television, Green Hornet, superhero movies, superheroes, SuperMovie of the Week Club

April 28, 2013: What are the chances? Death, lottery jackpots, and other likelihoods!

Given the choice, ninety-nine percent of us would prefer to die quietly in our sleep.  But the fact is, for ninety-nine percent of us, death won’t be peaceful.  We’ll either get shot or drown or killed in a car crash or accidentally swallow a toothpick and die of peritonitis.  I’ve often said that I don’t care how I go, just as long as its quick, painless, and as unhilarious as possible.  You know, nothing along the lines of: “Former Stargate Producer Dies in Bouncy Castle” or “Man Decapitated by Frozen Pizza”.

Ultimately, it’s all in the odds.  You have a better chance of dying because of  texting and  driving (6000 people annually in the U.S.) than, say, suffering some mortal vending machine-related mishap (13 unlucky snackers a year according to bizarre death statistics).  It’s a relief to know you’re more likely to perish in some dignified manner (Aneurism?  Saving an orphanage?)  than by falling victim to Death by Beard or Death by The Goodies (http://list25.com/25-unusual-deaths-that-will-leave-you-scratching-your-head/).

But, seriously – what ARE the chances?  Well, the fine folks at The Economist break it down for you:

(via: Daily chart: Danger of death! | The Economist).

I remember when my writing partner, Paul, and I were first starting out.  We were working on a teen sitcom, Student Bodies, that shot out of an abandoned high school.  Our office was a carpeted classroom that we made our own by adding a few personal touches: an air hockey table, the holes Paul had put in the ceiling practicing his backswing, and, best of all, a poster of Edward Gorey’s The Gashlycrumb Tinies. For those not-in-the-know, the latter was originally a book that explained the untimely demises of twenty-six unfortunate children – one for every letter of the alphabet:

(http://www.edwardgorey.com/)

I remember scanning the poster one day and, considering my partner’s hobbies and interests at the time, and playing the percentages, selected the ignoble black and white ending he was most likely to suffer.  This one:

Paul, in turn, wasted no time in choosing what he considered a most likely demise for yours truly:

Yes, all things considered, I suppose so although a chocolate truffle would be more likely.

Ultimately, it’s a matter of balancing risk (a most unlikely death) and reward (enjoying countless delicious peaches – or glasses of gin).  I, for instance, am certainly more likely to meet my end bleeding out from a nasty paper cut than a result of a hang gliding or sky diving accident because, while I accept the miniscule risks associated with reading and, thus (courageously) continue to read, I prefer not to subject myself to the remote likelihood of a splatterific death plunge and therefore will never ever hang glide or sky dive.

Your mileage may vary depending upon your interests – and how crazy you are:

(via: Your Chances of Dying & Other Health Risks – Best Health Degrees).

There are those who will tell you you’re more likely to be struck by lightning than to win the lottery.  Perhaps true, but there is still the inescapable fact that people have won, do win, and will continue to win the lottery.  I know that, given the choice, I’d sooner purchase a scratch and win than stand under an oak tree in a rainstorm.  I ‘ve often wondered if there’s ever been an instant where a post-lightning strike victim, their consciousness ebbing, concluded: “I should’ve bought a lottery ticket.”.  I like to think so.  By the way, and for what it’s worth, my research places “individuals hit by lightning strikes” at 2000 annually, a not exactly overwhelming edge over “jackpot winners of $1 000 000 or more” at 1600 a year.

Like I said – it’s all in the odds.  And in lieu of calculating your death (After all, who doesn’t like surprises?) you can always calculate the various other likelihoods of your life. FUNNY2™ – The Odds #1 offers some other interesting prospects:

Odds of winning an Olympic medal: 662,000 to 1 (I bet my odds would improve if I started training now)

Chance of an American home having at least one container of ice cream in the freezer: 9 in 10. (Yep, that sounds about right)

Odds that a first marriage will survive without separation or divorce for 15 years: 1.3 to 1 (This too)

Odds of getting away with murder: 2 to 1 (Them’s mighty tempting odds)

Odds of being considered possessed by Satan: 7,000 to 1 (Significantly higher if you’re in show business)

And finally -

Odds of dropping dead while reading this blog entry: Probably better than your chances of winning the lottery.

Tagged: chances of dying, chances of winning the lottery, danger of death, death and dying, death prediction, death predictor, odds of dying, weird deaths

April 27, 2013: Bubba’s Bad Day!

A mixed day for my pug Bubba.  This morning, he got to do his favorite thing in the world next to eating: going to the farmers market and eating!  Amid the all the strolling and attention paid to him (kids love him and he loves being loved by kids!) he sampled a crepe, butter chicken schnitzel, some naan, and whatever else he happened to hoover off the ground.

I know, I know.  I should really only be feeding him dog food.  But, honestly, could YOU say no to this face?

Bubba’s “I wonder what THAT tastes like?” look.

We did our shopping and returned home where I headed downstairs to the theater room to watch The Godfather with my gals (Jelly and Lulu) while momma’s boy Bubba elected to hang out with my other gal.  I was about an hour and ten minutes into the movie, right after McCluskey breaks Michael Corleone’s jaw, when he I heard a panicked Akemi shouting my name.  Usually, this means someone is at the front door so I hit pause and hurried up the stairs.  There, I discovered Akemi cradling Bubba who was bleeding profusely from his paw.  Apparently, he’d been sitting on her lap and, in attempting to hop down, had caught his claw on a cabinet.

I gave him 25 mg of tramadol, then called the vet.  We had half an hour before our appointment so, while Akemi tended to the wound, headed upstairs to clean up the mess.

It looked like a murder scene!

My poor boy.

Although he was feeling pretty laid back after taking the tramadol, Bubba was nevertheless reluctant to let me examine his injured paw – but it was pretty clear he had damaged the nail.  It was just impossible to know how seriously.

It certainly looked serious.

Bubba feeling pretty good after the tramadol.

He was examined by the vet who confirmed he had broken the nail – but couldn’t be sure whether he’d dislocated anything.  She cleaned the wound and suggested I bring him back Monday morning for further review and an x-ray.  In a best case scenario, they would remove part of his nail.  In a worst case scenario, they may have to amputate the nail to the joint.

The lounging wounded.

Once back home, Bubba tried out his bandaged-up paw.  Suffice it to say, he’s not a fan of the new look.  Akemi noted that now, apparently, he can only walk backwards:

He’s been a sad little guy all afternoon:

Kind of reminded me of this:

April 26, 2013: News of Note!

A little while ago when I dedicated an entry to seminal films from my youth, I forgot a big one: Bucakroo Banzai Director On Why We Never Got That Sequel | Giant …

The gang at Cracked.com offer up their list of: The 5 Most Awesomely Bad Comic Book Movies  How could Cookie Monster have missed the made-for-t.v. Dr. Strange and Justice League of America?  Well, we’ll rectify that eventually.  Also, how did Supergirl NOT make this list?

Also, as if Hancock wasn’t dark enough…article_20377_7-classic-movies-that-almost-had-absurdly-dark-endings.html.

Apparently the blondie is the new brownie: http://www.bonappetit.com/magazine/2013/01…trends-for-2013  I’m already all over gochujang but I’ve got to get me one of those cemitas!

No.  Really.  Bags of Nuts Recalled for Failing to Disclose the Presence of Nuts

Head on over to SFSignal.com for a chance to win a copy of the superhero-themed anthology Superheroes containing stories from the likes of Kelly Link, Peter S. Beagle, and yours truly: GIVEAWAY (Worldwide): Win a Copy of the Super-Cool Anthology SUPERHEROES edited by Rich Horton!

The Ultimate Guide to This Summer’s Science Fiction and Fantasy TV  Not sure Breaking Bad classifies as SF, but I’m certainly looking forward to its final season.

Oh No They Didn’t: Seven Jaw-Dropping Science Fiction TV Cliffhangers  Anything to add?

Via Boing Boing: List of British words not widely used in the United States  Codswallop you say?

In preparation for its return: 53 ‘Arrested Development’ Jokes You Probably Missed

And some worthy causes:

Peaceworks Animal Sanctuary

Chance’s Haven

Save Dutch

Help Save Kannon, Thunder and Sarge

April 25, 2013: Brand Loyalty!

Well, I finally sold my car.  After several weeks of listing, relisting, and re-relisting on craigslist, fielding numerous emails and questions, and riding along on various test drives, my hard work, patience, and determination finally didn’t pay off. 

That’s right.  It didn’t.  I got fed up and took my car in to a local dealer who snapped it up for – well, less than I could have made under ideal circumstances but surprisingly more than I expected.  I could have saved myself the trouble and done this last year.  In fact, I should have, but the dealer I spoke with at the time strongly urged me to try my luck on craigslist.  I told him I didn’t want to go through the hassle but he was pretty insistent that I should give it a try.  I relented, reconsidered, and sat on the car for six months before eventually trying my luck on craigslist – and went nowhere.  And so, rather than go back to that original dealer, I went to another one who proved far more receptive to my request.  And, while I was there, I checked out a new car.  I’m thinking of downsizing from my remaining Q7.  If I do, I’ll probably end up buying from this second dealer as well since he seemed far more receptive to my business.

Look, I get it.  That first dealer was presumably looking out for my best interests.  Only problem was he didn’t really pay attention to where my best interests lay: not in how much money I could wring out of the sale of my SUV but how much less of a hassle I would have to go through to unload it.  

If I do end up buying the car I’m considering, that will make my fourth straight Audi.  I’m all about loyalty when it comes to friends, co-workers, and cars.  

I used to drive a BMW.  It was an excellent car and the service provided was beyond reproach.  Then, when my lease ended, I elected to buy it out and sell it to a co-worker.  At which point that stellar BMW service took a turn.  Suddenly, I felt like I was trying to break up with a crazy ex-girlfriend who was doing everything in her power to make things as unpleasant and difficult for me as possible.  That experience effectively turned me off BMW and ensured that I would never, ever purchase another car from the company – nor ever recommend the company to anyone.

My next car was a Mercedes and, in that case, it was a little more straightforward.  No bait and switch there – it was a terrible car from the start.  Never again.

Which eventually led me to Audi.    To date, Audi products and services have proven excellent.  My loyalty is their’s to lose.  

Speaking of which…

Companies that have above and gone beyond the call to win my loyalty:

Audi

Bella Gelateria

Beta 5

Bose 

Campagnolo Restaurant/Campagnolo Roma

Granville Island Animal Hospital

Minami Restaurant

Peninsula Hotel (Tokyo)

Companies that have disappointed and, quite frankly, pissed me off:

Blackberry 

BMW

Mercedes

Rogers Communications

I’m curious about where you all stand with regard to product loyalty. What companies have earned your respect and repeat business?  And what companies have so pissed you off that you will never do business with them again?

Tagged: Audi, Blackberry, BMW, Bose, Brand Loyalty, cars, Mercedes, Rogers, Rogers AT&T, Rogers Communications Inc.

April 24, 2013: Walks with Jelly!

My gal

This afternoon, I was out with Jelly for her daily walk.  Really, given her age (14) and hip dysplasia, it’s more of a stagger-stroll-stop-and-snack. She scampers out of the gate and stops, waits for me to give her a snack, then forges unsteadily ahead, weaving, panting, stopping – until she gets another snack – then presses forward.  And so it goes: stop-snack-stagger, stop-snack-stagger.  Occasionally, she’ll meander off the sidewalk and onto the grass to do her business, and then promptly wobble back on track and resume her promenade.  She goes all the way up to the corner (half a block) and back.  By the time she returns to the front gate, some twenty minutes later, you’d think she’d run a marathon: wide-eyed, wheezing, but, clearly, proud of her accomplishment.

Every so often, a passerby will stop me to inquire about her.  Today, it was an elderly woman who slowed down to quietly observe Jelly before asking me how old she was.  ”Fourteen,”I replied.  ”She’s got bad hips.”

She crouched down with some effort and asked me if she could pet her. Jelly offered her own response, ambling over, tailing wagging, staring up hopefully.  ”Are you giving her anything for the pain?”she asked as she pet my appreciative pug.  I told her I was and explained the lengths I’ve gone to help maintain her quality of life.  There was one point when the hip dysplasia got so bad, she was unable to support herself.  Every time she tried to stand up, her hind quarters would give out on her.  I was at a loss – until I did some internet research and discovered that stem cell treatments had shown some promise in treating dogs with Jelly’s condition.  I contacted my local vet, made arrangements through Vet-Stem in San Diego (Vet-Stem Cell Therapy: Arthritis in Dogs & Cats | Tendons …) and got her the therapy.  She showed marked improvement and, within weeks, she was back on her paws and walking.  Wobbly, mind you, but the fact that she was able to support herself once again made it well worthwhile.

“That couldn’t have been cheap,”remarked the woman.  I confirmed it wasn’t.  Nor were the radiation treatments and anti-cancer vaccines for my other pug, Maximus (who now sits guard in the masthead of his this blog).  In both cases, I feel it was money well spent.   And, truthfully, even if Jelly’s treatment hadn’t worked, I wouldn’t have regretted spending the money because, at the end of the day, I’d know I’d done everything I could for her.

This seemed to strike a chord with the woman who stood up and said I was a good dog dad, then proceeded to tell me about her miniature poodle who had passed away suddenly, at age 15.  It was only when she apologized that I realized she was crying.  At a loss, I did the only thing one could do in that situation.  I gave her a hug.  And she told me all about her beloved dog who, despite having passed away over a year ago, was still greatly missed.  Then, pulling herself together and wiping away the tears, she thanked me, gave Jelly another pat, and continued on her way.

It was an atypical encounter, both curious and kind of touching.

Today’s entry is dedicated to blog regular Deni.  Hope Gumbo is on the mend!

April 23, 2013: Some friends check in! This ‘n that! Let’s get cookin’!

Well, look who it is.  Yes, it’s writer/director/producer/Golden Boy Martin Gero, recent winner of the 2013 WGC Screenwriting Award for Best Writing in a TV Drama (The LA Complex: “Down in L.A.”).  This pic was sent to me via my good friend, Anne-Marie Perrotta (who picked up a Writers Block Award on the same night) who, I’m guessing, orchestrated Martin’s kidnapping and transport from Los Angeles to Toronto for the gala.  I see the Writers Guild of Canada spared no expense in the accommodations.  That’s an Imperial Cell Suite.  It comes with free newspaper and Continental Beating.  But I would suggest passing on both.

I also heard from my former Toronto nemesis, Tara Yelland (tarayelland) the other day.  She’s been busy of late, working on a series, booking a commercial, and generally missing yours truly.  But the most interesting thing about her email was the discovery that her middle name is Ashley.  Ashley!  My Vancouver nemesis’s first name is Ashleigh!      Coincidence?  I would say yes but if the internet has taught me anything over the last few days, it’s that there’s a conspiracy in absolutely everything, no matter how asinine the theory.

Over the past couple of months, I’ve attended a number of dining-related events.  Most required the purchase of online tickets, usually through Eventbrite,”a provider of online event management and ticketing services”.  Today, I received an email from Eventbrite that included some suggested upcoming “Event Picks” chosen just for me.  I assume it’s sort of like Amazon recommendations.  If you liked THIS novel, you’ll probably enjoy THAT novel.  So, given my recent attendance of a foie gras feast and offal dinner, Eventbrite assumed I would be interested in a Women in Mining Annual Cocktail Reception, My Dream Wedding/Spring 2013, and, of course, a Strolling Tour of the Sex Work History in the West End.

Hey, look who’s been cast in the new series Carl Binder is show running: Teryl Rothery Cast in Hallmark’s Cedar Cove

Well this is interesting: Johnny Mnemonic TV Series In Development

Okay, who’s ready to do some cooking?  We’ve got eight recipes of YOUR recipes to test out, so let’s get crackin’ – in the case of the desserts, otherwise, choppin’.  First up is

Sparrow_hawk’s Chicken Breast with Brown Butter and Fried Sage Leaves

Step 1. Toasted Pine Nuts

½ cup pine nuts (pignolli) (or more if you love them)

Heat a frying pan over a medium high heat. Add the pine nuts and heat for about 5 minutes until lightly browned. Set aside. Hide them so you can’t nibble on them while you cook.

Step 2. Fried Sage Leaves

20 sage leaves

1 Tbsp milk

1 Tbsp flour

½ cup olive oil

Rinse and pat dry the fresh sage leaves.

Heat ½ cup olive oil in the frying pan.

While the oil is heating, dip the sage leaves one at a time in the milk then dredge in the flour.

When the oil is hot, add the sage leaves and fry until lightly browned. The light flour coating keeps the sage leaves from getting overdone and bitter. Drain on paper towels. Don’t eat them all before you finish cooking the chicken.

Step 3. Parmesan Chicken Breast

16 oz boneless Chicken Breasts (about 3)

2 Tbsp flour

1/2 cup Italian Flavored Bread Crumbs

4 cloves Garlic

2 Tbsp Olive Oil

2 Tbsp unsalted butter

1 egg

1/2 cup Grated Parmesan

4 Tbsp unsalted butter

1. Cut the chicken breast into 4 oz. pieces and pound to about ½ inch thickness.

2. Beat the egg with about 1 tsp. water and place in a shallow bowl.

3. Combine the bread crumbs and grated Parmesan in a second shallow bowl in preparation for breading.

4. Put the flour into a plastic bag and add a couple of pieces of the chicken breast. Shake to coat.

5. Dip the chicken pieces in the egg and then then crumb/Parmesan mix to coat.

6. Lay on a plate for about 15 minutes to let the coating set.

7. Repeat until you have coated all the chicken pieces.

8. Heat the butter and olive oil in a large frying pan over medium high heat.

9. Give the garlic cloves a whack with the flat of a knife and remove the skin.

10. Put the garlic in the oil and butter and heat until lightly browned then set aside.

11. Saute the chicken pieces until golden brown on each side (about 5 minutes on a side) and cooked through. Don’t crowd them or they won’t brown well. You will probably need to do this in three batches.

12. When the chicken is cooked, place on the serving platter and keep warm.

13. Add the last 4 Tbsp of butter to the pan and return the garlic; heat over medium high heat for about 3 or 4 minutes until the butter just starts to brown. Add a little of the olive oil you used to fry the sage leaves and put into a bowl.

14. Toss the pine nuts over the chicken and arrange the sage leaves around the border of the platter. Serve with the brown butter.

Sounds tasty, no?  You have all this week to prepare.  We’ll compare and discuss the results next Tuesday when I’ll also be posting our next recipe.