Whine & Cheese

Got Cilantro?

It's been a long time since I did a "cooking segment" here on W&C... so it's time to get back to the kitchen and share some recipes.

Last week, I picked up some fresh cilantro at the grocery... I love fresh herbs, but they don't seem to last terribly long, so it is always a challenge to use them before they go bad.  Cilanto (or even flat leaf parsley) added at the end of a dish really "brightens" (sorry channeling Rachael Ray here) up the flavor... and plus, there is certainly a ta-da factor (damn that Rachael!) with the little green flicks.  So I managed to get it into three meals last week!

First, up I used it in a Kraft-food recipe for a very easy "Santa Fe" style sauce.  I browned up some boneless pork-chops in a skillet (though chicken, or heck even steak, would work just as well)... then in the same pan add about a cup of salsa and handful or two of corn (frozen, drained, or fresh)... and cook that up for a minutes (scraping up those good meat juices from the pan)... take it off the heat, stir in half a small container of sour cream  (low fat is fine)... and finish off with cilantro!   We use a nice and spicy habenero salsa... the sour cream "cools" it a bit, but it still has a nice kick.  Serve the sauce over the pork chops!

Next up, was a recipe that didn't call for cilantro... but it was still a nice addition...Rachael Ray's Jambasta (click the link for the full recipe).  As the name suggest, jambalaya with pasta instead of rice. Having made the recipe before, I pretty much did it off the top of my head this time around... and modified the recipe based on what we had on hand.   So no shrimp ... just andouille and chicken... subbed in a fresh jalapeno for the pablano... green instead of red pepper... just go with what you have! 

The sauce again is what makes this dish special.  After the veggies are sauteed... sprinkle with flour (as a thickener to your sauce)... deglaze with a half bottle of beer (leaving the other half for the cook's pleasure for the rest of the meal prep!)... once the alcohol is cooked out, add in chicken stock and crushed tomatoes (another substitution here for me:  a can of diced tomatoes and a small can of tomato sauce).... before serving blush the sauce with some heavy cream (or 2% milk like we had!) and... keeping with the theme...  stir in that cilantro! 

Day 3, it was Asian... and another "off the top of my head" recipe... my little version of beef lo mein.  Thinly chopped up some steaks that were on sale at the market and tossed in whatever else I had around (onion, garlic, carrots, green bell pepper, water chestnuts)... but here we go again... the sauce!   I prepared this before stir frying the veggies and meat, so that the flavors could "marry."  Combined about a 1/3 cup each of beef stock & soy sauce... sprinkled in some ground ginger (freshly grated would have been great!!)... a couple splashes of sesame oil... and for heat (we love heat!).... some red pepper flake and a forkful of hot chinese-style mustard.  Before adding the sauce, again to thicken the sauce, I added some corn starch (flour would work as well) and cook it together for a minute or two... added the sauce... tossed in some cooked spaghetti... and top it off with sesame seeds and ... cilantro!

So there you have it... get cookin'!

On a totally unrelated note, you may (or probably not) have noticed that I have started using Technorati "tags" on some recent entries.  This is a relatively new feature on TypePad, so I figured I'd give it a test run and see how it works out.  I don't know if it'll do any "good" (or what "good" would mean?!?) but what the heck!

All the King's Men

A bit back-logged on my latest book "review"... but I finished another one last week... and I am about 2/3rds of the way through my latest read... but better late than never, right?  (Umm... don't answer that!)

At least once a year, I like to read a piece of "classic" literature.  Oprah has made this "goal" much easier of late as she has turned to the classics in her book club, but since it has been on a bit of a hiatus, I was on my own... but heck, after my utter surrender to her Faulkner trilogy last summer, I'm not sure I would be quite as Pavlovian and run out and get the latest "O" pick (that said, I had already read her most recent selection, Elie Wiesel's Night).

So, as you can see off to the right, I chose All The King's Men by Robert Penn Warren... which, according a NY Times back cover blurb, is "the definitive novel about American politics."  But my reasons for picking it was far more shallow.  I figured it would be a good prep for the upcoming movie adaptation that will surely be a big Oscar contender later this year.  Check out this cast... Sean Penn, Jude Law, Kate Winslet, Patricia Clarkson, James Gandolfini, Mark Ruffalo, and Anthony Hopkins.  Interestingly enough, the original 1949 movie of the Pulitzer Prize winning book won 3 major Oscars -- best picture, best actor, and best supporting actress.

But back to the book!   Even if you have never read King's, you may know one of the characters ... Willie Stark.  Stark is a thinly-veiled take on real-life Louisiana governor Huey Long... an idealistic politician who eventually falls victim to corruption and his own hubris.  Nice to know that today's politicians have learned to avoid that... ha!  Despite being the most well-known character from the book, Willie Stark is almost a supporting player King's.  The protoganist is Jack Burden (think that name carries any symbolism?), a political reporter for a newspaper who eventually joins the Stark administration as one of his closest confidantes. 

While I think I read the book at a pretty good pace, at times, I found it a bit sludge-y... at 650+ pages, it was quite literally a "heavy" trade paperback.  It had the feel of a high school reading assignment... as my mind tried to be aware of literary devices like symbolism, foreshadowing, etc. for some pop quiz.  Though given the extra-marital sex, mild violence, moral corruption, and general "political incorrectness," I doubt this book is being read inside any classroom these days.  One thing I did not know going in, was that Warren was our nation's first poet laureate... and there is definitely a poetic quality to his prose... phrases are often echoed like a refrain from a poem.

That said, this is not a difficult read (as noted above, my reading tolerance bar has been re-set waaaay high thanks to Faulkner... which King's does not even closely approach)... and, for sure, there is a very good degree of entertainment value to the story... and some surprising plot twists that I did not anticipate.

So a recommendation... though, just like the movies... this seems more of a fall/winter Oscar-ish read, not a easy, breezy "no-brainer" summer blockbuster. 

BBC Shipwrecked: Episode 1

Ok, I don't plan on blogging about every episode of BBC America's Shipwrecked, but I just thought I'd give you a little taste of what you're missing...

Nice scenery... huh?  I'm hooked.

Okay, we'll get to the eye candy in just a bit (and there was plenty of it!)... but first a little about the show.  As I mentioned in my teaser post about the show, it is kind of seemed like it would be a rip-off of Survivor.  But besides being stranded in the middle of nowhere, there are not many other similiarities.  Shipwrecked is definitely more sociological that survivor-ish.  The teams have been given supplies (for shelter and food) and there are no head-to-head competitions per se... no one is getting voted off the island... all of them are there for 5 months (take that Survivor and your measly 39 days!).  What they do need to do is attract new strandees (one every week) to their island ... the island/team with the most members at the end of the game will split prize money of 700,000 British pounds (approx 1.3 million $US).  So you see the challenge... more people (the goal) = less money.

The premiere episode introduced us to the two teams of five members... the first new strandee arrived near the end of the episode, that person will visit each island and pick a team in next week's episode.

So here are the boys:

These are the "Tiger" boys... you saw their backs above... and here we have Crawford and Chris... for you Survivor fans, these two are clearly the Alpha males.  They immediately took to building a shelter (and fairly well), but have already started to annoy their 3 fellow Tigers... Chris B. is bisexual (and self-announced horny) and has predictably gravitated to the gals, Katie (fresh from an all-girls boarding school) and Charlie (token lesbian, but pretty fun so far).  They have not taken too kindly to Crawford & Chris bossing them around and assigning them cooking duties and menial tasks like weaving palm fronds for the roof of their structure.

The "Shark" men...:

... are John and Geoff.  This team is clearly more dysfunctional than the Tigers.  John and Geoff are not quite the handymen that C&C are and by episodes end they had yet to make any significant progress on the shelter.  John is unlike any Survivor contestant I have every seen... running around in Izod-ish shirt and collar and preppy-ish shorts... but this is BBC America after all!  Geoff suffers from ADHD and is the main "personality challenge" on either island.  The team is rounded out by 3 gals... Niff, who has tried (unsuccessfully so) to establish herself as the leader... Laura, a pretty gal who has yet to make an impression on me... and Lou, the break-out gal of the first episode... a brassy, blue-collar gal who hasn't quite figured out these "middle class" compatriots.

So definitely a fun show... and I have to admit just hearing them talk just made me smile... just imagine those Survivor verbal smackdowns with British accents... it is really quite charming!

If you want to catch the show... you have to do it on Wednesdays... unlike some other shows on basic/extended cable, this does NOT re-air on other/multiple days during the week.... on our cable system, the first episode aired a 6pm, 9pm, and 1am... and that's it, until a next week's new episode. 

I'll leave you with more Crawford and Chris... after the jump...

BB7: Playing Chicken With The Game

A Big Brother episode that finally got all All-Star on our ass!   While they often get criticized for leaving out all the "good stuff" from the live feeds, the BB editores definitely offered up the best episode of the season last night... and a perfect mix of humor and (humorous) drama!

First up, we learn that Kaysar has B.O.... but this is a good thing... as it is some magical and sensual olfactory elixir for Marcellas.  In a somewhat cringe-worthy diary room montage, Marci orgasmically describes the stank of the 'Iraqi Peach' is something best be described as "better than banana muffins." But at least it was a brief respite from Marci only referrring to himself as the most "beautiful boy" in the world... and at least we were treated to this hunky shot of Kaysar:

... and at least a memory of what K looks like with a full head of hair... but something tells me it is going to grow back pretty quickly (I'm totally jealous!).

But the funniest segment of the episode, was Jase Face... as Danielle with a little help from Chilltown mocked Jase's "mirror face" as he does his hair.

I am so glad Danielle has stuck around (and doesn't appear to be on the radar anymore), because she has the best diary room entries.

UPDATE: The folks over at TVGasm put up a clip of this segment... hurray!  Clipgasm: Primp-Slapped Edition... the Jase Face... do it America!

My last photo tribute has to go to Will... who gave a truly classic bullshit veto speech...

The houseguests had sly smiles on their face as Dr. Will Evil started his straight-faced putdown... but by the end, I have a feeling that they were buying into it.  Half man, Half Amazing.  Indeed!   We had to watch it twice last night ... and I enjoyed seeing it again this morning. 

I love a smart-ass and it was much better than the syrupy drip that Chicken George followed this up with... second chances?  You're on a frickin' reality show ... eating slop, bathing in blueberries, and fighting for something called the "golden power of veto"... not exactly stuff to get all philosophical over!

But the Chicken's win certainly caused the fan to start whirling out some sh&t... and for that I was thankful.   We got to see James pouting about all his hard work being thrown down the drain.  I guess the first time HoH now knows what it feels like when someone wins a veto and takes themselves off the block like he did up-teenth times last season!

Then, not a moment too soon, we had the return of "Season 5 Jase"... which is a good thing, since I was starting to actually like the guy this season.  His hissy fit at being put up on the block was pretty laughable.  He has this conversation with James about how their each other's biggest competition... and doesn't expect James to act on that?   And someone needs to remind Jase what "back-dooring" is... it is the intentional stacking of the veto competition (which is virtually impossible now with the participants being chosen randomly) and then putting that person on the block.  If James or Kaysar won the veto, then put Jase up... that would be a back-door.  So Jase blew it in the veto competition... though you know there was NO way he was going to have his hair shaved off!

So we'll see what happens... Jase seems to be a goner, but who knows that has probably changed 52 times since the veto ceremony wrapped up.

BTW, I did/do subscribe to the live feeds... but whenever I am watching them I am mercilessly "treated" to conversations between Marcellas and Boogie about who knows more people in Hollywood... or Erica's implants (she said they cost $700?!?!  did she get them at "The Bargain Breast Store"?).

Fall Fresh Meat

This headline over at TVGuide.com definitely caught my eye... Lost, Housewives Up the Hottie Factor.

So I had to do a little investigating of my own, and ... let me say... ahem!... I approve!

To the left, meet Rodrigo Santoro... dubbed the "Brazilian Tom Cruise" (or the "Brazilian Tom Hanks" depending on what article you read)...  Senor Santoro will be joining the cast of Lost as... c'mon, you expect a straight answer?   A "mystery role."

To the right, we have Josh Henderson... who will be joining the ladies on Wisteria Lane as Edie's "sexy, bad-boy nephew"... hmmm!

TiVo Must: 30 Days

Ok, get thee to you DVRs immediately and set up a Seaons Pass for...

Morgan Spurlock's FX series 30 Days.

This was one of my favorite programs of last summer (last year!) and I was thrilled to see that it was coming back for another go-round.  It is a fascinating look at clashing cultures... where folks live their lives with their polar opposites... or Spurlock does a "walk a mile in my shoes" look at the under-belly of American Society.

This summer's six episode run looks to be as interesting as last year's:

Immigration - A minute-man lives with an illegal immigrant family.

Outsourcing - A man who lost his job to out-sourcing visits Bangalore, India.

Atheist - A female atheist lives in household of evangelical Christians.

New Age - An overworked, over-extended father enters the world of "new age" hoping to reduce stress and seek inner peace.

Abortion - A staunchly pro-choice feminist (who has had an abortion) moves in to a Christian, pro-life maternity home.

Jail - Living life on minimum-wage last year, Morgan Spurlock puts himself in jail... experiencing life in a 10 by 8 foot cell.

Episodes are occasionally tied-up with a bow (a little too nice and neat) by the end of the hour, but it is still presented in a very entertaining and high palatable manner.

The premiere episode is this Wednesday (July 26th) at 10 pm EST/PST... and repeats air throughout the week.

Trust me... good stuff... and some "reality" that you can be proud of!

The DaMINcI Code

Well, I got my black box in the mail from MINI in today's mail.

And perhaps that's all I should say, since it appears that there is an organization out there that's making Opus Dei (or whatever that secret sinister society was in The DaVinci Code) look like a bunch of boy scouts!

Even before opening up the box, this is what it said on the back:

If someone asks what's in the secret black box, don't panic.
Just respond coolly and confidently with the answer's provided below.

1. "Is this box black? I would have said navy."

2. "Maybe if MINI wanted you to know they would have sent you one."

3. "Whatever it is it's probably not some secret MINI program for owners."

4. "No hablo ingles."

5. "I'm in the MINI Cardboard-Box-of-the-Month Club."

6. "Oh, it's just full of none-of-your-business."

Of the contents of the box, it said:

This message will self-destruct in five seconds.
Not really.
We couldn't figure out how to make it work.

So my lip is zipped... but I will be playing along... and I think MINI knows its customers all too well ...

We're zaggers in a bunch of ziggers.  We love our cars with the type of obsessive devotion one should reserve for pets and children.

MINI Cooper: Breaking, Spotting, Searching

My MINI Cooper reached a milestone and "passed" its latest (final?) test over the weekend.

It is officially "broken in" at 1,250 miles. 

And let me tell you, it is good to use the word "broken" and have it mean a positive thing!   

We reached the milestone about halfway to Tucson on Saturday... as you can see, I was zipping along at 70+ miles per hour... and that engine temperature gauge (lower left) never budged from the halfway mark the entire time.

And boy it was HOT!   On Friday, we hit 118 degrees here in Phoenix (making it one of the 11 hottest days ever in the Valley)... and we also broke a record on Saturday at 116.  So my Cooper's coolant system got as good of a test as it could speeding through the desert in those kind of conditions ... especially on the way back, my outdoor temperature said 117 degrees (again, in high heat, it seems to run at least 5 degrees hot)... and I got a whopping 30.5 average miles per gallon on the highway.

We also had our first up-close and personal fellow MINI highway sighting as we approached our home exit.  It was a white (cream-colored) MINI who zoomed up next to us.  We exchanged hello waves, before I turned the tables and passed them by.  It is always fun to see another MINI owner.  I can't imagine there is a higher camaraderie between car owners than that among MINI owners.

Had another MINI sighting on television... this one in the most recent episode ("The Gang Gives Back") of FX's sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia:

It was a "blink or you'll miss it" drive-by at the very start of the episode (note the TV-MA "bug" is still on the screen)... and believe me.. I did!  Props to Todd, for noticing it and making me bloop-a-bloop-a-bloop it back on the TiVo.   Believe it or not, Todd is much better at spotting Coopers than I am ... especially on the road.  I have him trained well... but he knows it makes me happy to see one!

Finally, MINI is up to its fun tricks again... last week, I received this e-mail:

Apparently, I am going to be receiving in the mail a "MINI Magic Window Decryptor" which will allow me to see a "hidden message" in a magazine.  Of course, I headed over to the website and picked up one of the magazines that has this MINI advertisement (July 24th issue of The New Yorker)... so now I just have to wait to get the "decryptor" which will allow me to "follow the instructions to discover something special."  We'll see about that... but I am thinking the MINI marketing department must be a really fun place to work.

The magazine ad had a really funny (and snarky) disclaimer in small print:

ATTENTION NON MINI OWNERS:  There is a secret message hidden on this page.  Only MINI owners have the tool you need to see it.  Sorry about that, but here's a hint: it has something to do with the cat's whiskers, the weight of the moon, and a brick of soy cheese.  If you figure it out, you're pretty quick.  But not as quick as you'd be in a MINI.

Express Lane: Issue 12

Totally swamped today with a "rush" work project...so I'll bail out and just post this!

It's definitely a full "cart" of items... but I'll still sneak it through this Express Lane round-up.

Madonna's 'Confessions' Coming to NBC - Good news, except the wet-blanket last line of the article "We've discussed exactly what content will be in and what is out... and we've come to, I think, a healthy place that represents her show, but is appropriate for television." (7/21/06) 

Double Duty (And Not):  Despite a new role ABC's 'The Nine,' Kim Raver will return next season as Audrey Raines on '24'... but 'Nine' co-star John Billingsely is being re-cast on 'Prison Break' as the not-so dead Terrence Steadman.  Also, with a new job over at hubby Ken Olin's ABC fall drama 'Sons & Daughters,' Patricia Wettig has decided NOT to return as the evil POTUS on 'Break.' (7/20/06)

Oprah says she, friend Gayle not gay - I know day-old news... but with gay marriage on the ropes, can't heterosexuals at least let us have "coming out" all to ourselves?! (7/19/06)

Why can't Madonna score a hit single on U.S. radio? - EW ponders the question... and so do I! 'Get Together' is on constant rotation on my iPod and just as addictive (if not more so) as 'Hung Up.' (7/19/06)

FOX Reality's first docusoap will follow Rob and Amber - They're baaaack!  You've seen them on 'Survivor'... and 'Survivor All Stars'... and 'The Amazing Race'... and 'Rob & Amber Get Married'... and segments on 'The Early Show.'  Now, come January, follow Rambuh as they move to Vegas where Rob hopes to become a professional gambler (for reals!  I can't make up sh&t like this!) (7/18/06)

'24' Adds Two More - The former POTUS may be dead, but the Palmers are still punching the '24' clock.  DB Woodside returns as Wayne Palmer and is joined by previously unheard of sister, Angela, to be played by Regina King (of 'Ray' and 'Miss Congeniality 2').  WARNING:  Major plot spoiler in this article. (7/17/06)

Reviewing the 'American Idol' tour - A wonderfully snarky recap from EW's Michael Slezak... consider these gems:  Chris ("doesn't hurt that the guy is sex on a stick"), Ace ("painfully literal on-stage gestures"), and Paris ("Young lady, you are not, nor will you ever be, the next Beyoncé Knowles").  (7/14/06)

Maximum Mini - Everything you wanted to know about 2006 MINI Coopers, but were afraid to ask... get one while you can, production has been slowed (just 3,336 cars the first half of this year!) for a plant re-tool and expansion.  Look for a re-designed Cooper (and a price increase!) in 2007. (7/13/06)

'Sopranos' Start Date Gets Kneecapped - A knee injury (and surgery) for James Gandolfini whacks production of the final episodes of "The Sopranos' -- and likely pushes its air date from January to March of 2007... at the earliest. (7/13/06)

Two and Out for 'Rome' - Rome may have not been built in a day, but HBO announced it will try to do it in two seasons.  The mega-expensive series will air its second, and final, season this coming from January to (at the earliest) March 2007. (7/13/06)

Field tapped matriarch in ABC drama - Do you really like her?  Sally Field replaces Betty Buckley on the upcoming ABC drama 'Brothers & Sisters' - I was already all over this one with a cast that includes: Calista Flockhart, Patricia Wettig, and Rachel Griffiths. (7/11/06)

'Idol's' Daughtry Signs Record Deal - But temper your expectations, it's via 19 Entertainment... the vanilla-ish 'Idol' label... but "A-List collaborators" are promised.  We'll see. (7/11/06)

Fast Food Nation: The Movie

I am usually quite "up" on stuff like this (heck, it is one reason I am currently reading this classic novel... btw, almost wrapped up!)...

Having recently finished reading "Fast Food Nation", I had absolutely no idea it was going to be turned into a major motion picture coming this fall...

Curiously enough, it is not a documentary... they are fictionalizing it. 

I checked out the trailer and it appears Greg Kinnear is portraying author Eric Schlosser... though according to the film's listing on IMDb his "character" is Don Henderson... and the fast-food restaurant featured is called "Mickey's."   The trailer (available on the movie's official website) does seem to cover most of the topics in the book... interesting!   This may just drag me back to the movie theater!