I have to agree...
Monday, October 15, 2007
Minnesota Nice is Not Nice When You're a Writer?
While it was not the most original editorial in the world, there was a mildly-interesting little article on the bottom of the editorial page in the Times this morning about young women writers and a certain flavor of politeness they have to overcome if they are to be taken seriously as writers.The writer is able to use a visit to a small Lutheran college in Minnesota as the backdrop and does the obvious comparison to the phenomenon known as Minnesota Nice here.
It's a little bit of a hodge-podge of an article (the writer also laments the fact that more professors are choosing to live in the Cities and commute out to the small town colleges where they teach) and doesn't really address the negative perception of Minnesota Nice (that some people find it to be fake) but it was a nice little diversion to scan through.
Sunday, October 14, 2007
Going to Have to Dig Out My Rolling Thunder Tapes
Taking a break from housecleaning and I came across this excellent "Isis," performed by Dylan and his Rolling Thunder Revue in 1975.He was probably on my mind because there was a cool article in last week's Sunday Magazine about the upcoming "I'm Not Here" movie about him. It's a long article, but I found it to be worthwhile and interesting.
The flick got some initial "huh?" sort of ink when people found out that Cate Blanchette is playing one of a handful of "Dylans" in the movie. While I have to withhold final judgment since I've not seen the movie, I can say that the stills of her from the movie are pretty convincing. Next, the article goes into how it's really kind of an experimental movie. There are 6 Dylans in it, one of whom is played by a little African American kid. The point they're trying to get at is how Dylan has repeatedly reinvented himself over the years, shrugging off the past and moving on to the next thing.
I'm anxiously awaiting its release out here in Clevleand, but my understanding is that Weinstein wants to drag out the release a little bit and build up a following.
Edwards' Attempt to Clean Things Up
Obama's getting bad coverage this week. The story seems to be how Hillary is running away with it and that the Junior Senator from Illinois may be resorting to some traditional jab-politics.
Reality check time.
But the story that's bothering me this morning is a new proposal by Potsie Edwards. Now he wants to shrink the cap on how much an individual can give to a presidential campaign to $1000 from $2000.
At first glance, this seems like the honorable thing to do. If we reduce the amount of "influence" an individual can inject into a political campaign then we reduce the number of monkeyshines going on. To raise the same amount of money, a candidate has to appeal to twice as many people willing to open up their checkbooks now. We have a bit more of a shared destiny.
On a very high level, I get the logic. It ain't rocket science.
But the question I'd love to ask Edwards is this...They've shown every willingness to restrict the right of individuals to give to campaigns in the name of cleaning up the system. They've been willing to say that money is not speech and that it's perfectly OK to restrict folks' rights to talk about certain things when leading up to an election if we do it in the name of something unquestionably holy like campaign finance reform.
But what if we decided to reform the system from the other end. What if we told candidates that they have the right to put up as many ads as they want until the point at which they become candidates for President. When they do, they will only be allowed to show 2 paid advertisements per week. If they want to get their messages out to people they will have to beef up their internet sites or hold lots more in-person events where they can talk with individuals one at a time and convince them to vote for them.
While my proposal sounds capricious and arbitrary, is there any cosmic significance to a $1000 or $2000 limit on donors? Further, what's so wild about reducing the need for donations as a means to removing money from politics? It's certainly more responsible than keeping demand at a constant (or raising it) while forcing the gathering of funds to feed the beast into more and more creative solutions.
I won't hold my breath.
Reality check time.
But the story that's bothering me this morning is a new proposal by Potsie Edwards. Now he wants to shrink the cap on how much an individual can give to a presidential campaign to $1000 from $2000.
At first glance, this seems like the honorable thing to do. If we reduce the amount of "influence" an individual can inject into a political campaign then we reduce the number of monkeyshines going on. To raise the same amount of money, a candidate has to appeal to twice as many people willing to open up their checkbooks now. We have a bit more of a shared destiny.
On a very high level, I get the logic. It ain't rocket science.
But the question I'd love to ask Edwards is this...They've shown every willingness to restrict the right of individuals to give to campaigns in the name of cleaning up the system. They've been willing to say that money is not speech and that it's perfectly OK to restrict folks' rights to talk about certain things when leading up to an election if we do it in the name of something unquestionably holy like campaign finance reform.
But what if we decided to reform the system from the other end. What if we told candidates that they have the right to put up as many ads as they want until the point at which they become candidates for President. When they do, they will only be allowed to show 2 paid advertisements per week. If they want to get their messages out to people they will have to beef up their internet sites or hold lots more in-person events where they can talk with individuals one at a time and convince them to vote for them.
While my proposal sounds capricious and arbitrary, is there any cosmic significance to a $1000 or $2000 limit on donors? Further, what's so wild about reducing the need for donations as a means to removing money from politics? It's certainly more responsible than keeping demand at a constant (or raising it) while forcing the gathering of funds to feed the beast into more and more creative solutions.
I won't hold my breath.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
If There's One Thing I Can't Abide, It's an Ethnocentric Racist
Ah yes, the great Kinkster...
I was shocked that I could not find any videos for this up on Youtube, so I decided to learn how to do a little editing myself. This is very sophomoric first attempt at putting a slide show to music, but I did and posted it myself.
Moviemaker is actually quite easy to use, so I think I'll mess around with this a little bit more.
Enjoy a little Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, now, whydontchya...because he really is right.
They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore!
I was shocked that I could not find any videos for this up on Youtube, so I decided to learn how to do a little editing myself. This is very sophomoric first attempt at putting a slide show to music, but I did and posted it myself.
Moviemaker is actually quite easy to use, so I think I'll mess around with this a little bit more.
Enjoy a little Kinky Friedman and the Texas Jewboys, now, whydontchya...because he really is right.
They Ain't Making Jews Like Jesus Anymore!
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
I stumbled across an absolutely hysterical show on FX recently and may start to keep up with it.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars Danny Devito as a bar owner and his 20-30-something-ish cohorts and some of their general hijinks. The characters are generally pretty dopey individuals, but the situations they get into allows the writers to explore some pretty edgy social critiques.
In the first episode I caught, a man who just moved over from Israel moved into the neighborhood and bought the building next to theirs. Due to some archaic city zoning documents, it turns out that he owns the whole block and ends up trying to push the gang out. In the meantime, they get into a bunch of spats and he erects some fences all around their little otherwise-worthless area and the lead characters resort to making terrorist-like videos, toilet-papering and poop-bag throwing.
You get the drift...I had cramps I was laughing so hard.
I highly recommend this show.
Fox seems to have cracked down on use of videos from the show because most of the Youtube content is now null, but I was able to find an official trailer for the upcoming season. Check it out if you haven't already.
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia stars Danny Devito as a bar owner and his 20-30-something-ish cohorts and some of their general hijinks. The characters are generally pretty dopey individuals, but the situations they get into allows the writers to explore some pretty edgy social critiques.
In the first episode I caught, a man who just moved over from Israel moved into the neighborhood and bought the building next to theirs. Due to some archaic city zoning documents, it turns out that he owns the whole block and ends up trying to push the gang out. In the meantime, they get into a bunch of spats and he erects some fences all around their little otherwise-worthless area and the lead characters resort to making terrorist-like videos, toilet-papering and poop-bag throwing.
You get the drift...I had cramps I was laughing so hard.
I highly recommend this show.
Fox seems to have cracked down on use of videos from the show because most of the Youtube content is now null, but I was able to find an official trailer for the upcoming season. Check it out if you haven't already.
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Friday, October 12, 2007
What a Treat!
The other day, I came across a soundboard tape of the Grateful Dead at the Henry J. Kaiser Convention Center in Oakland from 11/21/85 and practically boogied down the street as I heard the opener.
The boys were in fine form this evening and came out playing a song they only did two times in the post-Pigpen years...Big Boy Pete. It's a fun little ditty that kind of reminds one of the Jim Croce classic, Bad Bad Leroy Brown.
The other interesting thing about this song that brings it right back home to me is that the only other time they played the song after 1972 was at the Rambler Room at Loyola University Chicago in November 1978. This is at my alma matter and the Rambler Room is where I used to have breakfast on the weekends when my dorm's cafeteria was closed! The band did a little gig there in the afternoon for a charity before the main show that night at the Uptown Theatre.
So I found a homemade video from this wonderful night in 1985. The video quality is really crappy, but what a thrill to listen to the crowd warm up when they realize the gift they're being given! Enjoy!
The joint was jumping on the corner
Down on Honky Tonk Street
All of a sudden up pulled a Cadillac
And out stepped a cat named Pete
A diamond on every finger
He wore a tailor-made suit
He smoked a black cigar, he wore a Stetson hat
He wore a pair of cowboy boots
Busted on through the doorway
Mad as he could be
Said, don't mess around, I'll cut you down
'Cause my name is Big Boy Pete
The music stopped, there wasn't a sound
Over in the corner stood Bad Man Brown
Brown smiled and grinned, he said my friend
If you take two steps further, I'm going to do you in
Pete said look here buddy
I know I'm going to tan your hide
I got a fourty five, keeps me alive
Got seven bullets on my side
Brown pulled a knife, jumped on Pete
They fought from the counter right on out to the street
They swung from north, they swung from south
Brown cut that black cigar right out of Pete's mouth
Pete hit the ground, he yelled and screamed
Then he took his Stetson hat and fleed the scene
If you're ever down on the corner
Down on Honky Tonk Street
Don't mess around he'll cut you down
Take a lesson from Big Boy Pete
The boys were in fine form this evening and came out playing a song they only did two times in the post-Pigpen years...Big Boy Pete. It's a fun little ditty that kind of reminds one of the Jim Croce classic, Bad Bad Leroy Brown.
The other interesting thing about this song that brings it right back home to me is that the only other time they played the song after 1972 was at the Rambler Room at Loyola University Chicago in November 1978. This is at my alma matter and the Rambler Room is where I used to have breakfast on the weekends when my dorm's cafeteria was closed! The band did a little gig there in the afternoon for a charity before the main show that night at the Uptown Theatre.
So I found a homemade video from this wonderful night in 1985. The video quality is really crappy, but what a thrill to listen to the crowd warm up when they realize the gift they're being given! Enjoy!
The joint was jumping on the corner
Down on Honky Tonk Street
All of a sudden up pulled a Cadillac
And out stepped a cat named Pete
A diamond on every finger
He wore a tailor-made suit
He smoked a black cigar, he wore a Stetson hat
He wore a pair of cowboy boots
Busted on through the doorway
Mad as he could be
Said, don't mess around, I'll cut you down
'Cause my name is Big Boy Pete
The music stopped, there wasn't a sound
Over in the corner stood Bad Man Brown
Brown smiled and grinned, he said my friend
If you take two steps further, I'm going to do you in
Pete said look here buddy
I know I'm going to tan your hide
I got a fourty five, keeps me alive
Got seven bullets on my side
Brown pulled a knife, jumped on Pete
They fought from the counter right on out to the street
They swung from north, they swung from south
Brown cut that black cigar right out of Pete's mouth
Pete hit the ground, he yelled and screamed
Then he took his Stetson hat and fleed the scene
If you're ever down on the corner
Down on Honky Tonk Street
Don't mess around he'll cut you down
Take a lesson from Big Boy Pete
Hey, It's In The Economist!
I heard this on the radio on the way home and had to look up the article...There's a study that some psychologist out at the University of New Mexico did. In the pursuit of science, he found out that female dancers' earnings tend to vary along with their menstrual cycle.
The guy is an evolutionary psychologist, specifically.
Hmmm...now why did I walk away from academics?
The Democrat Who Shagged Me
Heh heh heh...as if the Democratic race wasn't good enough on this Friday, there's now a story making its way through the mill that John Edwards has been dipping his pen in the campaign ink!
Al's Had a Good Week
Hillary finally hit a rough patch this morning with the announcement that Albert Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize.God, this would be great if he jumped in the race now...
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
News I Can Use
I have been a fan of seltzer water for years....I love the bubbles, but don't always care for all that syrupy cola.The problem is this....since I drink it like, uh, water, it's such a big pain to buy in quantity at the market.
So I'd done a little bit of research on getting a seltzer water maker for home, but then kind of back burnered it for a little while.
I was pleased to find this article in the Dining section of the papr this morning reviewing what's on the market.
I might just have to break down....
Tuesday, October 09, 2007
Stream of Consciousness Posting
I guess it's a Two-fer Tuesday here...the Zevon reference in the Californication posting got me reflecting back on another lost gem whose music moves me.
You have to hand it to anyone who can put out a rockin' song like this while you're dying of cancer, you can bring The Boss in on the tune, and you can get in this kind of a reference...
I'm sprawled across the Davenport of Despair
This is from Zevon's swan song. Enjoy "Disorder in the House."
You have to hand it to anyone who can put out a rockin' song like this while you're dying of cancer, you can bring The Boss in on the tune, and you can get in this kind of a reference...
I'm sprawled across the Davenport of Despair
This is from Zevon's swan song. Enjoy "Disorder in the House."
I Hate the Godawful Voiceover Work, But...
Californication, a new series on Showtime this year is pretty damned cool. They had the pilot episode available on Netflix and I've been getting the other episodes by alternative means, Matey.
The pilot and first regular episode had a bit too much graphical, gratuitous sex scenes for something where the story should be the backbone, but they seem to have toned that down to more suggestion than plumbing and the show really benefits.
The one thing that can never go too far, or be too gratuitous, is their willingness to throw down a good Warren Zevon reference now and then, so that alone is worth everyone's time!
You can get the gist of it from the clip below, but Duchovny gets to show off some of his admirable comedic timing as well as some charm. Speaking of charming, his daughter is just precocious enough to be entertaining, but occasionally dips her toe over the line.
Give it a look if you have the time and inclination!
The pilot and first regular episode had a bit too much graphical, gratuitous sex scenes for something where the story should be the backbone, but they seem to have toned that down to more suggestion than plumbing and the show really benefits.
The one thing that can never go too far, or be too gratuitous, is their willingness to throw down a good Warren Zevon reference now and then, so that alone is worth everyone's time!
You can get the gist of it from the clip below, but Duchovny gets to show off some of his admirable comedic timing as well as some charm. Speaking of charming, his daughter is just precocious enough to be entertaining, but occasionally dips her toe over the line.
Give it a look if you have the time and inclination!
Monday, October 08, 2007
Sunday, October 07, 2007
Cool Weather Site
Came across a very easy to use NOAA site that has intermediate temperature and precipitation forecasts. It's not day-specific or anything like that, but just a good feel for what's around the bend.
Renaissance of Appreciation for REM
I've started, lately, to revisit an earlier appreciation for REM. I was never their biggest fan and don't plan on having 'Stipe' tattooed across my ass or getting a dog named Eponymous, but they were probably a much cooler band than I originally gave them credit for.
Enjoy "Finest Worksong" from their 1989 tour movie.
Enjoy "Finest Worksong" from their 1989 tour movie.
Religious Right...Moving to the Children's Table?
I posted here last week that one of the redeeming qualities of the Rudy campaign is that it might just take the Religious Right down a few notches in the GOP. After Bush's re-election in 2004, especially after their anti-gay, bigot-baiting routine I had to live through here in Ohio, they were just about due for an attitude adjustment.There's a short article in the paper this morning about how this may just be happening. There's early evidence on two fronts. First of all, none of the leading candidates felt compelled to show up at a somewhat-major conference of theirs earlier in the year. (One will note that the leaders felt similarly comfortable citing 'scheduling conflicts' as their reason for not showing up at Tavis Smiley's debate in September.)
The other thing I find interesting, as has come up before, is the modest amount of support that Rudy is getting from them. The Mayor's stats sheet is not what you would find on the typical Evangelical's dream centerfold candidate, but with the exception of nutball James Dobson, they're not organizing an all-out war on his candidacy as you might expect if they figured they had the capital to do so!
You gotta know when to hold 'em.
This is the Giuliani I Wish Was Running
The New York Times, which I have to compliment this morning, ran a nice article yesterday in their print edition on Rudy's years as Mayor and his weekly call-in radio show. Back in those days, he took calls live on WABC once a week and played the role of the street tough that gave him some of the charm I admired as a non-New Yorker.His present image is another story.
Well, in addition the the entertaining article, the Times put up a cool audio archive of clips from his radio show. Included is the famed ferret incident.
The larger compliment to the Times is getting with it and putting some significant effort into beefing up their online presence. While I always look forward to the print edition, they're starting to become a bit more of a go-to site for both breaking information and where I look for some richer information such as these audio clips and the concentration camp slide show I posted here a few weeks back.
Kudos.
Saturday, October 06, 2007
The Last Time the Cubs Won a National League Pennant Was the Year We Dropped the Bomb on Japan
Wait till next year... ;-(
Tutu You!
There's a controversy brewing in the little sister city of St. Paul, Minnesota.St. Thomas University recently revoked a speaking invite to Nobel Peace Prize winner, Desmond Tutu over some statements he's made about Israel.
Some people got a little bit twitchy when (as they see it) he drew parallels between modern Israel and the Nazis.
Imagine that.
Glad I'm Not a Prosecutor
Whoh, this one caught my eye somehow...
Since I'm here, I will post up a mention of a really entertaining book on the Angels if you ever have the time. Hunter wrote it way back before anyone else was into them...
Here's the original article, from The Nation in 1965, which the book grew out of. Great stuff.
Jacobs Field...A Biblical Place?
Not being a big sports guy in general, I sat down to watch my second Indians game of the year last night. It seems that when I choose to watch, weird things happen.
While the season is not over yet, as the Indians are up 2-0 in their ALDS series against the evil Yankees, their season has been somewhat bookended by odd weather events.
The first game I watched was the regular season opener against the Mariners, which had to be put off till later in the season due to freak spring blizzard that screwed us up this year.
Last night when I tuned in, we had another plague-like event landing on Jacobs Field...bugs!
I live about five miles from downtown Cleveland and did not have any big problems at home, but the field was overcome by "Canadian Soldiers," which are these little bugs that apparently only live a day and don't have mouths (so they can't bite).
I could not find a good closeup picture, as they showed on television, how these little buggers were covering players' skin, but it had to have been very distracting!
Anyway, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that my Cubbies can come out of their 2 game deficit against the D-backs when they return to Wrigley this evening, but my failure to commit has left me with two teams I can root for this post-season.
While the season is not over yet, as the Indians are up 2-0 in their ALDS series against the evil Yankees, their season has been somewhat bookended by odd weather events.
The first game I watched was the regular season opener against the Mariners, which had to be put off till later in the season due to freak spring blizzard that screwed us up this year.
Last night when I tuned in, we had another plague-like event landing on Jacobs Field...bugs!I live about five miles from downtown Cleveland and did not have any big problems at home, but the field was overcome by "Canadian Soldiers," which are these little bugs that apparently only live a day and don't have mouths (so they can't bite).
I could not find a good closeup picture, as they showed on television, how these little buggers were covering players' skin, but it had to have been very distracting!Anyway, I'm just keeping my fingers crossed that my Cubbies can come out of their 2 game deficit against the D-backs when they return to Wrigley this evening, but my failure to commit has left me with two teams I can root for this post-season.
Thursday, October 04, 2007
There is Something Redeeming about the Rudy Campaign
Laxatives may temporarily interrupt one's current daily schedule, but they provide a needed relief and the end result is basically positive.I've posted many times that I'm no big fan of Rudolph Giuliani's campaign for President. I'm pretty sickened by how he's capitalized on the events of 9-11 as justifcation for his Presidential fitness. I think he has other redeeming qualities that would be more honest to run on.
That said, the way he's dealing with the religious conservatives that apparently hold so much sway in the GOP primary process (and, to a lesser degree in general elections), and how it may play out, is encouraging to me.
As of now, his general statement to the modern day Sanhedrin seems to be, "I'm more or less with you guys on the things that matter, but I'm not going to pretend I'm holider than thou and I'm not going to change my public stance on anything. I hope you're going to give me your vote, but I pretty much know that some people won't. So be it."
Likewise, I don't want to lose GOP votes, but I'm uncomfortable with the ritual candidates need to go through, bowing to these bozos and saying the exact things they want said.
It's not unlike how Dems have to genuflect for The Revs. Al and Jesse. If Rudy can break through and get elected without twisting himself into the doll the James Dobsons of the world demand and still get elected, it's long-term good for the party and the country to purge ourselves of their veto power, even if it means that we have to listen to him re-live 9-11 every week for the next few years.
I Hate to Pile on ABC
But because I couldn't even last until the first commercial break during Tuesday night's premier of Cavemen, I feel no remorse about posting this unfavorable review from the LA Times.
We were joking at work yesterday on whether you could go to Vegas and bet on how long till the show is canceled. I'll have to check into this.
We were joking at work yesterday on whether you could go to Vegas and bet on how long till the show is canceled. I'll have to check into this.
Wednesday, October 03, 2007
Sarah Silverman is Very Funny
I never remember to watch things on Comedy Central, but I probably should.
This is really unsettling, but also quite funny in a demented way.
This is really unsettling, but also quite funny in a demented way.
Any Excuse to Play Some Ol' Dirty Bastard
More bizarre than Britney losing the fruit of her loins and claims that the Blackwater boys are just a bunch of grown-up boy scouts, it was announced that the Beatles are ready to break with their tradition and license out some music to fellow artists.
And who would be more appropriate than the Wu-Tang Clan?
Yes, they're going to sample "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" for an upcoming release.
This will be interesting...
Anyway, like I said, I just wanted an excuse to play some ODB (RIP) from his days back on the Stern show when he provided some of the best sound clips of all time.
And who would be more appropriate than the Wu-Tang Clan?
Yes, they're going to sample "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" for an upcoming release.
This will be interesting...
Anyway, like I said, I just wanted an excuse to play some ODB (RIP) from his days back on the Stern show when he provided some of the best sound clips of all time.
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
The Stupidest Show of All Time
I'll eat my Asics if I ever end up liking this stupid Caveman show....
Gorgonzola-Stuffed Chicken Breasts
This has been one of my go-to recipes ever since the parentals got me a subscription to Cook's Illustrated about 7 years ago. It's a great cooking magazine because they don't take ads, minimize fluff, and just get to straight cooking things...recipes, tool reviews and little tricks.
I also love the articles because they start with something simple like, "how do you make a good carrot cake?" and then go through the several schools of thought on this and settle on a general gameplan. After that comes the part I really like...they present a few different routes to the same desired outcome and tell you why this-that-and-the-other-thing didn't work. That's just so interesting to use and it also helps the ambitious reader avoid making the same mistakes.
I could not find a nice pic of a chicken breast oozing out blue cheese and walnuts, so I settled for a cheddar and broccoli one, but you get the idea.
Follow this sometime...it's really good!
Two tablespoons dried cherries or cranberries can be substituted for the figs. The chicken breasts can be filled and rolled in advance, then refrigerated for up to 24 hours.
INGREDIENTS
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5 to 6 ounces each), tenderloins removed and reserved for another use
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 small onion , minced
1 small clove garlic , minced
2 ounces cream cheese , softened
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 ounces Gorgonzola cheese , crumbled (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cups chopped walnuts , toasted
3 medium dried figs , chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon dry sherry
Table salt and ground black pepper
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs (fresh)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
See Illustrations Below: Assembling the Stuffed Chicken Breast
1. Following illustration 1 below, place each chicken breast on large sheet of plastic wrap, cover with second sheet, and pound with meat pounder or rolling pin until ¼-inch thick throughout. Each pounded breast should measure roughly 6 inches wide and 8 ½ inches long. Cover and refrigerate while preparing filling.
2. Heat butter in medium skillet over low heat until melted; add onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds longer; set aside. In medium bowl using hand mixer, beat cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Stir in onion mixture, thyme, gorgonzola, walnuts, figs, and sherry; season with salt and pepper and set aside.
3. Place breasts skinned side down on work surface; season with salt and pepper. Following illustrations 2 through 4 below, fill, roll, and wrap each breast. Refrigerate until filling is firm, at least 45 minutes.
4. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 400 degrees. Spread flour in pie plate or shallow baking dish. Beat eggs with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon water in second pie plate or shallow baking dish. Spread bread crumbs in third pie plate or shallow baking dish. Unwrap chicken breasts and roll in flour; shake off excess. Using tongs, roll breasts in egg mixture; let excess drip off. Transfer to bread crumbs; shake pan to roll breasts in crumbs, then press with fingers to help crumbs adhere. Place breaded chicken breasts on large wire rack set over jelly-roll pan.
5. Heat remaining ¾ cup oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, but not smoking, about 4 minutes; add chicken, seam side down, and cook until medium golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn each roll and cook until medium golden brown on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Return chicken rolls, seam side down, to wire rack set over jelly-roll pan; bake until deep golden brown and instant-read thermometer inserted into center of each roll registers 155 degrees, about 15 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing each roll crosswise diagonally into 5 medallions; arrange on individual dinner plates and serve.
(click the pic below and it opens larger so you can read it better..)
I also love the articles because they start with something simple like, "how do you make a good carrot cake?" and then go through the several schools of thought on this and settle on a general gameplan. After that comes the part I really like...they present a few different routes to the same desired outcome and tell you why this-that-and-the-other-thing didn't work. That's just so interesting to use and it also helps the ambitious reader avoid making the same mistakes.
I could not find a nice pic of a chicken breast oozing out blue cheese and walnuts, so I settled for a cheddar and broccoli one, but you get the idea.
Follow this sometime...it's really good!
Two tablespoons dried cherries or cranberries can be substituted for the figs. The chicken breasts can be filled and rolled in advance, then refrigerated for up to 24 hours.INGREDIENTS
4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts (5 to 6 ounces each), tenderloins removed and reserved for another use
1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 small onion , minced
1 small clove garlic , minced
2 ounces cream cheese , softened
1 teaspoon chopped fresh thyme leaves
2 ounces Gorgonzola cheese , crumbled (about 1/2 cup)
1/4 cups chopped walnuts , toasted
3 medium dried figs , chopped (about 2 tablespoons)
1 tablespoon dry sherry
Table salt and ground black pepper
1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour
4 large eggs
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 1/2 cups bread crumbs (fresh)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
See Illustrations Below: Assembling the Stuffed Chicken Breast
1. Following illustration 1 below, place each chicken breast on large sheet of plastic wrap, cover with second sheet, and pound with meat pounder or rolling pin until ¼-inch thick throughout. Each pounded breast should measure roughly 6 inches wide and 8 ½ inches long. Cover and refrigerate while preparing filling.
2. Heat butter in medium skillet over low heat until melted; add onion and sauté, stirring occasionally, until deep golden brown, 15 to 20 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds longer; set aside. In medium bowl using hand mixer, beat cream cheese on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute. Stir in onion mixture, thyme, gorgonzola, walnuts, figs, and sherry; season with salt and pepper and set aside.
3. Place breasts skinned side down on work surface; season with salt and pepper. Following illustrations 2 through 4 below, fill, roll, and wrap each breast. Refrigerate until filling is firm, at least 45 minutes.
4. Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position; heat oven to 400 degrees. Spread flour in pie plate or shallow baking dish. Beat eggs with 1 tablespoon vegetable oil and 1 tablespoon water in second pie plate or shallow baking dish. Spread bread crumbs in third pie plate or shallow baking dish. Unwrap chicken breasts and roll in flour; shake off excess. Using tongs, roll breasts in egg mixture; let excess drip off. Transfer to bread crumbs; shake pan to roll breasts in crumbs, then press with fingers to help crumbs adhere. Place breaded chicken breasts on large wire rack set over jelly-roll pan.
5. Heat remaining ¾ cup oil in medium skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering, but not smoking, about 4 minutes; add chicken, seam side down, and cook until medium golden brown, about 2 minutes. Turn each roll and cook until medium golden brown on all sides, 2 to 3 minutes longer. Return chicken rolls, seam side down, to wire rack set over jelly-roll pan; bake until deep golden brown and instant-read thermometer inserted into center of each roll registers 155 degrees, about 15 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before slicing each roll crosswise diagonally into 5 medallions; arrange on individual dinner plates and serve.
(click the pic below and it opens larger so you can read it better..)
Monday, October 01, 2007
Is it Wrong...
...for a man to post a series of Cary Grant film clips set to Depeche Mode?
I don't think so.
But there is a certain homo erotic quality to all of this...
Well, this is a great song, so I'm going to post it anyway.
I don't think so.
But there is a certain homo erotic quality to all of this...
Well, this is a great song, so I'm going to post it anyway.
Cheer, Cheer for Old Notre Dame
Tough days in South Bend this year. Even the Lord can't look! Thanks, GB.
Mick Jagger's Greatest Hits Released This Week
Mick Jagger releases his greatest (solo) hits album this week. I thought this was as good an opportunity to post up something from his Wandering Spirit album in 1993. My old friend and college roommate, Rick, turned me on to this one back then and I have to say that over time, it's probably worked its way in, and remained, on my top 20 studio releases of all time.
It's interesting to me to hear what front men choose to do in their side projects. I like getting a peek in the window in how much the supergroup might be constraining people...and what they choose to play when they are freed from the expectations of their primary band. Jerry Garcia Band was comparable to this.
Anyway, here's a live cut of "Evening Gown." Enjoy!
It's interesting to me to hear what front men choose to do in their side projects. I like getting a peek in the window in how much the supergroup might be constraining people...and what they choose to play when they are freed from the expectations of their primary band. Jerry Garcia Band was comparable to this.
Anyway, here's a live cut of "Evening Gown." Enjoy!
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