Spinach, Pesto, and Fontina Lasagne

Hi it's me Laurel. This lasagna turned out awesome! I usually don't love white lasagna because I feel like they often end up being just a big clump of white stuff, too rich and sort of one note. This one I really loved because the spinach helps balance out the richness, and the herb pesto really brightens things up. The main herb in the pesto is tarragon..so good! who knew?

I found the recipe on Epicurious. I followed it almost exactly, I just used fresh lasagna sheets instead of the dried no boil kind. I soaked them in a little hot tap water before I layered them in and they turned out a little overdone, so next time I will skip the soak.

Yield: Makes 8 servings

Sauce:

2 tablespoons (1/4 stick) unsalted butter 1/4 cup all purpose flour
2 1/2 cups reduced-fat (2%) milk
1/2 cup dry white wine

1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 teaspoon salt

Spinach:

2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup finely chopped shallots
4 large garlic cloves, finely chopped 3 6-ounce packages baby spinach

Lasagna:

15 no-boil 7 x 3 1/2-inch lasagna noodles (from two 9-ounce packages) 3 1/2 cups fresh ricotta cheese* (28 ounces)
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel

1 large egg
2 cups coarsely grated Italian Fontina cheese (8 to 9 ounces), divided Herb Pesto

For sauce:

Melt butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add flour and whisk 1 minute (do not brown). Add milk and wine and whisk until smooth. Cook until sauce thickens and comes to boil, whisking constantly, 4 to 5 minutes. Remove from heat. Whisk in Parmesan cheese and salt. Season sauce to taste with pepper. DO AHEAD: Sauce can be made up to 1 day ahead. Cover and chill.

For spinach:

Heat oil in large pot over medium-high heat. Add shallots and garlic. Sauté until shallots soften, about 2 minutes. Add all spinach (pot will be full). Cook spinach until wilted but still bright green, tossing often, about 3 minutes. Using tongs, transfer spinach to large sieve set over bowl; reserve pot. Press out excess liquid from spinach. Drain 10 to 15 minutes longer.

Return drained liquid from spinach to reserved pot. Boil until liquid is reduced to glaze. Return spinach to pot and toss 1 minute. Remove spinach from heat. Mix in 1 1/2 cups sauce. Season spinach to taste with pepper.

For lasagna:

Place noodles in large bowl. Fill bowl with hot tap water. Soak noodles until pliable, stirring occasionally to separate, about 15 minutes. Place large sheet of parchment paper on work surface. Transfer noodles to parchment in single layer, shaking off excess water.

Preheat oven to 350°F. Butter 13 x 9 x 2- inch glass baking dish. Mix ricotta, Parmesan, and lemon peel in medium bowl. Season to taste with salt. Mix in egg.

Spread 1/2 cup sauce thinly over bottom of prepared dish. Top with 3 noodles, arranged side by side and covering most of bottom of dish. Spread half of spinach mixture over (about 1 1/2 cups). Sprinkle with 1/3 cup Fontina. Top with 3 noodles and half of ricotta mixture (generous 1 3/4 cups). Drop half of pesto over by teaspoonfuls, spacing drops evenly apart. Continue layering with 3 noodles, remaining spinach mixture, 1/3 cup Fontina, 3 more noodles, remaining ricotta mixture, then remaining pesto. Top with last 3 noodles. Spread remaining sauce over; sprinkle with remaining Fontina. Cover dish with buttered foil.

Bake lasagna until heated through and bubbling at edges, 50 to 55 minutes. Remove from oven. Remove foil from dish.

Preheat broiler. Broil lasagna until top is browned in spots, turning dish occasionally for even browning, about 4 minutes. Let stand 15 minutes to set up.

* Available at some supermarkets and at specialty foods stores and Italian markets.

East Side Story

Mark here... This episode is called "East Side Story" and Laurel and I are sitting down for a meal of Steak with Bearnaise, Pommes Frites (French Fries), and Roasted Broccoli. In this episode, suddenly the Walshes are taking in their maid's "niece"   Brandon and Brenda react appropriately dismayed.  Of course, then Brandon meets said niece in the hallways at school and she turns out to be a hottie.  Brenda remains skeptical, which is why we love Brenda, despite her bitchiness.  Brandon then starts dating the "Niece" and mentions how she is using his parents address to attend West Beverly, saying "I know your aunt"...her response, "she's more like a friend of the family".   So eventually the episode stretches beyond the Very Special Episode ness to Law and Order land as we find out she has been in witness protection...it's all very convoluted...

Some notes though...Andrea exhibits a bit of jealousy with Brandon noticing this new girl.  After last episode's slumber party, we know Andrea has feelings for Brandon.  And the previous episode she refused Brandon's kiss because he was drunk.  Lesson to Andrea: Never look a gift horse in the mouth.
Laurel here:  also at the end of the episode Brandon meets Andrea in the newspaper room and says..."I'm so glad were not attracted to each other, you know so we can be real - comfortable."  GAHH!

Also Brenda is sort of the voice of reason in this episode.  She gets a bad rap with the whole "I Hate Brenda" thing, but really she can be a nice counter point to golden boy Brandon.  I like Brandon too, but he messes up a lot and Brenda, despite being bitchy can be a nice counterpoint.

Finally, Brandon describing this girl (Carla)..."I've never felt this way before"...really...after the girl from the pilot, and the girl with the child and...

Laurel here again...As an eagle rock girl (which in some circles could be loosely interpreted as east LA...)  I was sort of disturbed by the fact that the "latina" girl in this very special episode was so white...I mean, I even had a chola accent in high school and I was just a white girl wanna be...just sayin'.

Style award this episode...well there's actually 2 separate group awards.

The Kelly-Brenda-Donna ensemble at the Walsh's work function...If we had to pick one Donna is the outright winner for her spandex shorts/bra top combo outside of the aerobics studio...but they all looked so crazy together that we decided to give it to the 3 of them.

Honorable mention - Kelly and Donna  wearing the exact same outfit to school, a crazy pink jacket with black leggings...so embarrassing!

Cocktail moment"

Special Guest Appearance by Debbie Gibson at the end...

Roasted Duck Leg with Potatoes and Kale Caesar Salad

This one I got from watching Nigella.  I mixed it up by using a mixed batch of potatoes from Trader Joe's...gold, purple and red...

Ingredients:
Duck Legs (I used 2)
Potatoes
Salt
Pepper
Thyme (I used dried, the original calls for fresh)

First sear the duck legs on each side in the roasting pan, but on the stove top, just to brown and exude some fat.  Then chop the potatoes and add, tossing with the fat. thyme. salt and pepper every 1/2 hour or so.  Cook 2 hours at 400 degrees...the potaotes will be crisp and duck fatty, and the duck will be tender with crisp skin...delicious!

As for the kale caesar salad, the recipe is the same as the previous caesar salad, except with kale.  One point I would make though is to make the dressing separately so you can determine how much you will need.  I think the previous recipe made double what we needed for 2 people and considering this is already a rich meal, it makes a difference.

Slumber Party!

Mark here... So this episode is called, "Slumber Party" and all the girls are together for one.  Of course Kelly invites a random friend who turns out to be the bitch/ shit stirrer of the group.  For my part I don't have a whole lot to say about this episode. It turns a little Very Special Episode with the girls playing some version of truth or dare without the dare.  Of course the bitchy friend gets them all to confess their deepest secrets.  The only interesting one for me was Kelly confessing that she tried to get a date with Dylan AFTER finding out he was dating Brenda...then she says something to the effect of "I would never try to steal Dylan from you".  This will be interesting to remember in the future...

Laurel here..for me the girlie sumbler party held a lot more hidden meaning...

A:  Cindy is the best dancer at the girls' slumber party during the dance scene.  It's only a few minutes long...but just saying.  I know I'm old.  I think this is the part that adults (me) are supposed to appreciate.  Although Mark agrees with me on this one so I don't feel too much like a retiree...

B:  Donna says, and I quote "Sometimes I think about running away and being a hooker on Hollywood Blvd just to meet Richard Gere".  This is the first episode that we see how naive Donna is, until now we are lead to assume that she is just another fast BH rich kid with too much adult experience.  This episode she begins to show her true future prude colors.

C:  Andrea brings out a Ouigja board (totally unexpected in my opinion since she is so logical and judgey), but she buys into it and believes that her grandma's spirit is in the room, as do the other girls.  I assume that's why she wore a crazy lil house on house on the prairie jammie outdit but that also is just her nerd style so who knows.

D: Truth telling...Kelley has a date rape like experience that bitchey Melissa sort of bullies her into telling, but it backfires because Kelley just looks all the more cool and collected for telling it...

E:  Brenda admits to kissing a Minnesota BFF'S boyfriend "i dont know how it happened we just started kissing?!"

D:  to which Kelly responds that she tried to date Dylan after brenda started dating him.  what!?!  But this BH bitch convinces Brenda it was just a normal girl slip up, especially considering her recent confession about Brenda kissing her bbf's bf back in Minnesota.

Long story short the bithcy cool girl that shows up ends up not looking so cool. she has anorexia problems that put her on the same level as everyone else.  see!!  all the bitches in BH are just regular girls with BH problems!

Style award for this episode goes to...Andrea!!!  For her lil' house on the prairie pajamas she wears to the slumber party.  You know, just in case her grandma shows up.

One Man and a Baby

Mark here...tonight it was my turn to cook and I made us Nigella Lawson's roasted duck leg with potatoes and a kale Caesar salad.  The caesar salad recipe is the same just with kale. The duck leg and potatoes were a-mazing! Laurel's not a fan of duck, so in the photo she was having veggie burgers, however she can attest to the duck fat roasted potatoes!

Anyway, this episode is called, "One Man and a Baby"  the man in question is Brandon and the baby is his new girlfriend's...so we know where this is going... In the beginning we see Brandon is into this girl who's apparently a bit of a nerd and trying to get into Harvard... Brandon accidentally ends up with her latin test and after conversing with Kelly and Brenda, Kelly says, "Who would date a girl who takes latin?" I thought this was funny after myself having to take 5 years of latin in high school! Anyway Brandon ends up dating this girl (Melissa) and it turns out she has a baby...who she promptly drops on Brandon to babysit!  Cindy comes through a bit here, although she and Jim are on the way out the door.  Laurel and I both cracked up when she says, "Get Brenda to help you!" We know Brenda would have no part in this!  But the ostensible reason is a subplot with Brenda and Kelly taking sky-diving lessons. In the end, of course said girl has to prioritize and dating is off the menu, so Brandon dodges that bullet... One point of note though is that we see Brandon driving to and fro on his dates...didn't he get a DUI last episode?!?

Laurel here...I never got why the parents had so much screen time in this show when I watched this as a teenager, but now that I'm an old lady I totally get it! I really have a new appreciation for the parents, especially Cindy.  Her son is dating a 16 year old with a kid, but somehow this conservative mom from Minnesota is totally understanding and supportive...not only to Brandon, but to Melissa too. She and Melissa have a heart to heart, and her advice basically boils down to follow your heart...  while I feel like most actual parents in this situation would be screaming for the girl to give the kid up for adoption.  Meanwhile Brenda's babysitting advice for Brandon is to watch "3 men and a baby"  (see diaper photo below).  Also when Brenda confesses to sneaking out to take skydiving lessons, her parents could take this opportunity to bust on her, but instead they choose to appreciate the fact that she faced her fears.  They are actually doing a crossword i n bed when she confesses, and Cindy's response is "6 letter word for patience = PARENT.

One point of note, which is different from the DVD (which we had originally watched), when Brenda and Kelly are skydiving, in the DVD Muzak is playing, in the episode on tv, "Wicked Game" by Chris Isaak.

I also feel like I should make a note that Andrea is blissfully absent from this episode, I can only imagine what she would have to say about Brandon dating a teenage single mom.

On to the style awards!  There are no clear winners of this episode, instead a 3 way tie for worth mentioning...

1.  Brenda's mom jeans!  Wow her asshole is really trying hard to eat these jeans...

2.  Brandon's robe!  Actally sort of a serious fashion honor, Mark and I both wish we had this robe now.  Maybe when we win the lottery we will have matching ones made.

3.  Brenda and Kelley's ridiculous skydiving outfits!  I know they are skydiving but still...too crazy not to show you!  Mark here...I will add the instructor to this ridiculous trio!  His crotch was not flattered by this outfit!  But I guess it's cold up there!

Cocktail moments:

Jim and Cindy home playing word games...Scrabble and crossword puzzles...way to reinvigorate the marriage after Cindy's recent flirtation with an old flame

Brenda's response to Kelly beeping from the street to pick her up..."OK!" (Kelly can't hear her and its classic Brenda bitchiness)

BYOB

Mark here...this episode is called, "B.Y.O.B." and turns out to be the high school drinking episode. It opens with the Pet Shop Boys "So Hard" playing, I guess to tell us how hard high school is (although I think the song is about relationships). Brenda and Brandon end up going to a party where, yikes, alcohol is being served. Laurels quote on seeing Brenda's outfit, " brenda looks like an eastern european hooker". Cindy ends up smelling alcohol on Brenda's breath and Brenda takes the fall for both of them. Cindy and Jim still decide to go out of town to Palm Springs and on Kelly's suggestion, the twins decide to throw a party. Things seem fun until Brandon starts drinking and we take a turn to Very Special Episode land when he decides to drink and drive. Of course after a night in the big house, losing his license, getting chewed out by his parents, and being bruised up, Brandon could really use a drink. Being a true friend, Dylan knows just what he needs and takes him to an AA meeting....

Laurel here...after Brandon throws a party while his parents are away, gets wasted, gets arrested for drunk driving and spends he night in jail, he goes into this woe is me routine about how it's unfair that his parents are so disappointed in him. Um, have you been around for the last 48 hours? He also complains to dylan about what a nightmare it was to spend the night in jail. He spent the night in BEVERLY HILLS JAIL IN HIS OWN CELL! I am usually on Brandon's team but he's lost me with this one.

While the kids were at home having a wild weekend, Jim and Cindy were away in palm springs doing the same thing! They actually wanted a quiet weekend away but ended up being forced to make friend with their overbearing hotel neighbors, who turn out to be Texas swingers! Who proposition Jim and Cindy! Needless to say they didn't go for it...

The style award this episode goes to....Jim and Cindy! For their matching tennis outfits. Way to go parents! Brenda gets an honorable mention for her imitation of a lady of the night from the Balkans.

Cocktail moments:

All the Jim and Cindy moments in palm springs with the swingers

And of course any moment where Steve Sanders is pouring drinks! (BLENDED drinks, no less.)

Isn't It Romantic?

Laurel here...time for some nine-o! For dinner tonight I made a fontina, spinach, and herb pesto lasagne with a pea purée on the side. Mark made a whisky cocktail called "twin hills" which seemed appropriate to enjoy with the Walsh twins.

Mark here...this episode is called "Isn't It Romantic?" and the romance in question is the budding one between Brenda and Dylan, finally! We've seen a few sparks up til now and references to Dylan being a ladies man, but this episode opens with Dylan helping Brandon with his car. Of course this gets him all oily and sweaty so he needs a shower, which Brenda walks in on, and the rest is history! Well, not really...the first time out Brandon is with them...to the movies and then back to Dylan's hotel room, where he puts on the sultry smooth jazz of, "Lily Was Here" (look it up). Brenda and Brandon marvel over Dylan's subwoofers...uh-huh, me too. Anyway, turns out Dylan has a complicated family life and on date 2, throws a hissy fit after a fight with Dad, causing Brenda to break out in tear...of course he's sorry, but she's fallen for his damaged psyche. Of course suddenly she's worried about sex (date 3 has yet to happen mind you). Her dad Jim forbids her from dating Dylan because of his white collar criminal dad, which of course only tempts Brenda more!

Eventually, with the aid of Patrick Swayze's "She's Like the Wind" and a guest high school speaker with AIDS (ever the walking after school special, Andrea shows up at this point), everyone calms down and Brenda and Dylan begin dating.

Laurel here...it's interesting to see how the show deals with the AIDS issue. We think about it so differently now, it's sort of surreal to watch this episode outside the context of the 90s. A guest sexpert speaker comes to the school to presumably talk about doin' the deed, and everyone is giddy and excited. But it turns out the guest ends up sharing her story of how she caught AIDS, and basically scares the kids into taking safe sex seriously. What they don't talk about is the difference between HIV and AIDS, ways to get it and not get it...sort of weird that they just brought it up and sort of scared everyone shitless then walked away. I guess at the time everyone still thought it was a death sentence, but I still think they could have done a better job of addressing it. If you're gonna go there then really go there, you can't just spend a few minutes talking about it and call it a day.

Style award for this episode goes to ...Dylan again!!! For this crazy trench coat number. With shoulder pads, extra long cut, and a grey acid wash style print this coat really has it all. Well played, Dylan. Also the pink shirt really makes it pop!

Perfect Caesar Salad

Ingredients:
Croutons
2 medium garlic cloves chopped finely
1 egg, coddled (pour boiling water over and let it sit for 1 minute)
2 inches of anchovy paste
salt
2 tablespoons lemon juice
3 drops of worcestershire sauce
6 tablespoons of olive oil
4 tablespoons grated parmesan
romaine lettuce
pepper

First coddle the egg.  In a bowl, mix garlic anchovy paste and salt (to taste, but not too much as the anchovy paste and parmesan will be salty). Whisk in lemon juice and worcestershire, then whisk in coddled egg, about 1 minute to thicken.  Slowly add in olive oil while whisking, then add 2 tablespoons of the parmesan.  Chop romaine and add to bowl with croutons and remaining parmesan and toss.