Mark here...this episode was called, "Out of Mind, Out of Sight" and it was a fun one. At first it appears that a ghost is terrorizing Sunnydale High, but as the episode reveals, there's a bit more going on. One fun crossover appearance is the actress who plays Mrs Teasley on 90210 shows up as a teacher here too.
The premise is that a ghost is showing up wreaking havoc with certain students, one of whom is Cordelia. It turns out its not a ghost, but actually a student who's been ignored for so long that she has turned invisible, and now she's out for revenge against those who ignored her. One thing that now is hard to ignore (now that KP pointed it out) is Buffy's nails...they are way too long and totally impractical! It becomes distracting. By the end of the episode, we also realize that the government is aware of the strange happenings in Sunnydale.
Laurel here...not much to add except I love the continuation of the high school theme of being made to feel invisible by the popular girls. Literally this villain was created by bitches like cordelia who made her invisible. It's unfortunate that she needs to find her revenge by terrorizing normal students but it is of note that at the end of the episode we are lead to believe that it's an x-file-ish situation where the "invisible kids" are appropriated by the FBI as spies...
KP here....loved this episode. Guest star,Clea DuVal never disappoints, even though she was mostly invisible. Love the X-Files/Men in Black theme at the end. Also, I was excited to see Angel making his very small mark in this one.
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Nightmares
Mark here...Laurel has made us dinner and we are sitting down to watch the next episode of Buffy, "Nightmares". Laurel has made us a dinner of stuffed portobello mushrooms, sweet potatoes and an arugula salad. All turned out delicious. We also have a special guest blogger with us tonight, our friend Kristen!
On to the episode. This was a good one. The episode starts with some odd events, tarantulas showing up in the middle of class and Buffy randomly having a test in history she had no idea about. As it turns out, everyones nightmares appear to be coming true. These range from the generic, like Xander ending up in class without clothes, to character-specific, like Giles losing his ability to read, to the comical, Cordelia having a bad hair day. Through it all a little boy is showing up every time one of these nightmares occurs. The end of the episode is a bit quick and predictable, but overall the theme of the episode is fun. We also get a reminder of the season's overall arc when the Master shows up in Buffy's nightmare.
Laurel here...I thought this episode was really thoughtful and effective. Like Mark said, the nightmares ranged from universal (spiders, naked in class) that we can all relate to, to the specific, especially Buffy. Her nightmares included her father telling her that her parents' divorce was because of her (he just couldn't stand another day in the house with Buffy!), to her fear that the master got out of his cave, and her turning into a vampire herself!
I thought that another noteworthy nightmare was Willow's, part of which was getting stuck as a Geisha, a nod to her role on the show (despite her mild mannered nature) as the resident feminist.
KP here...Wonderful healthy meal brought to us by Laurel. After 5 days of only raspberries and yogurt this meal was not only delicious but totally on the health plan.
Overall this was a great episode, everyone's worst nightmare coming true culminating in an apocalyptic end until Buffy quickly saves the day.But I will say it was rather dark, (Buffy's father rebuking her and the little boy getting beat up by his coach). On a lighter note I have to mention Buffy's nails. long, robins egg blue rounded to a point, a very 90's nail look. I mean, how can she really slay all those vampires without breaking one of those bad boys.
On to the episode. This was a good one. The episode starts with some odd events, tarantulas showing up in the middle of class and Buffy randomly having a test in history she had no idea about. As it turns out, everyones nightmares appear to be coming true. These range from the generic, like Xander ending up in class without clothes, to character-specific, like Giles losing his ability to read, to the comical, Cordelia having a bad hair day. Through it all a little boy is showing up every time one of these nightmares occurs. The end of the episode is a bit quick and predictable, but overall the theme of the episode is fun. We also get a reminder of the season's overall arc when the Master shows up in Buffy's nightmare.
Laurel here...I thought this episode was really thoughtful and effective. Like Mark said, the nightmares ranged from universal (spiders, naked in class) that we can all relate to, to the specific, especially Buffy. Her nightmares included her father telling her that her parents' divorce was because of her (he just couldn't stand another day in the house with Buffy!), to her fear that the master got out of his cave, and her turning into a vampire herself!
I thought that another noteworthy nightmare was Willow's, part of which was getting stuck as a Geisha, a nod to her role on the show (despite her mild mannered nature) as the resident feminist.
KP here...Wonderful healthy meal brought to us by Laurel. After 5 days of only raspberries and yogurt this meal was not only delicious but totally on the health plan.
Overall this was a great episode, everyone's worst nightmare coming true culminating in an apocalyptic end until Buffy quickly saves the day.But I will say it was rather dark, (Buffy's father rebuking her and the little boy getting beat up by his coach). On a lighter note I have to mention Buffy's nails. long, robins egg blue rounded to a point, a very 90's nail look. I mean, how can she really slay all those vampires without breaking one of those bad boys.
Ground Bison Shepard's Pie
This recipe is a bit of a mix of recipes I found. Originally my goal was to be healthier...hence the ground bison...in the end I think I pushed the fat content up a bit beyond healthy. Although I don't think it's that bad...and tasted amazing!
Ingredients
Ground Bison
Flour
Paprika
Potatoes
Salt
Pepper
3-4 strips of bacon
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Chopped Onion
Chopped Carrot
Sliced Mushrooms
About 3-4 Chopped Garlic Cloves
Red Wine
Chicken Broth
Butter
Parmesan (Grated)
Bay Leaves
Thyme
Sage
Milk
First, toss the ground bison with a tablespoon paprika, salt, pepper and enough flour to coat.
Chop the bacon and heat in a large pan. Remove to paper towel. Add the chopped onion and let it go translucent, then add carrots and mushrooms and garlic. Then add the bison and cook. Add about a 3/4 cup of wine and let it cook down. Then add chicken stock (about 2 cups), bay leaves, bacon, thyme and sage. Simmer until the sauce thickens, up to 2 hours.
Cook the potatoes in boiling water, then drain and mix with a tablespoon butter and a bit of milk.
Preheat oven to 400.
Pour bison mixture into backing pan and top with mashed potatoes. Sprinkle parmesan on top. Cook about 30-40 minutes.
Ingredients
Ground Bison
Flour
Paprika
Potatoes
Salt
Pepper
3-4 strips of bacon
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Chopped Onion
Chopped Carrot
Sliced Mushrooms
About 3-4 Chopped Garlic Cloves
Red Wine
Chicken Broth
Butter
Parmesan (Grated)
Bay Leaves
Thyme
Sage
Milk
First, toss the ground bison with a tablespoon paprika, salt, pepper and enough flour to coat.
Chop the bacon and heat in a large pan. Remove to paper towel. Add the chopped onion and let it go translucent, then add carrots and mushrooms and garlic. Then add the bison and cook. Add about a 3/4 cup of wine and let it cook down. Then add chicken stock (about 2 cups), bay leaves, bacon, thyme and sage. Simmer until the sauce thickens, up to 2 hours.
Cook the potatoes in boiling water, then drain and mix with a tablespoon butter and a bit of milk.
Preheat oven to 400.
Pour bison mixture into backing pan and top with mashed potatoes. Sprinkle parmesan on top. Cook about 30-40 minutes.
Beet Salad
This recipe comes from Thomas Keller's "Bouchon"
Ingredients:
3-4 large red beets
extra virgin olive oil
salt
pepper
red wine vinegar
orange juice
red onion
tarragon
chives
First chop the stems off the beets, wrap in aluminum foil packet and cook in a 375 degree oven until tender (1.5 to 2 hours). Remove the beets, let them cool. The rub the beets under cold water and remove their skins. Cube the beets and put in a bowl. Add a tablespoon red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons of orange juice, a tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper. Marinate the beets for at least an hour.
Add slices of red onion, chopped tarragon, and chopped chives to the beet salad and toss. Serve.
Ingredients:
3-4 large red beets
extra virgin olive oil
salt
pepper
red wine vinegar
orange juice
red onion
tarragon
chives
First chop the stems off the beets, wrap in aluminum foil packet and cook in a 375 degree oven until tender (1.5 to 2 hours). Remove the beets, let them cool. The rub the beets under cold water and remove their skins. Cube the beets and put in a bowl. Add a tablespoon red wine vinegar, 2 tablespoons of orange juice, a tablespoon olive oil, salt and pepper. Marinate the beets for at least an hour.
Add slices of red onion, chopped tarragon, and chopped chives to the beet salad and toss. Serve.
Fish Pie
This recipe is a variation on one by the Two Fat Ladies. It's taste is similar to a clam chowder in a pie form, even though I didn't use any shellfish. Laurel found it a bit fishy, and the flavors definitely tend to all meld together.
Ingredients:
Cod
Fresh Haddock
Smoked Haddock
2-3 lb Spinach
Butter
Pepper
Nutmeg
Chopped Onion
Flour
Milk
Bay Leaf
Anchovy Paste
Parsley
Parmesan (Grated)
Poatoes
First Blanche all the fish in a wide pan in a thin layer of boiling water. Remove any skin and bones and flake the fish.
Boil water and add cubed poatoes. Cook until soft, then drain and mash.
Wash the spinach and cook in a pan until it all wilts. Drain liquid, add a tablespoon of butter, salt and pepper. Then butter a baking pan and line the bottom with this spinach.
Melt a tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and cook the chopped onion until translucent. Add 3 tablespoons of flour to make a roux. Cook a minute and slowly add milk to make a béchamel. Add the bay leaf and let it simmer half an hour. Add a bit of anchovy paste (to taste), chopped parsley, salt and pepper. Mix in the flaked fish and layer in the baking dish on top of the spinach. Then layer the mashed potatoes on top. Top with Grated Parmesan. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about half an hour.
Ingredients:
Cod
Fresh Haddock
Smoked Haddock
2-3 lb Spinach
Butter
Pepper
Nutmeg
Chopped Onion
Flour
Milk
Bay Leaf
Anchovy Paste
Parsley
Parmesan (Grated)
Poatoes
First Blanche all the fish in a wide pan in a thin layer of boiling water. Remove any skin and bones and flake the fish.
Boil water and add cubed poatoes. Cook until soft, then drain and mash.
Wash the spinach and cook in a pan until it all wilts. Drain liquid, add a tablespoon of butter, salt and pepper. Then butter a baking pan and line the bottom with this spinach.
Melt a tablespoon of butter in a saucepan and cook the chopped onion until translucent. Add 3 tablespoons of flour to make a roux. Cook a minute and slowly add milk to make a béchamel. Add the bay leaf and let it simmer half an hour. Add a bit of anchovy paste (to taste), chopped parsley, salt and pepper. Mix in the flaked fish and layer in the baking dish on top of the spinach. Then layer the mashed potatoes on top. Top with Grated Parmesan. Bake in the oven at 400 degrees for about half an hour.
Capery Salad
This recipe is from Nigella Lawson, and its a perfect light and vinegary salad to go with fried seafood...
Ingredients
Romaine Lettuce
Capers
Gherkins
Dijon Mustard
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Parsley
First chop the romaine and add to a bowl. Add several tablespoons of drained capers. Chop a few gherkins and add. In a separate bowl add a little gherkin liquid to olive oil and dijon mustard. Whisk and pour over lettuce. Add chopped parsley, toss, and serve
Ingredients
Romaine Lettuce
Capers
Gherkins
Dijon Mustard
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Parsley
First chop the romaine and add to a bowl. Add several tablespoons of drained capers. Chop a few gherkins and add. In a separate bowl add a little gherkin liquid to olive oil and dijon mustard. Whisk and pour over lettuce. Add chopped parsley, toss, and serve
Fried Calamari and Aioli
This recipe comes from Chuck Hughes, with a few tweaks...
Fried Calamari
Ingredients:
Fresh Calamari
Buttermilk
Eggs
Lemon
Tabasco
Flour
Salt
Pepper
Paprika
Cayenne
Pepper
Vegetable Oil
First, cut the calamari into the rings and tentacles. Place in a bowl and add buttermilk, a little tabasco (to taste), and a couple teaspoons of lemon juice. Let the rings marinate for about 2 hours.
Separately, mix flour, salt, pepper, teaspoon paprika, and a teaspoon cayenne together. Remove calamari from the buttermilk, drain. In a bowl add about two eggs and whisk. Dip Calamari in and then into flour mixture.
Heat Vegetable oil to 360 degrees and fry calamari in batches, about 4 minutes each batch. Serve with Aioli below...
This is Mark Bittman's Aioli recipe...
Ingredients
Garlic Cloves, Peeled (3-8)
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt
pepper
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
First mince the garlic.
In a bowl, add the yolk and dijon. Beat with a whisk, slowly add the oil in drips...add more as it emulsifies more. When complete, add the garlic, vinegar, salt and pepper.
Fried Calamari
Ingredients:
Fresh Calamari
Buttermilk
Eggs
Lemon
Tabasco
Flour
Salt
Pepper
Paprika
Cayenne
Pepper
Vegetable Oil
First, cut the calamari into the rings and tentacles. Place in a bowl and add buttermilk, a little tabasco (to taste), and a couple teaspoons of lemon juice. Let the rings marinate for about 2 hours.
Separately, mix flour, salt, pepper, teaspoon paprika, and a teaspoon cayenne together. Remove calamari from the buttermilk, drain. In a bowl add about two eggs and whisk. Dip Calamari in and then into flour mixture.
Heat Vegetable oil to 360 degrees and fry calamari in batches, about 4 minutes each batch. Serve with Aioli below...
This is Mark Bittman's Aioli recipe...
Ingredients
Garlic Cloves, Peeled (3-8)
1 egg yolk
2 teaspoons dijon mustard
1 cup extra virgin olive oil
salt
pepper
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
First mince the garlic.
In a bowl, add the yolk and dijon. Beat with a whisk, slowly add the oil in drips...add more as it emulsifies more. When complete, add the garlic, vinegar, salt and pepper.
Eggplant Parmesan
This is from Mark Bittman's book, "How To Cook Everything"
First, here's the tomato sauce...
Ingredients
Salt
Pepper
Onion
Canned Tomatoes (chopped)
butter
extra virgin olive oil
chopped fresh basil
First chop the onion and saute in about a tablespoon butter and olive oil. Then add the tomatoes and salt and pepper. Let it reduce and cook about 20 min. then add the basil. Add additional seasoning to taste.
Use this sauce below...
Eggplant Parmesan
Ingredients
2 Large Eggplants
Salt
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Flour
Pepper
Mozzarella
Parmesan (Grated)
Fresh Basil
Sauce (above)
First peel the eggplant and slice into discs. Lay out and salt until liquid forms. Drain and repeat on the other side.
Heat the oil in a pan and dredge each side of the eggplant in flour. Cook in batches, 3-4 minutes each side until browned and drain on a paper towel.
Line a baking dish bottom with some of the sauce, then layer eggplant...then slices of mozzarella and grated parmesan...then basil leaves. Repeat until all ingredients are used and top with parmesan. Bake in oven about half an hour.
Heat the oven to 350.
First, here's the tomato sauce...
Ingredients
Salt
Pepper
Onion
Canned Tomatoes (chopped)
butter
extra virgin olive oil
chopped fresh basil
First chop the onion and saute in about a tablespoon butter and olive oil. Then add the tomatoes and salt and pepper. Let it reduce and cook about 20 min. then add the basil. Add additional seasoning to taste.
Use this sauce below...
Eggplant Parmesan
Ingredients
2 Large Eggplants
Salt
Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Flour
Pepper
Mozzarella
Parmesan (Grated)
Fresh Basil
Sauce (above)
First peel the eggplant and slice into discs. Lay out and salt until liquid forms. Drain and repeat on the other side.
Heat the oil in a pan and dredge each side of the eggplant in flour. Cook in batches, 3-4 minutes each side until browned and drain on a paper towel.
Line a baking dish bottom with some of the sauce, then layer eggplant...then slices of mozzarella and grated parmesan...then basil leaves. Repeat until all ingredients are used and top with parmesan. Bake in oven about half an hour.
Heat the oven to 350.
Peas with Lettuce and Baked Potato with Truffle Oil
This pea recipe is from Nigella Lawson...
Ingredients
Ingredients
- 3 small or 2 fat scallions, finely sliced
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 1 drop garlic-infused oil (or any oil really)
- 1 Little Gem (Butterhead) lettuce, shredded
- 2 cups frozen petits pois
- 1/2 cup hot chicken stock (concentrate or cube and hot water is fine)
Cook the scallions in the butter and oil until soft. Stir in the shredded lettuce, and when it is wilted add the frozen peas and stock.
Cook at a robust simmer, uncovered, until everything is tender and the liquid flavorful and reduced.
Baked Potato with Truffle Oil, Sour Cream and Chives
Ingredients
Potato
Black Truffle Oil
Sea Salt
Pepper
Sour Cream
Chopped Chives
For the baked potato...I know its a bit ridiculous to post a baked potato recipe, so I'll just describe my variation here...:) First oven at 375, coat the potatoes with a thin layer of Black Truffle Oil, Sea Salt and Pepper. Cook about an hour. I made a mix of sour cream and chives to serve on top of an opened baked potato.
Steak Au Poivre
This recipe is from Episode 1 of Battlestar Galactica and I believe I originally got it from the Barefoot Contessa...it's Steak Au Poivre
Ingredients
Steaks
Chopped Shallot
Veg. Oil
Butter
Beef Broth
Brandy
First, cook the steaks in a frying pan in about a tablespoon butter, and vegetable oil. Depending on the size of the steaks, about 3-4 minutes each side. It's best to tell a butcher what you're making and ask a suggested cooking time. After cooking, remove the steaks and cover with aluminum foil.
In the pan add a chopped shallot and about 1/3 cup beef broth and let it reduce. Add a tablespoon or 2 of brandy and a bit more butter.
Ingredients
Steaks
Chopped Shallot
Veg. Oil
Butter
Beef Broth
Brandy
First, cook the steaks in a frying pan in about a tablespoon butter, and vegetable oil. Depending on the size of the steaks, about 3-4 minutes each side. It's best to tell a butcher what you're making and ask a suggested cooking time. After cooking, remove the steaks and cover with aluminum foil.
In the pan add a chopped shallot and about 1/3 cup beef broth and let it reduce. Add a tablespoon or 2 of brandy and a bit more butter.
Herbed Baked Eggs and Maple Bacon
Mark here...I'm going to try and catch up here on some recipes...this one goes back to the pilot episode of Battlestar Galactica...these recipes are both variations from the Barefoot Contessa
Hereb Baked Eggs
Ingredients:
Chopped Garlic
Chopped Fresh Thyme
Chopped Fresh Rosemary
Chopped Fresh Parsley
Eggs
Grated Parmesan
Heavy Cream
Butter
Salt
Pepper
Toast
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
First combine the garlic, thyme, rosemary, parsley and parmesan. I'm not listing portions because we did it for 4 people, with about 2 eggs per person. I used a large gratin dish and poured a layer of cream and about 2 tablespoons of butter into the bottom. Place in the oven for about 3-5 minutes until butter melts, then add the eggs (about 8) and sprinkle herb mixture on top. Turn the oven to broil, and place under the broiler for 5-6 minutes or until eggs are cooked to desired level.
Maple Bacon
Ingredients
Bacon
Real Maple Syrup
This recipe is really easy...my friends call it candied bacon because of how it turns out. With the oven on about 400, put bacon on a rack on cookie sheet and place in the oven. It can be a bit messy, and you may find yourself needing to drain off some of the bacon fat. After about 15-20, remove the bacon and brush with maple syrup, then return to the oven for another 5 min. done!
Hereb Baked Eggs
Ingredients:
Chopped Garlic
Chopped Fresh Thyme
Chopped Fresh Rosemary
Chopped Fresh Parsley
Eggs
Grated Parmesan
Heavy Cream
Butter
Salt
Pepper
Toast
Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
First combine the garlic, thyme, rosemary, parsley and parmesan. I'm not listing portions because we did it for 4 people, with about 2 eggs per person. I used a large gratin dish and poured a layer of cream and about 2 tablespoons of butter into the bottom. Place in the oven for about 3-5 minutes until butter melts, then add the eggs (about 8) and sprinkle herb mixture on top. Turn the oven to broil, and place under the broiler for 5-6 minutes or until eggs are cooked to desired level.
Maple Bacon
Ingredients
Bacon
Real Maple Syrup
This recipe is really easy...my friends call it candied bacon because of how it turns out. With the oven on about 400, put bacon on a rack on cookie sheet and place in the oven. It can be a bit messy, and you may find yourself needing to drain off some of the bacon fat. After about 15-20, remove the bacon and brush with maple syrup, then return to the oven for another 5 min. done!
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