Summer Storm

Mark here...This episode was called "Summer Storm"...a slight uptick in terms of plot line from the last two.  Dylan's dad is arrested and at the same time he hurts himself in a surfing accident.  Cindy Walsh offers to let him stay at their house while he recuperates.  Brenda, having broken up with Dylan but still having feelings for him, handles this with poise and grace.  By that I mean she freaks out every chance she gets and yells at everyone! Its hard to understand why Dylan even likes her at this point?  All she does is tease him?  She's hot then she pulls away?  And this is after they've had sex?  I mean, I get that we're supposed to think that girls don't like sex...but they do!

Meanwhile Kelly makes a new boyfriend on the beach in cutie Kyle...but something's different about Kyle!  He asks Kelly on a date and then Kelly promptly decides to go skinny dipping.  Kyle is freaked out and is like "put those away!"...not really, but he pretty much screams gay.  By the end of the episode he confesses his confusion to Kelly.  I said, boy Kelly handled that really well.  At which point laurel said to me, she's just relieved that's why he turned her down!


Hey Laurel here...Also this episode Dylan's dad gets arrested for income tax evasion or something.  We see a flashback of Dylan's dad at the beach club, playing with Dylan in the water and picking him up over the waves...Dylan says "Don't drop me Daddy" and his dad says "I'll never drop you son, I'll always be here for you."  Liar!  Poor Dylan.

Also noticeable is that Dylan remembers this flashback after he breaks into his old cabana (where someone else now rents) and sleeps on the couch there.  Brandon finds him in the morning, and they walk away from  the cabana without closing the door or putting any evidence of Dylan's break in away.  I guess they are just going to wait for the renters to show up and freak out.  Seems reasonable.

We don't have an official cocktail moment for this episode, but I definitely took a big swig when we see Donna doing Shakespeare in a bikini.

Official quote...  Brenda says about her behavior in regards to Dylan staying at the Walsh house..."To be a bitch, or not to be a bitch, that is the question".  Um, I think we all know the answer to that question Brenda.

Style awards go to....Kelly's mom!  and Steve!  and Donna!  Kelly's mom for her sweet beach outfit, a purple bikini topped with a cray technicolor shirt.  Donna for her equally technicolor dress, that I would totally buy from forever 21 today if they had it for $28 or less.  And Steve for his jogging on the beach ensemble.  Nothing like a half shirt on a dude.

Party Fish

Hi Laurel here...This episode teaches us yet another lesson...Money can't buy happiness.  In fact, sometimes it makes you miserable.  OK.  We get it.  Can we get to the good stuff already and quit with the lessons all the time?

Brandon is moving right along with his new job at the beach club and everything seems to be going great.  He's flirting with a (older) girl who works there, Sandy, and all of the members seem to like him.  One member in particular, Mr. RATinger (telling, no?), especially notices Brandon.  He offers to teach Brandon a few things about business, and Brandon ends up taking a job with him.  Much to Jim's dismay, because Jim knows him from work an thinks he is, well, a rat.

It turns out on his first day working for him, Brandon discovers that Ratinger is cheating on his wife with...Sandy!  Of course Brandon is horrified and quits immediately.  And gives back the Mercedes convertible Ratinger loaned him to drive around for the summer.

Blah Blah Blah.  Lesson learned.  Rich people are terrible.

Mark here...I couldn't agree more with Laurel!  This "summer season" of the show is apparently when the show blew up into a "thing"!  From these episodes, you couldn't tell why!  Yes, young Brandon and Dylan are cute, but come on!! Another lesson?!?  Things can only get better, right? The episode was called "The Party Fish" and much like last episode this was misleading...there was no party! And the fish in question were the grunion run at the end of the episode...who cares!!

So Brandon is back as a cabana boy and Brenda is still taking acting lessons with Donna and Andrea, for some reason.  Andrea is in school because she has no friends.  Brenda, presumably wants to be an actress, but what the hell is Donna doing?  Well, we get a hint with the cute acting teacher, summed up in the scene of Andrea and Donna sitting next to him!  Notice Donna's lack of cleavage this early in the show....

Anyway, cocktail moment is anytime RATinger shows up!  I don't think there was a quote of note.

Our style award definitely goes to Cindy Walsh's printed skort suit ensemble for a night out at the beach club!

Beach Blanket Brandon

Mark here... We're going back to season 2 of Beverly Hills, 90210, the premiere is called "Beach Blanket Brandon" and we're going with a brunch theme for the whole season.  We've decided to stick with a theme for the next few shows with our cooking.  With that in mind, I got us some bagels from the Brooklyn Bagel shop in LA and made Ina Garten's herb cream cheese.  As sides, we had sliced heirloom tomatoes, red onion, prosciutto and smoked salmon.  I also made us some scrambled eggs.

On to the episode...whoah, what a bore!  For an episode titled "Beach Blanket Brandon" you'd think we were in for some fun in the sun...sadly no! It's Brenda Brenda Brenda! and boy is she in a mood the entire episode! Picking up on the season finale from Season 1, Brenda is late...  So she thinks she's pregnant and pretty much blames everyone else and breaks up with Dylan.  I'm not sure if this is meant to be a lesson about the evils of teenage sex, but either way...yawn!

Separately Brandon gets a job at the "Beverly Hills Beach Club" hence the episode's title.  Laurel and I both looked at each other at this point as there is no beach in Beverly Hills...not even close.  It's also funny how the Peach Pitt's business dies down in summer because everyone is at the beach?  This is LA...yes, no one goes to the beach until summer, but the beach is here, it's not like the city shuts down!

Jim and Cindy continue to be awesome parents, even though I remember thinking they were so bad when I was younger.  Andrea remains awful.

Laurel here...Man, Brenda really gives it to us this episode.  No one can say the right thing...she gets upset and bitchy any time anyone talks to her.  I would like to believe it's hormones but it turns out she's not pregnant!

Also this episode we meet the new hot, young, drama teacher.  Why the girls (Andrea, Brenda, and Donna) are taking drama in summer school is beyond me, but I have a feeling this new hot teacher is gonna make them glad they did.

We have 2 style awards this episode.  One goes to....Andrea!  Dramatic mime outfit!

The second goes to...Steve!  For his midwestern dad (or mom) first day of summer vacation outfit.  High wasted light blue mom jeans and a ka-razy Hawaiian shirt.  You go Steve!  Get your vacay on!

Our favorite quote this episode is when Kelly says to Brenda about her Gynecologist..."Trust me, Dr.  Strathmore is the best, me and my mom have been seeing him for years."  Um, isn't Kelly like 15?

Cocktail moment...we decided to drink any time anyone mentions (or clutches the box of) Brenda's pregnancy test.  Which, by the way, Brenda left in the trash for Cindy to find.  Dummy.  BTW we are wasted.

Carbonara

Mark here...this recipe comes from Jamie Oliver.  It's fast and easy and so good! It's his Bow Tie Pasta Carbonara, from when we watch Battlestar Galactica Season 2 episode, "Final Cut"

Bow Tie Pasta Carbonara

Ingredients

1 box bow tie pasta
1 egg
1/2 cup cream
seas alt
pepper
about a fist size of pancetta, cut into about an inch cubes or strips
about 2/3 of a 10 oz bag of frozen peas
about a handful of chopped mint
2 handfuls of grated parmesan

Bring a pan of salted water to a boil and add the pasta.  Whisk the egg and cream in a separate bowl.

In another pan, cook the pancetta until golden.

About a minute before the pasta is done, add the peas.  Then, when done, reserve a bit of the pasta cooking water, and drain the pasta and peas.  Return the pasta and peas to the pan and add the pancetta and mint.  Stir, then add the cream mixture and stir quickly so that a sauce forms (and not scrambled eggs!).  Add parmesan and salt and pepper and stir. Serve.

Green Risotto with Artichokes

Mark here...this is the recipe for the Barefoot Contessa's green risotto with artichokes.  This recipe is amazing and leftovers practically disappear by the following day!  I made this to go with the fish for Battlestar Galactica season 2 episode, "Scattered"

Green Risotto with Artichokes

Ingredients

1 and 1/2 tablespoon Olive oil
1 and 1/2 tablespoon butter
2 leeks
2 fennel bulbs
1 1/2 cup arborion rice
2/3 cup white wine
5 cups stock
1 lb asparagus (thick preferably)
10 oz. frozen peas
8 oz. frozen asparagus
pinch lemon zest
salt and pepper
mascarpone cheese
grated parmesan
2 tablespoons lemon juice
chopped fresh chives

First the chopping!  Chop the asparagus and discard the tough bottom if necessary. Blanch the asparagus for a minute in boiling salted water then drain in a colander and set aside.

Chop the fennel bulb and remove the core.

Then chop the leeks.  Only use the white and light green parts and put them in a bowl of water to wash.  The leeks will float while the dirt sinks...

Now, begin by heating the olive oil and butter in a large pan (medium heat).  Add the leeks and fennel and sauté for several minutes until soft.  Next, add the rice and coat with the oil.  Add the wine and simmer.  Wait until the wine has been absorbed, then begin ladling in the stock.  Don't add the next ladle until the previous ladle of stock has been absorbed by the rice. This will take a while! It took me about 45 minutes.

Add the asparagus, peas, salt and pepper (to taste), lemon zest and artichokes to the rice and stir constantly. Add more stock if the rice isn't tender yet.

Turn off the heat and stir in several tablespoons of the mascarpone. a handful of parmesan and a handful of chopped chives. Serve topped with chopped chives and grated parmesan.

Herb wrapped fish

Mark here...this recipe from Barefoot Contessa (I'm starting to realize I need to pull from different sources too!) I made for Battlestar Galactica's Season 2 premiere, "Scattered"

Herb Wrapped Fish

Ingredients

Cod fillets
salt and pepper
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon olive oil
thyme sprigs
large pitted olives (I have no idea what mine were except that I got a variety of fancy ones)
1 egg
parchment paper

Preheat oven to 400F.

This recipe seems a little easier than it ends up.  First place you individual fillets on separate pices of parchment (big enough to fold together into a packet).  Sprinkle each side with salt and pepper and then mix the lemon juice and olive oil and top each fillet (you may need more than in the recipe).  Add a couple olives and sprig of thyme to each fillet.  Beat the egg to use as the "glue" to seal the parchment packet.  Brush the edges and fold to seal the packet (this can be a bit challenging as parchment paper does not want to to cooperate).

Place on baking sheet pan and cook 12-15 minutes.  Serve in the packet.

Fish - N - Chips

Mark here...this is another of the Barefoot Contessa's recipe's called Parker's Fish and Chips and it's one of my favorites.  We made it while watching Friday Night Lights episode, "Extended Families".  It's a bit messy though, so be warned, but it really is a classic fish and chips.  The nice part is the baked potato "chips"...it sort of saves you from the oil-overload...

Fish and Chips

Ingredients
1 1/2 lb cod fillets (they are usually deboned but its worth checking)
salt and pepper
1/2 cup flour
1/2 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
pinch cayenne
1/2 cup water
1 egg
Vegetable oil
2 large potatoes
olive oil
1 large mince garlic clove
sea salt
rosemary

The Chips recipe follows the fish, but it's best to get started on them first as they will take longer...

First salt and pepper each side of the cod fillets and cut them into roughly 2 inch squares or thereabouts.  Then mix the flour, baking powder, lemon zest, cayenne water, egg, and salt and pepper (to taste).

Pour and heat the oil, 1/2 inch, and heat to 360 degrees.  This part is very important...too cool and it won't crisp, the fish will either stick to the pan or fall apart (or both).  Dip each fish piece into the batter and then put in the hot oil.  Don't put too many or it will just take forever (too many will cool the oil).  Cook each side about 3 minutes depending on size, then remove.  I just put all the pieces on a folded brown paper bag, rustic East Cost style. When done finish by sprinkling with salt.

For the Chips...

Preheat the oven to 400.

Slice the 2 potatoes into long thick chips, this mean roughly cutting each potato into eighths.  Lay onto baking pan and toss with 2 tablespoons of olive oil, some sea salt and pepper, and about a tablespoon of chopped rosemary.  Cook about 50 minutes turning roughly every 15, in my opinion.