It's Only a Test

Mark here... Laurel and I are settling in with some very tasty vegetarian chili that Laurel made, and a bit of wine. The wine is very necessary for this episode...called, "It's Only A Test". Of course there are 2 tests here. First the gang is preparing for the SATs and second Brenda finds a lump on her breast. Jeesum Crow...this one goes above and beyond "Very Special Episode" as we're treated to questions about Brenda's period and discharge from her nipples.... Eeegg, pour me some more wine please. Anyway, the episode is mostly Brenda! Brenda! Brenda! and all things surrounding Brenda feel super preachy. I had hoped Cindy Walsh might shine through, but unfortunately she had a sister who died of cancer so she's freaking out as much as Brenda, who finally has a reason to be a raging bitch and doesn't hold back. There is a funny moment where Kelly and Donna are attempting to console Brenda and Kelly says "I hope nothing ever happens to my breasts" to which Donna replies "me too!" Ahem.

There's also a subplot about Andrea and Steve and SAT mayhem, but I'll leave most of that for the cocktail moments...

Laurel here...Brandon really shines in the episode, he is the perfect brother, really holding it together for Brenda and Cindy, even though he is freaking out. Although the person he confides in...Andrea. Does he want it to be on the front page of the West Beverly Blaze?

Also noteworthy is the way Brenda discovers her lump...Brenda, Kelly, and Donna are all at Kelly's place studying for the SATs, but of course Kelly is just reading a magazine. She finds pull out instructions in her copy of YM or whatever and the girls all decide to do a breast exam together. Excuse me? What high school girls would ever decide to do a breast exam together?

And as for Steve and Andrea, I just think I threw up a little bit in my mouth. Like Mark said please see cocktail moments for more detail.

Style award this episode...Cindy! For her take-your-daughter-to-get-her-lump-checked business suit. Way to go Cindy!

Cocktail moments:

Andrea freaks out! Brandon uses the word "masticate" (btw referring to Andrea chewing all the pencils at the school paper office...eew) which leads to Andrea having a complete bitchy freak out about how fancy SAT prep courses give rich kids an unfair advantage. waaahhh! Hand me my wine!

Then Andrea barreling down the school stairs in a crazy freak out to get SAT tips from...Steve?! He's one of the rich kids taking the offending fancy private courses...in any case Andrea's craziness requires a drink...

...leading to Andrea and Steve studying at Steve's and...KISSING?!?! Thats another drink for sure!

Stand (Up) and Deliver

Mark here...so this episode starts with Brenda, Kelly and Donna attending a comedy club...dear god no...but yes, and of course Brenda is enthralled by the wacky personalities displayed on stage and makes friends with the performers.  One of whom goes by the name of Sky.  It sounds so ridiculous its hard to believe, but the writing at the time is quite SERIOUS. 

In the meantime, with Brenda busy being a performer, Brandon is cornered by Andrea, who needs someone to run for class president because her "friend" dropped out.  As we know Andrea has no friends, clearly the friend is Andrea.  Unfortunately for our least favorite person, Kelly also has some free time now with Brenda busy, and sets her sights on Brandon. He believes it's ok to let both girls run his campaign.  Of course Kelly quickly blows Andrea's boring "issues"campaign out of the water.  In the end, though Brandon learns yet another lesson and endorses his running mate.

Brenda, on the other hand, sort of learns a lesson, and sort of shows the wild streak she will always have.  She gives up stand up after a performance, but not wanting the attention...

Laurel here...The comedy club that Brenda is obsessed with is SO ANNOYING!  Warehouse with wierd thrift store sofas and everyone drinks coffee..but I guess Brenda is so annoying too, so it's a perfect fit.  Did we mention that everybody performing at this place is super young?  Young people aren't funny!  And don't know how to run a business!

Brenda ends up house sitting for Sky, for 3 days, during which all of Sky's stuff gets reposessed.  It's a tough life out there on your own Brenda!  Stay with Jim and Cindy for as long as they will let you!

Style award this episode definitely goes to brenda when she decides to go for a 90s Bohemian look.  The worst/best.

Cocktail moment:
Brenda's final stand up

Kelly offering a date to David Silver for a favor for Brandon's campaign

Also, Kelly coming on to Brandon, which gets broken up...but dare I say, foreshadowing?

Fame Is Where You Find It

Mark here... this was a great episode, back to form.  I mean, don't get me wrong, it was cheesy as hell, but totally entertaining.  Brandon just happens to be rollerblading in the park where a sitcom is shooting.  Long story short, he gets a bit part and the show's lead takes an interest in him.  Of course, this means he'll need a replacement at the Peach Pit...enter Brenda, who is none too thrilled at the thought of work.  After some bribery she agrees and the result is a disaster.  She can't remember orders and she drops food on people...what will she do?

Meanwhile Brandon is inducted into the showbiz world.  His first day on set, he accidentally arrives in the star's trailer (He hasn't met her yet).  He assumes she is the make up artist and hilarity ensues.  One can imagine the hilarity that would ensue if some bit player mistook Shannen Doherty for a lowly make up artist!  In any case, this is where the star takes an interest in Brandon and they date a few times.  Of course fame is fleeting and in the end Brandon is cut from the show after a zillion takes, when the previous male star returns.

Back at the Peach Pitt though, Brenda has found the perfect solution to her problems...enter Laverne.  Or should I say Lavoyne.  Brenda has styled herself as a 50-something diner waitress from Long Island and suddenly she's the best waitress ever.  She also has time for synchronized doo-wop numbers with Donna and Kelly behind the counter.  The customers flood in and are so entertained no one notices that they haven't been served...

Laurel here...I both love and hate this episode...or maybe I just love to hate it.  I hate Laverne so much!!!  Her accent is terrible!  And since when would Kelly and Donna ever be caught dead singing backup on a 50s song they've never heard to a diner waitress, even if it is Brenda!?!  Meanwhile like Mark said, no one is getting their food!!!!

We all knew that showbiz wasn't gonna work out for Brandon.  He learns yet another lesson when the show's teen male hearthrob returns and he gets fired.  wah wah.

Style award this episode goes to...Brandon!!  Or the stylist for "Keep it Together" the fake show he is on, for his roller blade dude getup.  So extreme!!  Honorable mention goes to Lydia Leeds for her crazy aerobics outfit.  Way to go guys!

On that note I would say the cocktail moments are really the fashion moments...anytime anyone is wearing jeans......apparently during the 90s, no one was worried about camel toe, male or female.

Palm Springs Weekend

Laurel here...So Mark and me are settling in for another night of dinner, wine, and 90210.  Tonight Mark made a bruscetta appetizer from Barefoot Contessa with peppers and gorgonzola, and roasted chicken with veggies from Ellie Krieger.  I made a spinach and lentil salad.  We have been making a lot of really rich food lately so we decided to lighten it up a little tonight (with the exception of the gorgonzola!).

So this episode was a mish mash of lots of different side plots.  The first is about the kids getting away to Palm Springs for a weekend of debauchery, but instead they end up hanging out with David Silver's grandparents (!) at their house...they were supposed to be away on a cruise but it turns out they came home early.  As it turns out they are super awesome and the gang has a great time playing charades and doing other wholesome things with them.

Another plot point was that Brenda and Dylan plan to do the deed for the first time but due to a series of mishaps Brenda doesn't show up at his hotel until the next day (after sleeping in a broom closet) only to find another girl in his room...I'll let Mark tell you about the rage that ensues.

Yet another is that poor Brandon has to work all weekend so he cant go to PS.  Initially he is bummed about it, but true to form, Brandon learns yet another "very special" lesson when he discovers that a kid who has been hanging out at the diner is homeless - and Brandon is reminded of just how lucky he is for all of his blessings.

And poor David Silver almost gets to first base.  Almost.  Until the girl starts crying about how she misses her boyfriend.  wah wah.

Mark here...Laurel did a good job of summing up the episode.  It was, as she said a bit of a mish mash...although I would point out, one that was blissfully short on Andrea Zuckerman moments.  The only one that stands out is when the homeless kid at the Peach Pit, who it should be noted is about 8, points out that Andrea is there "because she doesn't have any friends either." She doesn't take that well. On that note, it's only at the end of the episode that David remembers his best friend Scott, who is not invited.  Scott gets screwed so David can hang with the cool kids, who don't start out really wanting to hang out with him either.

Brenda really finds herself in a pickle this episode, what with getting lost in Palm Springs.  And true to to form, she handles it with grace and poise.  By that I mean she's a raging bitch.  So much so it's hilarious at times.  She finds Dylan with a random girl, and despite the fact nothing happened, Brenda flies off the handle and tosses said girl's belongings out the hotel door.  Then she wants Dylan to just do it with her and get it over with, or as she puts it, "Just quit talking and take your clothes off Dylan!"
Calmer heads prevail in the end, and no doing is done and the couple is back together.

 
Style award this episode goes to....David's grandparents!  For their super awesome crazy robes.  Way to go older generation!  You've still got it!

Cocktail moments:
Anytime Brandon is with the little kid, because it's so annoying a drink is needed, twice if Andrea's in the mix

Steve hitting on Kelly to get back together again...give it up man...

Brenda throwing a tantrum...try not to get too drunk...

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.