Morning News 5/15/10 (Pancakes!)

Yeah! Pancakes, bacon and eggs, coffee and orange juice for breakfast over at Sam's Billiards.

Nooo! US, UK embassies urge citizens to stay away from Bangkok, even essential travel.

Yeah! Mary Glasspool will be ordained Episcopal Bishop on Saturday.

Maybe! Elena Kagan's marital status discussed over at NYT.

They're a hot-blooded lot. Former Food Network Chef "the Calorie Commando" arrested for trying to hire homeless hitmen. (What did I tell you about food people?)

Kinder, gentler my ass. FB group calls on David Cameron to sack homophobic Equality Minister Theresa May.

(Photo of Pancakes from Brandon Martin-Anderson via Wikipedia. "North Americans sometimes garnish their pancakes with banana slices." Thanks Wikipedia!)

Buttermilk Fried Chicken with Green Olive Sauce

Skinless, boneless chicken thighs marinated in garlic and buttermilk, lightly fried and topped with a sauce of shallot, tomato and green olives.

Full recipe and more pictures after the jump.

Morning News 5/14/10

Angry. Open warfare in the streets of Bangkok as protests continue.

On Second thought... Walgreens changes its  mind about carrying at-home genetic testing kits. Turns out Pathyway Genomics had no FDA approval for the kits.

Yawn. Kurt Loder describes the new Robin Hood movie as a "long history lesson in a loud, dark and unusually muddy lecture hall."

Bon Voyage. Shuttle Atlantis prepares for its final flight.

So let it be written... George Rekers's Wikipedia page now includes reference to the young man he rented to perform "daily, one-hour nude sexual massages." Rekers still claims he is totally not gay.

Oy Gevalt. Catholic school bars kid with two moms.

(Sisters Risque of the Sissyteen Chapel (SF), Sister Viva L'Amour (SF), and Sister Rhoda Kill (LA) courtesy The Jaundiced Eye/A Dingo Took My Baby)

Evening News 5/13/10

Aaargh! Laura Bush is to the left of President Obama on Marriage Equality. I haven't been ragging on the Commander in Chief much lately, so let me just say I am getting increasingly pissed off.

Am not! George "Lift my Luggage" Rekers is still totally not gay.

"Cram it! Update: Aaron Sorkin comes to the defense of Newsweek by explaining that being a white, heterosexual male is a "blank slate" and anything else is a "distraction." Really, Mr. Sorkin?

God Save the Queen, ...a few pounds. New UK government cuts its own pay.

(Today's 19th Century whiskers are brought to you by Emperor Wilhelm II of Prussia. This photo is from Russell and Sons and was taken in 1890.)

(Confidential to Dr. Snickerdoodle: "Excuse me! Excuse me!)

Bittersweet Chocolate Brownies...

...with extra walnuts. Made entirely from scratch. Hot and gooey and fresh out of the oven.

You know you want one.

Melt 4 oz unsweetened chocolate along with 8 oz (one stick) unsalted butter over medium low heat.

Mix together in a bowl:

2 cups granulated sugar
2 tsp pure vanilla extract (Don't use the imitation stuff or I'll hunt you for sport.)
4 large eggs

Add the melted chocolate mixture to the sugar mixture and stir to combine. Add:

1 cup all purpose flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa (sift it first or it will be lumpy)
2 cups chopped walnuts

Stir it all together with a rubber spatula until just combined.

Line your 13 x 9 inch pan with foil and spray with pan spray.

Pour in your batter and spread it out to the edges.

Bake in preheated, 350 degree oven for 26 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

When cool you can flip the brownies out of the pan (carefully), cut them into squares and eat the entire pan in a single sitting.

Blame it on the dog.

"Bad dog! Ate a whole pan of brownies I baked for my contract bridge party!"


"Edna and Mavis will be simply furious!"

Bronte Sisters Power Dolls

(Hat Tip to The Mighty E)

This video is from FineMoustaches. I laughed out loud and almost peed when I saw it.

(Totally suitable for work.)

Shallot & Parsley Sour Cream (...and Steak)

After I rubbed two baking potatoes with salted butter, I wrapped them in foil and baked them in a 350 degree oven for one-and-a-half hours.

When the potatoes were nearly ready, I sprinkled some tri-tip steaks with garlic salt, then grilled them...

...for about three minutes per side.

Next, I minced half a shallot and two tablespoons fresh parsley, then stirred that together with one-half cup of fresh, creamy, slightly tangy sour cream.

A dollop of that on a hot, buttery baked potato along with steamed broccoli and tender, grilled steaks...

...made for a delicious dinner.

It would have been lovely with a nice cabernet, but my husband prepared several rounds of cocktails for us as we puttered in the kitchen.

Drunk and full of meat! What could be better?

I'm so glad I married that man.

Morning News 5/13/10

(Photo of Pad Thai by Terence Ong)

From Bad to Worse. Red Shirt Thai General Seh Daeng has been shot.

Looky Here. Feds search outside Boston for further evidence in failed Times Square Bombing.

"You think they're not going to fire me for a thing like that?" BP Boss admits mistakes were made.

LA boycotts Arizona. That city currently holds $58 million in contracts with that state, so this is more than symbolic.

Steve Rothaus airs some letters to the editor regarding closeted douchenozzle George Rekers. And via JMG this morning, here's Roy Zimmerman's song George Rekers is Completely Heterosexual:

Evening News Update 5/12/10

"Cram it!" Update: Gay groups request formal apology for Ramin Setoodeh's Newsweek article suggesting that gays can't play straight.

Sign here. Gay Florida Governor Charlie Crist fills out paperwork, making his split with GOP official.

The Kid: "Cheery sophistication," "Charming," and "laugh-out-loud-funny." Robert Feldberg liked the new musical based on Dan Savage's memoir.

Even CNN is reporting this whopper. George Rekers insists that daily, nude "long stroke" massages from a hot, young male escort are totally not gay! ...and he resigned from his position at NARTH. (Hat tip to Jim for informing me that "narth" is the sound one makes when belching up a little Santorum.)

(Today's dose of daily mutton chops are brought to you by Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha (Francis Albert Augustus Charles Emmanuel. 26 August 1819 – 14 December 1861, main squeeze of HRH Queen Victoria. I'm talking about the man here, not the piercing you dirty-minded fiends.)

Morning News 5/12/10

Yes Sir! David Cameron is the new top dog, big cheese, head kahuna... This is the first Conservative government in the UK in 13 years. Lib. Dem. leader Nick Clegg is the new Deputy Prime Minister. This should be interesting.


No Sir!  Mollohan loses in W. Virginia and Sestak is nipping at Specter's heels in Pennsylvania.

Yes Sir! "Noynoy" Aquino set to be next President of the Philippines.

Oops! Apple may have lost another iphone prototype. This one surfaced in Vietnam.

We're trying. BP tries to plug gushing gulf rig.


(The Reagans and the Thatchers at the White House, 11/16/88. Courtesy Ronald Reagan Library.)

Oven Roasted Mushrooms

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
Wash and thoroughly dry 2 pints of whole, Crimini mushrooms.

Toss the mushrooms in a large bowl with:

4 Tbl extra virgin olive oil
1 minced shallot
2 tsp dried thyme
1/4 tsp salt
a few twists of fresh cracked, black pepper

Arrange the mushrooms, cap down on a greased baking sheet.

Bake for 35-40 minutes until the mushrooms darken and your house smells wonderful.

I served mine on a bed of arugula with a little parmesan cheese, minced tomato and a bit of parsley.  You may eat them as is, or they make a great side dish.

If you try it, feel free to drop me a line and let me know how it turns out.

What Were They Thinking?

...I just don't have words for this...

(Enormous thanks to M, you get a plate of brownies for this one. Happy to credit wherever this photo came from, but I have no idea.)

Sanctity of Marriage Update: Iowa

Senator Merlin Bartz (he's a Republican - I know it's shocking, just stick with me here) wants to exclude gay families from state camping regulations that allow six people per campsite.

Among other things, Bartz wants to be sure we're excluded from a rule permitting spouses to set up separate tents at the same site.

Regarding that rule, Department of Natural Resources spokesman Kevin Baskins explained "we had people who had trouble with snoring."

Yay, bureaucrats!

(Hat tip to Dr. Snickerdoodle.)

Afternoon News Update 5/11/10

I Quit. Gordon Brown resigns from Parliament and as PM. David Cameron is now top dog.

I Also Quit! George Rekers resigns from NARTH.

I'm Crazy! Maine GOP taken over by teaparty.

Oh, Yeah? Newsweek responds to the suggestion that they cram it.

(3 days left to vote in our "Hung Parliament" quiz.)

Buh Bye!

Gordon Brown has resigned from politics and as PM as of today.

The Queen may be accepting his resignation right this minute.

(Public domain picture of Gordon Brown via Wikipedia. Full citation here.)

Morning News 5/11/10

Strange Bedfellows. Lib Dems in talks with Tories, discuss vote reform as Brown's resignation approaches.

Girls Rock! Kagan will bring the number of lady judges on the court to three. Take that, patriarchy! Andrew Sullivan has more on right wingers foaming at the mouth over the nomination of a "sexually abnormal individual" to the nation's highest court. We need to circle the wagons people.

On Second Thought... World markets dip as optimism over bailout fades.

On the Other Hand... Melinda Beck over at WSJ wonders what you should do if your kid is gay. NARTH or PFLAG? (I'm all for balance, but interviewing discredited bigots and pretending that there's any validity to their point of view is bullshit. However, she does come down on the side of acceptance in the end. Whew!)

You're Harshin' My Buzz, Man. Medical Marijuana Dispensaries firebombed in Montana.

Crazy is the New Black. Democratic Rep. Alan Mollohan faces teaparty challenge in West Virginia primary.

Way to Cite Precedent! Newsweek thinks gays should never play straight. Ted Casablanca thinks Newsweek should cram it.

Only a few days left to vote in the "Hung Parliament" quiz!

(Image from Paul Mazursky's 1970 film Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice starring Robert Culp, Natalie Wood, Elliot Gould and Dyan Cannon via Democratic Underground.)

Morning News 5/10/10

Farewell. Lena Horne dies at 92. A truly great woman.


Yep. Obama to nominate Kagan for SCOTUS. Girl Power!


Yuck. Environmental disaster as BP still can't halt gushing rig. Hearings in Congress this week.


Sucks. But it's a good idea. Lawyer recommends gay couples keep legal documents on flash drives on them at all times. (I have to keep proving I'm related to my husband even after 15 years and it's getting pretty damn old.)


Sanctuary. UK policy sending gays back to countries where they face harassment, murder, challenged in highest court.

Yay, for now. As EU banks buy bonds, world financial markets up a bit.

Don't forget to vote in our "Hung Parliament" quiz over on the sidebar!

(Carl Van Vechten photograph of Lena Horne via Library of Congress and Wikipedia.)

SCOTUS Update

I won't link to it because you can find it yourself and I've had two cocktails this evening, but it looks as though President Obama will nominate Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court seat vacated by Justice Stevens.

Also unconfirmed is that Kagan is a gal who loves gals.

IMHO, a dyke on the Supreme Court is a fabulous idea.

The religious right will probably squirt themselves over this.

(Image via Doc Searls at Wiki Commons.)

Sunday Dinner

Salted, then dredged some catfish in a little flour. Sauteed in butter and olive oil.

Tossed in a few minced shallots, bay shrimp and parsley then served with avocado, tomato, olive oil and salt.

Lovely dinner.

Sunday Afternoon Personal Update

It is warm today at Casa Del Flaming Chef.

Drinking a mint julep as I read Margaret Mitchell's Gone With the Wind for the fourth time.

"They crossed the river and the carriage mounted the hill.  Even before Twelve Oaks came into view Scarlett saw a haze of smoke hanging lazily in the tops of the tall trees and smelled the mingled savory odors of burning hickory logs and roasting pork and mutton."

I'm at that place in the book just as Scarlett reveals her love for Ashley and understands that he intends to marry Melanie. News of the start of the war is about to reach her and everyone in her world.

One of the reasons I mention this sexist, racist, beautiful book full of human ugliness is that Margaret Mitchell is a sensational writer who includes hunger and food as essential parts of the human experience.

Catfish and cornbread for dinner tonight.

Hattie McDaniel won an Academy Award for her performance in Gone With the Wind and deserves a posthumous temple erected in her honor.

Get to it.

(Image via Wikipedia. Scanned by Myra Wysinger and uploaded. Photo from family photo collection. Autographed copy of Hattie McDaniel's July 10, 1941.)

Morning News 5/09/10

Call your Mother.

Not crazy enough. Utah Republican Bob Bennett ousted by teaparty in primary.

In related news... Utah Blue Dog creep Jim Matheson didn't win the Democratic endorsement either. He faces serious challenge from Brigham Young's great, great grandaughter Claudia Wright. ...and she's a lesbian and she's really smart, thank you very much.

Sound good for you? EU financial bigwigs plan to lay out Greek bailout details by Monday.

My ding-a-ling. Airport body scan leads to ridicule, violence. For Chrissakes, grow up people.

Oh, Florida. Tallahassee considers protecting queers.

In case you haven't done it yet. Call your Mother.

(Image of Parvati and Ganesh from Jaipur India ca 1820.)