The Defenders

The other day, while sitting around, Eric drinking out of his Hulk pint glass and me drinking out of my Silver Surfer pint glass, I realized that we were consuming our beers out of two rather fitting members of Marvel Comics classic non-team of super heroes, the fearsome foursome known as the defenders... and not only that but there were four of us who lived here at 703 Sackett Street, Apt. 3. We each match up rather nicely with one of the members of this incredibly powerful superhero (non)team. Observe:

Eric as The Hulk

• Only emotion he knows is rage
• Resorts to smashing his problems in the face
• Well defined musculature

Randy as The Silver Surfer

• Abhors violence, unless absolutely necessary
• Prone to lamenting things like the way man defiles this beautiful planted called Earth or his lost love
• Can move at incredible speeds

Kathleen as Dr. Strange, Sorcerer Supreme

• Spends much of her time sifting through ancient manuscripts for arcane secrets
• Chants indecipherable incantations/harmonies
• Frequently travels to other realms (like England)

Kevin as Namor The Sub-Mariner

• Least powerful of the four
• Pointed ears
• Breath smells of the ocean
• Often at odds with The Hulk (Eric)
  

There are other comparisons that can be drawn, but you get the idea.

Hey you guys...

Tha Bachelor is on.

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!!!

Emril

It's super cold out today... something like 20 degrees American and it's already 1 in the afternoon. Won't be leaving 703 Sackett today, that's for sure. Last night I dreamt that a panther was on the loose at an amalgam of every corporate job I've ever had. It crashed through a plate glass window and was on me and some how, knowing it was a dream, I knew I could summon the strength to defeat it. Once that happened I was entered into the world of professional fighting. Things got messy with my management, and two corporate fat cats fought over the right to represent me. I chose one of their wives as she seemed to have my best interest at heart. Back on point, we're making chili this afternoon, Emril style. No, we're not going to engage in his trademark domestic violence, we'll simply be borrowing some ideas from one of his recipes. Come over if you want some.

The most toxic spacecraft ever is falling to earth, but where?

You know where...

Infernal Math

With our destruction nigh, I'm working on opening the sixth seal. As far as I can tell the code to cracking the infernal math lies in the patterns of Sudoku; for who else, but The Lord of The Chthonian Pit (Lo from MTV's The Hills) could devise such an endlessly confounding system of torture?

-- Rev 6:12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake;and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood --

Lasagna Night

Last night was lasagna night. All who have tasted this lasagna agree that it is the best lasagna they have ever eaten, and likely ever will. The lasagna in question is a Greek variation on the classic Italian dish, passed down from generations of chefs living in New Zealand. It arrived on our shores several years ago when an intrepid young chef made it at house party in New Haven, CT. How it ended up at 703 Sackett st. is a long and twisted tale for another time. The important thing to focus on is the risk involved in preparing this dish. It's a chore to cook and takes a minimum of two people working in perfect sync, like a delicately crafted ballet. Each step must be flawless, your timing must be nothing but extraordinary or the lasagna will not take and your home and yourself well be branded forever as failures. For those brave enough to attempt the perfect dinner, here now is the immortal recipe (approximately) for Greek Veggie Lasagna.

• Make tomato sauce Start with an onion, about half a carrot and a stick of celery – all chopped. Fry on low until soft. Add three cloves of garlic, a good handful of chopped pitted Kalamata olives, and a pinch of chili and a little paprika. Fry for about a minute. Add a big can of tomatoes, salt and pepper and any other herbs you want (basil, oregano?) and simmer (adding water if it gets to dry) for about 20mins.

• Then slice and fry an eggplant in batches until golden and soft, you need quite a lot of oil so drain on absorbent kitchen towel.

• Chop sweet potato (kumera), toss in a little olive oil, cumin and dried thyme and roast until cooked (about 30 minutes depending on sixe of slices).

• Make a cheese sauce Melt equal parts butter and plain flour (about 4 tablespoons each?) and two teaspoons mild mustard; cook for about 2 minutes on low. Add about a cup of water, whisking, add about 1 ½ cups cream. You less or more cream/water depending on taste and consistency. Add a small packet of strong grater cheddar and cook till cheese all melted and sauce is the right consistency.

You also need some fresh lasagna sheets, a packet of feta, and some frozen spinach.

• Put half tomato sauce and half eggplant on bottom on a lasagna dish.

• Add a layer of lasagna sheets.

• Scatter over about 2-3 three small handfuls of frozen spinach, the packet of feta, and the baked sweet potato. Top with a layer of the cream sauce.

• Add another layer of lasagna sheets

• Top with remaining tomato sauce and eggplant

• Add a layer of lasagna sheets

• Top with remaining cream sauce and sprinkle with some grated cheddar cheese or parmesan

• Bake in medium-hot over until bubbling at edges and golden. I often start with the oven on moderate for 20 minutes and then turn it up to about 375 to brown the top for the last 10-15 mins.