Wayne Gallant's Open Salon Blog

Turkey Tetrazini - skc thanksgiving

Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:11:55 -0500

Turkey Tetrazini

Turkey Tetrazini has long been a favorite at my house, but especially just after Thanksgiving. You'll find this version both easy and delicious.

Ingredients

* 1 (16 ounce) package uncooked spaghetti
* 1/4 cup butter
* 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
* 2 cups chicken broth
* 2 cups milk
* 1 1/2 cups grated Parmesan cheese
* 4 cups chopped cooked turkey
* 1/4 cup sliced mushrooms

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a medium baking dish.
2. Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add spaghetti, and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente. Drain, and place in the prepared baking dish.
3. Melt butter in a medium saucepan over medium heat. Stir in flour. Mix in chicken broth and milk. Cook and stir until the mixture comes to a boil. Stir in Parmesan cheese, and remove from heat.
4. Mix chicken broth mixture, mushrooms and turkey with spaghetti. Top with remaining cheese. Bake 1 hour, until surface is lightly browned.
***

Serve with chilled Asti Spumante (Italian champaign).

Meet the Buddha

Sun, 4 Oct 2009 14:10:48 -0400

“If you meet the Buddha on the road, kill him.” ninth-century Buddhist master Lin Chi.

I met the Buddha out on the road, so I killed him.
I pulled out my trusty old 44 mag and I drilled him.
And all the love and compassion flowed out which had formerly filled him
As the cold hand of death reached in and finally chilled him.

Now I practice the Dharma and my own form of meditation.
I gave up the booze and transcendental medication.
I raised myself up to a higher spiritual station,
And I'm speaking to Larry King and the United Nations.

So if you meet the Buddha remember he's not like he feels.
Don't let him sell you no bells or them spinning prayer wheels.
His saffron robes and his sandals look so down at the heels,
He's all out of offers and beyond Scientology deals.

Now the Buddha's got nothing to do with any religion,
He just wants you to lift your standard of ethics a smidgen.
So be mindful of meditation and the worlds that you're bridgin'
And your spirit may soar on the innocent wings of a pigeon.

Marshall McLuhan killed OS...

Wed, 22 Jul 2009 22:07:10 -0400

... at least for me.
... at least partially.

His famous dictum, "The medium is the message", finally sunk in, and is the reason why I have decided not to post much on OS in future. At least I won't be posting any more works of fiction, or any more poetry.

Despite many protestations to the contrary, OS is NOT a writer's community. Rather, it is a community of people who write. What's the difference?, I hear you asking.

The difference may lie only in my preconceived notion of what a "writer" is. When I use the word, I mean it to describe those who strive to produce works with at least a modicum of literary value. That would leave out those who post movie and TV reviews, reviews of restaurants, vacation destinations, etc. It would also leave out most of the political commentary (although some of those have redeeming literary value, such as those by Saturn Smith.) Anything you might expect to find in the op-ed section of your local newspaper also fails to meet the standard.

I realize that there have been, and are, some essayists, critics, and social commentators who display great literary talent - Dorothy Parker, Heywood Broun, and others come to mind. But when has any of them been nominated for a Nobel Prize in Literature?

Please do not think that I denigrate the efforts of OSers who post along those lines. I know that many, if not most of those whose words appear on these pages invest a large part of themselves in composing their posts. I am in the habit of reading, commenting, and sometimes rating a great many of them. I expect to continue enjoying them.

The proof of the pudding, to me, lies in the fact that my poetry and fiction have been least read, commented on, or rated by the membership. That and the fact that many choose to put caveats like"Poetry warning" or "- fiction" in the title line. If this were REALLY a writer's community, such warnings would not be needed.

Meanwhile, I'll continue searching for a website where literary quality is prized. I've tried many, but have yet to find any which offer critique and encouragement to folks like me.

My favorite ex-favorites

Sat, 20 Jun 2009 13:06:10 -0400

I have just completed removing EVERYONE from my favorites list. Like many things on OS, it was an unnecessarily tedious task. You can't remove a favorite from the confines of you own blog, oh no, you have to visit the blog of the fav, and click the Remove Favorite link, and wait for confirmation.

It's not that I don't have some favorites, and friends whose writings I am always interested in. Rather, I deleted the whole shebang just to prove that I don't need it to find, read, rate or comment on posts which interest me.

If I've commented or rated your posts in the past, I think you'll find that I will continue to do so.

This exercize also showed me what a waste the whole favs thing is. On visiting the blogs of many on my list, I found that they had posted nothing for months, and even found one who had deleted all her posts. One might be forgiven for thinking the the OS powers could monitor for disuse, and remove members (after notification) who were inactive for months - which should also include removing them from the fav lists of others.

So please be assured that you have not fallen into disfavor. You're still a favorite, it's just that I don't need the flimsy crutch of the OS Favorites scheme to keep you and your writings close to my heart.

Foodie Tuesday - Lobster Stew

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 01:06:58 -0400

Lobster Stew

Which of the following is true?
. Lobster stew is quick and easy to prepair
. It is expensive, rich, and satisfying
. It is a near cert to get you laid
. All of the above

The answer, of course, is All of the above.

If you're planning an intimate, and hopefully seductive dinner for two, few dishes offer the romantic possibilities of traditional Maine Lobster Stew. Quick and easy, requiring just a few ingredients, it is best prepared beforehand, as the flavor intensifies and melds if kept refrigerated from six to eight hours.

You will need:

1 to 1 1/2 pound lobster (whole) or a 6.5 oz. can of TCK (Tails, Claws and Knuckles) lobster meat.
2 oz. butter
1 1/2 pints half-and half
A pinch of paprika (optional)
1 oz. Cream Sherry wine

If using a whole lobster, cook it by immersing in boiling water and cooking until shell turns red. Remove and let cool. Break the claws and knuckles (three joints) from the body. Break the tail away from the head. Shuck the lobster by cracking the shells with lobster crackers, or a pair of pliers. Cut the tail meat into bite-sized pieces, but leave the claws whole. Do this over a plate, so as to catch the juices.

If using canned meat, taste the liquid in which it is packed (which should be just salted water) and discard if too salty.

In a pot, melt the butter and add the lobster meat, cooking until the butter turns a salmon-pink color, add the lobster juices. Add the half-and-half slowly, stirring constantly. Cook for three minutes, then remove from heat, add the paprika and the sherry. Taste and adjust seasoning if required.

Let cool to room temperature, cover and refrigerate until just before serving.

Reheat over medium-low heat, stirring constantly.

Serve in warmed shallow bowls. Use your finest china.

Some suggest a garnish of parsley, but I prefer to keep it simple and pristine. I also eschew crackers, preferring a crusty bread, such as Ciabatta, or any rustic artisan white bread.

Champagne or a champagne cocktail go well with this.

Make sure the linens on your bed are fresh and lightly scented of rosewater or lavender.