Saturday, June 17, 2006

Pancakes & Flash In the Pans

Daniel Letterle as Ethan Green, with Diego Serrano and Dean SheltonSo, I see The Mostly Unfabulous Social Life of Ethan Green opens this week, starring the oh-so twinkalicious Daniel Letterle. Of course, it's not opening in Minneapolis, but in limited release, and may crawl its way this direction. Sometime. Maybe.


I'm not a huge fan of what has become of the gay movie industry. We've gone from pretty good stuff like the early work of Gregg Araki and Todd Haynes, to, well, Skinemax wanna-bes. Recipe for a gay flick? Two hot shirtless guys (acting ability not required), a mangy drag queen (absolutely no acting required), a disco remix for the soundtrack, 95 gay quips that were old when you heard them at the gym last week, and a script that makes stereotypes we've been fighting against for years look like the new lifestyle pinacle.

But I still have hopes for this, because I thought Letterle was pretty good in Camp, I've enjoyed the comic strip so much over the years that my cat is named after it, and it also features Richard Riehle as a Hat Sister, whom I first saw years ago in a performance with the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. He's probably more familiar to most of you as a frequent alien on various Star Trek franchises.

So, if you see it before I do, and you probably will, don't tell me it sucks. Unless it really really sucks, in which case, damn.


It's Saturday morning, and we're a bit discombobulated. Boo was at his final chorus rehearsal before tonight and tomorrow's performance, and while he was out, we got one hell of a thunder-banging storm. The power went out about 9:45, so I went to bed as the alternative seemed to be sitting around in the darkness and eating things out of the freezer. Not long after Boo got home, the power came on again. Then went off. Then on, then off. On, for now.

As a result, most of the clocks in the house are wrong. But it feels like breakfast time. I'm thinking pancakes.


Pancakes

1 cup flour
2 tsp sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda

Combine dry ingredients in a bowl. Stir thoroughly.

Combine in a 2 cup measure:

2/3 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup milk
1 egg white

Whisk until frothy.

Combine in a small cup:

1 egg yolk
2 tbs melted butter

Whisk until smooth.

Pour yolk mixture into milk mixture and whisk until smooth, then pour into flour mixture and whisk until only small lumps remain (about 20-30 seconds, no more! Do not overbeat, or pancakes will be tough). Add milk if needed, batter should the consistency of just-melted ice cream.

Heat a griddle, cast iron skillet, or non-stick pan. Spray with cooking spray. When hot enough to make water drops sizzle and dance when sprinkled, pour in batter by 1/4 cup ladlefuls. Gently shake skillet to spread. When bubbles form on top and edges look slightly dry, flip pancake over. Cook other side until done - about 90 seconds for the first side, 60 for the second.

Serve with butter and maple syrup; unless you're a freak, like Boo, and prefer the sweetly cloying taste of Alaga.

2 comments:

Grouchbutt said...

I especially love Alaga on my Maypo.

And by "Maypo" I mean "Daniel Letterle".

I thought Minneapolis was pretty dang gay, especially since Boo hit town. Why wouldn't it be showing somewhere there?

When exactly were the good old days of gay cinema? I remember seeing Swoon, Edward II, and My Own Private Idaho in short succession. I'm still traumatized.

Anonymous said...

it's playing at the lagoon on july 27th. btw i'll be in town this weekened for pride.

we should hang out.