Corn and Beans

So much of what's on TV is rubbish, but there are a few series' that stand out:

Twilight Zone (1959-1964) I never get tired of watching this one.

M*A*S*H (1972-1983) Comedy meets drama in a Korean War Army hospital.

The Muppet Show (1976-1981) Not sure which was more fun to watch; Muppet hosts or the guest stars.

Star Trek Next Generation (1987-1994) Boldly went where no one had gone before.

Frasier (1993-2004) A stellar supporting cast and top-notch writing.

CSI (2000-present) Somehow I lost track of the show when Grissom left.

Monk (2002-2009) A brilliant detective with crippling OCD.

Numb3rs (2005-2010) Who’d have thought math could be this cool?

Big Bang Theory (2007-present) I love the Barenaked Ladies theme song.

Who Do You Think You Are? (2010-present) Celebrities discover their own roots.

Sherlock (2010-present) You don’t have to be a rabid Holmes fan to appreciate this, but it helps.

Downton Abbey (2010 –present) If I were still in the UK, I wouldn’t be missing season 3 right now.

Red Indian Braid

Yesterday was Columbus Day, an event that seems to be ignored by everyone except bankers, postmen and elementary school teachers. Today is Curious Events Day, for what that’s worth. It’s also Fire Prevention Day, Leif Erikson Day, and Moldy Cheese Day. I have nothing of value to contribute about Italian or Norwegian explorers, about preventing fires or even about curious events. But I do have a few comments about moldy cheese. First, to prevent cheese from going bad, repackage it when you bring it home from the store. Second, if you find your cheese has gone moldy, slice the outsides off and toss them. It’s probably still fine inside. Third, if your fridge accumulates bits of assorted cheese, grate them all together, sprinkle them on slices of bread on a cookie sheet. Broil them in your oven until golden and bubbly. Yum!

Starstruck in the Middle

This past weekend was the second LDS general conference since we left England. I enjoyed seeing it on my own TV instead of via the satellite feed at church. I just wish I could have watched with fewer interruptions. I love that every time another conference starts, they announce new temples about to be built. Like almost everyone else, I was surprised and pleased to hear about the changes in requirements for new missionaries. I enjoyed so many of the talks I heard, especially those from President Uchtdorf, Elders L. Tom Perry and Larry Echo Hawk. But my favorite part of this conference happened in the very first few moments of the first session. President Monson complimented the lovely music the choir had contributed. He said whenever he hears a choir it reminds him of his mother. He said she was proud of all his accomplishments. Her only regret was that he didn’t stay with the piano. Then he added, “I wish I had.”

Sweet Sixteen & More

Last night it was my pleasure to attend a meeting at which Lester Moore served as guest speaker. Mr. Moore has an impressive resume including more than a quarter of a century working in top-level senior management positions in middle market companies. But last night he spoke of his experience as president of the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie, Hawaii. He told of the history of the center, and of its missions to provide employment and scholarships for the students of BYU-Hawaii, to preserve the cultural identity of the Polynesian islands, and to share the spirit of fellowship and brotherly love with the peoples of the world. I’m making all this sound very dry, but his talk was anything but that. Brother Moore is a very talented story teller, and though his 30-minute talk nearly filled an hour, we could easily have listened twice as long as that.

Maple Chain

I’m in the mood for pasta today. It doesn’t matter if it’s Fettuccini Alfredo, Spaghetti Carbonara, Linguini with Clam Sauce, Pad Thai with Shrimp, Penne Pesto or plain old Macaroni and Cheese. There’s something so comforting about a big steaming bowl of noodles. 

Gemelli with Sausage

1 pound gemelli (penne works, too)

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 onion, thinly sliced

1 pound bulk-style Italian sausage (hot and spicy or sweet and mild)

1/2  teaspoon pepper flakes

2 cups spinach leaves, chopped

1 pint cherry, pear or grape tomatoes

Grated Parmesan

Cook pasta to al dente, drain. Lightly saute onions in olive oil in a heavy skillet. Add sausage and pepper and continue cooking until sausage is no longer pink. Add spinach and tomatoes and heat through. Stir in cooked pasta and serve immediately with grated cheese.

Happy Jack

Last weekend we dragged the tub of Halloween decorations in from the garage. It’s the first time these things have seen the light of day in four years. There wasn’t room in our Yorkshire home for holiday decorations, so this box was one of many that stayed in storage while we were away. Besides, the English don’t really celebrate Halloween. You might see some bat-shaped cookies for sale, or a group of small children going to a costume party, but otherwise the holiday goes unnoticed. Among the treasures we unearthed in our tub was Happy Jack, one of the first quilts I finished. It couldn’t be simpler: 12 4” squares of orange fabric, 20 4” squares in black, and 4 half-square triangles in black and orange. Piece them together and appliqué a black face and a green stem. So simple, I could probably whip up several in an afternoon. Now if I could only find a free afternoon. . .