Monday, December 28, 2009

Dragon Age Origins

Nothing has taken over my friends more in a single, sinister swipe than Dragon Age Origins. The game came out, and I literally lost contact with all my buddies. Games were cut short, conversations were distracted, and it was almost like stepping into one of these commercials.



Only everyone was talking about Dragon Age Origins.

Don't get me wrong, I'm a BioWare fan, and such fandom stretches back to watching friends play Baldur's Gate on a shitty TV in an equally – if not more so – shittier dormitory, brief flirtations with KOTOR, Neverwinter Nights, and Jade Empire, and then coming in late to class due to Mass Effect. So, I'm not a super fan in comparison to some, but I got enough love to become supremely (playfully) jealous of the hours my friends were clocking in while I was enslaved by a NaNo WriMo deadline. I guess I can't complain too much. I did get a novel out of that... one I haven't touched since, but anyway!



So, I impatiently watched all of my friends get laid, get loots, and get general auras of sheer pleasure just from talking about the game. Seriously, everyone was all a-glow. I didn't know whether to ask them how much they enjoyed their first kiss, or when the baby was fucking due. I needed to play this, it needed to happen, and the month just wasn't going by fast enough. Finally, I got my hands on Dragon Age Origins and let me tell you -

I had a great time.


Dragon Age Origins

What was so weird was that I approached the game exactly the same way I approached Mass Effect. There was a moment of hesitance, like the game had to court me to eventually play it full tilt, hours on hours, getting dehydrated, catheter, IV to supply nutrients, sponge baths, etc, the list goes on, so forth, all of which resulted in an ass only second to the ass I had at the end of Butt-Numb-A-Thon. Although a majority of my thoughts were favorable to picking this game up as soon as possible, I have to admit there was a shadow of a doubt. Cool. Mass Effect with swords and crossbows... whatever... and...?


All the big floppy teets I could ever hope for?

Who am I kidding? Dragon Age Origins is really its own game with the familiarities of a BioWare game you've come to expect. And it's not that half-handed new Harry Potter movie expectancy either, it's full on BioLove and believe me, the game will take care of you in many, many ways.


Unlike Harry Potter...

The learning curve to this game took me juuuust a minute. Had to hold my own in a couple fights, explore the inventory a little bit, make some poisons, make some potions, make some traps, only use the potions, etc. The radial menu operates differently from Mass Effect, with content usually varying from person-to-person, instead of everyone's talents/specializations condensed into one menu. BioWare has a lot of confidence in its players, they trust them with mechanics a bit complex to really digest right away (especially without the help of a solid tutorial), but once you get a handle on it, the pay off is an involving and intuitive combat. Sometimes I have some issue with games where one button is my key attack, but here in Dragon Age Origins you can assign multiple moves to two sets, and then access more of your abilities and specializations in the radial menu. I like that, and meeting this challenge is gratifying when you get the swing of things.


Get it? He's swinging the... and... ahem, right. Moving on.

The combat in this game, in my mind, does not top the combat in Mass Effect with the exception of your A.I. knowing which way to attack. That's a big fix that I am an even bigger fan of. Still, encounter areas, ambushes, charges, they're all fun to play, except that if one Darkspawn off in the great blue yonder gets a whiff of the fight, you'll remain locked in combat until the last SOB falls. This is a bit aggravating, but becomes less of a problem the more you level up. Your villains run the board between Darkspawn, bandits, assassins, and a very heavy metal looking Loghain. What they all have in common, beside an insatiable urge to kill you, is an extremely high blood pressure that will have you painted in so much blood by the end of the encounter you'll look like you just lived through the most epic fight ever with Jackson Pollock.


Jackson Pollock has one speed: blood.

Beyond the combat, the inevitable dungeon crawls are pretty generic, and the layout mediocre. However, the environment is taking a not-too-surprising backseat to all of the interaction, story elements, A.I., and combat which make up a bulk of the game. So, when you aren't spelunking through these dungeons, you head back to camp and engage in a social tug of war with your brothers and sisters at arms that will result in you either being ostracized or significantly laid. Now, I say significantly because about every sex scene you'll encounter in this game will see you re-enacting the intimacies of King Gerard Leonidas Butler and that British chick from Ripley's Game a la 300. Multiple positions, varying sexual tableaux and... by the way, and this is just something subtle I picked up along the way, if you're a chick anyone you do it with will pretty much guarantee you a one way trip to losing your butt-flower. I'm sure Leliana would have followed suit given the proper “accouterments”. All the while the music love child of Howard Shore and Enya lives, chanting you through what looks like an experience somewhere between awesome and freakay.



At least it gets switched up a lot, that's considerate.

It's hokey, but damn if it isn't really addicting. No, not the sex – there are groups for that which I know... er, am aware of – but the general interaction with your allies is really riveting, a perk I have come to expect from a BioWare game. There is real substance to these characters, and their histories are intriguing. Dialogue requires just as much strategy as your fights do. Since Mass Effect, the boys and girls in the conversation department have upped the challenge. You need to pay even closer attention to the characters around you, and you really do need to pace yourself in the decision making department because the whole game will ultimately be affected by even the smallest conclusions. Seriously, I put my controller down at one point and started actually weighing the pros and cons of a certain situation. I only ever do that – in real life – when something like a kidney has to be donated, or when a waiter peeks over his notepad and says: “Soup or salad?” The internal debate triggered is just that occupying!


VS!

… Do my priorities seem odd there? Hm.

Anyway, if you're a fan of BioWare, if you're a fan of fantasy, RPGs, and looking for a video game project to occupy your time for the next couple weeks, and then some if you're like me and are planning a second run through, pick this one up! I think it's a huge undertaking to make an RPG that has junkie-levels of replayability, but BioWare certainly makes it look easy thanks to their uncanny consistency. Mechanics are a bit wonk, and if BioWare ever broke that habit of making little to no tutorial the mechanics probably wouldn't come across as wonk, but there you have it. BioWare is very receptive to their audience, and have promised some changes for Mass Effect 2, but really are still very stubborn with certain functionality habits. Fine by me, I have yet to be disappointed by them.

P.S.

I played a Dalish rogue elf, and I named my Mabari wardog Oliver Reed.


Good boy! That's a good Oliver Reed!

Replayability 1
Design 1
Story 1
Sound 2
Gameplay & Mechanics 2
Score: 7 out of 10

An overall awesome presentation makes up for generic environments that could have been made a little more exotic. There is solid replayability, including a story and well-vocalized characters that will bring you back for more. Some mechanics were stronger than others – crafting vs. enchantment, potion and poison making vs. trap making, list goes on – which I wasn't the hugest fan of, but what the hey. These things are pretty minor in contrast to another major accomplishment on BioWare's part. Well done!


Stay tuned for the dish inspired by the game! Campfire stew, Mabari crunch, and maybe even a little bit of that good ole Lyrium.

Monday, December 21, 2009

Planet Cracker Fried Chicken

Phew! Looks like time got away from me again. And to think, this was supposed to be the month where everything returned to normal. Ha!

Yeah, Andy and I actually got into Butt-Numb-A-Thon so right after the NaNo WriMo/Thanksgiving whirlwind we needed to figure out how to get our butts down to Austin, TX so they would be thoroughly numbed. The event really was spectacular, and the people there were really amazing. Our row neighbors Chris and Cathie were absolutely fantastic, and hopefully I'll get to sit with them again in a year or so. Got to chug a beer with Broken Lizard, got to meet some new people, got to meet some of my favorite film critics out there like Massawyrm and Moriarty. My "Joy of Cooking" book even came along for the ride and picked up a few signatures, making it an odd grease and ink stained culinary yearbook object now.

The Alamo Draughthouse had the rafters shaking with films like Faust, The Lovely Bones, Girl Crazy, The Red Shoes, Shutter Island, Le Magnifique, MicMacs, Frozen, Centipede Horror*, Candy Snatchers, Kick-Ass, and Avatar. I tried some Arrogant Bastard beer (hoppy, and a punch to the mouth, worthy of its name), the night before I had Dr. Pepper ribs, I also had a Royale with Cheese and 5$ milkshake, not to mention some homemade granola and yogurt in the morning.

... I may or may not have stolen a copy of the Alamo's menu...

Now that we're back, a little holiday money goes a long way. I was really surprised I got to do this recipe so soon. I thought I was going to have to wait until after Christmas! Nope. I had a lot of help from a few of my friends who gave me tons of advice, recipes, and I would say general encouragement to keep me brave in the face of pan frying. I have tried pan frying before, and I have burned myself a lot trying to do it, and ruined my food before. So, needless to say, I was a bit... yeah, nervous works. After some research and a leap of faith, in honor of de-limbing Necromorphs in Dead Space, here is the recipe for...


Planet Cracker Fried Chicken

- Buttermilk (1/2 gallon)
I couldn't find anything smaller in my store, and if you can't then you'll definitely have some left over. That's okay! You can always use buttermilk to make some really yummy biscuits
- 1/4 Tbl. of ground thyme
- 1/2 Tbl. of cayenne pepper
- 1 tsp. of salt
- 1 tsp. of pepper
- 1/2 Tbl. of garlic powder
- 1/4 Tbl. of oregano
- About a cup of flour
- Canola oil

Start heating up your oil. You're going to want a wide pan with high sides, like a skillet. Put in about 1/8-1/2 inch of oil. Basically, the oil needs to come halfway up the chicken in the end. 1/2 inch worked fine for me. You want your oil at a temperature of 375 (F), and if you don't... have a thermometer, I found that the notch just below medium heat worked fine.

My poultry for this recipe consisted of thighs, wings, and legs. Soak these, or whatever bits you would like to use, in buttermilk for about half an hour, or even over night. When you are ready to cook, strain the chicken. Toss the chicken with all of the herbs mentioned above.



Set yourself up with about a cup of flour in a plastic bag. Deposit your chicken in the bag, make sure the tight is shut and shake 'em like a Polaroid picture.
(Dip in buttermilk and shake again for a thicker fry)



Your oil should be heated up enough by now. Put your thighs in the center, and place the other pieces around it. Cook for about 11-12 minutes on each side, and shoot for an internal temperature of about 165(F).

You'll want these pieces to rest for a bit once they're done. The big recommendation is to the let them cool on a rack over a pan for ten minutes. I do not have a cooling rack, nor a pan, so I took out one of my oven racks, and put it over a wide plate. I arranged my chicken over that, and let it rest for about ten minutes.



This meal was served with baby carrots, cut in half, boiled until tender, and then tossed with butter, honey, white pepper and salt. Also, using some buttermilk, I whipped up some mashed potatoes to go with it. I totally fucked up the gravy, but if you have some drippings and like/are better at playing chemistry than me, reserve this and the flour for gravy.




---
*I admittedly stepped outside for this movie. It was 3 a.m. and crisp outside, and the good company and cigarettes kept me up. I would have stayed, pushed through it, if the words "centipedes" "exploding" and "vagina" were not uttered in the same sentence.

Monday, November 23, 2009

I'm Doing Science and I'm Still Alive

Yep!

So, remember that whole going insane thing I mentioned a while back in accordance with the upcoming NaNo Wrimo? Yeah, that's definitely kicked in. What can I say? I thought I could juggle it, and I can't, but that's okay because I've written a shit load! I am happy to say that the project is going so well. It is looking like yours truly will be heading across the 50,000 word finish line at the end of the month.

I thought I'd take a moment and give you a sneak preview of stuff that's coming up here at Pixels and Pies. Come December, we should be returning to our regular gastronomic gaming schedule. There will finally be that recipe for fried chicken to follow up the Dead Space review, and from then on it's much more games and food...

Like:

Dragon Age
Left4Dead 2
Batman: Arkham Asylum
Mirror's Edge
The God of War Series
Assassin's Creed 2


And that's just to name a few. Maybe there will be a play on Mabari Crunch? Or perhaps even Left4Dead Stew? We shall see!

It's really great to even just get on here and post an update. I really like P&P, and it's nice to know there's a really supportive group at its back too. I really appreciate the comments, especially the ones I got with the Salt Dough recipe!

Things are going great on this end. Me and the boy are kicking it and gearing up for Thanksgiving. He's been awesome, and a great support through this whole NaNo WriMo thing. I really owe a lot to the guy, and I'm really lucky. Love you!

I can't wait to see my family up north. It has been way too long! We've got a big Thanksgiving feast planned, and there is no doubt that the pics and recipes will find their way here eventually.

So, from all of us - okay, me :) - here at Pixels and Pies have a very Happy Thanksgiving, and if you're stuck on something to make this year check this out!!

The Autumn Bread!

2 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbl. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 cups sugar
3/4 cup canola oil
3 large eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups shredded pumpkin
(can stuff works fine too if, you know, there isn't a pumpkin lying around)
1 1/2 cups shredded apple

Preheat your oven to 325 (F)

Sift the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, baking powder, and salt together.

In a separate bowl, mix the sugar, canola oil, eggs, and vanilla. Combine both mixtures and fold in the shredded pumpkin. Once the ingredients are all incorporated pour into a non-stick loaf pan.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes. Check with a knife, it should come out clean. Cool for fifteen minutes and turn onto a cooling rack or other non-stick surface.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Dead Space

In the age of dragons, and upcoming creeds of assassins, I’m jumping back a bit once more to try out a game that has piqued my interest since last year. The trailers for it were rad, the concept was interesting, and I was definitely in the mood for a shooter. At the time, however, I had moved to North Carolina and was living on my friend‘s couch. Money made at a deli was not about to afford any kind of new game, and anyway the money I was making was being put to the apartment I am not posting this from! So, obviously no hard feelings, Life. Anyway, I forgot about this game until it showed up on the GameFly queue, and next thing I knew, I was playing it. This terrifying nugget of a game that had me on the edge of my seat, occasionally screaming things like “Mother fuckerrrr!” at the screen as I rattled the right trigger to de-limb my horrible opponents, is none other than EA’s Dead Space.

And it’s time to turn the lights off.




When Dead Space came out, the adventures of protagonist Isaac Clarke swept the score boards, and pocketed some handsome rewards for atmosphere, sound, and sound editing. The game even enjoyed a spot as Game Informer’s “Game of the Month”. And why shouldn’t it? The game really is incredible, and my anticipation has been generously rewarded.


These glow sticks are really fucking up my peripherals.

The game starts with you, Isaac Clarke, en route to the USG Ishimura, a “Planet Cracker” (guess what that can do) that has sent out a distress signal. Your ship malfunctions, crashing you into the Ishimura’s landing dock. You venture out with your crew, and are separated after a surprise attack from creatures you will come know as Necromorphs. Two of your crew survive, Zach Hammond and Kendra Daniels, and make it to safety where they lend their vocal support and direction throughout the rest of the game. And, hey, if you don’t like their advice, there’s a device in-game that projects a light filament in the direction you need to go.


Don't turn around, 'cause you'll see my arm breaking. Don't turn around, I don't want you seein' me die-yiiiie.

This navigational device is extremely helpful, especially in a ship like the Ishimura. Every detail in this ship is considered, from the dust particles circulating in the stale air, to the large deck with the translucent dome lending you a view to the drifting asteroids outside. Another touch given to the horror of this ship is that occasionally you will encounter survivors. You wouldn’t know, considering most of them kill themselves in (slitting) terrible (their own) stomach-churning (throat) ways. One particular death was actually all my fault! I lived by the “double tap” rule in this game, and one corpse double tap resulted not in a squishy sound, but more like an agonized screaming sound...

My bad.

The ship is so remarkably grotesque and delightfully deteriorated that any chance of leaving it is “remorseful sigh” inducing. The game does not suffer design exhaustion when not centered on its infected, morbid ship. I mean, check this shit out.


This is the introduction, and it's just jaw-dropping.

Gameplay is pretty sweet, though it takes some getting used to. The camera also requires some adjustment. Once over these minor hurdles - and I do emphasize minor - the game has a smooth run, and the controls become intuitive, extremely automatic. Supplying you on this death march through Ishimura are crates and stores, these hubs that are located through the level where you can change your armor, making it the second coolest service booth costume change since Superman. You will also find “Power Nodes” throughout the game that grant you access into some pretty juicy caches, as well as level your weapons, RIG (suit), and other devices at “benches”, which are cool, digital workshops.


Join the Necromorphs, where humans are just a slurp away!

The gadgets in this game are pretty sweet. I did not get a chance to use all of them, mainly because I tried to run through half of the game with just my initial gun. What? It was sweet. I was happy just relying on that. Okay, some people have mastered the art of only utilizing their plasma cutter - as it’s called - but my main weapons of choice in the game went on to also include the line gun (a wide beam of concentrated energy), a pulse rifle, and a force gun (much like a shotgun). You also have at your disposal a stasis engine, which can slow down your enemies or other obstructions such as a quickly-shutting malfunctioning door, or a spinning ventilation fan that can slice you in half. Also in this nest of technological pr0n is a kinesis module, which is basically like the gravity gun from Half Life 2. You pick shit up, you throw shit around, and it’s especially great when sensitive explosives (aka ammo-savers) are around.


When you are cooking with high heat be sure the heat is being directed at your food, and that you wear protective pot holders on your hands, and top of the line RIGs on your body.

You need every round you can get, because once you’re out you have only your stompin’ foot and pistol whippin’ (making Isaac ‘OG of the Month’ in my opinion). Where there is a primal satisfaction to bringing down a Necromorph with your bare fucking hands - see? - it’s definitely not easy, and opens you up to getting assaulted by any other given strain of Necromorph. The Necromorphs are creepy, and assault you with long limbs, and in some case razor-tipped tentacles, and in other instances a powerful, pointed tail. It’s easy to draw the zombie comparison to these creatures, but the game will violently and swiftly punish you for headshots. They are gruesome, disturbing, and in this respect they are perfectly designed foes. My favorite creatures were the Necromorph babies, which crawled around on all fours, sprouted tentacles, and could take you down with some acid spit, or by suffocating you.


Babies demand time, attention, and most importantly - floor spikes if you can ever rip their greedy tentacles from around your neck.

By the way, if you pick this game up, let yourself get killed once and a while. The developers put a lot of time into these grizzly ends, mainly to elicit the kind of giggles you tittered when you first played Mortal Kombat.

For example.


Send this to your local Joe Lieberman to induce brick shitting!

While we’re on the topic of allusions, I have to admit I think the Half Life fans would really dig this game. There is total player immersion, as in Isaac does not react vocally save for gasping for air in the vacuum of space and grunting with effort as he dispatches Necromorphs. This really lets you relate to the character. I always saw Gordon Freeman as a Rorschach test of video games, where his actions, performance, and mere existence are interpretted and lived by the players themselves in an altogether semi-conscious, semi-unconscious way. In this respect, Isaac is no different. The kinesis module is - whether intentional or not - a sophisticated nod to the famous Gravity Gun, much the same way I felt the wrench in BioShock was a nod to the crowbar. The cut scenes are all in game, the atmosphere is so tangible, and survival is your bread and butter.

Replayability 1
Design 2
Story 1
Sound 2
Gameplay & Mechanics 2
Score: 8 out of 10



Sure the controls take a minute, so does the camera, and the story is a bit hazy, but in no time the gameplay is intuitive, and the story can be looked up later when you aren‘t trying to save your ass. The replay value is there, especially if you stay tuned after the credits. What can I say? “Impossible” mode is pretty tempting, considering all the goodies you get. For fans of shooters, sci-fi horror, and… aw hell, games, I recommend this without a second doubt.

Coming up! The dish inspired by the game - Fried Chicken!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Chicken in 40 Cloves

This dish was so much fun. The garlic assault also felt strangely appropriate as a Halloween meal this year. This dish is awesome, because not only do you get juicy, fall-off-the-bone chicken, you also get a jar's worth of garlic oil. Yum!



Chicken in 40 Cloves
1 Chicken, divided
(8 pieces; 2 thighs, 2 breasts, 2 wings, 2 legs)
40 cloves garlic, peeled
10 Sprigs of Thyme
Kosher Salt (about 2 Tbl.)
Ground Pepper (also about 2 Tbl.)
2 Tbl. & 1/2 Cup of Olive Oil
(try to avoid that E.V.O.O. that Rachael Rae likes so much... no relation)
2 Tbl. Lemon Juice (optional)

My mom taught me a great trick when it comes to seasoning. Whenever she makes brisket at home, she will toss the meat in a plastic bag with flour, paprika, salt, and pepper. It's a great way to get an even coat that also saves you time, and mess

So, get your chicken parts, put them in plastic bag. Season with salt and pepper, and then toss with olive oil. Make sure you keep the bag shut, or you know, chicken juice and olive oil will fly!

Heat a pan over medium heat. You want to get a deep pan that can also withstand that heat of the oven for some time. That reminds me! Preheat your oven to 350 (F).



Sear all the chicken pieces, and then remove from the heat. Add the 1/2 Cup of Olive Oil, garlic cloves, and sprigs of thyme.



(PSST! For another layer of flavor, add 2 Tbl. of lemon juice!)

Covering and slide the pan into the oven to cook for 1 1/2 hours. Once the time is up, remove and let sit for 10 minutes.

Preserve that excellent oil by canning or bottling it. Another tip I have is to use the bigger pieces of garlic when picking your 40 cloves from the bulb. The smaller cloves are much more potent than the big ones, which provide a subtler flavor. The garlic, at this point, is so soft and tender that you can literally spread it like butter on a piece of bread. You can also brush pieces of bread with the oil and bake at 350(F) for 10-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown. I also topped a few pieces with fresh mozzarella cheese - very yummy!



Still working through Dead Space, which should have a review up some time this week. Have a good one!

Monday, October 26, 2009

Pause

Well, Dead Space didn't wrap up as quickly as I would have liked. A busy week combined with a busy weekend made the game difficult to plow through as I would have wanted. Hey, I could still post a review, but the last time I did that with a certain game I just felt dirty.



... Not that dirty, guys. :/

I will say this for Dead Space. I should have played it a lot sooner. I am getting a hell of a ride from this game. Nothing negative to really report in with. The game recalls the atmosphere and frights of one particular game for me, that being Resident Evil 2. In fact, a lot of what I feel has gone missing from the Resident Evil games has turned up here in Dead Space.



It's scaring the tar out of me, but the game play is solid, the look of the game is stunning, and the story? Well, it's not amazing, but there is a classic hook that has me by the nose. In sci-fi thrillers that take place in space, on a vast ship, the society changes. The dynamic is not the same as it was on Earth. Sure, there are ways society is maintained, such as necessary on-board green houses and then not-so-necessary posters, stores, and entertainments.

So, boom, you have your mini-society. What I love about sci-fi, in this setting, is watching the "society" fall apart, and eventually cave in. You show up, in Dead Space, after this decay. Granted, the crucible to this is when an alien artifact is brought on board. As you discover journal entries, audio logs, and visual feeds regarding the ship, it becomes clear that even without the giant mass of WTF mass... well, this ship was fucked from the get go.



Enough of that for now, though! I usually put the upcoming food event after my review, and since I don't have a review, I won't be an asshole and hold off on the meal. In the game, in order to kill your assorted baddies, you have to sever their limbs. In fact, you are punished quite violently if you do manage to pull of a head-shot. So, with this school of though in mind, I will be cooking my first bucket of fried chicken using the wings, the legs, and the thighs. Have to hand it to Andy on this one, I really like the idea, and I really like fried chicken, so this works out.



The posting may become a bit sporadic. This year I am participating in the National Novel Writing Month. I have until the end of November to write a 75 page (or 50,000 word) story. I'm sure I'll be fine.



Not crazy... at all.

After that, I will edit, make it pretty, and send it off into the world.

You can learn more about NaNo WriMo here! http://www.nanowrimo.org/
And you can start following my story, The Anchoress, here! http://thenanoanchoress.blogspot.com/

Nothing is up yet story-wise on The Anchoress, but there will be on Nov. 1st!

Can I make up a lack of review with a wonderful spicy pomegranate sauce and my mom's famous banana bread? Hmm?

Spicy Pomegranate Chipotle Sauce
(Makes About 2 Cups)



1 Pomegranate (cleaned!)
2 Chipotle Peppers
2 Cloves of Garlic
Pinch of Fresh Thyme
Pinch of Salt, Crank of Pepper
1/4 cup Olive Oil
(it's okay if you go over this a bit, just don't drown out your pomegranate and chipotle!)

Start by cleaning your pomegranate. Cut off the top of pomegranate as you would when preparing an onion, or a tomatoes. You'll find the red bulbs inside divided by thin waxy walls, literally providing you with 6-8 wedges. Use these partitions as a guide, and start cutting out your wedges. Shed the red bulbs in a bowl of water. Don't worry if you get some waxy bits in there, they'll float to the top for easy remove. Drain!

Throw your pomegranate bulbs into a blender with two chipotle peppers and two peeled cloves of garlic. Add the thyme, the salt, and the pepper.

As you blend all of these, start adding your olive oil slowly. By introducing it gradually, you encourage a smooth, very consistent sauce.

Great for marinating, also works as a sauce, and salad dressing (vinegar optional, but if you do go with it, maybe do about a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar).

Mom's Famous Banana Bread

It's been in the family for a long time. It's super moist, and it's really easy to swap out these ingredients if you don't like them, or if you want to add something different.
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup granulated sugar
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3 bananas)
1/4 cup plain low-fat yogurt
3 Tbl. apple cider
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
Cooking spray
(if you don't have cooking spray, grease your pan with butter or shortening)

Preheat oven to 350 (F).

Lightly spoon the flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt, stirring with a whisk to combine.

Place granulated sugar and butter in a large bowl; beat with a mixer at medium speed until well blended (about 1 minute). Add the eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Add banana, yogurt, rum, and vanilla; beat until blended. Add flour mixture; beat at low speed just until moist. Stir in 1/2 cup coconut. Spoon batter into a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan coated with cooking spray; sprinkle with 1 tablespoon coconut. Bake at 350 (F) for 1 hour or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan on a wire rack; remove from pan. Combine powdered sugar and juice, stirring with a whisk; drizzle over warm bread. Cool bread completely on wire rack.

That's it for now! Stay tuned for Dead Space and fried chicken.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Beef Eye of Round Salt Dough

It is no secret how much I love food... especially considering I keep a blog that is mostly devoted to loving it, making it, eating up every last crumb of it. There is not just an art to food, there is a science, or as Alton Brown would say: "There's a lesson here". I am an avid follower of Good Eats. Not only are the recipes innovative, but the history and science behind key ingredients is engaging. Also, the show is pretty funny, lively, and energetic, something you don't really get with every cooking show. Then again, that was the point. Alton Brown wanted to make the cooking show appealing, and this was made possible by his own original recipe: 1 part Julia Child, 1 part Mr. Wizard, and 1 part Monty Python.


"I kept thinking, 'Somebody has to make a food show that is actually educational and entertaining at the same time... a show that got down to the 'why things happen.' Plus, I hated my job - I didn't think it was very worthwhile."

This year, Alton Brown and the Food Network celebrated Good Eats's 10 Year Anniversary, and I thought I would pay tribute with his Beef Tenderloin Salt Dough recipe on P&P. Not only did the recipe fit perfectly with Halo 3: ODST, but it would be a great way to show my appreciate for one of my favorite chefs.

Have a happy one, Alton Brown!

Enough gushing. Enough of that. Let's get down to business. Below is the recipe (along with another recipe for an optional creamy side!) for my own take on the Beef Tenderloin Salt Dough. Now, since a true-blue beef tenderloin cost $85.00, I decided to substitute the tenderloin with an eye of round instead. It's cheaper, and as I would soon discover, not lacking in deliciousness. Changes made in the recipe are noted below. Other than that, the recipe you have here is strictly Alton's.

The dish is inspired by this!


The H.E.V is the transport for all ODST. So, if the dough is the H.E.V then that makes the meat the... uh-oh. I've served with you, Rookie, but now I get to serve you! Mwhahahaha!

Beef Eye of Round Salt Dough H.E.V



* 5 cups all-purpose flour
* 3 cups kosher salt
* 3 tablespoons fresh ground black pepper
* 5 egg whites
* 1 1/2 cups water
* 1/2 cup chopped fresh herbs (parsley, thyme, and/or sage)
* 1 (5 lb) Eye of Round Beef
(or a 6-7 lb Beef Tenderloin)
* 1 tablespoon olive oil

Directions

Place the flour, salt and pepper in a large mixing bowl.

**Hold on, hold on. Okay, I cannot stress this enough. Use. Kosher. Salt. If you use table salt, you will have a bitter, horrible meat.**

In another bowl, whisk the egg whites and water and add to the dry ingredients along with 2 tablespoons of the herbs. Combine with a potato masher until the mixture begins to come together.



Then knead with your hands for 1 to 2 minutes. Transfer the mixture to a large zip-top bag, seal, and let stand at room temperature for 4 hours, or up to 24 hours.



Transfer dough to a floured surface and roll out to 3/16-inch thickness, approximately a 24 by 18-inch rectangle. It doesn't have to be exact, just enough to wrap around the meat, and make sure that surface is floured or you'll lose dough! Trim away extra dough, if necessary. Sprinkle the remaining herbs on the center section of the dough and gently press down.



Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

**If you are working with BEEF TENDERLOIN, you big spender, you'll want to pay attention to this next bit!**

In order to achieve uniform cooking, fold over slender tail end of tenderloin and tie with kitchen twine.
**Okay, you got that? Moving right along!**

Set a large electric griddle at its highest setting; brush the meat with the olive oil and sear on all sides until well browned, approximately 10 minutes. Rest the meat for at least 5 minutes or until it is cool to the touch so as not to melt the dough.

Place the meat in the center of the dough. Fold top part of dough over, flipping back about 1-inch of dough onto itself. Repeat with the bottom half of the dough. Press together the 2 flaps of dough and seal. Make sure the dough is not too tight around the meat. At the ends of the meat, press together dough to form a seal and cut away any excess.


The... nerdy molding into the shape of an H.E.V (complete with hatch!) is optional in this surprisingly sober induced decision.

**'Scuse me, pardon me. Just one quick thing here. With that excess dough? Yeah, hold onto that to repair breaks in the dough around the meat should you happen to find any. I also made an extra bed of salt dough on the sheet pan in case there were any breaks beneath the eye of round**



Transfer to a sheet pan, place in the oven and roast to an internal temperature of 125 degrees F, approximately 25 to 30 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 30 minutes or up to 1 hour.


Seriously. Invest in a meat thermometer. I am very glad I did. You have to trust the food here. It will definitely cook! So don't fuck with it, believe in yourself and the recipe, and you'll do fine. If you get really nervous though, check it with the meat thermometer.

The meat will continue to cook 10 to 15 degrees more. Cut salt crust at 1 end and extract meat by pulling out of dough tube. Slice and serve immediately.





All right. That was Alton's recipe. He - and I - would recommend not eating the dough unless you like recreating that moment when you're swimming at the beach and catch a mouthful of ocean. Toss it, or compost heap it.

Broccoli Au Gratin

This dish is easy and so yummy. Cooking anything "au gratin" usually involves a brown crust achieved by broiling breadcrumbs and cheese, or butter and egg. You can also slow cook it, and finish it under the broiler. I made this dish way before I needed it, stored it in the fridge, and then brought it back to life in the oven as the meat finished cooking in the dough on the counter.

1/2 cup of broccoli
1/2 cup of water
1/4 tsp. of sugar
2 Tbl. butter
2 Tbl. flour
1/2 cup of milk
2 Tbl. olive oil
(you can also use melted butter)
2 Tbl. Panko breadcrumbs
(though any breadcrumbs will do)
1 Tbl. Parmesan cheese

Trim your broccoli and put into a pot of water with the sugar. Bring to a boil, covered, and then reduce the heat. Cook the broccoli for about five minutes, or until it is bright green and tender. Drain, and set aside in a shallow cooking dish.



In a pan, melt the butter over medium heat, and add the flour after a complete melt. Mix until smooth, and slowly add the milk. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently until thickened. This will take roughly 2 minutes.

Remove from heat, adding a little olive oil (not the 2 Tbl. spoons) if the mixture looks very thick. We're going for a sauce here.

Pour the sauce of the broccoli. Mix breadcrumbs and olive oil (or melted butter) before sprinkling over the top of the broccoli. Also add the Parmesan for an even coat.

Cook in the oven at 350(F) for 30 minutes, and snap the boiler on if you don't have that brown crust you like. Keep an eye on it though, or the boiler will leave you with a black crust, and that is definitely not tasty. Hey, I like a little char on my food sometimes, but not in this case.

Bon App!



Stay tuned next week for a review of Dead Space.

Monday, October 12, 2009

Halo 3: ODST

Countdown.
Whoa! Hey, hey, hey - you're not going to puke in your helmet, are you? Lots of rookies do that. Think of it as... an extra RTE - HA! Okay, listen up because it's pretty easy to lose your head on the first drop. There'll be something like a hiss. Now, that's the hydraulics of the HEV and the shoot. After that, we're going to drop you out into the kind of height that skirts the edge of thin atmosphere and endless space. You look a little green...
3.
You will hit your mark. There is no such thing as “close enough”.
2.
If the crossfire does not nail you as you pierce the miles to earth, the snarling Brute behind the Carbine rifle aimed on you will. So, don't get all proud on me, you hear?
1.
Take a deep breath, hell jumper, you're an ODST now! Happy landing!



Did I leave... the gas on?

Halo 3: ODST
is a charming pet project by the makers of this little under the radar franchise you may or may not have heard of known as the Halo Series. The series has done pretty well for itself, and even secured a movie deal with the help of this guy!



Recognize him? He's the one with the pet T-Rex that ate Michel Ancel in the last installment of Pixels and Pies. Poor, poor little French man. Anyway, the project fell through, which was a bummer especially after seeing how excited the Bungie staff became on a tour of the WETA workshop where items like the classic Magnum and the Worthog were at their disposal. With a large window now open to them until their next project – Halo: Reach – Joseph Staten and his team found themselves with a lot of spare time. Thus, ODST.


(l to r) Adam Baldwin as "Dutch" and Alan Tudyk as "Mickey". A moment of brotherly love.

The ODST have been fan favorites for years, proving to be as popular with them as the Master Chief is with his own fan base. Although a video game never seemed obvious, at least from my perspective, the promise of ODST on store shelves was not only enticing, but also completely natural.

So, you start the game as the Rookie, the newest, quietest member of a ragtag ODST troop. You serve with Buck, Mickey, Dutch, and Romeo. The team is a typical ODST team, very verbal and tightly knit, which works because they are supposed to contrast the silent, stolid Master Chief. Anyway, this group of bro-mancers are shaken up when their team is put in the hands of new management – Veronica Dare. She also happens to be Buck's ex-honey. She also happens to be on a super, duper, maxi, ultimate secret mission! Before you can really get into any of that, you are in your HEV, and being launched through an aerial battle to the African streets below.

But, of course, it all goes horribly wrong, and you get knocked off course, and completely separated from your squad. No problem! Now, you have a game to play.



The game itself is an interesting idea that centers around the Rookie before veering off at the very end to pay more attention to the flat and uninteresting Veronica and Buck. This is a shame because I feel like ending the game on these two really cheapens the Rookie's place in the game as our protagonist. It's a shaky ground. With the exception of Veronica, you play as all of these characters too. I still feel like the Rookie is the main guy, considering the other characters have their story told through flashbacks triggered by the Rookie when he finds items coordinating to the other characters.


(l to r) Nathan Fillion plays "Buck" and Tricia Helfer plays "Dare"... two characters with nothing but love for each other and random acts of pettiness.

Tangent over! The interesting idea I began on up there sees the Halo universe in another light: the dim light of a film noir. Within the execution of a detective story, the Rookie works to solve the mystery of his missing team mates all the while accompanied by a jazzy, dark score that feels like it was written by a pair of venetian blinds, a stick of bright red lipstick, and a smoking cigarette. As the Rookie navigates through the beautifully rendered and realized New Mombasa, he is brought face-to-face with the enemy. You can decide to engage or avoid them at your discretion. Considering the flashbacks involve the rest of the ODST team in typical Halo combat, it seems the formula that was attempted here was the theme of a stealthy mystery game, cut with the gameplay you have come to know and love (or hate) from the Halo franchise.



However, you are not rolling with Master Chief these days in ODST. Before you can meet up with your team, fantastically characterized by the boys of "Firefly", you are relying on a 3D rendered map of the city that now replaces the HUD so common in the Halo games. Also, you have the option of switching over to night vision, which will enhance objects in a yellow highlight, and the bad guys are red. You have some new weapons, a new shield to consider, and for the first time ever - health packs!



As beautiful as New Mombasa is, the fighting arenas within it can become somewhat repetitive. There are places where the streets converge on a concrete oasis, and that's usually where you'll find your Convenant waiting for the bus... or to kill you. Either one. When there are patrols marching the streets, there is an element of excitement to that, but these patrols were rare, with the Oasis Teams winning the majority of conflict areas. You could usually expect the same numbers as well. So, these became predictable, and there were even periods with little to no fighting. As this gripe pertains mostly to the night levels with the Rookie's... when most Covenant are probably resting or something, I suppose the point is moot on a logistical level. On a technical level I would like to fend off more Covenant. Not just at the end, game!

... Though that was pretty sweet.


Wee!

There was an interesting concept with the city in that it served as a guide for the Rookie. Signs indicating "Detour", "Keep Left", and "Dead End" are supposed to be a signal to the players of conflict or destination. There are also small audio files you can find around the city that put together a story about a girl who has also picked up on the city's urban lingo. The idea of the city itself trying to help you is a really cool one, but done a little too subtly to fully appreciate right away.

Eventually, the concept of Halo 3: ODST wears off on me. I had this problem in the last two Halo games as well. The universe is appealing to me, I really am drawn into the stories and backgrounds of the good and evil in it, but there is something extremely repetitive that kicks in about five hours into a Halo game. I'm usually repaid by a cut-scene full of plot that encourages me to grind through the next level to find out what happens next. Luckily for me and the game, when I'm about to hit my stopping point... it ends!


Zzzzz... wake me up when the exposition is over.

This one wraps up in about... 10 minutes, so it's short and sweet. Playing the game on-line - especially in Firefight! - is an added plus. Also, the Bungie team includes a Halo 3 multiplayer disc that has all the updated maps as a consolation prize. So, even if you don't like the game, you can take out your aggression on ten-year-old prodigies in Sweden, and teabag till the Covenant come home.


Look out, Red! It's one of those chupa-thingies!"

Replayability: 1

Story: 1

Sound: 2

Design: 2

Game Play/Mechanics: 1

SCORE: 7 out of 10

It's definitely worth checking out, but with little replay value, it only serves as an interesting peak at the lives of the ODST and a fun fan service. Hey, at least you get access to Halo 3 multiplayer without having to pick up Halo 3, as well as Firefight.

Stay tuned for the dish inspired by the game - Beef Tenderloin cooked in a Salt Dough HEV!