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[Cillaliz]

I think my arteries are clogging just from reading the recipe!

[TCB]

DR TCB, how do you do your layered Mac and Cheese? Just noodles and cheese?

Actually, don't listen to me, I defer to Jose for anything to do with food.  Although I do lke mine.

[Cason]

Well, back from our opening night - and a nice apres-theatre snack with DR Elmo and his friend Matthew.  

Opening night was sold out (we had taken out a row of chairs to accommodate our floor mics, but ended up putting them back in).  We were running about 10 minutes behind, as our audience was still filing in.  The audience seemed to really like it - but I noticed the laughs didn't come as easily as some places had in LA (obviously, we aren't performing in a bar...) - but the crowd did get more of the literary humor.  

All in all, I think we made a good impression - Elmo wasn't a fan (I'm sure he'll have more) - but the cast still needs to realize that they don't have mics taped to their faces anymore and can't belt out everything, especially not over people's solos.  If the audience can't hear the lyrics, this show is lost.

Being backstage as the "running crew" (I ran the fog machine and helped with a couple of wayward costume changes), I have to say that actors have no idea what the crew does for them.  Lots of diva-ish and ego-induced energy floating around this evening, which I really have never been a big proponent of...

Yet, I better hop into bed, as we have a noon show tomorrow and I'm playing the lawyer (one of Elmo's favorite bits tonight).

[Cillaliz]

I spy DRs Elmore and Cason

[JoseSPiano]

-The inclusion of Velveeta among the cheeses, although, "traditional", seems out of place among all the other cheeses.  I'd rather add some American Cheese, some more cheddar and a heavy dash of salt.  

[Cillaliz]

Thanks!   I will experiment tomorrow

[Cillaliz]

I think I'll keep it simple, the half and half and all the butter etc is a little richer than I like.

[JoseSPiano]

And in the interest of "Equal Time"

Basic Layered Macaroni & Cheese

8 oz. elbow macaroni
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
salt
pepper
2 cups milk (approx)

Cook macaroni till tender. Drain.
Alternate layers of macaroni and cheese in a shallow 2 qt baking dish.
End with cheese.
Pour milk over almost to cover.

Bake 350 for 1 hour.

[Miss Karen]

Being backstage as the "running crew" (I ran the fog machine and helped with a couple of wayward costume changes), I have to say that actors have no idea what the crew does for them.  Lots of diva-ish and ego-induced energy floating around this evening, which I really have never been a big proponent of...

That's my boy! Be nice to the crew -- a show can't go on without them!

[JoseSPiano]

Or here is something closer to what I've come across at many a "covered dish" potluck:

8 ounces elbow macaroni
1 to 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese
3 tablespoons butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 cup milk
1 egg
1/2 cup buttered bread crumbs

Boil macaroni in salted water, following package directions. Drain under running cold water. Cover bottom of a 2-quart baking dish with layer of macaroni, a layer of cheese, bits of butter, salt and pepper.

Continue layers until all ingredients are used, ending with a cheese layer.

Whisk milk and egg together, pour over the top, cover with buttered bread crumbs, and bake in a 350° oven for 25 to 35 minutes, until browned and cooked through.
Serves 4 to 6.

[Cillaliz]

And in the interest of "Equal Time"

Basic Layered Macaroni & Cheese

8 oz. elbow macaroni
1 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
salt
pepper
2 cups milk (approx)

Cook macaroni till tender. Drain.
Alternate layers of macaroni and cheese in a shallow 2 qt baking dish.
End with cheese.
Pour milk over almost to cover.

Bake 350 for 1 hour.

 

[elmore3003]

DR Jose, the show is BUKOWSICAL! with an exclamation point, according to the cover of the playbill, and on the back cover is the website www.bukowsical.com; I don't see a Bukowskical anywhere in sight.  

If you want to hear a lot of songs giving you rhymes to words such as
clit
tit
shit
fuck
suck
and so on, and if you could actually hear the lyrics, you might enjoy the show.  I wanted to like it.

I did not.

It felt like a MAD Magazine sketch that outstayed its welcome and I thought the staging either really good or really sloppy.  There was a funny song extolling LA since it's common knowledge that Los Angelenos can't do musicals and it was one generating no rhymes on the above-mentioned words.  I think the friends and families of the writers and the cast loved it.  Maybe, if it had kept its barroom staging and I were drunk, I'd laugh my ass off.  There might have been a rhyme for "ass" that I missed.  It was hard to hear, the space is crap and there are huge poles blocking the view.

I loved my time with Cason, Matthew, DR Julie (surprise!) and my friend Andy who showed up.  Before and after Bukowsical!

[JoseSPiano]

Then there are all the variations:

Polka Dot Mac & Cheese - Top with Pepperoni Slices during the last 15-20 minutes of baking time.

Ham & Mac & Cheese - Stir in a cup of diced ham chunks before baking.

Mexican Mac & Cheese - Stir in a cup of salsa and/or a can of Ro-Tel and/or a can of Diced Green Chiles before baking, plus some chili powder.

Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese - Brown a 1/2 to 1 pound of ground beef, and stir in before baking.

Philly Mac & Cheese - Saute some onions (and peppers (green and/or red)) along with some ground beef, then add to the dish before baking.

Etc., etc., etc.

*And if you want a truly decadent "Italian" style:

In place of the cheese sauce, just use 16 oz. of Marscapone Cheese, and add some Parmesan Cheese.  Usually, the heat from the macaroni will be enough to melt the cheese - which is basically heavy-heavy cream.

[Cillaliz]

LOL, Thanks Jose.

[JoseSPiano]

Well...

Bukowskical!

Bukowskical!

Bukowskical!/Bukowsical!

[JoseSPiano]

LOL, Thanks Jose.

You're welcome, DR Cillaliz.

[JoseSPiano]

And then, of course, for day old Mac & Cheese... There's always the deep-fried route.    Courtesy of Alton Brown.

Leftover baked macaroni and cheese, refrigerated for at least overnight
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon cayenne
1 egg beaten with 2 ounces water
1 cup panko bread crumbs
Oil for deep frying, preheated to 375 degrees

Cut refrigerated macaroni and cheese into slices or bite size pieces.

Season the flour with salt, pepper and cayenne. Dredge each piece through the flour and gently tap off excess. Dip in the egg wash and then coat with the bread crumbs.
Allow them to rest for 5 minutes so the crust can set.

Very carefully drop into the oil and fry until golden brown. Remove to a baking sheet fitted with a rack and rest for 2 minutes before serving.

[bk]

It's easy to get laughs from friends and family and loud drunkards in LA - the trick is to get them from the regular folks.  I saw Bukowsical here in LA and its pre-bar incarnation.  I told its composer that while I thought some of it was funny, it went on too long and I found its smug, superior attitude a little wearying.  When I helped them with casting and other stuff, they solicited my opinion, and I gave it to them - it doesn't sound like they addressed any of it, and I even sensed then that they didn't really want to hear it.   It does sound, from what I understand, perfect for the Fringe, which does tend to respond to that sort of material.  It's not that the authors aren't talented, they are, but when I saw it it just wasn't the sort of thing I respond to, although I like a good revue as much as anyone.  

Wishing Cason many not-literal break-a-legs for tomorrow's show.  Of course, we'd all love to know who the divas are, although I pretty much can guess at least one of them.

[bk]

I have yet another headache, so I'm done watching DVDs, and the one I watched was the longest eighty minutes I've ever spent watching a film.  It's certainly an odd film, but boy.

[Cillaliz]

DR Jose, I think you should be The Next Food Network Star. You would be fabulous....of course Broadway may not be able to get along without you

[Cillaliz]

VIBES FOR A PAINFREE HEAD AND A RESTFUL NIGHT SLEEP TO BK~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[JoseSPiano]

DR Jose, I think you should be The Next Food Network Star. You would be fabulous....of course Broadway may not be able to get along without you

Hmm... So what would should I call my TV show then?

"Cooking From The Pit"

"Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Carbs But Were Afraid To Ask"

"The Keys To Cooking"

"Hot Notes, Hot Food"

"Bach, Beethoven and Bechamel"

"2 Hands, 1 Skillet"

And, of course:
"Blame Jose... For My Waistline"

[MBarnum]

I think the Bollywood movie I am watching is some sort of Hindi remake of ANATAMY OF A MURDER or some such thing...it is quite good, but I will finish it tomorrow a I am headed to bed to read some more of the new bio of Barbara Payton, which I am loving...this author really, really did his research!

[MBarnum]

Mac and Cheese does terrible things to my  blood sugar....but you guys are just making me so want to munch on some!!!!!!!!!

[MBarnum]

...but I will refrain and instead will eat a bowl of puffed wheat and non-fat milk.

Sigh. It just isn't the same.

[JoseSPiano]

...but I will refrain and instead will eat a bowl of puffed wheat and non-fat milk.

Sigh. It just isn't the same.

Well, you can always make Mac & Cheese with Whole Wheat Pasta and Low- or Non-Fat Cheese and Skim Milk.

Or not.  

[JoseSPiano]

OK... I need to get to bed.  Or at least try to get to bed.  I'm back on Key 3 for tomorrow's matinee of ACL, which, thankfully, is not until 3:00.  However, like last week, I then have a string of 10-6 days.  And since I've been sleeping until Noon the past couple of days, well...

Goodnight.

[bk]

I'm being lazy and nosing around the Internet mindlessly.

[FJL]

I submitted my trivia guesses.  

[FJL]

And they may only be guesses.