A-Camping We Will Go

We are about to embark on our annual camping trip to Sleeping Bear Dunes, this time with a two-day layover in beautiful Northport, Michigan at the vacation home of our friends Ann and Kevin. Ann and I met in high school, but that didn't stop us from becoming very good friends when we grew up. Ann (who I will now call "Laughing in Livonia") was also my very first follower of this blog and therefore has earned the honor of being my first guest chef. More on that on Wednesday when we return home, because you see, this is our once a year chance to go off the grid and there is a total ban on electronic devices. No exceptions, not even for Alice. So, use this time to catch up on or to reread your favorite posts. Think of it as summer reruns.

Episode Note: "A-Camping We Will Go"  Early in the first season, Mike and Carol are still struggling to bring the family together and think taking the girls along on  the boys annual camping trip is the perfect way for them to bond. The problem is, the girls don't want to go and the boys want them to stay home. So, camping they go. Disaster first strikes when the girls ruin the fishing, by being too "girlie" and there is nothing for Alice to fry up for dinner. As luck would have it, the girls packed a picnic basket full of fried chicken and cold cuts for just such an emergency. The boys reluctantly partake, but are still not sold on the idea of girls at a camp out. Things don't get much better at night, when the girls are spooked by every little noise they hear, and then successfully scare the boys into thinking there is a bear in their midst. The family comes together, literally, when the boys invade and knock down the girls tent as payback. Ah, the great outdoors. Keep Manhattan, just give me that countryside...

Peter's Party Pizza

I will admit to not making my own pizza dough. Alice suggests it, I've done it, but it was just easier today to buy the dough at Trader Joe's. The problem with homemade pizza anyway is that very few people have a pizza oven in their home, which is an essential tool, so it never comes out quite right. That said, we topped ours with ham, pepperoni and mushrooms, oh and tons of mozzarella - because enough cheese can cover any cooking foible. And, as a follower recently pointed out, lots of red wine (with it, not on it).

Episode Note: "Peter and the Wolf" Greg's date cancels on him when her cousin comes into town. Wanting to salvage the date but unable to get one of his friends to do it, Greg convinces Peter to double date with him. Introducing him as Phil Packer, Peter dons a cheesy (no pun intended) mustache and tries to act like an older guy. The foursome go to an Italian restaurant, where the girls quickly catch on to the ruse. They begin to plot their revenge on the boys by fawning over Peter, just as Mike and Carol enter the restaurant with Mike's conservative new client and his wife (Jan and Marcia recommended the place as the 'best pizza in town'). Mike's client is disgusted by the kid's PDA, Greg and Peter are surprised to see their parents, Mike and Carol are mortified by their offspring, and the dates are embarrassed to be seen with two dopes. Mamma Mia!

Incident at Vermicelli with Chicken and Roasted Peppers

Chicken, red and green peppers, pasta, tomato paste, heavy cream, oh wait, it's back. I knew it was too good to last. Anyway, a creamy, tomatoey, peppery sauce with chicken, tossed with vermicelli. There were no incidents or accidents in the preparation, just too little direction from Alice, but this I have learned to maneuver. Suprisingly enough, it actually tasted better than the three car pile up it looked like.

Episode Note: "The Fender Benders" (again showing up on the DVR just when we needed it) Carol is in a minor car accident with Mr. Duggan (played by Jackie Coogan, TV's Uncle Fester). Initially, they agree no one was at fault. But then Mr. Duggan sues Carol for the damages caused by her reckless driving, you know those women drivers. He even shows up in court wearing a phony neck brace with a list of trumped up repairs to his car. Mike, acting as Carol's attorney (because you know, architect and lawyer are interchangeable) in a dramatic Perry Mason courtroom moment, exposes Mr. Duggan for the faker that he is, when he slams his brief case to the floor causing him to turn his allegedly injured neck. Duggan cops a plea, Carol gets off unscathed (except for the dent in her rear end) and truth, justice and the Brady-way prevail once again.

Tabu Tomato Sauce

Not very Hawaiian, nor forbidden, but a decent tomato sauce, much like pomodoro. Mark believes Alice was going for alliteration over authentic island cuisine. Made with fresh plum tomatoes and lots of garlic. I'll give Alice that, she likes to cook with garlic and that pleases us. Served over some fresh egg pasta with a nice green salad and a crusty baguette. And red wine, gotta have the red, red wine.

Episode Note: "Pass The Tabu" The second of three Hawaiian episodes. After finding the cursed tiki at Mike's construction site, Bobby wears it for good luck. But bad things begin to happen to everyone who comes in contact with it. First, Bobby almost is knocked on the head by a falling picture, then Jan has a tarantula in her beach bag that almost bites Peter, then Alice throws her back out at a hula lesson. But the worst fate awaits Greg, who has a serious wipe out during a surfing contest at Waikiki and nearly drowns. All leading up to the boys discovery that the idol must be returned to it's ancient burial ground to break the bad luck streak. Little do they know the danger that awaits, and Prof. Whitehead would have gotten away with it too, if it hadn't been for those meddling kids. Curses!

Newlyweds' Rice with Fresh Herbs

White rice (guess it had to be, because who would throw brown rice at a wedding?) with what is essentially a fresh version of herbs de provence. I am sure Alice learned this one from her time at the Cordon Bleu school in Paris. Simple to make, and paired well with grilled pork tenderloin and a bottle of  Rose des Karantes. C'est manifique!

Episode Note "The Honeymoon" The first episode of the series. Carol Martin (a lovely lady, bringing up three very lovely girls, all of them had hair of gold like their mother, the youngest one in curls) knowing it was much more than a hunch, marries Mike Brady (who was busy with three boys of his own, they were four men living all together, yet they were all alone).  Hijynx ensue with the merging of these two groups and their pets (Tiger, aka Bad Dog) and Fluffy (the girl's cat who makes it's one and only appearance). Tiger chases Fluffy through the backyard wedding ceremony, destroying everything in their wake. Mike and Carol scold the children and head off for their night of bliss, only to feel guilty enough to go back and retrieve the brood and take them along on the honeymoon. Because, as Carol tells the innkeeper, "The only thing better than a honeymoon for two, is a honeymoon for eight". Right. I believe in France that would be a menage `a huit.

The Hair-Brained Scheme

The town of Mt. Pleasant and I have a long and storied past, going back way before I met Denni. But that's another blog, totally. My primary goal (along with my BBBF) for this trip was to crash the Mount Pleasant Senior High School Class 0f 1981 reunion, which of course has everything to do with Denni. Crazy, I know. Most people don't want to attend their own reunions, let alone someone else's. But this seemed like the right thing to do, and it was held at the casino so gambling was in the cards, so to speak. It's funny, high schools are the same everywhere, the nice people are happy to see you (Denni's friends) and the mean girls, who I am guessing nobody liked 30 years ago and still don't, gave us dirty looks. The same thing could happen at my own reunion, and, in theory, I will be invited to that one.

Episode Note "The Hair-Brained Scheme" This is the final episode of the series, although the Brady's didn't know it at the time. The family is preparing for Greg's high school graduation. At the same time, Bobby and Cindy both launch get-rich-quick schemes. Bobby plans on selling Neat and Natural Hair Tonic door to door and Cindy is going to breed rabbits, named Romeo and Juliet. Both plans go awry rather quickly. Bobby can't make a sale, and Cindy discovers she has two Romeos. Out of pity, Greg buys a bottle of the tonic and after one use it turns his hair orange. Carol, desperate to get him presentable for commencement, takes him to her beauty parlor for a dye job. Meanwhile, Cindy and Bobby realize that there might be a market for chocolate in their peanut butter and dye the rabbits orange with the tonic. The pet store buys the lot and the kids recoup their investment, Greg graduates with honors, Marcia plans to move to the room in the attic - Triple Lucky Jackpot. And so, we end to begin....

The Driver's Seat

I don't really care for driving. I know this is ironic being from and living in Detroit, the Motor City. However, I have found myself in the driver's seat quite a bit lately. My sister Debbie, when we were talking about being so far away from Judy and the kids said "I wish Grand Rapids wasn't so far." My response was "it's getting closer."

You can do what you like with the 'driver's seat' as a metaphor. In that respect, clearly I am not in it. But I am back on the road again today (literally), this time to Mount Pleasant. Might be in for a bumpy ride. More about that tomorrow.

Episode Note "The Driver's Seat" Marcia lets nerves get the best of her during her driver's exam and Jan is nervous about a speech she must present. Mike gives them both a tip to diffuse the anxiety - imagine the audience in their underwear. It works, but Marcia is then engaged with Greg in the age old Brady debate of which gender is better, in this case as a driver. Mike sets up an obstacle driving course with a point system to settle the argument once and for all. Greg gets nervous (not remembering to envision everyone in their undies) and Marcia wins by a nose.

Mrs. Desi Arnaz Jr. Lasagna

Lasagna, American style. Meat, cheese (mozzarella and ricotta), tomato sauce, thick noodles. When I make lasagna, I do it the traditional Italian way with a bechamel sauce, a pork/veal/beef ragu and home made paper thin pasta. But, I did it Alice's way today. She was unclear on her layering directions, but I improvised and think it will be fine. As a bonus, we have out first dinner guest since embarking on this project. Denni and I share a BBBF (Brady Bunch Best Friend), Kristy, who is in town and happy to partake. Talk about bittersweet moments.

Episode Note: "The Possible Dream" Marcia is in love with Desi Arnaz Jr. She faithfully writes in her diary every day how dreamy he is. But tragedy strikes when her diary is mistakenly given away to a charitable used book sale. Marcia is mortified by the notion that someone may read her deepest and most personal thoughts about someday being Mrs. Desi Arnaz, Jr. In true Brady fashion, the family bands together and sets out to find the diary. Meanwhile, Alice calls her friend who happens to be Lucille Ball's housekeeper to arrange for a meeting between the two. When Desi drops by and gives Marcia a kiss on her cheek, she swears she'll never wash again. Even the return of her diary seems not to matter when standing in the presence of ultimate grooviness.

Cousin Emma's Military Green Beans and Tomatoes

Fresh green beans and tomatoes. And, Alice actually said to use olive oil and not butter to saute the beans! A red letter day to be sure. A little garlic, oregano, red wine vinegar to finish them off. Alice allowed for them to be served warm or room temperature, which today is warm. Mark felt that the beans should have been canned if they were truly military issue, but I was happy to use fresh local produce. I don't want to Cousin Oliver it, but we've actually gone a week without eggs or heavy cream. I can almost feel the blood pumping to my heart. Nothing Government Issue about these - they were downright tasty.

Episode Note "Cousin Emma" Alice is taking a much-needed vacation and her cousin Emma steps in while she's gone. The only thing is, Alice isn't really gone because Cousin Emma is also played by Ann B. Davis. Why everyone  on TV in the 60s and 70s had an identical cousin, I'll never know. Anyway, Emma is a former WAC and runs the Brady household like a military boot camp. She tries to whip the kids into shape with 6am calisthenics and runs the kitchen like a mess hall. Unhappy with the regimentation, the Brady's try but are unable to convince Emma to leave early. Upon Alice's return, they plan a welcome home party that Emma miscontrues as a going away party. The Brady's are rightfully mortified by the way they've treated Emma and pretend the is a party for her. She doesn't ask, they don't tell.

Tiger!, Tiger!

All these baseball posts made us yearn for a night out with our own Detroit Tigers. So dinner tonight is classic Comerica Park fare: hot dogs, peanuts and crackerjack (I don't care if we ever get back). Root, root, root for the Tigers, if they don't win it's a shame, especially against the Oakland A's. The funny thing about Denni was that he wasn't a huge baseball fan, but liked to go to baseball games. He was furious when Judy offered me her extra ticket to the World Series in '06. My FB profile pic is one of the two of us at a Tiger game - and I think we spent the whole time talking, never really paying attention to what was happening on the field. That's what I will miss the most. Okay, there's no crying in baseball, so that's it for today.

Episode Note: "Tiger!, Tiger!" A boy and his dog, it's a beautiful thing. Bobby and Tiger are inseparable until one day Tiger goes missing. Bobby is worried that he has run away, or worse, been hit by a car. After scouring the streets looking for him, the kids all chip in for a lost dog ad and reward for Tiger's safe return. But it is only when they receive a call from Mrs Simpson across town that they discover what that dog has really been up to. It turns out that Tiger has fathered a litter of puppies and is taking his responsibility very seriously. When Tiger returns to the Brady compound, he spends a week in the dog house. Bad Dog.

Drysdale's Home Run Stuffed Peppers

Julia and I went to Detroit's Eastern market today to get fresh green peppers for this recipe. Pretty straight forward, ground beef, rice, tomato sauce. I tried to make stuffed peppers last summer and they didn't turn out so well. I am hopeful that with Alice's help these will be better. Otherwise, it would be strike two for me. Alice had me parboil (although she didn't call it that) the peppers first and that made all the difference. Delicious.

Episode Note: "The Dropout" [I told you lots of sports celebrities visited the Brady house] Mike is designing a new house for LA Dodgers great Don Drysdale (3 bedrooms, 2 baths, no toilets), and asks him to stop by 4222 Clinton Avenue to throw a few balls around with Greg. When Drysdale gives him a compliment on his pitching, it sends Greg over the moon. He decides to forego all else to pursue a career in baseball, including dropping out of school. Concerned, Mike and Carol get Don to come back and tell Greg of the seamy side of America's pastime (apparently, it's not all peanuts and crackerjack).  That, and a 12-0 drubbing in his next outing, are enough to convince Greg to be cool and stay in school.

Add it Up Saffron Rice

Love saffron rice. But I am puzzled as to why Alice always uses butter, when olive oil would work just as well, if not better - was she also cheating on Sam with a dairy farmer? One wonders.  I also disagreed with her recommended cookware, Alice and I aren't getting on so well lately. Anyway, the recipe is much like when making paella or risotto. You saute the uncooked rice in oil (butter, if you are Alice) with onions and garlic, stirring constantly, adding the chicken broth and saffron threads, boiling then simmering until the liquid is absorbed.  Served with grilled pork and a lovely green salad. Yummy.

Episode Note: "The Undergraduate" [Throughout the five seasons of the series, the Brady's are visited by a number of sports celebrities, this is the first.] At first Alice thinks Greg is sick, but then she learns that he is actually lovesick over a mystery woman named Linda and also happens to be failing in math class. Mike and Carol soon discover one plus one does indeed equal two and that the real trouble is his crush on the Algebra teacher, Miss Linda O'Hara, that is keeping him after school not an inability to master the equations. Greg is crestfallen to learn that Miss O'Hara is engaged to be married, but all is not lost when it is revealed that her fiancee is Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Wes Parker (that's okay, I don't know who he is either). With the incentive of tickets to opening day if he gets an A, Greg gives up his unrequited love and hits one out of the park.

He Fit the Suit

Denni had a lot of stuff, collections and interests. Man, he had stuff. And clothes, he had a lot of clothes, I mean a lot a lot. When helping Judy sort through his belongings, I ventured into his closet. You can learn a lot about a person from doing this. Father, lawyer, hobby enthusiast, athletic supporter, friend: t-shirts, suits, motorcycle boots, Michigan football wear, the tie he bought specifically to wear to my wedding in 1991, just so he'd match the bridesmaid dresses (again, lucky he didn't get his ass kicked). It's all in there. The only man with a larger wardrobe is the Ken doll from Toy Story3, and he had to be ready for anything Barbie threw at him.

Denni not only collected things, but it occurred to me that he collected people along the way as well. I was always happy to be part of his collection.

Episode Note: "Adios Johnny Bravo" [More of this plot line will be covered in a future post] The Brady kids once again try to land a record deal as a singing group (it's like they wanted to be the Partridges, or something). But the talent agents only want Greg, and sign him to be the "new" Johnny Bravo teen sensation. He dumps his sibs in a heartbeat for fame and fortune only to find out that he was hired because "he fit the suit" literally, a gold lame costume that had belonged to the previous Johnny Bravo. Greg realizes his mistake, tears up the recording contract and returns to the family fold.

Tell it Like it Is

I apologize for no cooking, we are in Grand Rapids to see Paige in Hairspray. I promise a full week of recipes starting Monday, and coming in August a guest chef feature will be added to the blog. But that doesn't mean I don't have things to say today.

You know yesterday's cookie recipe? Alice lifted it from Nestle. I noticed it was the exact same as the Tollhouse Cookie recipe on the bag of chocolate chips. Bad Alice. But they were good cookies...

Robert Reed was the greatest actor of his generation. Don't believe me? Watch any of his scenes with Florence Henderson. Just sayin.

I happened to have indiscriminately stuck the prayer card from the funeral on my kitchen cabinet, directly above where my computer sits. I looked up one day to realize that Denni is literally looking down and smiling on me as I write these posts. It's a sign.

Speaking of signs, a local Detroit TV station shows Brady Bunch episodes daily (not in any particular order) and we have them set to record on our DVR. Since this blog has started, on at least four occasions (three of which were this week), the recipe that was planned for a particular day was also the episode that showed up on the DVR on the same day. Freaky. There is a higher Brady power at work here.

Speaking of a higher Brady power, with the passing of Sherwood Schwartz this week, I can rest a little easier now that I know Denni is in sitcom heaven.

I have had a lot of comments about the plates and bowls I've used in the food photos. Most of them are courtesy of my friend Anne ("Watching in Wisconsin") who has amassed a stellar collection of retro chic dinnerware and has graciously shared some with me. Anne is also a huge BB fan, and our friendship was formed watching reruns every afternoon when we were in high school. I owe the Bradys a lot.

Finally, I like the new monikers that some of the followers have adopted in their comments. I think everyone should do it. If you need ideas, I would be happy to help. And, frankly, I'll just give you one whether you like it or not.

Episode Note: "Tell it Like it Is" Carol is asked to write an article for "Tomorrow's Woman" magazine about her life as a housewife and mother of six children in a merged family. Her first draft tells the true story of eight people living in a house together, warts and all. It is rejected by the editor for being too realistic, and not a positive enough spin for their readers. Mike convinces the magazine to give Carol another try, and this time she writes the story of the two families coming together in an idealized fashion, where evreything is perfect and there are never any troubles (you know, like the Brady Bunch). Liking the new version, Tomorrow's  Woman decides to print it and sets up a photo session at the Brady Home. Carol mixes up the time and is in her robe and curlers when they arrive. The kids then come from school, battered , torn and bickering - not at all like in the article. The magazine realizes the mistake in not printing the original, true version, where Carol tells it like it is.

Chin-Ups Chocolate Chip Cookies

Chocolate chip cookies. What more can I say, except they are most definitely not vegan, nor are they gluten free for that matter. We needed a dessert to take to Judy's Alaskan seafood extravaganza tonight, and why not cookies?  My last go at baking from this book went so well I was eager to try again. Of course she didn't suggest using a mixer, or cooling the cookies on a rack, but if I've learned one thing so far, it is to use my basic cooking sensibilities when dealing with Alice.

Episode Note: "The Big Bet" [This epsisode has a subplot that will be covered with another recipe in the future] Bobby, proud of being able to to do seven chin-ups gets laughed at by Greg who says he can do twice as many. Bobby challenges him to a contest, the loser becoming the servant of the winner for a week. Greg, in a show of arrogance, takes him on. Bobby practices for days, while Greg lazes around and mocks him. When the day of the big contest arrives, Bobby does 11 chin-ups, leaving Greg to do 22 or lose. He manages 20 before conceding. Bobby, an unabashed victor, sets out to make Greg's life miserable culminating when he forces Greg to take him on his date to the drive-in. Bobby wreaks havoc with Greg's date Rachel (played by Sherwood Schwartz's daughter), and then rips the top of Mike's convertible with an umbrella. Repimanded by his parents when they arrive home (afterall, it might cost $150 to repair), and realizing that the power may have gone to his head, Bobby takes his punishment on the chin.

Peter's Volcanic Mushroom Sauce

Mushrooms, peas, parmesan cheese, and everybody's favorites - butter and heavy cream. Alice graciously alllowed for the pasta of my choice, so I went with penne. Nothing offensive about this one, other than the enormous fat content. Of course the directions for cooking the sauce were a bit vague, but I managed to get it to the right concistency. We are going swimming as soon as we finish. I know Alice would advise waiting an hour, but I don't think we can afford it.

Episode Note: "Today I am a Freshman" Marcia, Marcia, Marcia is neverous about starting high school and worried about being a little fish in a big pond. Greg valiantly introduces her around, but soon realizes she doesn't need his help. In an effort to gain popularity, Marcia joins every school club and activity, including fencing and scuba. But she thinks she has found her niche with the snobbiest girls in the school, who call themselves the Boosters (I will leave that one alone). Trying desperately to impress this uptight group, Marcia invites them over for a backyard tea. At the same time, Bobby and Peter are working on Peter's volcano for science class. At first it malfunctions, but Peter eventually manages to spew lava all over the Booster girls, who are not amused. Marcia, however, finds the whole scene hilarious and  realizes that she doesn't need the leg-up in popularity.

House of Cards Hamburgers

Hamburgers with a meat loaf twist. Only Alice would think to crumble a piece of bread, and add an egg to the ground beef (she says they hold together better). The way she uses eggs, you would have thought she was dating a chicken farmer instead of the local butcher. The sauteed mushroom topper did make the whole burger seem as though it could fall over at any moment, so maybe that was the point.  Alice said cheese was optional, so we passed (every little bit helps).

Episode Note: "54-40 Fight" Possibly one of the most intense episodes of the series. The boy and the girls separately have been saving Checker trading stamps, the girls have 40 books and are saving for a sewing machine, the boys have 54 and are aiming for a row boat. The kids are devastated to learn that the company is going out of business and they only have until the end of the month to redeem their stamps. Neither group has enough for their prize and cannot come up with a compromise on their own. Mike and Carol suggest a competition, boys versus girls, winner take all, to settle the issue. It is decided that the kids will build a house of cards and the pressure is on. Each move is a nail biter, especially when Marcia's charm bracelet gets in the way and nearly topples the card structure, which, as Jan points out isn't fair, since boys don't wear charm bracelets (why she just didn't take it off, I'll never know). In an unforeseen turn of events, the boys lose when Tiger (bad dog) bumps the table while Greg is placing his last card. The girls, not feeling groovy over their win by default, do the right thing and bring home a gift for the whole family - a color television set. They all have hair (and hearts) of gold, like their mother...

Professor Whitehead's Beef Teriyaki

This is all good. Beef, what more can I say? A teriyaki sauce made with sake, that you light on fire - awesome! Grilled to perfection and served over a volcano of white rice. These are the nights that no one questions this crazy project. We are going to Hawaii in February, and this dinner has made us all wish it were sooner.

Episode Note: "The Tiki Caves" (The Bradys epic trip to Hawaii played out in three episodes, this is just one of the stories) Professor Hubert Whitehead, played by the great Vincent Price, is a nut job archaeologist holed up in a cave on Oahu. The boys venture into the cave to return what they believe to be a cursed idol to its ancient burial ground (more on this in a future post). Professor Whitehead ties them up because he fears they will steal his latest find, a scary tiki head he calls Oliver (foreshadowing of Cousin Oliver, perhaps?). This same plot is played out earlier in the series when the Bradys are on their way to the Grand Canyon and encounter a crazy old prospector played by Jim Bakkus (yes, who also played Mike's boss Mr Matthews). Confused? Don't be, this is the way TV worked back when you actually watched it on your TV. Mike and Carol come to the rescue and the Bradys celebrate with a luau on Waikiki.  A-lo-ha.

BeeBe Gallini's Macaroni Salad

Today I hosted the book club of my fellow docents from the Detroit Institute of Arts, so what better time than to make macaroni salad? Let me say, these women are all fantastic cooks and the food is always better than the books. Also, everyone always wants to know what I made, so they can be sure to get some - I've got a foodie rep with this crowd. Risky, I know. I have a number of pasta salads in my arsenal, but have never made a traditional macaroni salad like Alice's, you know with mayo and mustard and oh yes, my friend heavy cream. I liked her idea to toss in chopped red pepper right before serving, it almost made it feel healthy. I have to say, my rep is intact. Everyone loved it, and they weren't just being polite - I didn't even have to scrape any remnants off plates when I was loading the dishwasher afterwards.  I would make this again.

Episode Note: "Mike's Horror-Scope" Carol, always wanting to know what's next, reads Mike's horoscope. It tells of a mysterious woman entering his life. Soon thereafter, Mike gets a new high maintenance architectual client named Beebe Gallini. She has hired the firm to construct her new comestic factory. But this is to be no ordinary factory. She wants everything pink, and shaped like a make-up compact. Mike is at his wits end with Beebe's demands when she intrudes on the Brady household with even more changes. The Brady kids are impolite and unruly in front of her, and she rips each of them a new one for their behavior. This is the last straw for Mike, putting his brood before business, he tells Beebe to take a powder.

The Teeter Totter Caper

My resistance is low. So low, that we are now doing things that Mark wants. Last night, on his suggestion, we went to Ann Arbor to see a group called Pink Martini. They are sort of a world music/samba/swing/jazz ensemble that began after the bandleader was inspired by a viewing of the 1988 classic "PeeWee's Christmas Special" (I kid you not). Going to Ann Arbor and of course dropping by Dominick's for sangria, reminded me of how up and down I have felt lately, and I know I am not a lone. As we collectively struggle, and search for paths (some more conventional than others) through the grief, we will all be on this ride. A journey through joy and pain. The Aunt Jenny's soup and the Tattle Tale Tuna, if you will,  of life. Bittersweet moments, seesawing us back and forth between all of the good times that Denni brought into our lives and the sorrow for our loss. It was a lovely evening, but Ann Arbor was his town and it will never be the same.

Episode Note: "The Teeter Totter Caper" Cindy and Bobby, feeling left out when everyone else in the family is invited to a wedding, decide to make a name for themselves by setting a world record. Wanting to prove that little kids are important too, they decide to break the record for number of hours on a teeter totter. All goes well at first, even the L.A. paparazzi show up for photos and interviews with our intrepid seesawers, but ultimately, they grow weary and fall asleep, forcing Mike and Carol to carry them to bed and thus giving up on the record. All is not lost however, as they have a new found respect from their older siblings for giving it the old college try.

Hot Rod Fried Ham and Cheese Sandwich

Alice's version of the croque monsieur. Bread, ham, gruyere, dipped in egg and fried in vegetable oil and butter. I am beginning to worry a little about our cholesterol. It's not just the butter and heavy cream, but now it seems like everything also has eggs. Believe it or not, these were not as good as the ones we ate at Cafe Richelieu in the Louvre, though substantially cheaper.

Episode Note: "Wheeler-Dealer"  Caveat Emptor is the phrase of the day - "buyer beware" for those who aren't up on their high school Latin, as Greg is sweet talked into buying a jalopy from an unscrupulous friend named Eddie. Greg is convinced that with just a little elbow grease and some paint he will have the car of his dreams. Unfortunately, nothing can help the broken down piece of junk. A lecture from Mike ensues about honesty and integrity, but Greg is determined to find another sucker to buy the car from him. Just when he is about to close the deal, Greg's conscience begins to weigh on him (probably after eating one of these sandwiches). He decides to be a stand up guy, and lets the unsuspecting dupe off the hook. I'm wearing my WWGBD bracelet, are you?

Dr. Cameron's Vinaigrette

Julia and I went to Grand Rapids and have just gotten home so I am taking the easy way out tonight - another salad dressing. A traditional vinaigrette, although Alice just said "wine vinegar" in the list of ingredients. I took this to mean red wine vinegar and emulsified it with the olive oil, and added salt and pepper. I had to wash and spin the romaine, so that's like cooking, right?

Episode Note: "Is There a Doctor in the House"  All six of the Brady children are sent home from school with the measles (giving the mumps a much needed break). Unbeknown to the other, Mike and Carol each call the pediatrician - Carol calls the girl's doctor, Dr. Porter, a woman (played by Marion Ross) and Mike calls the boy's doctor, Dr. Cameron, a man. The most extraordinary thing is that they both make house calls. When Dr. Porter tries to examine the boys and Dr. Cameron tries to examine the girls, the kids freak out. The boys don't trust a "lady" doctor and the girls are wary of a man (Jan, always the drama queen, says she'd 'rather drown' than have a man doctor). Once the confusion is resolved, Mike and Carol agree to let each set of kids keep their respective doctor, but in a twist, Drs. Porter and Cameron decide to merge their practices. Clearly, there is a lot Mike and Carol didn't discuss when they decided that this group must somehow form a family.

Dear Libby

Earlier this week, Facebook, in its infinite wisdom, under the "People You May Know" heading, suggested that Dennis Chamberlain and I may want to become friends since we have 15 friends in common. If it were only that easy. The first time I met Denni was in the summer of 1985 at South Quad. I recognized him from photos I had seen and his telltale white Pontiac Sunbird was parked outside. I went up to him and introduced myself as Judy's sister. He grunted something inaudible and walked away. I thought he was a jerk. It was the beginning of a beautiful  friendship.

And now for a few questions from the folks at home:
"Not That Into It" from New York, clearly not a devotee of the show, recently asked if these recipes were actually featured in any of the episodes. The answer is no, with the exception of pork chops and applesauce, which we haven't gotten to yet. The only thing Alice regularly offered the kids to eat was a plate of cookies.
"Faithful Follower" from Florida writes that her comments aren't showing up on the blog. My apologies. I have no idea as the blogger and not a blogee how it works. I think you have to join as a follower, log in, view the post, click on Comments at the end of the post, write your comment, choose your profile and click post comment. Hope that helps.
"Sucked-In" from Saginaw, expressed concern that I might run out of recipes too soon. The answer, I doubt it. This will go on for a while, but I am skipping anything else with tuna (and possibly anchovies).  Denni would have wanted it that way.

Episode Note: "Dear Libby" The second episode of the series already puts in question the relationship status of Mike and Carol. The kids read an advice column, Dear Libby, about someone with an identical living situation as their parents who signs the letter "Harried and Hopeless". Each child writes to Dear Libby (using pseudonyms such as "Real Frantic", "Down in the Mouth", and "Guilt Complex") asking where the letter came from. Receiving seven letters from the same address (Alice, aka "Innocent Bystander" wrote one, too), Libby visits the Brady home to assure the family that the original letter came from Ohio. What a relief.

Millicent's Meatball Sandwiches

Mmmmm, meatballs. Now, I have gotten lazy these last few years and have been buying Trader Joe's turkey meatballs instead of making my own. But not today. Ground turkey, garlic, white wine, tomato paste, oregano (I was out so I used herbs de provence), and bread crumbs and egg to bind it all together. Frying meat on a 90 degree day, nothing like it. They came out a little too crunchy - think I'll stick to TJs from now on.

Episode Note: "Never Too Young" Bobby plays the big man by defending a girl at school who is being teased.  Millicent (played by Melissa Sue Anderson) rewards him with his first kiss, and he immediately sees fireworks. Liking it, and wanting more, Bobby pursues her for another kiss at her house, and thus more fireworks. The only problem is, Millicent may have the mumps (the aforementioned over-used plot line). She calls Bobby to deliver the bad news, leaving him in a conundrum of how to tell Mike and Carol about the kissing and possible transmission of disease. Meanwhile, and I have no idea why, except that Paramount must have been cleaning out their wardrobe department, the Brady's are also preparing for a roaring twenties party. Bobby garners the courage to come clean with his parents, blaming the sky rockets in flight. Mr and Mrs Brady take the news in stride, as they too admit to liking a little afternoon delight. Go figure.

You Can't Win Them All

No, you can't. Apparently, an all-American apple crumble is no match for Uncle Jack's Marvelous Vegan Cookies. I now know how the  Silver Platters felt when they lost the tv talent show to Penelope's Prancing Poodles. Only here, in leftist, tree hugging, Birkenstock wearing, please can we pay more taxes while we recycle, Huntington Woods would vegan cookies win a baking contest! Did I mention that our whole 4th of July theme was "Back to the 70s"? On that alone I should have won! The only thing that tastes worse than this injustice is tuna.

Episode Note: "You Can't Win Them All"  [There are two story lines in this episdoe, and I will be covering the other with a recipe in the future] Mike and Carol are trying to plan a dinner party with some neighbors. First, they plan a barbeque, but get a cancellation so they change the date. Then, on the next date Mike invites extra people from the office and the menu changes to mexican. After Carol and Alice go food shopping for mexican, another conflict with the date occurs, even more people are coming, and the menu is changed to a smorgasbord. Yet another conflict comes up with Cindy, to be discussed in the future post, and they whole party idea is scrapped. Not only can't you win them all, but you can't even win for trying.

Everyone Can't be George Washington Apple Crumble

I have never made an apple crumble. I didn't know what one should contain, look like, or taste like.  That said, I decided to make Alice's and enter it in our town's annual 4th of July bake-off. The recipe was pretty simple, apples, sugar, brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, butter. The problem was that Alice said to core and slice the apples, but omitted the important step of peeling them, which I took the liberty of doing. I am off now to drop the crumble at the judges table, then we have our parade, and the winners are announced afterwards at the big "speeches and awards" event hosted by our mayor. Be sure to tune in tomorrow for the results.

Episode Note: "Everyone Can't Be George Washington" A lesson Peter learns the hard way when he auditions for the role of George Washington in school play but instead, much to his chagrin,  is cast as Benedict Arnold. He tries everything he can think of, including  feigning laryngitis, to try to get out of the role. Mike lectures him on acting like a real Benedict Arnold by betraying his cast mates. Harsh. Peter sees the error in his ways, throws himself into the role, and carries the day like a real yankee doodle dandy. Happy 4th of July.

Davy Jones Fan Club Sandwich

A traditional club (single deck), turkey, bacon, lettuce, tomato , mayo on toasted bread. Oh, and butter - Alice thinks you should butter the toast before slathering with mayo. This seems to me a little like wearing a belt and suspenders, but whatever. Mark loves a club sandwich, but is careful not to have them too often because he feels it makes them "less special". This is just one reason why he never questions my crazy ideas - clearly he has his own quirks. Took the lingering tuna taste right out. Julia believes bacon makes everything better, and she's right. The only thing better than bacon, is more bacon.

Episode Note: "Getting Davy Jones" Marcia is Davy Jones' number one fan and president of his fan club. She promises her junior high principal (played by Marcia Wallace of Bob Newhart show fame) that he will perform at the school dance, without actually ever having met Davy Jones. Scrambling to get close enough to ask him, she and Greg pose as room service to try to sneak into his hotel room. Instead of Davy they meet his manager and Marcia makes her plea to him, who in turn passes on the word to Davy. He ultimately does the school dance, because what international teen superstar wouldn't?  He sings his hit song "Girl" (look what you've done to me). Sooo dreamy, just like bacon.

Tattletale Tuna Sandwich

Can I just say how much I hate, loathe and despise tuna? With a passion. Holding the unopened can in my hand made me cringe. A labor of love is what this is. Mayonaise, capers, lemon juice, some nice bread, blah, blah, blah. The only thing I can liken it to is cat food, and don't ask me how I know this. Yuck. I feel like Denni is having laugh at my expense today -  just the way he liked it.

Episode Note "The Tattle-Tale" Cindy is a truth teller. The Bradys call it a tattle tale. As a result, there are rifts throughout the entire family and she is ostracized by her siblings. Mike and Carol sit Cindy down and have long talk with her, telling her not squeal anymore, although she can't figure out why they don't want to know just what is going on under their own roof and frankly, neither can I. I mean, if you were Carol, wouldn't you want to know that  Bobby used your lipstick to color his skateboard? Anyway, the situation comes to a head when Alice wins a jingle contest and in her excitement hugs the mailman who is delivering her prize, a hi-fi stereo. At the same moment, Sam telephones and Cindy tells him Alice can't come to the phone because she's busy hugging the mailman, leading Sam to get his knockwurst in a twist.  The truth ultimately comes out, as it always does, and all is forgiven. The whole thing has left a bad taste in my mouth.

Raquel the Goat's Greek Sandwiches

Pita, thin roast beef, feta, greek yogurt, tomato. Yummy goodness. Although, being from Detroit, we know that it should be seasoned lamb meat unnaturally formed somehow onto a verical spit and then sliced thin, But whatever, Alice is obviously doing it the California way, and who am I to question it? This is the "noontime specials" section of the book, so sandwiches for the next few days.

Episode Note: "Getting Greg's Goat" Greg the prankster is at it again. He and his Westdale High football teammates steal the crosstown rival team's mascot, Raquel the goat, right before the big game. Greg hides Raquel in his room in the attic and comedy ensues. Not only does she eat everything in sight including the seat of some groovy bell bottoms, but a misunderstanding leads Mike to think that a GIRL named Raquel spent the night with Greg in his room. This is what we like to call in TV speak "a very special episode". Greg fesses up to the crime, the goat is returned unharmed, and he is forced to write an essay on why mascot stealing is a baaaaaad idea.