Family Equality Council

Family Equality Council - December, 2010

Family Equality Council Awards Dinner
Saturday, January 29th, 2011
House of Blues
8430 Sunset Boulevard
West Hollywood, CA

Can’t attend but would like to make a donation towards the event?
Click here.

Honoring

Dan Savage & Terry Miller
Founders of the It Gets Better Project

Kris Perry & Sandy Stier and Paul Katami & Jeff Zarrillo

The Plaintiffs from the Perry v. Schwarzenegger Trial

Luke Macfarlane

"Scotty" from Brothers & Sisters

The Family Equality Council Awards Dinner brings together LGBT parents, friends and allies to celebrate the progress we have made as a community of loving families towards full equality. In 2011, the Awards Dinner will feature a cocktail reception, a full-course seated dinner, live entertainment and the opportunity to mingle with old friends and meet new ones.

Use the buttons above to purchase tickets or tables, donate to the auction, learn about sponsorship opportunities and purchase advertising space in the program book. Please feel free to contact Major Gifts & Events Manager Daniel Robinson at daniel.robinson@familyequality.org or 617.502.8700 x 224 with any questions.

This event is generously sponsored by:

Gold Sponsor

Silver Sponsor

Bronze Sponsor

Side Dish - 13th Dec

Side Dish from ABC, Brothers & Sisters.

A Wandell Holiday Delight!

The holiday season is already upon us and the signs are everywhere: Christmas songs are on the radio, Starbucks is serving out o.f their seasonal red cups, and our halls are decked with more holiday cheer than you could shake a bough of holly at.

One tradition we always had in my family was to come together and make Christmas cookies and it’s a tradition I continue in the kitchen of my restaurant. Next week, everyone at Café 429 will bring in 36 of their family’s favorite holiday cookie and we’ll share the cookies (and the recipes!) with each other before the dinner service? Dessert before dinner?! Maybe just this once…



Perhaps I’ll post some pictures of my favorite holiday cookies, but for my loyal readers I have decided to share something very special: give my mother’s famous fudge recipe. Every year she would whip up a big batch of this fudge and pack it up for everyone in my town – my teacher, her friends at work, the mail man, her hair stylist. It was the hit of their holiday season and now you can spread some holiday cheer in your town, Wandell-style!

As anyone who has read my blog will tell you, I don’t usually advocate microwave cooking, but my mother always insisted that when she gave out the recipe that she had to include microwave instructions. So, here you go…

Enjoy and Happy Holidays!

WANDELL HOLIDAY FUDGE
Makes 3 pounds

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups sugar
2/3 cup evaporated milk
3/4 cup margarine
1 7-oz. jar marshmallow creme
1 12-oz. bag semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Traditional Method
1) Combine sugar, margarine and milk in medium saucepan; bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
2) Continue boiling 4-6 minutes over medium heat, stirring.
3) Remove from heat, stir in chocolate until melted and smooth.
4) Add marshmallow creme, nuts, vanilla and mix until blended.
5) Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
6) Let cool and cut into 1-inch squares.

Microwave Method
1) Microwave margarine in large microwave-safe bowl on high about 1 minute or until melted.
2) Add sugar and milk; mix.
3) Microwave on high 5 minutes or mixture just begins to boil, stirring after a few minutes.
4) Mix well, being sure to scrape down the sides with a spatula.
5) Continue microwaving on high 5-1/2 minutes; stir after a few minutes.
6) Stir in chocolate chips until melted.
7) Add remaining ingredients; mix well.
8) Pour into greased 13 x 9-inch baking pan.
9) Cool at room temperature
10) Cut into squares. Makes 3 pounds.

Brothers & Sisters S5E10

"Cold Turkey"

yfrog video

From Jesse Tyler's Tweet

The last tweet stared Kate Reinders' Halloween, Luke Macfarlane's St. Pattys, Eva Mendes' July 4th, @kevincahoon's Thanksgiving & my V-day.
9:24 AM Dec 13th via Twitter for iPhone

Quite a motley crew took over All Saints children hospital today for a Christmas skit with @TheArtOfElysium http://yfrog.us/j2qvsz
9:16 AM Dec 13th via Twitter for iPhone

http://yfrog.com/j2qvsz
@jessetyler Quite a motley crew took over All Saints children hospital today for a Christmas skit with @TheArtOfElysium

Or watch here.

On the Red Carpet

Side Dish - 6th Dec

Side Dish from ABC, Brothers & Sisters.

Brownies!

All my life, my sweet tooth has gotten me into trouble. On my 8th birthday I ate so much chocolate cake that I was sick for a week.

I even went trick or treating until I was 16. Come on…free candy! Can you blame me? After I was about 11 some of my neighbors said: “Scotty, aren’t you a little OLD to be trick or treating?” So for the next 5 years I made sure my costumes always covered my face so no one knew who I was. ;)


Which brings us to this past weekend when Kevin’s sweet tooth – and his emotional eating in general – got him into a little bit of trouble, too. Suffice it to say, I think he will ask around the kitchen before diving into brownies in the future. Of course, after getting sick from the “special” brownie he ate, I wonder if he’ll want to eat brownies at all. But I can promise you that if there is any brownie recipe that can reignite his passions for fudgy brownies, this is it. I like this recipe for the fine line it walks between being fudgy and cakey and they freeze beautifully too!

SCOTTY’S IRRESISTIBLE BROWNIES Makes sixteen 3x2-inch brownies

Ingredients
- 12 ounces good quality semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, broken or cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1 cup sugar
- 1 ½ sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, plus one more for the baking pan
- 1 cup all-purpose flour, plus more for the baking pan
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ¼-teaspoon salt
- 4 large eggs
- 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
- 1 ½ cups chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

1. Melt the chocolate, sugar, and butter in the top of a double boiler over barely simmering water (or in a heatproof bowl set over a pot of barely simmer water). Stir occasionally until the chocolate is melted and the mixture is smooth, about 10 minutes. Make sure the water stays at a bare simmer; if it gets too hot, the chocolate will separate. Cool to room temperature.
   
   
2. Heat the over to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter and flour a 13x9-inch baking pan.
   
   
3. Stir the flour, baking powder and salt together in a bowl and set aside. Beat the cooled chocolate mixture with a handheld mixer at medium speed until shiny. Add the eggs one at a time, beating very well after each. Beat in the vanilla. Stir in the dry ingredients just until no streaks of white remain. Fold in the nuts, if using. Pour the batter into the prepared pan and smooth into an even layer.
   
   
4. Bake until the edges are crisp and begin to pull away from the pan and the top is set, about 18 minutes. The center of the brownies will still be slightly soft to the touch and a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center will not come out clean.) Let cool completely.
   
   
5. Cut the brownies into 2x3-inch bars. This is easier if the brownies are chilled in the pan for 10-20 minutes first. The brownies may be made up to 2 days in advance and refrigerated, covered. Bring to room temperature before serving. The brownies may also be frozen, well wrapped in aluminum foil.

Brothers & Sisters S5E9

"Get a Room"

Brothers & Sisters 100th Episode Party

Clip: Victor Sampaio

The AfterElton.com 2010 Visibility Awards

http://www.afterelton.com/poll/2010/visibility-awards-voting

Luke, Matthew and Brothers & Sisters are nominated.

*Favorite TV Drama (Brothers & Sisters)
*Favorite TV Actor (Luke Macfarlane, Matthew Rhys)
*Favorite TV Couple (Kevin & Scotty)

FIY: Other than that, they have
@ Favorite TV Comedy
@ Favorite Reality TV Series
@ Favorite Reality TV Contestant
@ Best Movie
@ Worst Movie
@ Favorite Movie Actor
@ Best Gay Moment of the Year
@ Worst Gay Moment of the Year
@ Gay/Bi Man of the Year
@ Favorite (Real Life) Gay Couple
@ Best "Coming Out" Story This Year
@ Favorite Gay Ally
@ Biggest Homophobe
@ Best Book
@ Favorite Gay Musician
@ Favorite Music Video

Check it and vote!

It gets better - a message for gay youth (B&S cast & crew)

Brothers & Sisters S5E8

"The Rhapsody of the Flesh"

This episode was directed by Matthew Rhys.

Side Dish - 14th Nov

Side Dish from ABC, Brothers & Sisters.

Homemade Hummus

It’s time for one of Kevin’s favorite foods: hummus. Sure it is one of those things you can easily (and cheaply!) buy premade in the supermarket, but if you have a food processor you can have your own delicious homemade hummus in just a few minutes. Homemade hummus will taste less like drywall compound and more like a trip to Mykonos.


Basic hummus includes garbanzo beans (also called chickpeas), sesame tahini, olive oil, garlic and salt/pepper to taste. And if you take one quick look at your refrigerated deli case, you’re bound to see many different flavors of hummus (garlic, roasted red pepper, pine nut, sun-dried tomato, etc.) or hummus made with beans other than garbanzos (i.e. white beans, etc.). Learning a hummus recipe is again about learning a technique that you can adapt for your needs.

In my experience, hummus is universally loved. Besides being a delicious side that is easily enjoyed with carrots or homemade pita chips, hummus also makes a delicious (and healthy!) spread on a vegetable sandwich. Yummmnm!

Today I’ll share a hummus recipe from Luc’s mom who was in town visiting. Apparently she redecorated Nora’s house into something more Casablanca than Pasadena but you can still enjoy hummus with nothing more exotic than pita bread!

What are YOUR favorite flavors of hummus?


HUMMUS
Makes 1 ¼ cups

Ingredients

One 15 ½-ounce can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil
2 small garlic cloves, minced
¼-cup olive oil
¼-cup minced parsley
3 scallions, trimmed and thinly sliced
Salt and freshly ground pepper

Combine the chickpeas, lemon juice, sesame oil, and garlic in the workbowl of a food processor fitted with the metal blade. Process until the chickpeas are finely chopped. Add the olive oil slowly with the motor running and continue processing until the hummus is the consistency of a coarse puree.
Transfer the hummus to a mixing bowl and stir in the parsley, scallions and salt and pepper to taste. Store the hummus, covered, in the refrigerator up to 3 days. Bring to room temperature about ½-hour before serving.

A few quotes from Luke's speech at HRC

Thanks to the magnisifant Luke's website, Luke Macfarlan Online, we have some quotes of Luke's speech from HRC.

Social Lite (blog by Paul Blackburn): HRC Gala!!!
Luke Macfarlane was the guest speaker for the evening and I must say he did a terrific job. He spoke of his coming out story not only to his family, but also to himself and to his life in general. He went on to say how important it is that we do not hide who we are. He was not saying that we should dress in all pink and shout "hey girlfriend!" but he said that we should be proud of who we are and not hide it. If someone asks us if we are gay, we should be honest.

One comment Luke said made me smirk. He said "this is as simple as requesting ONE bed at a hotel instead of two when you are checking in with your partner." I mention this because this past Friday I attended a wedding with Edward. As we were checking in the woman helping me asked "Mr. Blackburn, I see you only reserved ONE bed, did you want two?" I simply smiled and said "No, one will be just fine."

Heart Mind Strength: First United Church of Oak Park (blog by Julie R. Harley): Coming Out About Our Faith
Another award for visibility went to Luke Macfarlane, an openly gay actor who stars in a TV series called "Brothers and Sisters." Luke told a story that I found to be very moving.

Luke has known he was gay since his early teens. He grew up in Canada (worshiping in the United Church of Canada), then moved to NYC for his acting career. In his mid-20s, Luke moved to LA. At a cocktail party, a casting agent greeted him and welcomed him to Hollywood, then said, "Luke, I heard a rumor that you're gay." In that moment, as a newcomer in an unfamiliar place, Luke suddenly lost his nerve. Not sure how he would be received by a potential employer, he denied his true self. "No, I'm not gay," he told the agent. And she promptly asked him out on a date.

Luke confessed to all 650 of us at the banquet that he was ashamed by his failure of nerve. Though he had come out of the closet years before, here he was, going right back into hiding. He said, "Being out is a decision we have to make again and again, every day."

An article from AfterElton

[source]

Meet Your Asshat and Your Gay of the Week for the Week of November 05, 2010
Posted byEd Kennedy on November 8, 2010

I have to admit, the winner of this one surprised me quite a bit. Last week's voting split up Kevin (Matthew Rhys) and Scotty (Luke Macfarlane), because one was cheated on, and one was a cheater, and each had separate journeys to make as a result. I fully expected the wronged Kevin to run away with the vote, but it was Scotty you sided with.

There was something humanizing about revealing that Scotty wasn't just be perfect kitchen utensil for the Walker family, and you guys responded by giving him an astonishing 52.77% of the vote. His television husband was a distant second at 19.77%

Mitchell (Jesse Tyler Ferguson) and Cameron (Eric Stonestreet) only managed 14.48% of the vote for negotiating the power structures of their relationship, and perky Zac Young brought up the rear at 12.97%.

With Scotty reigning over all the Gays for the week, we're sure that appetizers will be served, and wine glasses will never be empty. Which is as it should be.

Brothers & Sisters S5E7

"Resolved"

Side Dish - 7th Nov

Side Dish from ABC, Brothers & Sisters.

Soup

About a month ago I gave Kevin a soup recipe I was making and asked him to pick up some of the ingredients at the market. One thing in the recipe was chicken broth and, if Kevin ever opened our freezer to look for anything except ice cream, he would see quarts and quarts of the stuff. But instead, he was being sweet and proactive and ended up coming home with 5 cans of chicken broth for me. Blech.

You see, Nora and I agree: homemade chicken broth tastes better than canned. Not that I have never used canned chicken broth. Certainly in a pinch you can get away with it, but homemade chicken broth is just one of those kitchen staples that takes minimal effort and tastes so much better than anything you could buy in the store. And with the ability to freeze it for up to 3 months, there is really no reason not to make your own next time you make a roast chicken. Of course with Thanksgiving around the corner, you can also make a Turkey Broth with the leftover bones from that feast.


In the meantime, if anyone needs 5 cans of chicken broth from a store, just let me know. Otherwise do yourself a favor and make your own:

CHICKEN BROTH
Makes about 2 ½ quarts

INGREDIENTS
3 pounds chicken backs, neck and wings (any combination)
½ pound chicken gizzards
2 medium carrots, peeled and halved crosswise
2 celery stalk
1 medium yellow onion, skin left on, quartered

1. Rinse the chicken under cold running water and drain thoroughly. Put it in a tall 8-quart pot along with the vegetables. Pour in enough water to cover by 2 inches and bring to a boil over high heat.
2. Adjust the heat to a gentle simmer. Skim any foam and fat from the surface. Simmer, skimming occasionally, 4-6 hours. If the water dips below the chicken and vegetables, replenish with more.
3. Pour or ladle the broth through a fine-mesh sieve into a bowl. Cool to room temperature, then refrigerate. Skim off and discard any fat that rises to the surface.
4. The broth may be refrigerated for up to 4 days or ladled into freezer containers and frozen for up to 3 months. (Hidden behind the ice cream if it’s Kevin’s freezer!)

Scotty cheated on Kevin (S5E5-6)

Brothers & Sisters S5E6

"An Ideal Husband"

How do I describe this? Luke Macfarlane and Matthew Rhys are very much talented, brilliant, amazing, wonderful, and etc. etc. I can find more words to compliment them. This story is actually heartbreaking though, I'm pretty happy about the fact that they are in the center of story.

Side Dish - 30th Oct

Side Dish from ABC, Brothers & Sisters.

Make your own Frappe

It’s been a long week and I’m often asked: “What keeps you going?” Sure I could say the usual trite and cliché things: the support of friends and family, always wanting to outdo my previous best, blah…blah…blah.

But I’d be lying (sort of).

All those cliché things are true, but what really keeps me going is caffeine. I’ve been a coffee junkie for most of my life. I can still remember the first time – as a kid of about 8 or 9 – that my Mom let me take a sip of that brewed beverage that she seemed to suck down by the gallon. I raised the mug to my lips, breathed in the sweet smell (or as the marketing people say: “bold aroma”) and took my first sip.


BLECH!

You see, my mother liked her coffee like she liked her…ummm….tea. Strong and black. So to an 8-year old’s taste buds, coffee bordered on undrinkable. Until I realized I could add sugar and milk. Then it became almost comical: “You want some coffee with your sugar?”

Which brings me to today. Being a head chef and owning a restaurant means LONG days and nights (particularly long in the last week planning for an event we had and because, like I mentioned last week, I haven’t really been able to sleep much…). And like many chefs I appreciate coffee not only as a fine pairing to a delicious desert, but as a source of energy.

So today I offer a Coffee Frappe you can get at Café 429. I drink my coffee black now, but here’s a sweet treat that my customers seem to love. It’s the perfect way to cool down on a hot day.

COFFEE FRAPPE
Serves 1

INGREDIENTS
- 3 coffee ice cubes (see below)
- ½-cup whole milk
- ¼-cup reduced-fat evaporated milk
- 1 packet artificial sweetener or 1 Tablespoon superfine sugar

Combine all the ingredients in a blender and blend at high speed until smooth. Pour into a tall chilled glass.

COFFEE ICE CUBES and RECIPE NOTES
- Next tine there is part of a pot of coffee left over, think of this refreshing pick-me-up. Pour the coffee into ice cube trays and, once frozen, transfer the cubes to a sealable bag and keep it in the freezer. (This
also can be used for iced coffee – it helps make the coffee stronger as the ice melts, instead of watering it down!)

- Take this recipe from naughty to light by substituting soymilk or skim milk for the whole milk and evaporated milk. The texture will be icy rather than smooth and creamy, but the taste is still delicious.

An article from Spoiler TV

[source]

Kevin & Scotty: A Strong Message To Society
Posted by dominic brown at Friday, October 29, 2010

Hello everybody, I wonder if you watched “Brothers & Sisters” last Sunday, and if you did, how did you react to Scotty’s confession. By the way, it looks like next episode “An Ideal Husband” is mostly concerned about the Kevin/Scotty issue. And that’s what we’re gonna talk about in this week’s article.

It’s nothing new that Kevin and Scotty relationship is one of the most representative for gay/lesbians couples. Their story went through the issues of every normal straight couple, showing that being married to a same-sex partner it’s nothing different than being married to a different-sex partner, and that’s what I think caught most of the attention of LGBT community, and not only it. Same-sex couples is one of the issues that are still opened in today’s society and it’s anything but easy to “deal with” and personally, I appreciate how the writers decided through these years to face this kind of matters. I think it’s a strong and important message to all the people that gays are normal, in the good and bad things.

Of course, some things are more difficult, like getting married and trying to have a baby and it’s something that Kevin and Scotty had to deal with during these years: they got married with a commitment ceremony, tried to have a baby through surrogacy, and dealt with discrimination (remember season 3?) on the workplace and of the parents. But all of this had the chance to teach something and to show something relevant.

Kevin and Scotty are loved by all “Brothers & Sisters” viewers because of the honesty, the clearness and the sweetness of their relationship, one of the best among the other Walker siblings (since Sarah divorced, Kitty almost divorced and cheated, Tommy divorced and cheated, Justin divorced). But now, the time has come for them to face one the biggest issue a couple could ever go through: cheating.

We must say that maybe the “cheating card” was overused on this show, but that opens up these characters to new horizons in terms of storyline and in terms of acting, and there’s no way they’re gonna let us down! Mostly because we know (and here I yell at you “SPOILER”) that they’re gonna adopt a baby girl, Olivia, and even this will lead to a stronger and more important message to society: gay couples can look after and raise a baby like all the other couples can!

LGBT community should be glad to these writers who made a hard choice in exploring so deeply these characters: it’s almost an experiment of how things can work out in a gay couple! I’m personally sure that all of this will help people who gone through issues like that and people who are still close-minded! On a personal note, I just would love to see Kevin and Scotty (maybe accompanied by the tremendous Nora) to a L.A. parade for gay rights! That would totally be as hilarious as important to show! And.. Since Proposition 8 got cancelled, we could get to see another Kevin and Scotty real marriage, who knows...

For now, just watch this Sunday, the brand new episode of “Brothers & Sisters”!


Dominic Brown

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Brothers & Sisters more clips (S5E6)

Matthew Rhys directed 508

Matthew Rhys directed Brothers & Sisters Season 5 Episode 8, "The Rhapsody Of The Flesh" which will be aired on the 14th of November, 2010.

LUC'S TROUBLESOME MOTHER STIRS THE ROMANTIC WATERS AMONG THE WALKERS, ON ABC'S "BROTHERS & SISTERS"
Sonia Braga Guest Stars as Luc's Mother
Matthew Rhys Directs

"The Rhapsody of the Flesh" - The charms and well intended matchmaking antics of Luc's visiting mother, Gabriela (guest-starring Sonia Braga), quickly turn to high drama as she sticks her nose in Nora's romantic affairs, on ABC's "Brothers & Sisters," SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 14 (10:01-11:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Walker, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Gilles Marini as Luc Laurent, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

Guest starring are John Terry as Dr. Karl, Sara Erikson as Kimberly, Jessica Parker Kennedy as Angie and Sonia Braga as Gabriela Laurent.

"The Rhapsody of the Flesh" was written by Molly Newman and directed by Matthew Rhys.

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Brothers & Sisters preview (S5E6)

Side Dish - 24th Oct

Side Dish from ABC, Brothers & Sisters.

4AM

It’s 4am and I haven’t slept a wink. My mind has been racing all night about what my life will look like now.

Last night a lot of dark and painful things from my past came rushing to the present. It’s in these moments that you want to be supported by a loving family. Of course, if you’ve hurt the people in your family, that can be almost impossible. And while I am not typically an emotional eater I do think there are certain recipes that can invoke strong memories of better times. And when you don’t have your family around – whether they are physically (or emotionally) distant – sometimes all it takes is a taste of something familiar to bring you back home.



As some readers know, I have not really had much of a relationship with my mother. But I do love her deeply in spite of our differences; I don’t care how old you are, there are some points in your life, when there is nothing you want more than being close to your mom. So this week I am going to make her simple and delicious Buttermilk-Soaked Fried Chicken and think of happier times at home.

BUTTERMILK-SOAKED FRIED CHICKEN
Serves 4
Ingredients

- 1 chicken (about 3 ½ pounds), cut into eighths

- 1 ½ cups buttermilk

- 1 tablespoon salt

- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

- All-purpose flour

- Vegetable shortening or vegetable oil as needed (about 1 ½ cups)

· The simplest way to get pieces of chicken down to the right size for frying is to buy a chicken already cut into eighths, available in most supermarkets.

Technique

1) Trim any overhanging fat from the chicken pieces. If there are pieces of the backbone attached to the thigh and breast pieces, cut them off with kitchen shears. Cut off any wing tips. (Save the backbones, wing tips and giblets for broth!) Cut each breast in half crosswise with a sharp, heavy knife.

2) Stir the buttermilk, salt and cayenne pepper together in a large bowl. Add the chicken pieces and toss gently to coat with seasoned buttermilk. Cover and refrigerate at least 4 hours or up to overnight.

3) When ready to fry, spread the flour out in a generous layer on a baking sheet. Have ready a wire cooling rack set over a baking sheet. Lift each piece of chicken from the buttermilk, holding it over the bowl and wiping off all but a light layer of buttermilk. Lay as many of the chicken pieces in the flour as fit without touching. Clean and dry your hands. Shake the baking sheet to turn and evenly coat the chicken pieces, then turn them by hand to make sure they are lightly but evenly coated. Lift the chicken, tap off any excess flour and set, skin-side up, on the rack. Repeat with the remaining chicken.

4) Melt enough shortening in (or pour enough oil into) a wide deep skillet to fill 1 inch. (A 10-inch cast-iron skillet will hold half a chicken.) Heat over medium heat to 325 degrees F. If you don’t have a deep-drying thermometer, dip the handle of a wooden spoon in the oil. When it is hot enough, the handle will send out a steady, lively stream of tiny bubbles. Lay as many pieces of coated chicken, skin-side down, into the pan as will fit comfortably, leaving a little space between each. Don’t move the chicken until it begins to brown, or the delicate coating will stick to the pan. Adjust the heat so there is a steady, not riotous, sizzling. If there is any spattering or if the chicken starts to brown even slightly before 4 minutes, the heat is definitely up too high. Cook until the underside is a deep golden brown, about 12 minutes. Flip and cook the second side. If the heat was regulated properly, the chicken should be fully cooked. Check by inserting the tip of an instant-reading thermometer into the thickest part of each chicken piece closest to the bone. The temperature should be 165 degrees F or above.

Alternatively: Poke the tip of a pairing knife into the thickest part of each piece right down to the bone. Wait a second or two; the juices that run out must be clear, not pink, in order for the chicken to be safe to eat.

If the chicken browns before it is fully cooked, simply finish cooking the chicken, testing as above, on a baking sheet in a 375 degree F oven.

NOTE: The chicken can be served warm or at room temperature. If you’d like the serve the chicken warm, preheat the oven to 200 degrees F. Fry the drumsticks and thighs first, drain them, and keep them warm on a baking sheet in the oven while frying the breast and wing pieces.

Brothers & Sisters S5E5

"Call Mom"

Oh, boy. Oh, boy, Scotty. I knew it though.

An article from SX News

An article [source]

Beam me up, Scotty: Luke Macfarlane
25 October 2010

When it comes to gay characters and storylines, Brothers and Sisters is among the select few that gives them prominence on mainstream television. And this is thanks, in large part, to out actor Luke Macfarlane.

The relationship between Kevin Walker and Scotty Wandell on Brothers and Sisters, one of the best-rating dramas on American television, has arguably been a watershed for gay rights. Their courtship, intimacies and eventual wedding have played out in millions of lounge rooms around the world. As Kevin and Scotty prepare to have a baby, Canadian actor Luke MacFarlane, who plays Scotty, talks about his character, the politics of the show, and craft of acting.

It's been a pretty interesting year for Brothers and Sisters. Talk about what stands out to you with regards to the storyline.

I guess this year was a big storyline for us with this, kind of, 'How do two men have a baby?' story, which I think is an important area. And they've been taking their time with it and addressing the details really carefully so [I'm] really, really impressed with that story line and the boldness of [US network] ABC going out there and telling their story.

Certainly something big was playing out back in the US with regards to the politics and everything too.

Yes, absolutely. Totally. Well, there seems to always something terrible happening to the gays in the media, so ... there's always some big story about it. Actually, I remember hearing this controversy when Adam Lambert who was refused an interview or something like that. Do you remember the story too?

Yeah. I remember the season of American Idol and also following up, yes.

Right. And I remember listening to some talk radio program and they were saying the "ABC and the news media coverage, they're not letting Adam Lambert go on and it is just a shame, it's awful". And I felt like calling him in and saying, "ABC has these incredible gay story lines that are being represented in both Brothers and Sisters and Modern Family".

Do you guys feel like a certain sense of responsibility because you are on the front lines with that particular kind of topical theme that's happening?

Sure. I mean, everybody takes their storylines really seriously, so yeah, in some sense I think we're doing good things. I was actually friendly with one of the lawyers that was responsible for this new federal case which is trying to overturn some of the legislation at federal level of proposition 8. And he said that quite often, Brothers and Sisters was used as a conversation pointer, that it was a sort of good representation of a gay healthy couple to others. That was encouraging.

How long do you think that it will be for gays who want to ever really be something accepted by everyone?

Who knows? You know, all you can continue to do is look forward and generally, politically speaking, all political movements kind of move towards inclusion, so we'll see it one day.

Has it restricted you in terms of your career?

Sure, absolutely. I mean, one never knows. I've been fortunate enough to be on a show that's lasted for more than three episodes, which is not often the case in television. So, there's certainly concern about what life will bring after, but, you know, life's short. Then you die.

Are there any other projects looming that you'd like to work on?

I began in the theatre and that's always been my passion. I went to Juilliard and started in New York, so actually, right before we go back to work, I'm going to New York to work on a musical which is new for me. And it's actually a one-man musical.

A one-man musical? Excellent. Singing and dancing?

No, no dancing. I cannot dance. I wish I could. So, this is something that a good friend of mine has written and he's a fantastic writer and I've done his plays before and hopefully this will have a life of its own, and I can go right from Brothers and Sisters to my touring one-man show.

This is quite a different thing.

It is, yes.

What kind of emotion you have in one side and then the other one?

Well, the theatre is great. I mean it is really the actor's medium. Television is the producer's medium and film is the director's medium. So, I think actors love going back to the theatre so they can kind of get back to a little bit of the control.

And do you know Scotty very well?

I'm getting to know him better. It took me a little bit of a while to get to know him, but I think I started off in a very different place than I ended up now. But that's part of the joy of getting to figure a character out over a long period of time.

Brothers & Sisters got extended by 4 episodes

I felt that Brothers & Sisters would be finished by this season because it was set only 19 episodes, but they ordered four more episodes so probably we will have another season.

ABC Orders More Scripts for No Ordinary Family, Off the Map, Brothers & Sisters
Oct 14, 2010 06:00 PM ET by Natalie Abrams

ABC has ordered additional scripts for No Ordinary Family, Off the Map and Brothers & Sisters, network reps confirm.
No Ordinary Family, which debuted to 10.5 million viewers, got an additional four scripts. Brothers & Sisters' previously shortened fifth season also has four scripts added, rounding out the total to an even 22-episode order.
Off the Map, the midseason medical drama from executive producer Shonda Rhimes and creator Jenna Bans, had one script added to its lineup. The series should debut in early 2011.

[source]

Side Dish - 18th Oct

Side Dish from ABC, Brothers & Sisters.

Cooper picks a recipe!

In honor of my nephew Cooper’s portrayal of Romeo in his school play this week I let him pick which recipe we feature in today’s blog.When I asked what he’d like to see featured, he shrugged: “Spaghetti?”

Spaghetti?! No! We have to find some clever play on words that will tie back to your play.

Star-Crossed Lover Breakfast Strata
Montague Stew
Friar Lawrence Burrito
To Be or Nachos To Be (Oops! Wrong Play)
Rugelach & Jam

“Rugelach and Jam?” Cooper asked, “

Rugelach & Jam – R&J?, Romeo & Juliet? Get it?? To which Cooper said, “Does anyone even read your blog”?

Perhaps I was putting to much emphasis on the name; to paraphrase the Bard “spaghetti by any other name would still taste as sweet. “ Which brings me to my Penne with Spiced Vodka Sauce. It’s a recipe I don’t have on the menu at the restaurant, but one I enjoy making for friends and family at home.

I tried one last time to talk to Coop: if there was a character named Vodka in the play or if Mercutio made a Rye Vodka it’d be a different story, but they don’t.And Penne with Spicy Verona-odka Sauce doesn’t have a ring to it.

But Cooper didn’t give up on me: “The play is set in Italy. Spaghetti is Italian food, right?”

He had me there. I guess my recipe for “It-Is-The-East-and-Juliet-is-the-Sun Dried Tomato Vinaigrette” will have to wait.

Although all the alcohol cooks off, I think Cooper likes to pretend he is drinking when he eats this. Of course, I like to make this because I can pretend to be cooking while I’m drinking. ;)

Enjoy!So now I turn to you, my loyal readers (who I have convinced Cooper DO exist). Can any of you come up with a good R&J-themed name for this dish??

Penne with Spiced Vodka Sauce

Serves 4

Salt
2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
2 garlic cloves, minced
½ teaspoons crushed hot red pepper (or less)
¼ cup vodka
1 and ¼ cups strained tomatoes*
½ cup light cream
¾ pound penne rigati or regular penne (about 4 ½ cups)
12 large fresh basil leaves, cut crosswise into thin strips
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
1 and ½ cups fresh mozzarella, cut into ½-inch dice

* Strained tomatoes, available in “Sterile-pack” containers are lighter and fresher tasting than canned tomato puree. If canned puree is all you can find, use 1 cup puree thinned with ½ cup water.

1.Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.

2.Meanwhile, heat the olive oil in a large skillet. Add the garlic and hot pepper and cook, shaking the pan, until you can just smell the garlic. Remove the pan from the heat and pout in the vodka – carefully; even off the heat it may ignite. When the boiling stops, return the pan to the heat and stir in the strained tomatoes. Season lightly with salt. Bring to a simmer, adjust to the head so the sauce is simmering and cook for 5 minutes.(The sauce can be prepared to this point up to 2 days in advance. Refrigerate and heat to simmering before continuing.) Turn off the heat and stir in the cream.

3. Stir the penne into the boiling water. Cook, stirring occasionally, under tender but still firm (there should be a slight ring of white in the center of the penne when one is bitten into). Reserve ½ cup of the cooking liquid and drain the pasta.

4. Return the penne to the pot, scrape in the sauce, and add the basil. Stir over low heat, adding some of the reserved liquid, if necessary, to make a sauce that lightly coats the pasta. Taste and add salt if necessary. Remove from the heat and stir in the Parmesan and mozzarella, if using. Serve from a platter of ladle into warm shallow bowls.

I don't know why I didn't see a picture at first time. I found it now so I put it on here.

Brothers & Sisters S5E4

"Righteous Kiss"

Human Rights Campaign

[source - deleted]

Human Rights Campaign
2010 Chicago Gala

NO EXCUSES - November 6, 2010

Important: Please note change of venue to the Fairmont Chicago

JUST ANNOUNCED!

Guest Speaker
Luke Macfarlane
Luke made his feature film début in Bill Condon’s KINSEY, opposite Liam Neeson and Laura Linney. He also starred in Robert Altman’s TANNER ON TANNER, a limited series for the Sundance Channel, opposite Cynthia Nixon. On the stage, Luke starred in the WHERE DO WE LIVE, written and directed by Chris Shinn at the Vineyard Theater, as well as the play JUVENILIA. Most recently, Luke has starred in the Playwright’s Horizons production of THE BUSY WORLD IS HUSHED opposite Jill Clayburgh.

Luke is a graduate of The Juilliard Drama Division, where he starred in the productions of ‘The School of Night,’ ‘Blue Window,’ 'The Grapes of Wrath,' and 'As You Like It.’

Luke is best known for his role on ABC’s hit television series BROTHERS AND SISTERS. He is also known for his work on the critically acclaimed Steven Bochco FX series, OVER THERE and Luke most recently starred in the CBC mini-series IRON ROAD leading an all-star cast including Peter O’Toole and Sam Neill.

Luke hails from London, Ontario and resides in Los Angeles.

Brothers & Sisters Spoiler for 5.06(An article from Playbill.com)

Christopher J. Hanke Will Cause Trouble on ABC's "Brothers and Sisters"
By Andrew Gans
12 Oct 2010
Christopher J. Hanke, most recently on Broadway in Cry-Baby, will be seen in the Oct. 31 broadcast of "Brothers and Sisters."

The episode, which is entitled "An Ideal Husband," will also feature guest star Jeremy Davidson.

"Everyone in the Walker family is willing to forgive and forget Scotty's infidelity," according to press notes. "But when the family all put their best foot forward to help them reunite, things end up in a fist fight. Meanwhile Jack is reinvigorated by being back in the city and starts to pursue new ventures, but Kitty can't seem to picture herself in this new life, and Sarah and Luc share some exciting news with the family."

"Brothers & Sisters" stars Dave Annable as Justin Walker, Sally Field as Nora Holden, Calista Flockhart as Kitty Walker, Rachel Griffiths as Sarah Walker, Luke Macfarlane as Scotty Wandell, Gilles Marini as Luc Laurent, Matthew Rhys as Kevin Walker, Ron Rifkin as Saul Holden and Patricia Wettig as Holly Harper.

"An Ideal Husband" was written by David Marshall Grant and Michael J. Cinquemani and direct ed by Bethany Rooney.

"Brothers and Sisters" airs Sundays at 10 PM ET on ABC.
Hanke, who was seen in the Public Theater's presentation of Hair at the Delacorte, has appeared in the Broadway musicals Cry-Baby, Rent and In My Life. His national touring credits include Big River, The Full Monty and Fame. Hanke has been seen on screen in "Clear Blue Tuesday," "Killing the Badge," "A Children's Miracle," "Marsh" and "Sam Sung."

[source]

Brothers & Sisters S5E3

"Faking It"

Luke Macfarlane and Matthew Rhys interviewed on ET Canada

Luke Macfarlane and Matthew Rhys interviewed on ET Canada

Side Dish - 8th Oct

Side Dish from ABC, Brothers & Sisters.

Grilled Cheese

One of my favorite tips for home chefs is to perfect a recipe that is both simple to execute and endlessly adaptable. (Loyal readers will know that simple food is a mantra of mine…all the way back to my very first blog entry!) Once you learn the basics of a Provencal-style gratin, for example, you can (re)make it with whatever is fresh and locally available (Swiss Chard, Spinach and Rice is one of my favorites!) and keep tweaking it throughout the year. Serve it hot. Serve it cold. Substitute quinoa for the rice. Try it with some squash. It's a great way to keep a favorite fresh. Maybe one day I'll share my gratin recipe, but today I've decided to illustrate my point with something more universally enjoyed: the grilled cheese sandwich.

Almost every adult I know loves grilled cheese in its many variations almost as much as kids do. So here are my tips to make the perfect classic grilled cheese sandwich. Enjoy it with a light salad or, for those cold falls days, a cup of delicious tomato soup. It can be the perfect family meal.

TIPS FOR COOKING A GREAT GRILLED CHEESE:

• Use a heavy, flat (cast iron is perfect) skillet or griddle over medium-low heat.
• Longer, slow cooking makes for delectably crunchy bread and thoroughly melted cheese. DON'T RUSH IT.
• Spread about one tablespoon of butter over both sides of the sandwich, dividing it evenly.
• When you set the bread into the skillet, there should barely be a sizzle. Cook until it is crisp and deep golden brown. This should take 4-5 minutes. If the sandwich is browning faster than that, lower the heat.
• Instead of butter you can cook the sandwich in about a tablespoon of olive oil. Just pour enough oil in the skillet to make a thin, even film. Grill the sandwich as in the butter method, but lift it and replenish the oil before flipping.

Now how about some ideas to make….GRILLED CHEESE GONE FANCY

• If you're using butter to grill the sandwich, press herb leaves into the butter before grilling.
• Match the herb to the filling: parsley for a plain grilled cheese, basil for grilled cheese and tomato, or cilantro for the grilled pepper jack and chicken below…

You've probably tried grilled cheese with tomatoes, crisp bacon or deli meats, but here are some other of my favorite ways to class up a simple grilled cheese, in case you can't make it into Cafe 429:

Each makes 1 sandwich.

SUN-DRIED TOMATO GOAT CHEESE

Beat ¼-cup of softened goat cheese with 2 tablespoons of fine chopped sun-dried tomatoes (soaked and drained, if necessary) until smooth. Season liberally with freshly ground black pepper. Spread over one slice of bread, top with the other and grill with butter or oil.

SMOKED GOUDA AND MUSHROOM

Toss ½-cup coarsely grated smoked Gouda and ¼-cup coarsely chopped cooked mushrooms together into a small bowl. Pile onto one slice of break, top with the other and grill with butter or oil.

PEPPER JACK AND CHICKEN

Toss ½-cup coarsely grated pepper jack cheese and 1/3-cup shredded cooked chicken (or turkey) together in a small bowl. Pile onto one slice of bread, top with another an grill with butter or oil.

What is YOUR favorite way to make a grilled cheese??

Side Dish - 4th Oct

Side Dish - Scotty's Food Blog from ABC, Brothers & Sisters.

Maria! I just met a girl named Maria!”

No this is not a blog about a production of WEST SIDE STORY. Instead it’s a Story about a woman from the West Side (of LA) named Maria who has been coming to CAFÉ 429 religiously since we opened. She always has a huge smile on her face, but she is notoriously camera shy and did not like the idea of having her picture taken for this blog.


Just after we opened I was in the kitchen tweaking my new apple tart recipe and I decided to let Maria be my taster. She was thrilled at the opportunity and talked about both incarnations of the dessert with the kind enthusiasm and passion for food a chef loves to see.

As a thank you, the very next day Maria brought me some of her “Secret Recipe Chocolate Chip Cheese Squares.” And let me tell you here and now: these squares are divine. They literally melted in my mouth and I knew I needed the recipe.

But Maria was tight-lipped. It was her secret recipe, she explained. Everyone who has ever tried them has wanted the recipe, but she explained with a smile, she simply refuses to give it away. But I can get a stubborn as a Walker when I want something. So I didn’t stop asking (and occasionally trying to bribe her with free food) for days. Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. Until finally today she came in and gave me the recipe.

What’s more? She agreed to let me share it with all of you. Well the interaction went more like this:

Scotty: Can I print this recipe on my blog? Maria: I don’t know….ummm…if I say “No” are you going to ask me every day until I say “Yes” again?

She smiled.

Scotty: That’s exactly what it means! Maria: Then by all means, put it on your blog!

So there you go. I encourage you to make Maria’s delicious cheese squares, but remember…this recipe is secret!

(I used to be able to keep secrets. Maybe those Walkers are rubbing off on me more than I thought…)

Chocolate Chip Cheese Squares

Preheat the oven to 350

2 8oz packs of cream cheese(soften)
2 eggs
1 cup of sugar
1 tsp of vanilla
2 rolls of cookie dough(frozen)


Mix the cream cheese, vanilla, eggs and sugar in a large mixing bowl. You can begin to whip the mixture once it blends.This way you will have a light yet think cheesecake filling.
While the cheese mixture is whipping you can cut one roll of cookie dough and line the bottom of a 9x13 non stick baking pan. Pour in cream cheese mixture
Cut the other roll of cookie dough to place on top
Bake for 35-40mins-until toothpick comes out clean.
Cut into squares and refrigerate for at least 3 hours (serve cold)
You can freeze them to serve later (we like to eat them out of the freezer

Brothers & Sisters S5E2

"Brief Encounter"

Oh, my goodness! Scotty is so hot! You should wear those clothing more often.

IN Toronto Magazine

Brother in arms
by Gordon Bowness

TV’s sexy taboo-buster, Luke Macfarlane


Luke Macfarlane is the sexiest gay on TV — an out actor playing a well-rounded gay character on network television. The 30-year-old Canadian plays Scotty Wandel on the ABC serial drama Brothers and Sisters (now in its fifth season on Global), a character who has smashed taboos south of the border.

The commitment ceremony between him and his partner Kevin Walker (played by Matthew Rhys) was the first-ever gay marriage by continuing characters on a US network (broadcast the same year as California’s notorious Prop 8 banning same-sex marriage). Last season, Kevin and Scotty began planning for a child through surrogacy. And the two men’s relationship is portrayed as physically passionate; no missing nor chaste kisses on this show.

Macfarlane is humble in the face of such controversial fare.

“I think the writers are doing something controversial. I’m just saying the words on the page,” he says. “I do feel a part of it, though; it’s wonderful.

“I’m quite proud of the fact that we told the story of how two people meet, how they fall in love, how they break up, how they fall in love again and how, ultimately, they build a life together, including kids, and integrate it into a wild family.”

Last season ended with a bang, a bloody car crash that will impact greatly the sprawling Walker family headed by matriarch Nora (Sally Field). Leads Rob Lowe and Emily VanCamp are gone and this season picks up one year later. “It’s been a year of tragedy for the family,” says Macfarlane. “A lot has happened since the car accident. In a strange sort of way it sets a tone that’s different for the show, it’s a little bit darker.”

MacFarlane is looking forward to taking his character into new territory. Given the Walker family’s penchant for drama, in many ways, Scotty and Kevin’s relationship is the most normal on the series. “Scotty is kind of the perfect guy, and Kevin and Scotty have almost the perfect relationship. But we’re actually in the middle of taping an episode that calls all that into question, which I’m pretty thrilled about. I’ve always thought that Scotty lets Kevin get away with way too much shit.”

Macfarlane was born and raised in London, Ontario. After high school, the LB Pearson School of the Arts, he bypassed Toronto and headed straight to New York to attend Juilliard to study drama. He graduated in 2003. LA soon beckoned. “So I’ve never did the whole Canadian thing.”

He did nab a leading role in the 2008 CBC miniseries Iron Road. “I had a great experience. I had always wanted to go to China. And we had an excellent cast, who I’ll never get to work with again: Peter O’Toole, Tony Leung and Sam Neill.

“I remember from my childhood these epic CBC miniseries… so it felt like I am a part of it, now.”

Notwithstanding Canadian progress on gay rights, Macfarlane is continually struck by how different the US and Canada are. “They do really feel like two different places,” he says. “The stereotype is true — Canadians are nicer.”

Is he worried about American reaction to that observation? “Oddly, I think Americans sort of pride themselves on not being nice,” he says, laughing. “I don’t think they’re going, ‘Ah, gee. I wish we were nicer.’”

Kevin, are you listening?

Macfarlane came out to the media in 2008. “It’s odd being put in the situation where you feel you have to talk about it, that it’s the right thing to do to talk about it.

I certainly never regret it, but I guess I was a little bit naïve to think that once you come out, you are done. I think it’s something that’s been said before, but coming out is almost a lifelong process. It’s been very strange for me.

“Not that I don’t want to talk about my sexuality, I guess I’ve just run out of things to say.”

Despite his leading man good looks, Macfarlane may have narrowed his career options by coming out. He remains hopeful, however. “The only thing I can say is that I don’t know…. Society tends towards inclusion — in my lifetime it certainly has. So I’ll be part of that movement towards [gay actors] being leading men, because that’s the direction everyone wants to go.”

[source]

Love this article (interview).

Side Dish - 27th Sep

Side Dish - Scotty's Food Blog from ABC, Brothers & Sisters.

What a year it has been.

First, let me apologize to all of my readers for leaving you blog-less for the last few months. After the accident, my life (and Kevin’s… and…well, everyone’s!) has been turned upside down. But with Justin home from another tour of duty in Afghanistan, with Kitty finally making important decisions about her life and as I steal a quiet moment in the dining room of my new restaurant, I can honestly say…it feels good to be home.


With all the changes in my life will also come a change in my blog. Don’t worry, it’s not going anywhere. I’ll still share my favorite recipes as well as pictures and stories from my life.

But I’m in the process of redesigning the look and feel of the blog to more closely match that of the new restaurant I opened with Saul, CAFÉ 429.


Any new restaurant has its share of hiccups and growing pains and CAFÉ 429 has been no exception, but it truly is a labor of love. I designed it to be a comfortable place to visit, whether you are popping in for a cup of espresso and one of Saul’s homemade biscotti or to enjoy a meal with the people you care about most. It’s my hope that when you walk through the door and take a seat you can also say...

It feels good to be home.