Soup of the Week

Go figure . . . Saturday it was 92 degrees. Today (Monday) it is 65 degrees. Only in Michigan can we go from one extreme to another. But that's okay by me, because that means I can fix this great soup for the cooler weather.

If you like ham and bean soup, but don't want to spend hours in the kitchen, this tasty and timely version will leave you with a satisfied smile.

Ham & Bean Soup

2 carrots, sliced

2 celery ribs, chopped

Chopped onion

2 tablespoons butter

4 cans (15 1/2 oz each) great northern beans, rinsed & drained

4 cups chicken broth

2 cups cubed fully cooked ham

1 teaspoon chili powder

Minced garlic

Pepper

1 bay leaf

In a large saucepan, saute the carrots, celery and onion in butter until tender. Stir in the remaining ingredients; cook for 15 minutes or until heated through. Discard bay leave before serving.

The Riches: Been There, Done That

I'm really looking forward to seeing Dale come knocking on the Riches front door, hopefully looking like Nicholson in The Shining, but I know I'm going to have to wait for that. That's fine though, because there are plenty of other tales to tell.

Jolinda, for instance. This was good, although I was pretty sure that she was going to show up to meet Doug in person. And almost convinced of it when Hugh pointed out to Wayne that ex-wives always find you. Having Wayne and Dahlia head that one off at the pass actually worked out even better though.

The con aspect of the story was good, and well crafted. Not only was Dwayne able to solve the Jolinda problem, he also managed to ingratiate himself with Jim by unloading his bum alpaca. And by my calculations, he even managed to make 20 grand in the process. As good a result as they could have hoped for.

What sold me on the whole caper though, was the phone call.Wayne and Dahlia have an unconventional relationship. The vast majority of us manage to make it through without having to worry about meth addictions, traveler families bent on revenge, or the threat of someone discovering we are living in a dead guys house. That's a lot of extra baggage to stack on top of the normal relationship trials. It's asking for drama.

I thought they handled it beautifully here when Wayne called Dahlia, making the fake phone call to Doug. There's a moment in there where the conversation turns, and they aren't talking about Doug and Jolinda anymore. They are finally having a long overdue conversation about Wayne and Dahlia. It's never going to be easy for them, it's just not who they are. The revelations about just what kind of a person the real Doug was were also interesting. That could certainly lead to more surprises popping up.

I really like Dahlia with Nina. She is just such a crazy character. Her little rundown of the neighbors and their obsessions was the funniest scene of the night. I was left a little confused by the scene with Hugh feeling up Dahlia in the bathroom. A little creepy, and kind of came out of nowhere. There has to be more coming from that later.

The one scene that I felt didn't work was Wayne at work. Doug meeting with Homeowners against Panco certainly had its moments. "We're completely against anyone blowing up... we take those grenades and we turn them into lemonade." There was just no end to it. Why would that make an angry mob of homeowners just leave? It's a case of things being a little too easy for the fake Doug. Wayne should have had to struggle more with that one.

Meanwhile, DiDi is off blending in. I suspect that we are going to see more of Eric as time goes by. For now, I think her time with him, as well as seeing her excel in the classroom, continue to hint that DiDi is warming up to the buffer life much quicker than her brother or her mother. She is her father's daughter.

Cael, on the other hand, isn't really conforming to this new life. He did manage to make a couple friends, but doing so by reverting back to what he knows, says as much about him as the classroom scene says about where DiDi is headed. We also got some resolution on those Tammy phone calls. I really liked that scene. They did a nice job of making Tammy suspicious without making it obvious, so Cael's reaction was just right. He also showed that he has been paying attention to his father. The call to the police was a nice call back to Wayne explaining that cops are the buffer's friends.

And finally, a great ending. Cael managed to thwart Dale's attempt to flush them out, but they've now set up the next chapter of the ongoing story because the family knows where they are. I'm looking forward to see where this goes next.

Prison Break: SONA Season Finale

I knew this episode was going to begin with a quick recap of the season, but I had no idea we would be treated to the parade of haircuts that we saw. I kind of miss Linc's bald head.

I must admit that by the time the opening credits kicked in, my heart was racing. There were so many loose ends to tie up. Could it possibly be done in just one hour? It's the kind of task that only Michael Scofield himself could accomplish.

The best thing about this finale is that every single character acted exactly the way they should. Nobody steeped out of character, even though Sucre was three pints low, all he could think about was Maricruz. I mean, I'm sure guys have been hung up on a chick before, but he took it to the next level. I can't wait to see what happens.

Kellerman finally did something good. Now before you accuse him of being out of character, remember he had no options. He had lost his job, his credibility and any chance of finally hooking up with Carolyn. He knew it was time to either go out like a man or go to the next level. Personally, I'm not convinced he's dead. Without an actual body, I can't believe anything. I can't wait to see what happens.

Just when you think Mahone can't get any crazier, he surprises you. I'm a little torn, though. I don't know whether I should praise Alex for his desire to reconnect with his family or chastise him for stupidly of forgetting about Mr. Kim. Doesn't Mr. Kim always show up when he's least expected?

Speaking of showing up unexpectedly, I don't know how Sara got to Panama so fast and I don't care. The reunion warmed my heart almost as much as seeing her take out Mr. Kim. His forgetting about Sara could also be considered out of character, but it made perfect sense to me. After suffering so many setbacks, he was bound to make a mistake. I can't wait to see what happens.

The big question, of course, is what the hell is going on at SONA? Was getting Michael to SONA the endgame in all of this? Will he be the guinea pig in some awesome government experiment? Can Bellick suffer any more humiliation? I must admit, as pitiful as Brad looked laying there on the concrete, I had to smile. It was the epitome of comeuppance.

In closing, I want to point out the real crime on Prison Break. The fact that nobody connected with this show ever wins an Emmy. The acting, the writing, the directing are all some of the best on television and as far as next season is concerned, I can't wait to see what happens.

CSI: Empty Eyes

Well this wasn't the best episode of CSI, but it still had its high points. I know it's a lot to ask to have every episode tie together and not stand alone, but I was really hoping for some more stuff on The Miniature Killer.

What we did get was a look at Sara how this job is affecting her. I've always known that she was the most emotional member of the Vegas team, but it really came through on this case. I suppose holding the hand of someone who's about to die will do that to you. However, as I said, despite the mediocrity of the episode as a whole, there were a few really good high points.

First up was Hodges. I've always loved what his character adds to the show, but we got something from him here that's never really been explored before. Despite his sarcastic, know-it-all attitude, the guy is human. While processing evidence from the showgirl murders, one of the victims cell phones rang. Hodges got saddled with the responsibility of telling a mother that her daughter was dead. It led to an interesting exchange between him and Sara where he asked her if she ever felt guilty after doing the right thing. It was just very cool to see this other side of his character.

Next was some closure on the Demtrius James case that Greg was involved with. While I'm glad we got an answer to where this stands, it sort of bugged me that the issue was forgotten and now we just found out that the civil suit was dropped in favor of a payout. It seemed like a lazy way to conclude the issue, especially since it just makes Greg feel guilty (when he isn't). It'll be interesting to see if he pursues this more on his own time. I think he will because earlier in the season, the whole case just seemed too important to him.

The final point I wanted to mention was the guest-starring role from Walton Goggins from The Shield. He was really good as the killer though. Creepy as hell, but really good. When he admitted to doing it, but feeling nothing? That was the line that got me right there.

Lost: Expose

Well, "The Man from Tallahassee" was a tough act to follow, and it is probably unfair to compare the two episodes. This episode had its moments--shirtless Sawyer, double-crosses, and guest star Billy Dee Williams. Nikki and Paulo's story needed to be told, and I think that the writers accomplished what they set out to do.

The Flashback

I actually thought that the earlier parts of the flashback were pretty entertaining. Nikki Hernandez played a character named Corvette in a show that Hurley compared to Baywatch, with strippers. I thought that was Baywatch? From the looks of it, Exposé was a naughtier version of Charlie's Angels, with the incredibly cool Billy Dee Williams as the boss. I'm still in shock after seeing Lando Calrissian on a Lost episode.

Apparently Nikki and Paulo conspired to con, poison, and steal from the show's director, using Nikki as bait. The plan worked, and a remorseless Nikki and Paulo cackled their way into millions of dollars in diamonds. It seemed like a really complicated plan for both Nikki and Paulo to get jobs close to Howard, but it worked, so who am I to judge?

It's safe to say that the plane crash destroyed both the plan and Nikki and Paulo's relationship. It took Nikki about five seconds to shift her attention from a shaken Paulo to the bag o'diamonds. Some familiar faces showed up during the mostly post-crash flashback. Ethan's appearance existed only to lead gullible viewers like me down the "working with the Others" path. How awesome would that have been, though? Leslie Arzt had a scene with Nikki that turned out to be very significant. Nikki should have been paying more attention to his spider lecture. That mistake literally came back to bite her.

Paulo started to catch on to Nikki's priorities, and wisely hid the diamonds from her. His desire to save his relationship was sweet, but I guess that Nikki is not much of a romantic. Once she realized his "betrayal" she coldly threw a poisonous (but not fatal) spider at him. Unfortunately for Nikki, the spider's ability to attract males worked against her. That's why you never trust other women, ladies.

For my money, the best part of the flashback was Nikki and Paulo's one-track mind when it came to the island mysteries. They found Yemi's plane and the Pearl Station, but could not have cared less. Who knew that it was possible for Lost characters to be even less curious about the island? Paulo even overheard Ben and Juliet's ultimate plan for Jack, Kate, and Sawyer, and did not bat an eyelash.

At least the Others' intentions are clear now: Ben cleverly manipulated Jack using his feelings for Kate, and used Michael's love for Walt to get him to deliver the gang.

The Beach

Back in real time, a frantic Nikki buried the diamonds in the jungle and collapsed in front of Hurley and Sawyer. Their exchange about her final words was priceless. Plywood? Power lines? Paulo lies? Detective Hurley decided to investigate, and even Sawyer got into "the case" after they found Paulo in the jungle. As usual, Sawyer was acting out of selfish motives, and only wanted the diamonds.

Sawyer had a lot to juggle during this episode. A guilty Charlie finally spilled the beans to Sun about her fake kidnapping, and Sun took her anger out on Sawyer. Hurley's suspicions also had to be dealt with. After questioning Desmond, Hurley believed that Sawyer was somehow involved in Nikki and Paulo's demise. Sawyer eventually revealed that Nikki asked Sawyer for a gun (presumably to kill Paulo).

I don't want to speak for Paulo, but I would have preferred a nice, quick gunshot to the fate that Paulo received. Nikki didn't fare so well, either. They were both presumed dead and ended up being buried alive with their diamonds. Now that is poetic.

A few final questions/thoughts:

In the crash sequence during Nikki's flashback, she cast a long look up at the sky. Was there something moving quickly through the air?

I loved all of the faux-police talk between Hurley and Sawyer: "perimeter sweep" and "forensics hatch" were my favorites.

Nikki's speech about the spider as Paulo was becoming paralyzed reminded me a lot of Daryl Hannah's snake speech in Kill Bill Vol. 2.

What was the point of the scene where Vincent runs off with the blanket that covered the corpses? Having had dogs, I find that kind of mischief believable, but why throw that in?

Friday Night Lights: Mud Bowl

Excuse me for a moment . . . WOOOOO HOOOOO! The Panthers are going to State!!!!
Ok, with that out of my system, it's time to catch up with our ever-deepening cast of characters.

I'm sure most high schools don't have toxic trains within five miles of the school or stadium. But hey, just like the silly business about playing the state semifinals in a pasture (no coach in his right mind would do that), I can overlook some over-dramatization because I love the people and the stories on this show. I'm anticipating a depression soon when the season ends.

Speaking of Coach Taylor, his response could not have been better when he sees that giant ad for sleazy car dealer, Buddy Garrity, on the side of the stadium. As the old saying goes, he looked like he "had just bit a lemon." No wonder he skips out on playing at a really, really shiny new stadium, and no wonder he's thinking hard about that college job (after all, there's no commercialization in college sports, right?).

Saracen's best friend Landry has been one of my favorite characters all season, and it was good to see him more this week. He had a great line when he told Tyra (with whom he is completely smitten) that he started a math club at school, "but no one showed up to the meetings." And then he was great in the final scenes, after she had been attacked in the parking lot. Admit it, you knew this guy in high school, if you weren't actually him.

Cheerleader girlfriend, Lyla, for all her faults, may have snapped quarterback Jason Street out of his funk (a quick splash of water never hurts). It even got him to finally speak out about the lawsuit; the scene at the settlement conference was a little fuzzy, but apparently he was able to end the whole thing. Now if he can graduate and get through four years of college, he can get a job at Dillon High, teaching PE and coaching JV soccer and the quarterbacks.

Dennis the Menace "Bo" seems to be thrilled at the thought of mopey buddy, Tim Riggins, having sleepovers at his house; next thing you know, he'll be talking about "Uncle Tim Riggins of the Dillon Panthers" all the time.

As silly as playing the state semifinals in a pasture was, the football scenes turned out to be pretty dramatic, including yet another winning score on the last play of the game. And in a bit more dramatic license, the Panthers' opponents in the state finals in Texas Stadium will be West Cambia, current home of spurned quarterback VooDoo Tatum. Somebody else is headed for double-secret probation, we suspect.

Highlight:
Saracen takes so much grief from people, it's fun to hear him dish it out occasionally, as when he gets on the love-struck Landry about his "study date" with Tyra: "It's gonna be a huge night. I mean, you're gonna square a lot of numbers, maybe figure out a quadratic equation or something . . . it's adorable, what you're doing."

Soup & a DVD - Garden State

I dressed up canned minestrone to make this shortcut soup that's loaded with colorful vegetables.

Fast Vegetable Soup

1 can (19 oz) ready-to serve minestrone soup

1 package (16 oz) frozen mixed vegetables

1 can corn, drained

1 can black beans, rinsed and rained

1 can (14 1/2 oz) Italian diced tomatoes, undrained.

Combine all ingredients. Heat until warmed.

Featured Attraction: Garden State

"Garden State" is yet another one of those so-called "quirky slice-of-life" comedies that is in actuality a depressing piece of misguided melodrama. What makes this type of film work is when the oddball characters ring true in some way (as they did in the far better "Sideways").

The problem with Zach Braff's film is that none of the characters seem real and all their quirks are there for no reason other than their own quirkiness (for instance, the listless druggie who makes millions off inventing silent Velcro or the moron who wears his knight costume to breakfast before going to work at a "Medieval Times" restaurant).

The film isn't totally without its charms. Natalie Portman is delightful and adorable. This is a perfect transition role for her as she matures from precocious child actress to leading lady. She does the most with her overwritten role as an epileptic ex-ice skater with a plethora of pets and an "adopted brother" from one of those Sally Struther's "save the children" campaigns. She comes across as endearing and genuine and is the only one of this motley "Garden State" lot I would want to spend some time with in the real world.

Writer/director Zach Braff, on the other hand, seems to be playing a pill-popping emotionless minor TV star whose mother just died, for no other reason than the fact that he is an emotionless actor who can't pull off any other type of role. His performance is hollow, and only in his scenes with Portman is he acquitted of his obvious self-indulgence.

There's a few mildly entertaining sidebars along the misguided coming-of-age trail (the underground "Grand Canyon" or the dope at the hardware store trying to sell his pals on a pyramid-scheme), and every scene Portman is in is better for it, but when you tack on an annoying folksy soundtrack and a horrible and safe "Hollywood" style ending, I couldn't help but feel cheated.