Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

I really should read my own blog.

If you’re gonna whine, it’s time to resign!

Narcissists are always shocked to discover other people have agency.

We still have time to mess this up!

I see no possible difficulties whatsoever with this fool-proof plan.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

When someone says they “love freedom”, rest assured they don’t mean yours.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

rich, arrogant assholes who equate luck with genius

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

You don’t get rid of your umbrella while it’s still raining.

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

You cannot shame the shameless.

A norm that restrains only one side really is not a norm – it is a trap.

The next time the wall street journal editorial board speaks the truth will be the first.

Trump’s cabinet: like a magic 8 ball that only gives wrong answers.

Let’s not be the monsters we hate.

When I was faster i was always behind.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

Polls are now a reliable indicator of what corporate Republicans want us to think.

You are here: Home / Politics / Domestic Politics / Nailed It (Open Thread)

Nailed It (Open Thread)

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Tada!

It’s not perfect. I think I over-whipped the mascarpone cream frosting a teeny bit — it’s on the verge of grainy, to be honest. But it tastes good, and so far, it appears to be holding up in the fridge rather than collapsing into a puddle. It’s not at all runny.

I really wish I’d read the comments in the earlier thread where someone recommended picking up a cherry pitter/stoner before I returned from shopping. Man, that was a mess. Anyhoo, open thread!

Reader Interactions

95Comments

  2. 2.

    zhena gogolia

    Wow! Stupendous! I wish you had Paul Hollywood and Mary whatsername there to praise you!

    ETA: Mary Berry, how could I forget that, staring at a bunch of berries.

  6. 6.

    Baud

     I think I over-whipped the mascarpone cream frosting a teeny bit 

    Fucking hell, Betty. Really???

    j/k looks fabulous.

  7. 7.

    Yarrow

    Gorgeous! Now I’m hungry!

    In other great news, NBC has picked up “Brooklyn 99.” Yay!

  9. 9.

    Stuart Frasier

    Black Forest gateau is one of my mother’s specialties, along with pavlova. That really looks delicious.

  11. 11.

    chris

    That’s beautiful, BC, well done!

    Thanks also for that recipe and website, I think I gained three pounds looking at the pictures.

  14. 14.

    OzarkHillbilly

    I was just asking about this.

    ETA my only question is, What kind of a card are you giving your MIL cause I don’t think that kind of deliciousness will survive very long in the fridge.

  16. 16.

    Litlebritdifrnt

    That looks beautiful Betty. Black Forest Gateaux is making a come back these days having been as much an 80s favourite as chicken kiev and duck a la’orange. I remember it as a staple of the 80s carvery’s and I absolutely loved it. Then again I love cherries so it goes without saying. Hmmmmm might have to plan on making one myself.

  17. 17.

    arrieve

    The British Bakeoff is my current favorite show. No matter how bad the news is, it’s soothing enough to put me to sleep. But I haven’t attempted any of the confections yet, and now I am desperately craving my own Black Forest gateau.

  18. 18.

    Juju

    Looks great. Don’t worry about the frosting. People who don’t bake don’t know about that issue. I think your cake actually looks better than the one that illustrated the recipe you used. That person didn’t know when to quit with the cherries on top.

  19. 19.

    cope

    A piece of that cake and a big glass of cold milk would be transplendent. I’m sure mom-in-law will love it and appreciate your mighty efforts.

    As for pitting cherries, I’ve had success using the chopstick and bottle method.

  26. 26.

    donnah

    Congratulations! Ya done good, Betty!

    My husband and I celebrated with our two moms today because we’re going out of town tomorrow. They got a lovely lunch at a local steakhouse, a bakery cake (strawberry swirl with buttercream frosting), fresh strawberries and strawberry ice cream! They both seemed happy. And they got potted begonias, too. A nice day for all involved.

  32. 32.

    pat

    Just got home to see this post so maybe someone else has already mentioned it,
    But I want to see you SLICE that lovely thing and serve it.

  35. 35.

    Manyakitty

    Whoa. That looks amazing. I made challah, cinnamon bread, and chicken soup today.

  41. 41.

    SiubhanDuinne

    Betty, that’s beautiful to see, and looks delicious! You have one lucky mother-in-law.

  42. 42.

    geg6

    Beautiful! I admire your courage, Betty. Baking is not my thing and I shy away from it most of the time, though I do make good pies.

    I’m more of a cook. For today, I’m making oven bbq ribs with baked sweet potatoes and roasted Brussels sprouts. Easy peasy, little to no cleanup and dee-lish. Thinking about watching The Post tonight. Anybody see it?

  44. 44.

    scuffletuffle

    Betty, you rock! That cake looks fantastic and i am confident it will be absolutely delicious!

  48. 48.

    Joy in FL

    What a beautiful cake you’ve made. I hope you all have a very happy celebration : )

  49. 49.

    Another Scott

    Nice cake, BC!

    In other news, the pedant in me hates it when any airplane is called a “jet” even when it isn’t.

    TheHill:

    “At approximately 10 a.m. ET, two Alaskan-based NORAD F-22 fighters intercepted and visually identified two Russian TU-95 ‘Bear’ long-range bomber aircraft flying in the Air Defense Identification Zone around the western coast of Alaska, north of the Aleutian Islands,” NORAD and USNORTHCOM spokesman Canadian Army Maj. Andrew Hennessy said in a statement.

    The jets never entered U.S. airspace, according to the report, and turned back after passing the Aleutian Islands.

    The TU-95 ‘Bear’ Bomber is a propeller plane, not a jet. It’s an evolved version of a plane based on copying the US B-29.

    Cheers,
    Scott.

  50. 50.

    J R in WV

    Very nice, a beautiful cake, no doubt delicious as well.

    MMMMmmmmmM! Now I want to make another frabjous dessert!

    Last night I used the immersion blender, a gift from the food gods, to make fresh strawberry milkshakes, with vanilla ice-cream, half-and-half, strawberries, a dash of vanilla extract, blend until creamy. Easy, too, compared to this shining monster of decadence!

  51. 51.

    Jay C

    @Another Scott:
    Via Wikipedia:

    1952, the Tu-95 entered service with the Soviet Union in 1956 and is expected to serve the Russian Air Force until at least 2040

    Geez – a service life of 88 years? Those Russians really know how get the most from their development rubles….

  53. 53.

    Mnemosyne

    Very nice! I agree with SC, though — make sure you have a really sharp knife when you cut it or you’ll end up with a crumbled mess on your plate. And call the first slice your test slice since that’s most likely to be the one that gets messed up.

  55. 55.

    geg6

    @J R in WV:

    Oh, I agree on the wonderfulness of immersion blenders! One of my favorite gifts I’ve ever gotten from my John. Best gadget ever!

  56. 56.

    Mnemosyne

    @Jay C:

    I remember a famous story about the difference between the US and Soviet space programs:

    When both agencies realized that having zero gravity would make it impossible to use a ballpoint pen in space, NASA spent years developing a space pen that wouldn’t be affected by zero gravity.

    The Russians used pencils.

  58. 58.

    NotMax

    @J R in WV

    Yes on the immersion blender. Not an appliance one is going to use every day but when it is needed nothing else comes close to being as handy. Only time I ever use it is when get the urge to make a batch of creamy carrot and basil soup, which is not all that often. Really ought to remedy that and make use of it more often.

  61. 61.

    geg6

    @TaMara (HFG):

    Wonderful! We watched All the President’s Men a few weekends ago. I can’t believe I’m reliving this shit a second time in my lifetime, this time as a Russian farce.

  62. 62.

    Gelfling 545

    @Baud: And nobody knows it’s not supposed to be that way unless you tell them. Gracefully accept all compliments due without insulting the taste of the one complimenting with should haves and quibbles.

  63. 63.

    SiubhanDuinne

    @TaMara (HFG):

    I thought The Post was terrific! As soon as it’s available on DVD I’m going to acquire it and watch it back-to-back with All the President’s Men (which I have owned for years, but haven’t watched in a while).

    Has anybody seen the new documentary RBG? It’s showing at only a couple of art cinemas in metro Atlanta, and no telling how long it will be around, so I’m hoping to see it in the next few days. Sounds great from all I’ve heard. Here’s the trailer.

  64. 64.

    Steeplejack

    @schrodingers_cat:

    Okay, foodie thread.

    You asked earlier today about Christopher Kimball’s Milk Street. I have been watching the show and like it a lot, so much so that I’m about to order the cookbook.

    I know some people are Kimball-phobic, and America’s Test Kitchen and Cook’s Country can get a little fussy and trigger a “Nobody comes in here and tells me how to cook [my favorite dish]!” reaction. But, as a point of comparison, I like those shows and watch a lot of the reruns. Cooking shows and HGTV “shelter shows” are what is getting me through the Trump regime. But I digress.

    Milk Street is not fussy or “completist” at all. Each show dips into a foreign culinary tradition to take a fresh look at two or three dishes. It’s less “This is how you do x” and more “This is an interesting way to do x.” I’ve learned a lot, and I’ve seen at least one thing I really want to make on every show.

    Some of the episodes (maybe all, can’t remember) have a segment with a noted chef or foodie, e.g., José Andrés, Fuchsia Dunlop. They are useful and informative, not just celebrity drop-ins.

    For anyone who is interested, you can see all 13 episodes at the website. Maybe start with “From Thailand with Love” or “Tahini Rules!” Andrés makes his garlic soup in “Simply Spanish.” I really like the potato salad recipe in “Japan Fries Chicken.” I think I’m going to make that for the next cookout at Sighthound Hall.

  65. 65.

    Brachiator

    @SiubhanDuinne:

    Has anybody seen the new documentary RBG? It’s showing at only a couple of art cinemas in metro Atlanta, and no telling how long it will be around, so I’m hoping to see it in the next few days. Sounds great from all I’ve heard.

    I have not seen RBG yet, but I think the company behind it is still rolling it out to theaters. I heard a very positive review last week.

  66. 66.

    Brachiator

    @Mnemosyne:

    When both agencies realized that having zero gravity would make it impossible to use a ballpoint pen in space, NASA spent years developing a space pen that wouldn’t be affected by zero gravity.

    The Russians used pencils.

    Crazier than that. Because of the fluid properties of ink in a pen, a ballpoint often works fine. NASA was over-thinking the problem.

    However, pencil lead can become dangerous if it breaks off and goes floating around in a spacecraft.

    Also, I think a private company developed the space pen.

  67. 67.

    Steeplejack

    @Brachiator:

    Warning: Kildare-fest on TCM next Thursday, starting with Young Dr. Kildare (1938) at 1:00 a.m. EDT. I haven’t checked IMDB, but it looks like they’re running all of them in chronological order. Whatever—definitely more Kildare than you’ll ever need.

  68. 68.

    Jay C

    @Brachiator:

    Also, I think a private company developed the space pen.

    So, IOW, they probably ended up costing the Government only $175,000 apiece (in Apollo-era bucks)??
    Such a bargain….

  69. 69.

    Central Planning

    Just had a visit from some Mormons. My opening gambit was “I don’t want to waste your time, I’m not interested.”

    That didn’t work. They admired my rainbow/tolerance flag on the front porch, asked me if I had a savior, and then asked me if I knew anyone else in the neighborhood that might be interested in Jesus. Yikes. I wonder if somebody told them we might be interested in hearing about Jesus. That seems like a sure way to get your neighbors not to like you.

  71. 71.

    jl

    Looks good. If it is not completely perfect, then that is the best excuse to make another one. Congrats.

  72. 72.

    Mnemosyne

    @Brachiator:

    Also, I think a private company developed the space pen.

    NASA didn’t build their own rockets, either — they hired private companies to do it.

    But I’m never quite sure if the Fisher Space Pen PR is true or hype.

  73. 73.

    Stuart Frasier

    @Mnemosyne:
    This is an urban legend. Both the US and Soviets initially used pencils in space, but they represented a safety hazard. The space pen was developed by Fisher with private money, and NASA bought 400 of them for $2.39 each in 1968. The Soviets also bought the Fisher pen and used them starting in 1969.

  74. 74.

    Brachiator

    @Steeplejack:

    Warning: Kildare-fest on TCM next Thursday, starting with Young Dr. Kildare (1938) at 1:00 a.m. EDT. I haven’t checked IMDB, but it looks like they’re running all of them in chronological order. Whatever—definitely more Kildare than you’ll ever need.

    Noted.

    Also, I’ve seen The Thin Man, but not any of the other films in the series. These are also coming up.

  75. 75.

    Steeplejack

    @Brachiator:

    Re The Thin Man: As with most series, the first few are pretty good, then they descend into the “phoning it in” zone. But Myrna Loy is always easy on the eyes. And there’s always at least some snappy dialogue.

  76. 76.

    Stuart Frasier

    @Jay C:
    The B-52 also entered service in 1952 and is planned to be used into the 2050s. The last one was built in 1962, so the actual airframes will be 90+ years old. In comparison, the Tu-95 was in production until 1993. I’m not sure it says anything about the relative abilities of the US versus the Soviets, just that lightly stressed airframes can last a really long time. I’ve flown on a DC-3 that was built in the 1930s.

  78. 78.

    Mnemosyne

    @Stuart Frasier:

    You’re no fun anymore. ?

    @Steeplejack:

    Also, the increasingly heavy hand of the Production Code insisted that Nick and Nora had to start acting like a “respectable” married couple, settle down, and have a baby. Asta didn’t count.

  83. 83.

    NotMax

    @Mnemosyne

    Speaking of pre-code films, have recently been on-again, off-again seeking out movies with the now forgotten Jeanette Loff, who besides having a wonderful singing voice may well have been the most naturally stunning beauty ever in film (IMHO). And without padding (as the second link below (NSFW) will demonstrate).

    Pic1 – Pic 2

    Sad to say, only a few years after retiring from films in 1934 she suffered a very tragic death while only in her mid-30s..

  90. 90.

    Yutsano

    Want Betty. Just…want.

    Since we’re talking food: I had a bunch of green onions to use up and decided to try a variation on a Maangchi recipe to use them up. Made a couple minor twists but it still came out fantastic.

    Protip: make the dipping sauce. It’s worth the effort.

  93. 93.

    opiejeanne

    @Central Planning: The last pair who dared come onto my property offered to do yard work for us after I told him we’re Methodists and are not interested in their religious cult, although I wasn’t that impolite when I said it. I gently shooed them away. Nice young men. One was African American and I just wondered how much he knows about the history of his people within that cult.

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