Independence Dependence (July 4th Pancakes)

Maine lake and piney woods

        Jane was only home from Cambridge a few days before leavingfor summer camp in Maine.  She’s never been tosleep-away camp before and wanted to try it out.   Some other local girls attend this camp,which looks like a splendid place for our energetic, athletic daughter and,apart from the satisfaction I hope to take in making this further contributionto her development as an adolescent and independent person, Caroline and I willtravel to Maine to visit her mid-way through her summer, which will benice. 

State of Maine -- Admited to Union in 1820;  Capitol city is Augusta

        Despite the long planning that preceded her departure, itstill seemed sudden and rushed to me, with a lot of loose ends dangling, includingthe sizeable amount of unused pancake batter Jane left in the refrigerator.  Caroline, who has been suffering with adreadful flu-like illness that we suspect Jane brought back from the UK, discoveredit when she finally rose from her sick-bed yesterday looking for something to eat.

Chocolate-chip pancakes

       As a child (despite her budding maturity and rich andsophisticated sense of sarcasm, THE age-appropriate attitude and rhetorical device), Jane likes to make chocolate chip pancakes,something most adults do not prepare for themselves.  Recently, she has progressed from using theBisquick packaged pancake preparation (which is extremely good) to the traditional basic Joy ofCooking recipe.  It was this batter Janeleft behind, but with the key difference that her recipe this time included aquantity of excellent cut-up, locally grown Pennsylvania  strawberries. 

Maine blueberries

        Seeing Jane’s bequest, and also spying some unused, stillfresh local blueberries adjacent to them, Caroline combined that fruit intothe batter and prepared a remarkable, original (to us, at least) breakfast, onethat combined various dark, light, sweet and bitter notes.  After nourishing herself and retreating tobed, I tried the what remained of the pancakes while clearing the kitchen and formed the same, stillunspoken and not-yet-shared thought that she had  – that this would be a very good summerdessert recipe combined with some vanilla ice cream.  

 
Glorious strawberries

        When we actually spoke about our telepathic menu union, wefound that although we were basically on the same page (we both agreed, forinstance, that the quantity of dark chocolate chips needed to be reduced fromJane’s generous levels), there was one salient difference between us.  Caroline thinks we should stick with the Joyof Cooking recipe, but I think a lighter, “French-ier” crepe recipe would bebetter for dessert purposes.

French-style crepes

        We have been married for so long (and happily) that we areextremely familiar with each other’s personalities.  Therefore, on many occasions I have found that there are really nosubjects that are too trivial to argue about, so this discussion went on for a while.   Finally, we agreed totry both recipes (with chocolate chip and fruit quantitiesremaining approximate; really, that’s a question of personal taste) to see which version works best.  Should any reader care to essay for themselves this comparison/taste test, please let me know which preparation you prefer.  Given the red, white and blue elements in the dish, I would definitely say that this is fare suitable for July 4th celebrations.

Charles de Gaulle, President of France and First Lady of the United States, Jacqueline Kennedy, Paris, June 1961

        I’m distraught and somewhat despondent not having my daughter around,but I am doing the best I can to cope. Everywhere I visit, people ask about her.  It has become extremely clear that I have faded into the generalwoodwork of my own life. When I’m around Jane, I feel like President Kennedy must have felt when he said:  "I am the man who accompanied Jacqueline Kennedy to Paris",  as he began his June 2, 1961 press conference in Paris.  

Maine summer camp waterfront

        We’ll be visiting Jane in Maine toward the end of themonth.  Based on a couple of Maine visitsduring the past decade – the first since my own dreadful summer camping youth –Bob Dylan must have had me in mind when he wrote "I Shall Be Released"  -- I’m looking forward to the trip. Maine is really beautiful.

Recipes:

[1]   Basic Pancake Recipe:  This Mark Bittman pancake recipe, which was published in the New York Times, is very close to the Joy of Cooking recipe.  I've chosen to use it here because Bittman's recipes are generally excellent and extremely clear:

An important thing to remember about the cooking part is this -- that you have to preheat the skillet or griddle, or the first batch will be nearly worthless.   To determine when the pan is hot enough to take the batter, heat it over medium heat until a few drops of water skid across the surface before evaporating.  A well-seasoned cast iron pan will need little or no butter or oil, but if you choose stainless steel or aluminum pans, use plenty of butter, the net result will be that the pancakes will taste better.

Ingredients

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 tablespoon of sugar, optional

2 eggs 

1 1/2 to 2 cups of milk

2 tablespoons melted and cooled butter (optional) plus unmelted butter for cooking, or use neutral oil.

Method

Heat a griddle or large skillet over medium-low heat.  In a bowl, mix together dry ingredients. Beat eggs into 1 1/2 cups milk, then stir in 2 tablespoons melted cooled butter, if using it.  Gently stir this mixture into dry ingredients, mixing only enough to moisten flour, don't worry about a few lumps.  If the batter seems thick, add a little more milk.

Place a teaspoon or two of butter or oil on griddle or skillet.  When butter foam subsides or oil shimmers, ladle batter onto griddle or skillet, making pancakes any size you like.  Adjust heat as necessary, usually first batch will require higher heat than subsequent batches. Flip pancakes after bubbles rise to surface and bottoms brown, after 2-4 minutes.

Cook until second side is lightly browned. Serve or hold on an ovenproof plate in a 200-degree oven for up to 15 minutes.

Yield: 4-6 servings

Time: 20 minutes

[2] Basic Crepes Recipe (from Bon Appetit)

Ingredients 

2 large eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup unbleached all-purpose flout

1 1/4 cups (or more) milk (do not use low-fat or non-fat)

Melted butter 

Method

Whisk eggs and salt in a large bowl.  Gradually whisk in flour, then 1 1/4 cups milk.  Strain into medium bowl.  Let stand 1 hour.

If necessary, add more milk by tablespoonfuls to batter to thin to consistency of heavy whipping cream.  Heat 8-inch diameter non-stick skillet over medium-high heat.  Brush with melted butter.  Pour 3 tablespoons batter into skillet and swirl to coat bottom evenly.  Cook until top appears dray, loosening sides of crepe with spatula, about 45 seconds.  Turn and cook until brown spots appear on second side, about 30 seconds.  Turn crepe out onto plate.  Repeat with remaining batter, brushing skillet with butter and stacking crepes onto plate.

Makes 8 crepes

Note:  Although this piece is clearly drafted in a slightly "misty" (as Maynard G. Krebs would say) mood, I live in expectation of Jane's return, showing her how to make crepes and then standing aside as she masters the skill and begins, as I know she will, to surpass the great masters of the art.  She's very good at this sort of thing.  I will also tell her about my father, who was something of a crepes suzette king, a talent, other difficulties notwithstanding, that lands clearly on the credit side of the ledger.

Credit side of the ledger (and its "other"). 

Preparing crepes suzette at Restaurant Laserre, Paris

The Funniest Man Who Ever Drew Breath: Peter Cook, Part 2

 

Harold Macmillan photographed by Yosuf Karsh, 1957

The following monologue, called "TVPM",  written and performed by Peter Cook in Beyond The Fringe is, I think you will agree, incredibly funny and sadly still timely.  The version here (Cook revised his material during long performance runs) is taken from the BTF performances at the John Golden Theater, New York City, in  1962.  

Peter Cook at the time of Beyond The Fringe


 

"Good evening, I have recently been traveling round the world, on your behalf, and at your expense, visiting some of the chaps with whom I hope to be shaping your future.  I went first to Germany, and there I spoke with the German Foreign Minister, Herr. . .  Herr and there and we exchanged many frank words in our respective languages, so precious little came of that in the way of understanding.  I would, however, emphasise, that the little that did come of it was indeed truly precious.  I then went on to America, and there I had talks with the young, vigorous President of that great country, and danced with his very lovely lady wife.  We talked of many things, including Great Britain’s position in the world as some kind of honest broker.  I agreed with him when he said that no nation could be more honest , and he agreed with me when I chaffed him and said that no nation could be broker. This type of genial, statesmanlike banter often went on late into the night.  Our talks ranged over a wide variety of subjects, including that of the Skybolt Missile programme.  And after a great deal of good-natured give and take I decided on behalf of Great Britain to accept Polaris in place of the Skybolt.   This is a good solution because, as far as I can see, the Polaris starts where the Skybolt left off – in the sea.

John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy photographed by Yosuf Karsh, 1957

        I was privileged to see some actual photographs of this weapon.  The President was kind enough to show me actual photographs of this missle, beautiful photographs taken by Karsh of Ottawa.  A very handsome weapon – we shall be very proud to have them.  The photographs, that is.  We don’t get the missile until around 1970.  In the meantime, we shall just have to keep our fingers crossed , sit very quietly, and try not to alienate anyone.  This is not to say that we do not have our own Nuclear Striking Force.  We do.  We have the Blue Steel, a very effective missile, as it has a range of 150 miles, which means we can just about get Paris.  And by God we will.

British Avro-Vulcan Blue Steel "stand-off" (i.e., deterrent) nuclear missile (1963-70; replaced by U.S. Polaris missile)

        When I was abroad, I was very moved to receive letters from people in acute distress from all over the country.  And one in particular from an old age pensioner in Fife is indelibly printed on my memory.  Let me read it to you.  It reads, ‘Dear Prime Minister, I am an old age pensioner in Fife, living on a fixed income of some two pounds, seven shillings a week.  This is not enough.  What do you of the Conservative Party propose to do about it.’ (tears up letter)  Well, let me say away, Mrs McFarlane, as one Scottish old age pensioner to another, be of good cheer.  There are many people in this country today who are far worse off than yourself.  And it is the policy of the Conservative Party to see that this position is maintained."

Forth Bridge, Fife, Scotland.  Opened March 4, 1890, this cantilevered railroad bridge was the first all-steel bridge constructed in Great Britain and until 1917, when the Quebec Bridge was completed, it had the longest single cantilever bridge span in the world. The Forth Bridge, which crosses the Firth of Forth and connects Edinburgh with Fife, now has the second longest single span.  The Forth Bridge figures in a memorable scene in Alfred Hitchcock's 1935 film, The 39 Steps.

Reader Note:  

        When Peter Cook introduced this speech, parodying then-Prime Minister Harold Macmillan during Beyond The Fringe’s original Fortune Theater stand in London’s West End, it became an immediate cause célèbre, especially after the Prime Minister himself attended a performance of the satirical, cliché-breaching revue. “When I’ve a spare evening”, improvised Cook, as Macmillan, there’s nothing I like better than to wander over to a theatre and sit there listening to a group of sappy, urgent, vibrant young satirists, with a stupid great grin spread over my silly old face.”

 

     Later, Cook said, a little unconvincingly (to me):  “My impersonation of Macmillan was in fact extremely affectionate.  I was a great Macmillan fan.  He did have this somewhat ludicrous manner, but merely because it was the first time for some years that a living Prime Minister had been impersonated on the stage, a great deal of weight was attached to it.”  The link found Here, beginning at about 2:30, contains excerpts from TVPM, as well as opinions offered by Cook's friends and collaborators Jonathan Miller and Richard Ingrams, expressly concurring with Cook's remarks. Ingrams describes Cook's political views as being "Conservative Anarchist", rather than conventional "Hampstead Left-y", and from everything I've read, this does sound about right.  (Ingrams would certainly know.)   

       Perfect parody is always a two-edged sword.  I have no doubt that the great parodists of SCTV (think, for example of Andrea Martin impersonating Liza Minnelli (over-) singing "Ring Them Bells"  or Martin Short playing Jerry Lewis in the sketch "Jerry Lewis Live on the Champs-Elysee") do have genuine affection for their subjects, as they maintain. 

        But in their parody work, as in Cook's,  Beauty is Truth and Truth is Cruelty – a traditional, combustible, and discomforting mix.

Peter Cook text published in Tragically, I Was An Only Twin -- The Complete Peter Cook, ed. William Cook, London, Century, 2002.

For more on this subject, see Here.

President John F. Kennedy with Prime Minister Harold Macmillan at the White House, Washington, D.C., 1961

U.S. Polaris missile being launched from a nuclear submarine 

  

Skybolt