Nope, this is not the finale of our BigLittleMeals blog. But the recent finales of 5 incredibly popular streaming series that Andy and I watched got us thinking about what’s good/what’s bad/what’s mediocre in the world of TV. It’s kind of crazy that these all concluded the end of May – some after 4 seasons.
- Yellowjackets
- Barry
- Succession
- Ted Lasso
- Somebody Somewhere
Certainly the critics have been obsessing over them all – with Succession possibly the most over-obsessed about. If I were one of these hyper-emotive critics, here is the key word I’d use for each (obviously in the order from above):
- CANNIBALISM!!!
- VIOLENCE!!!
- WEALTH!!!
- FEEL-GOOD!!!
LGBTQ!!!,KANSAS!!!,BELONGING!!!, FRIENDSHIP!!!
I apologize that I don’t have SEX!!!!! as the focus of one of the series. But if you want something about SEX!!! we highly recommend Sex Education. It’s not porn; it’s “bawdy, heartfelt, and surprisingly wise” (quote from Rotten Tomatoes); and sex – though it’s about high school kids – is presented in a “mature manner” (quote from Wikipedia). The third season of Sex Education ended in 2021 but a new season will hopefully start (see my aside that follows) this fall on Netflix. Something to look forward to now that our other favorites have ended.
(An aside: As of this moment, the strike by the Writers Guild of America will hugely impact the 2023-24 TV season and movie season. I’ve been reading a little more about that and have to say that I never thought of L.A. as a “union town,” but that’s what NPR states in a recent article. L.A. teachers struck – and were successful; L.A.’s actors union may also strike – as well as restaurant and hotel workers and L.A. county workers. If you want to see what series/shows are already definitely impacted, here’s a list; Sex Education doesn’t appear on it, but who knows.)
Hands down, my favorite of those five that just ended was Somebody Somewhere – with Barry being a not-too-close second. Maybe it’s because my paternal roots go back to the very area where the series takes place (Manhattan, Kansas) and where Bridget Everett (the star) actually grew up. Maybe it’s because Joel, played by Jeff Hiller (the co-star), is so delightful and Sam is so complex. A comment someone posted on Vulture‘s review has the perfect summary of the series:
“This show is the best thing I watch—hands down. Evocative, earthy, effing hilarious, tender, and tough as a Kansas sunflower. Bring on another Peabody award, please….“
I couldn’t possibly recommend a show about Kansas without thinking about corn and sunflowers – and, yes, alfalfa. So today’s recipe combines them all. Yum.
A Little Bit of Kansas Salad
- 1 pkg frozen corn – or 2-3 ears of fresh corn on the cob, husked
- 1 T olive oil (if using frozen corn)
- Diamond kosher salt and pepper
- 1 c shredded red cabbage
- 1/2 c alfalfa or broccoli sprouts (admittedly, we’re not alfalfa sprout fans and haven’t ever seen broccoli sprouts, so we omit this)
- 2 c chopped kale (if always helps to “massage” the chopped kale with your hands and a little olive oil before adding it to the salad)
- roasted salted sunflower seeds for garnish
dressing
- 1/4 c roasted salted sunflower seeds
- 1/2 shallot, chopped
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
- 2 T Greek yogurt
- 1 T za’atar (or mixed, dried herb of your choice: Italian, de Provence, etc)
- 2 T olive oil
- Diamond kosher salt
- 1-3 tablespoons water
If using frozen corn, preheat oven to 425 degrees. Mix the corn (still frozen) with about 1 T olive oil and sprinkle with some salt. Spread the corn out well on a baking tray and roast for about 25-30 minutes, or until you see the corn start to brown slightly. Remove from the oven and cool on the pan.
If using fresh corn on the cob, preheat a grill to medium. Grill the corn, turning frequently, until lightly charred – 2-3 minutes. Cool and then cut the corn kernels off of the cobs.
Stir the corn into the red cabbage, sprouts and kale.
To make the dressing place all of the ingredients – except the water – in a blender and blend until slightly chunky. Add salt to taste. If you want a runnier dressing, add 1-3 T water and blend again well. If you have time, let the dressing sit for a while. The best flavor develops after a little resting time.
Add half of the vinaigrette to the salad and toss to coat; sprinkle with sunflower seeds. Serve, passing the remaining dressing on the side.
Interesting. My Grandfather TH “Harry” Hill was born 4 years later in Axtell, KS…22 miles from Kelly.
I have yours born in 1886 in Kelly.