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Dog Days: Pasta Salad!
August 24, 2005
EXT. MOVIE SET--SOMEWHERE IN OHIO--SAME
Caryn follows Miss A. to the crowded set, only to discover a virtual sea of EXTRAS in Civil War attire waiting for their cue. Miss A. somehow spots Mr. R immediately. Her bee line to him takes out a few extras, but she doesn't seem to care. Caryn cranes to see them when a booming voice yells in her ear.
VOICE
Extras, please come this way!
Caryn is surprised to find that the voice belongs to the timid 2nd 2nd AD she'd met before. The girl seems to have grown quite a backbone in the two months on the job. On a mission, the 2nd 2nd sees Caryn holding the plate of eggplant parmesan and stops.
2ND 2ND AD
Why aren't you in costume?
CARYN
Oh, I'm not an--
2ND 2ND AD
We've been back from lunch for a half hour. You really should be dressed and in makeup by now.
Caryn tries to protest again just as Lauren appears and takes the plate from her.
LAUREN
I'll take this. You go to wardrobe.
CARYN
But--
LAUREN
Look, clearly we're short of extras. Be a team player and go.
She shoves Caryn toward the 2nd 2nd with a smirk and heads over to where Mr. R is getting berated by Miss A. Caryn has no choice but to comply.
EXT. MOVIE SET--LATER
Dressed in a dull gray hoop dress and holding a black parasol, Caryn is enveloped in the mass of extras around her, all sweltering in the summer heat. She squirms in her dress to get comfortable, but it is no use.
The crowd seems to perk up as Mr. R. saunters in front of them for the scene. He does not recognize his chef as she wipes the sweat from her forehead. Miss A. shortly follows him wearing an evil scowl on top of her thick make-up.
The crew gathers around for the shot. The Director takes a seat behind the monitor to watch the action just as Caryn spots Lauren watching her from the side, deeply satisfied with Caryn's state.
DIRECTOR
Okay, going again! Try to look lively this time!
Caryn sucks in a deep breath, but the corset prevents her from getting much air. She straightens up in a futile attempt to look lively just as "Action" is called.
INT. TRAILER--LATER
Finally out of the costume and withered like the roasted tomatoes cooling by the stove, Caryn prepares an antipasto plate with a variety of olives, cheeses and vegetables. Mr. R. enters the trailer from the blackness of night outside.
MR. R.
I'm exhausted. Days with extras are always so long. They never pay attention.
Caryn turns to the tomatoes and slices them into pieces. Mr. R. picks at the cheese.
MR. R. (CONT'D)
Ah, this looks great for a hot day like today. Of course, you got to stay in the air conditioned trailer all day.
She throws the tomatoes on the top of a mound of assorted colors: pasta, basil and parmesan. She tosses olive oil into the pasta salad with the last ounce of energy left in her body.
Mr. R. seats himself at a small table by the window as Caryn serves his late dinner. He immediately picks out a roasted tomato to eat first.
MR. R. (CONT'D)
You know, we were short of extras today. You should've helped out. It'd be fun for you to be in the movie.
Caryn slams a dish into the sink.
CARYN
Yeah, sorry. Maybe next time.
I learned how to roast tomatoes from July's Bon Appetit and now I'm addicted. The roasted flavor really lends itself well to this simple pasta salad.
5-6 medium tomatoes
1/2 cup olive oil, divided
12 oz. tri-colored fusilli
1/4 cup chopped green onions
1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped
1 clove garlic, minced
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper
1/2 cup shredded parmesan cheese
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cover baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with cooking spray.
2. Cut tomatoes in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds and juice. Place tomato slices, cut side up, on baking sheet. Season with salt and pepper and drizzle with 1/4 cup olive oil.
3. Bake tomatoes until slightly charred, about 50 minutes. Chop the halves into 4-5 pieces when completely cool.
4. Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and cool.
5. Toss pasta with tomatoes, remaining olive oil and remaining ingredients.
Serves 6.
Posted by Caryn at August 24, 2005 05:30 PM | Printable Version | Recipe Only
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Comments
MY GOODNESS! Please oh please tell me she's going to throw the anitpasto ... oh wait, too tasty ... the garbage scraps at him sometime soon! As usual, great drama and a gorgeous recipe.
Posted by: tara at August 25, 2005 07:38 AM
This recipe looks great and simple to prepare. Definitely one I will try!
Posted by: Kristin at August 25, 2005 09:00 AM
OMG! I can't wait for the fur to fly. Although I think Lauren is the one the anger should be directed at...well, maybe not all of it. Mr. R. has been pretty clueless.
Posted by: leannwoo at August 25, 2005 02:32 PM
Also, awesome recipe. Looks like a winner, I'm going to try it on the kids.
Posted by: leannwoo at August 25, 2005 02:32 PM
Dude you are killing me! And not in a good "wait for it..." way. When is she going to freaking say something?? She doesn't have to be an ass or jeapordize her job in order to still have a backbone. I don't see how Mr. R has been clueless, he's just not a mind reader.
As usual, gorgeous photo and great recipe!
Posted by: Jane at August 25, 2005 02:43 PM
What a great way to start me day, I WILL make this recipe sometime this weekend. I think she will silently suffer till she just leaves one day and then weeks later he shows up at her door with a bag of groceries and a giant appology.
Posted by: Regina at August 26, 2005 08:38 AM
Jane, sorry to torture you so. You're right...this one wasn't Mr. R.'s fault as much, but can't Caryn take it out on him for once? Everyone else does the same to her! :)
Regina, it all depends on what is IN that bag of groceries, doesn't it?
Posted by: caryn at August 26, 2005 09:59 AM
What does Caryn think about when she's cooking? Antipasto sounds great. Who eats the leftover eggplant parmesan? So many questions . . .
Posted by: AmyBee at September 1, 2005 01:55 PM