When I was growing up, rather than listening to the rock and roll of the 80s, I was listening to soundtracks.  For whatever reason, the rock that I love now just wasn’t interesting then.  My brother listened to it, and his dear sister had to allay his fears that listening to rock wasn’t “Satanic”.  He and my mom were all a-twitter about the Latin on one of White Snake’s albums.  “< sigh >. Serpens Alba means “white snake”. It’s nothing “satanic”.”  🙂

One of the soundtracks I got was the soundtrack to Flash Gordon. I bought it without seeing the movie because of ads in various SF magazines and reading the old comics in a compliation from the library. I hadn’t much knowledge of this group called “Queen”. (and it took another few years to realize why they were called “Queen”. Yes, I was ridiculously naïve in some ways).  But I loved it, merrily singing “Flash! Ah-aaaaaah, savior of the Universe!”  I also got the novelization. It was quite a few years later until I actually saw the movie.    

It’s pure pulp; immensely cheesy but wonderful cheese and more bugle beads in one place than has ever been seen since. The actors seemed to have a great time chewing the scenery and Brian Blessed is at his bombastic best as Vultan (he would have made such a good Volstagg). I think my favorite character is Klytus, the head of Ming’s secret police.  Even behind a gold mask, he’s still silky and dangerous.  The movie was produced by Dino De Laurentiis and I’m sure that his daughter, Raffaella, has a lot to do with it getting made, considering her filmography, which includes Dune, Kull the Conqueror, etc. She’s also Giada De Laurentiis’ “Aunt Raffy” who occasionally shows up on her cooking shows.  

What a convenient segue to the dinner portion….. 

An age ago, circa 1992, before I totally succumbed to an addiction for cookbooks and was only just starting as a good cook, I only had about three.  One was “365 Easy One Dish Meals” by Haughton.  It’s out of print, but it does have some worthwhile recipes.  My husband and I both love the “Stir-fry Chicken Fajitas”.  They are not the same as you’d get on a sizzling planchet in a Tex-Mex restaurant but I like them much better. I’m sure the recipe could be modified for that if you’d prefer. You may cut down the cayenne if you don’t like things fairly hot.  Continue reading “From the Kitchen – Chicken Fajitas and a bad movie to go” →