Slash & Dine May: Freddy’s Finger(ling) Potatoes
A Nightmare On Elm Street
Freddy’s Finger(ling) Potatoes
by Shannon Bucaro
Okay, so it’s true, I’m jumping on the Freddy remake bandwagon. Wow, that was hard to say. I imagine me typing that feels a lot like someone attending their first AA meeting. I think I’m starting to break out in a cold sweat and a rash is forming. Ahh, conformity.
I remember getting the news like it was yesterday. It was an abnormally calm night, there was no sound of car alarms or gun shots anywhere insight, and visions of root beer floats danced in my head. Out of nowhere my phone went off, and something about the eerie sound screamed that it needed to be answered with urgency. What I was met with from the voice on the other end made me cry. Now if you all haven’t noticed yet I’m many things, emotional not being one of them. However, there are two things in this world that bring a tear to my eye and make me want to crawl into the fetal position: 1. Fish 2. Remakes. Gross.
So after a lot of “Noooo’s” and “Michael Bay? Doesn’t he have more robot movies to ruin!” I took a stand. The stand was, I’d see this movie when Gary Busey himself looked me in the eye and threatened to rip my endocrine system out. Now, at this point, a lot of time has gone by, there has been a lot of hype on this movie, and – I must admit – curiosity has gotten the best of me. So there you have it world, I’m going to see the Nightmare On Elm Street remake and I’m keeping my endocrine system….Sorry, Gary.
Now, the usual Slash and Dine M.O. is I pick 1 movie and that is the star of the article. However, after a lot of back and forth in my brain, I couldn’t choose just one of them because honestly all of them have different special meanings to me. So for the month of May I’m spotlighting the whole Nightmare On Elm Street franchise. Yes, even Freddy vs. Jason because when I saw it, I laughed so hard Cherry Coke came out of my nose. Plus, this is my column and I do what I want.
A Nightmare On Elm Street was the first horror movie I ever remember seeing. On numerous occasions my dad and my uncle would sit me on the couch and force me to watch them over and over again. Some may consider this a form of child abuse, I consider it history in the making. At first I did your standard hide behind the pillow/I can’t sleep at night, but before you knew it, I became a master horror movie viewer, and learned to love the man that, at the time, 4 year old Shannon dubbed the “potato-faced man”.
As the years went on and as more sequels were made, in my eyes Freddy became one of the most lovable villains around. As weird as it sounds, the dark sense of humor he develops becomes almost endearing. Regardless, to this day I can’t see a picture of Mr. Krueger and not get a craving for some type of mashed potatoes. I mean, come on now, take a look at that face and tell me you don’t think about chives and starchy goodness. Even as a child I was onto something!
So, in tribute to Freddy, I am running another contest! I will pick a winner at random at the end of this month and they will receive this amazing New Nightmare print. Because whether you love the new remake or hate it, there is one thing we can all agree on, the Wes Craven ones were always the best!
(Make sure to check out the below video to find out how to enter the contest!)
To make Freddy’s Finger(ling) Potatoes with caramelized onions and leeks you will need:
(Feeds 2 as a hearty side dish and has a sweet savory taste)
1 Pound Fingerling potatoes; not skinned, cut into 2 inch pieces (You can also use Yukon Gold Potatoes)
1 Yellow onion; thinly sliced
1 Leek; cut roots off, then cut vertically and use only a quarter of the bunch. Slice leaf vertically and then horizontally into 1 inch pieces
2 Cloves garlic; thinly chopped
3 Tablespoons soy sauce
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 Tablespoons Dijon Mustard
2 Tablespoons olive oil
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
3 Teaspoons Balsamic Vinegar
Then you:
1) Preheat oven to 400 degrees and chop up your ingredients, then set aside
2) In a mixing bowl, stir together garlic, half the onions, soy sauce, syrup, olive oil, and mustard until mustard is dissolved. Then put your potatoes in a 9×13 casserole dish and pour mixture over until everything is well coated. Cover dish with foil and bake in oven for 25 minutes
3) In the meantime, add a little olive oil to a small saucepan that has a lid and saute onions and leeks for a couple minutes. Then add 1/4 cup water, cover, and boil for 10 minutes. Afterwards, remove lid and add brown sugar and balsamic vinegar and cook for another 3 minutes until mixture thickens up.
4) Remove potatoes from oven and turn it down to 350 degrees. Add the onion and leek mixture and toss everything together with a spoon. Return to the oven uncovered for another 25 minutes.
5) Remove from the oven, toss again, and cook for 25 minutes more uncovered. Serve with remaining sauce poured over them.
*It is important to remove the potatoes and mix every 25 minutes to prevent the sauce from burning and sticking.
Warning: These potatoes can cause excessive cussing.
Now remember to watch the video below and learn about this month’s kick-ass contest!
Can’t wait to try these potatoes! They look yummy.
As for the remake. Just like you, A Nightmare on Elm Street was my first introduction to horror. I’ve had a soft spot for everything Freddy ever since. My mom tells me that at 5 years old I said I wanted to name my first born Freddy. I still have my replica glove and talking Freddy doll. In college I interned at New Line Cinema and couldn’t help but discuss my love of the franchise in my interview. By the end of my time there it was when they were gearing up for Freddy Vs Jason and I was given a FVJ poster signed by Robert Englund. Totally amazing.
Anyway, news of a remake obviously hit me hard. I was a lifelong fan ans I was NOT pleased. It was the casting of Jackie Earle Haley that gave me my first tinge of hope. After all the hyping and rumor that it was not going to suck I gave in and even broke my “no opening night” rule and went to see it the day it came out.
It wasn’t bad. I thought the change to the mythology behind Freddy was an interesting choice. And I liked some of the call backs to the original with similar shots and scenes. Truth be told I didn’t want it being better than the original by any means. But I also didn’t want it to be an embarrassment. On both of those points it succeeded. So in the end it was all good with me.
Looking forward to hearing your thoughts.
I’m with Bianca. I just made these gourmet hamburgers (breaded and baked) tonight that these would have been killer with. Alas, I was short on time and ingredients, so just steamed up some veggies. Next time fo sho!
Those little axes are so neat! Looks yummy as always Shannon!!
Now I have not seen it, but I’m betting if I had seen it I’d probably hate it cause I don’t like remakes to start with :p
You are much more open minded than I could ever be. In fact, they filmed quite a few parts of the movie close to where we live (Northwest suburbs) and my step daughter is even in it as an extra. (They filmed at Elk Grove High School) Yet I still am going to have a hard time seeing it when it comes out on DVD and I rent it. Good for you for being brave and sitting through that. And thanks for the awesome giveaway.
I can’t wait for our food party!
Ok so here’s my opinion *cracks neck*
First off Bianca that is awsome! Anyone who at 5 says they want to name their first born Freddy is A-ok in my book haha, and the fact that you got a signed Robert Englund poster….NEVER tell me where you live because i’m taking that ninja style.
As far as the movie goes. The best way I can describe my feelings towards it was just “meh”. I mean I really feel like Michael Bay did what Michael Bay does. He relys alot on CGI and wow factor. I too found the fact that they changed some of the back story around odd, and I really did not like the look of Freddy’s face, his voice really annoyed me, and they did not really have a good grasp on how to make Freddy the witty character that he is and because of that I feel he kinda came off as cheesy.
I thought the acting was really bad to the point that it was hard to sit through at times, although, I do think Jakie Earle Haley did a good job. Also, I will admit I had a really hard time getting into the movie until the last 20 minutes. That started to grab my attention and I think some of it was well excecuted. However, I shouldn’t have to sit through a movie for 2 hours only to be wowed by the last 20 minutes.
So ya like I said Meh, but I will agree I’m glad it wasn’t better than the first so I guess in that sense it did it’s purpose. It really annoys me that alot of these directors don’t get that these movies worked and are loved because they are nostalgic to a time period, and no matter what your budget is you can’t recreate that so stop trying.
Nancy, I’m not going to lie, I’m really not that open minded I just went for the Cherry Coke and Sour Patch Kids, the rest was just background noise. That’s cool that your daughter was an extra though!
Just wanted to interject real quick and clear something up: A Nightmare on Elm Street (2010) was not directed by Michael Bay. His production company, Platinum Dunes, produced it. It was directed by Samuel Bayer, who is most famous for directing Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” video. I love to hate on Michael Bay as much as everyone else, and I will when he actually directs something, but he did not direct this movie.
Shannon, I do believe most of the actors were bad, but Jackie Earle Haley was fantastic, and I think Kyle Gallner was the only talented kid in that bunch. I liked the face, personally. It looked like a real burn victim. Freddy was supposed to be a burn victim, and the old Elm Street films could never achieve that look. The reason his voice sounds weird? If someone’s face/body were burned that bad, their vocal chords would be restrained and afflicted. Hence, the weird voice that sounds like he’s got cotton in his throat. To me, it makes sense.
I respect what you say Britt but Michael Bays name was plastered all over this. When the movies trailers first broke in our theaters his was the only director named at the end in big letters on a big black screen. At the beginning of this film when I seen it was the first time I had seen an advertisement with all 3 directors names on it and it did say Michael Bay not Michael Bays production team. They might have had for producer Michael Bay also in there but that I did not notice. So whether Michael Bay wasn’t the one behind all this they for sure used his name as leverage because it is more of a well known name.
Like I said, I do think Jackie Earle Haley was the best part of this movie, however Kyle Gallner may have been the best of the worst, but I still think his acting was bad at points.
To me the origional face looked more believable. I feel the new one looked over fussed with and kinda weird. Freddy’s face is a staple to what these movies have been. When you see that face you know who it is, changing it is like making Jason or Michael Myers wear a different mask for the sake of someone feeling it made a better point or seemed more “correct” Same with the voice. I understand that may be more of what a burn victim would sound like but I’m sorry I’m not hip on this 2010 Freddy but that is just me.
Like I said Britt I respect what you have to say and your opinion but maybe you are a little bit more open minded about this movie than I was and maybe you just liked it more than I did. Some people like apples some people like potatoes.
Potatos are my most favorite food ever, and I’ve always been curious about leeks, so I pretty much need to make this asap.
As for the remake, I’ll be honest I haven’t seen it. I actually haven’t been to a movie since 2007 haha so I’ll just have to wait until it’s on DVD to check it out.
I hate remakes, but I’ve heard mixed reviews on the film so I’m keeping my mind open.
Marina- Leeks have always scared the hell out of me for some reason. They were always like a big bully! I used to spend way to long in stores staring at them wondering how the hell can I cook these things without any medieval torture devices. I finally got over it and I am glad I did because they taste awsome and aren’t to crazy to prep.
Also, if you go here :http://www.flickr.com/photos/slashanddine there are more cooking pictures that don’t make it on the column for space reasons, and I have a couple were I show which ways to cut the leeks.
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