March 26
Leonard Nimoy's Birthday
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Although Leonard Nimoy is a multitalented artist
and has excelled as a director, poet, musician, photographer, author,
and actor, he is primarily identified with playing the character of Spock
on Star Trek, on TV and in several movie sequels. He
received great reviews for his stage work in such plays as Vincent
(which he wrote), Fiddler On The Roof, The Man in the Glass Booth,
Oliver, The King and I, Equus, and My Fair Lady
. Nimoy has also written several volumes
of poetry and has had successful exhibits of his photographs.
He also
released five albums of vocal recordings
including Trek-related songs such as "Highly Illogical", and cover versions
of popular tunes, such as
Proud Mary. But regardless of his diverse talents, he will always be
immediately identified as the half-Vulcan, half-human Spock from
Star Trek.
Nimoy began his acting career after being discharged from the army.
Ironically, his second film role for which he was paid $500 was as a Martian
named Narab, a friendly Martian, in in the Republic serial Zombies of the Stratosphere
(1952), somewhat foreshadowing his breakthrough role as Spock.
After directing a few Star Trek TV show episodes, Nimoy broke into film
directing in 1984 with the successful third installment of the Star Trek
film series. Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984). Nimoy would go on to
direct the most successful (critically and financially) film in the
franchise to date, Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) and move beyond the
Trek universe with Three Men and a Baby, the highest grossing film of 1987.
In 2003, Nimoy announced his retirement from acting in order to concentrate
on his photography. But in January 2008, he came out of retirement to play Mr. Spock in
the latest Star Trek (2009),
directed by J.J. Abrams.
Nimoy once explained his addiction to the role - "Spock is definitely one of my best friends. When I put on those ears, it's not like just another day. When I become Spock, that day becomes something special."
One day that was less than
special for Spock was in the Star Trek Episode 34, Season 2:Amok Time
in which McCoy noticed that Spock had stopped eating and was becoming
extremely irritable. He threw Nurse Chapel out of his quarters and
physically flinging the Vulcan Plomeek soup she has specially prepared for
him. His behavior was caused some Vulcan reproductive urge which forced him
to return to Vulcan for time of mating season is known as Pon Farr. So
Plomeek Soup seems to be an appropriate dish to celebrate Nimoy's
birthday.
Since plomeeks were not identified in the
episode, Trekkies has been debating the this mystery for many years,
especially at their national convention. Since Spock was a vegetarian,
the consensus appears to be that plomeeks were a Vulcan vegetable,
similar to parsnips. Since Nurse Chapel was from from Planet
Earth, the Trekkies assumed that the other soup ingredients were
more traditional Earth ingredients to which the plomeeks were added to
reflect Spock's half-human/half-Vulcan vegetarian diet. Pair this Vulcan
treat with Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.
Plomeek Soup
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Ingredients
| 2 lbs plomeeks (parsnips
can be substituted), peeled with ends trimmed, 1 medium red or sweet onion, peeled and quartered 2 cloves garlic, whole but not peeled Sea salt & black pepper |
2 TB olive oil 1 large pear peeled and cubed 4 cups vegetable stock |
2. Place parsnips, onion and garlic on a rimmed baking sheet; season with salt, pepper and olive oil, and toss to coat.
Roast for 30-40 minutes, or until vegetables are lightly browned.
3. Remove pan from oven, and set aside for 10 minutes.
4. Cut parsnips into chunks and put in a soup pot on the stove with onion, peeled garlic, pear, and stock.
5. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to simmer and cook, uncovered, until the pear is tender (15 minutes).
6. Purée in batches in a blender. Season with sea salt and lots of freshly-ground black pepper, to taste.