Mortars for grinding Mexican spices / SAT 4-12-25 / Improv tenet / Wayne’s co-star in 1966’s “El Dorado” / Unhealthy form of insider / Onetime first title at Springfield Elementary / Curmudgeonly boss on TV’s “Parks and Recreation” / Portrayer of a famous sitcom boss / Pool shooters / Choir supporters

By Samy

April 12, 2025

0

8

Constructor: Jesse Cohn

Relative problem: Began very straightforward, ended up … possibly Straightforward-Medium

THEME: none

Phrase of the Day: MOLCAJETES (29D: Mortars for grinding Mexican spices) —

A molcajete (Spanish: [molkaˈxete]; Mexican Spanish, from Nahuatl molcaxitl) and tejolote (from Nahuatl texolotl) are stone instruments, the standard Mexican model of the mortar and pestle, just like the South American batan, used for grinding varied meals merchandise. // The molcajete was utilized by pre-Hispanic Mesoamerican cultures, together with the Aztec and Maya, stretching again a number of thousand years. Historically carved out of a single block of vesicular basalt, molcajetes are sometimes spherical in form and supported by three brief legs. They’re often adorned with the carved head of an animal on the surface fringe of the bowl, giving the molcajete the looks of a brief, stout, three-legged animal. The pig is the most typical animal head used for adornment of this kind. […]Molcajetes are used to crush and grind spices, and to arrange salsas and guacamole. The tough floor of the basalt stone creates an outstanding grinding floor that maintains itself over time as tiny bubbles within the basalt are floor down, replenishing the textured floor. // A brand new basalt molcajete must be “damaged in” as a result of small grains of basalt will be loosened from the floor when it’s first used and this may give an disagreeable gritty texture to the primary few objects ready in it. A easy solution to do the preliminary “seasoning” is to grind raw white rice within the molcajete, a handful at a time. When the white rice flour has no seen grains of basalt in it, the molcajete is able to use. Some rice flour might stay floor into the floor of the molcajete, however this causes no issues.

• • •

[32A: Another name for Princess
Diana of Themyscira]

One other day, one other Jesse. Again-to-back constructors named Jesse. It is Jesse’s flip to shine! We’re in our Jesse Period. and so forth. Preferred this puzzle considerably higher than yesterday’s as a result of the marquee solutions simply have just a little extra pop and zing. And whoosh. The grid design permits for extra movement, for longer phrases to unfold, for extra interaction amongst solutions (or that is the way it felt). Plus, I MEAN, COME ON … that is a great reply. See additionally FALSE ALARM, THRONE ROOM, WONDER WOMAN, “NOT TODAY,” and so forth. The puzzle performed upside-down for me, in that usually, as on any day, notably a Saturday, getting began is the hardest (or one of many hardest) elements, however at this time the beginning was really easy it truly freaked me out just a little. “This cannot be proper…” I assumed as I stuffed in reply after reply with nearly no crosses. By my tough rely, I obtained the primary 17 solutions I checked out, from “IT’S A BET” up high (1A: “You are on!”) to IDLY down there on the center left (41A: How some sit by), together with each single Down within the NW, in succession off simply their first letters (which got here from “IT’S A BET,” the reply that began all of it). Add in YES, AND (15D: Improv tenet) and that Down avalanche is admittedly one thing.

Getting STEVE CARELL off the “S” feels spectacular nevertheless it additionally feels supereasy (3D: Portrayer of a famous sitcom boss). He was the primary “sitcom boss” I considered, and I’d simply seen him in some espresso business final night time with John Krasinski (additionally of The Workplace). I do not know what the self-esteem of the business was, as I mute commercials. They simply gave the impression to be sitting there, calmly ingesting espresso. STEVE CARELL was on my thoughts, is what I am saying, and I’ve watched each episode of The Workplace, so … not laborious. Additionally not laborious: the opposite sitcom boss on this grid—the legendary RON Swanson of Parks & Rec (performed by Nick Offerman) (49D: Curmudgeonly boss on TV’s “Parks and Recreation”). Actually wanted RON, as a result of that SW nook was far more problematic than the NW nook, or actually some other a part of this grid. My streak of right solutions got here to a cease round “I MEAN, COME ON!” (simply could not parse it rapidly) after which completely stopped at MOLCAJETES, a time period I’ve most likely seen however had no recollection of. Each letter an journey! Then as a result of EASY WINS was additionally an issue (I had EASY WORK) (34D: Cakewalks), moving into that SW nook was a bear … and but the little solutions weren’t that arduous, so I bailed myself out.

[oh look, there’s a robot]

The opposite difficult a part of the grid for me was just a little bottleneck the place the center proper flows all the way down to the underside proper. Muffed the “I” in CIO (38A: Co. tech chief)—felt like a “T,” besides “tech” was within the clue … besides … if “tech” is within the clue, then is not that individual’s job “technical”? The CIO is the “Data” chief, the CTO is the “tech” chief—or needs to be. Y’all have too many self-important titles for yourselves. First Earl of Pushing Paper Round, Marquis de Administration, Countess of Coding. Chief this, chief that. We used to simply have C*E*O and we favored it that method. As for TRU, I guessed TRU, however TRU to me is a TV station or a play about Capote. Appeared extra possible than CRU, that is why I picked it, however I wasn’t certain of it. Was not ready for the corniness of some man placing a POEM in his love letter (43A: Inclusion in a love letter, possibly). I had STEM, which is weird, I am going to grant you (what did you do with the flower itself!?), however on the time it felt proper, or at the least believable. I had NET as a substitute of GEL (I think that might be a typical mistake) (51D: Mesh). However the worst half for me down there within the SE was a single sq.—needed to run the alphabet to complete the puzzle. I am speaking after all about -EAL / -OLE (46A: You may need to sit down for this / 46D: Unhealthy form of insider). The solutions appear easy sufficient while you’re gazing them, however whereas I used to be fixing, nothing was leaping to thoughts. Do you sit down … for a DEAL (in poker)? In all probability! Finally I examined “M” and yep, that made sense. MEAL MOLE! Mmm, MOLE … I need Mexican meals now. MOLE for my MEAL! Do they make MOLE in [checks spelling] MOLCAJETES? (Historically, you’ll grind the toasted elements, however apparently at this time most recipes name for a blender.)

Bullets:

16A: Base ruling (“HE’S OUT!”) — had “YER OUT!” in right here at first. Let’s go to the scoreboard now, and … appears like “HE’S OUT!” nonetheless trails “YER OUT!” 7-3. (that is the primary “HE’S OUT!” in virtually eighteen years)
23A: Wayne’s co-star in 1966’s “El Dorado” (CAAN) — wow, I had no thought James CAAN’s work went again that far.

24A: Missile sort (SCUD) — you just about need to have lived by means of the Gulf Battle (1991) to know this. I’ve by no means heard the time period in one other context, however throughout that warfare, in information protection, you heard it All The Time.
42A: Pool shooters (JETS) — not CUES, losers! Good strive!
6D: Onetime first title at Springfield Elementary (EDNA) — EDNA Krabappel. Marsha Wallace (who voiced her) died in 2013, and so EDNA was retired. Plenty of sitcom characters on this puzzle, however for me, that is probably the most iconic.