The Life of David Gale

David Gale was a college professor and a member of Deathwatch, an death penalty abolisionist group. After some poor choices in life he ends up with no family, no job, convicted and sentanced to death row. Bitsey Bloom, a journalist is requested by Gale to receive his last interview before he is put to death for killing his partner in Deathwatch, Constance Harraway. Bloom listens to Gale's story and begins to investigate it further. Bitsey Bloom is under great pressure because she has only a short amount of time to prove his innocence and to stop the execution. The story unfolds through present progression of new information and through flashbacks in time to show what actually happened.

While on death row David Gale is asked to what he would like for his last meal and Gale remembers a morning he had with his son. The memory he had was of his son had asking for pancakes with strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Gale chose this as the last meal he would eat before being executed. It seems that there isn't one fully excepted explaination as to why prisioners on death row are provided a last meal. Some believe the idea of a last meal stems from Christianity and The Last Supper of Jesus, some believe it stems from traditions that were held in the 17th centuries where the convicted might have feasted for up to three days before being put to death in Germany, or in 18th century London where the prisioner would be given a great banquet, the service of a prostitute and on the walk to the gallows they would stop in a number of pubs before being hung. Some argue that the last meal tradition stems from ancient superstitions of the condemned coming back to haunt those who put him to death. The offering of a meal was to appease the soul before it was sent to the afterlife. Currently 37 states and the Federal Government can authorize the punishment of a criminal to be death. Many of the inmates decline a last meal or opt to have what is being served in the cafeteria. Depending on where the inmate is serving his last few days will determine how much they are able to request. In Texas the inmates have to choose from items that are within the prison system and can be prepared by the inmates. They do have an exception where you can ask the chaplain to purchase items from a local store for preparation. In Indiana they have no spending amount and will provide as close to the request as possible. The choices of the convicted vary from person to person. Some choose comfort foods such as fried chicken, mashed potatoes and milk, others choose junk food like hamburgers, pizza, cakes, and sodas. There are some occasional strange requests like a single olive with a pit in it requested by Victor Feguer, Philip Workman requested that a large vegetarian pizza be given to a homeless person in Nashville (this request was denied), or James Edward Smith who requested a lump of dirt but was also denied.

I'll have to think about what I'd like my last meal to be. What would you have? If you want the same as David Gale then enjoy pancakes with strawberries, whipped cream and chocolate shavings.

Strawberry Pancakes

Ingredients

1 1/2 Cups all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 Teaspoons baking powder
1/2 Teaspoon salt
1 Large egg
1 Cup milk
1/2 Teaspoon vanilla extract
1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
2 Cups sliced strawberries
Whipped cream (to taste)
Chocolate shavings (to taste)

Preparation

In a bowl whisk flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In another small bowl whisk egg, milk and vanilla. Preheat nonstick griddle over medium heat. Whisk the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and then stir in the melted butter. The batter should be thick and smooth. Fold in the strawberries. Spoon the batter onto the griddle. Cook the pancakes until set and bubbly. Flip them and cook until golden brown. Serve with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.