Purple Pots

I can hardly stand it... Le Creuset has come out with purple pots!!! I am obsessed with enamel over cast iron cookware. Combine that with my love of purple and this could be a serious situation.

Now, I had a hard time convincing my DH to get my made in China cast iron Dutch oven. However, he did change his tune when he tasted the artisan bread and the beef bourguignon that came out of it, so maybe... but $200 for a glorified frying pan, or excusez moi, a Braiser, I think would be stretching it. I have a better chance of going to Paris for the weekend.

Just think of the fantastic food that would come out of my Braiser. Delectable sauteed veggies, melt in your mouth short ribs, or even coq au vin. Ah yes, I can dream. C'est la vie.

Of Bread, Pots and Grandpas

I never thought I came from a family of bakers. Oh there were cakes, pies and the occasional biscuit and cookie but no hard core baking. Until I found out that one of my grandfather's many jobs during the Great Depression was baker. My aunt told me that when she was a girl, Grandpa would bake bread, cakes and pies for the coming week. I never knew this. He never said a word. He was many things, a coal miner, deep sea diver, (really), vintner, marksman, hunter and conservationist, but I would have never have pegged him as a baker. Although, he did have the arms for it. Have you ever noticed the biceps on a bread maker? Which is one of the reasons I've always used a bread machine.

Now a bread machine makes decent looking bread, and it's edible. However, if you want old fashioned crusty bread or artisian bread, you need a bread oven. I'm not really sure of the mechanics but I think it has to do with steam at some point. Anyway, I read about this new method called No Knead Bread and then I saw a show on Cooks Country about it called Almost No Knead Bread. That's the method I used. It calls for an enameled cast iron Dutch Oven, which I've always wanted and never could afford. LaCrusette/no Monet. Walmart just happened to have a really nice one on sale, it's made in China not France, I'll get over that. I won't include the recipe, because it's not mine and I didn't change it one bit. You can get it from the Cooks Country website.

I must admit this was really easy to make and look at the result. I've never made a prettier loaf of bread. I'd like to think my grandpa would be proud.

Of Spring and Asparagus Quiche

The snow is stopping, the bunnies are hopping, and the buds are popping.

Yes, on Saturday, March 20, at 12:32 pm CST, the Vernal Equinox will occur, As the sun sits vertically above the equator, ta da, it's SPRING.

To my Wiccan and Pagan friends, Happy Ostara, wish you could be at Stonehenge. Although with all the riffraff there, it's kind of like a vampire going out on Halloween, it's just not done. But I digress, as usual.

My favorite place to be in springtime is Tennessee. If I were there, I'd be looking forward to the red bud trees turning the hills magenta and pink, (see picture above). The dogwoods would be headed for a blaze of glory and the jonquils would be nodding in the breeze. Of course, I'd be sneezing my head off but I'd be enjoying the scenery and the company.

It's been quite nice up here in the Great White North. It was in the 60's yesterday; however, tonight it's supposed to snow. My grandpa called this pneumonia weather. To stave off any chill, I suggest an Asparagus Quiche, and I just happen to have a fabulous recipe. Seriously, if you are serving more than three people you'd better make two, it's that good.

Asparagus Deep Dish Quiche

10 bacon strips cut in 1/2 inch pieces, or 1 cup diced ham

3/4 cup chopped onion

1 lb fresh asparagus, cut into 1/2 to one inch pieces

1 and 1/2 cup shredded Swiss cheese

1 Tablespoon flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1 9 inch unbaked pie shell, I use Pillsbury, the kind that's rolled in a box.

3 eggs, I use jumbo but extra large will do

1/2 cup half and half, you can buy a little carton and use the rest for a treat in your coffee or cereal.

Place pie crust in a deep dish pie pan.

In a skillet cook bacon until crisp, or cook ham until it has a little color. Remove meat from skillet and drain on paper towel. If you used bacon reserve 1 tablespoon of drippings in skillet, if you used ham add 1 tablespoon butter, then add onions and cook till golden and translucent.

Cook the asparagus in a little boiling water until tender-crisp, then drain.

In a bowl toss together the meat, onions, asparagus, cheese, flour, salt and pepper. Pour this mixture onto the pie crust. Mix the eggs and half and half together and pour over the asparagus mixture. Bake at 400 degrees for 30 - 35 minutes. It's done when it gets a little puffy and golden, also a knife inserted near the center will come out clean. Serve with a crisp salad made of spring greens and other salad goodies and your taste buds will applaud.

Alice in Wonderland

So, it's been thirty some odd years since I read Adventures in Wonderland and Through The Looking Glass. Which was a good thing then I couldn't nit pick the changes, which made the movie very enjoyable. Yes, enjoyable. I loved this movie. I found myself smiling through most of it, as a lot of it was just as I'd imagined.

It's true, Johnny Depp carries most of the movie, except where Helena Bonham Carter appears. The girl who portrayed Alice could have been anyone. Depp is deliciously psychotic as the Mad Hatter and Bonham Carter is fabulous as the Red Queen, big head and all. She has one of the best lines ever, "Off with his, her or their heads". Although, she seems a combination of the Red Queen and the Queen of Hearts, two different people in the books. I also loved Crispin Glover as the Knave of Hearts. He always brings a certain weirdness to all his roles. I've decided I must have a Cheshire Cat, and a hookah smoking Caterpillar.

To 3D or not to 3D? Don't bother. I saw it in 2D and didn't have to wear those annoying glasses. I honestly couldn't see how it could be improved in 3D. Maybe the rabbit hole scene would have been cooler.

Now the nit pick. As far as I know, it's a Jabberwock, not a Jabberwocky. Jabberwocky is the name of the poem. "Beware the Jabberwock, my son! The jaws that bite, the claws that catch." The Queen of Hearts was in Adventures in Wonderland, which had a card theme and The Red Queen was in Through The Looking Glass, which had a chess theme. The Knave of Hearts stole the tarts, not some frog footman. And weren't they fish footmen? I can't remember. However, the changes really don't matter as these are such illogical stories anyway, I don't' think Lewis Carroll would mind a bit.

One thing this movie has made me want to do is reread the books.

Alice in Wonderland is a must see if you are a Depp or Burton fan. If you loved the books or if you are over the age of 10 you'll want to see it again.

The Hurt Locker and Oscar

I've been hearing all week that The Hurt Locker is going to win best picture and at the very least Katherine Bigelow will win for best director. Why?

I admitted in my last post that I fell asleep during this movie. Not because it was boring, I was just really tired. I like Jeremy Renner, he's a good actor and very sexy. Kind of like a really good looking Daniel Craig. The story was OK. However, we've seen it before and told much better. Maybe, the reason this movie is so popular is because it's about this generation's war and seeing it through their eyes. I feel kind of sorry for Hollywood, in that they have to take into account we have an all volunteer military, so there is no MASH or Apocalypse Now on the horizon of this war. These men and women want to be doing what they are doing, with nary an anti-hero in sight.

Katherine Bigelow is decent director. However, I think the other directors nominated made either a better movie or pulled a fantastic performance out of their actors. This movie has most likely made the most money of any of her films so far. I think her biggest movie before that was Point Break, and that movie is nearly 20 years old.

I think the real reason for all this hoopla over The Hurt Locker is guilt. Hollywood and the media in general have been extremely critical of our military endeavors since we invaded Iraq. The attitude of we hate the war but support our troops, is a little confusing, and I think that most soldiers think it's a load of b.s. How would you like it if someone told you: I hate everything you do and stand for; however, I'm behind you 100 percent? Talk about passive/aggressive. Yeah, they are supported so much most soldiers feel they need to take their lawyers into battle with them, so they don't infringe upon the enemy's rights.

Will The Hurt Locker win it all? Maybe. I don't know. So, I'm revising my list and doing what People Magazine did.

Who I think will win and who I think should win.

Best Picture
Think: The Hurt Locker. Should: Avatar, ground breaking, people will be talking about the effect of this movie for a long time.

Best Actor
Think: Jeff Bridges Should: Jeff Bridges, everyone loves a boozy country singer, me included.

Best Actress
Think: Sandra Bullock Should: Meryl Streep, a perfect Julia Child.

Best Supporting Actor
Think: Christoph Waltz Should: Christoph Waltz, chilling performance, you hated him right off.

Best Supporting Actress
Think: Mo'Nique Should: Mo'Nique, chilling performance, you hated her right off.

That's what I think. I'll be watching, even though I'm not Hollywood's target audience, nor is it a special thing to see the "stars", when they are everywhere ad-nauseum. No, I'll watch for those unscripted moments, I still remember that streaker and David Niven, and also to see what get-up Mickey Rourke will wear and also to see who's going to win.

Of Hollywood and Lemon Cake

There are ten movies nominated for Best Picture this year and all I can ask is why? In past years it has been a stretch to come up with five, here's what I think of the 2010 ten, for 2009...

Avatar, I haven't seen it. I don't want to wear glasses over my glasses, but will for Alice In Wonderland.

The Blind Side, ugh.

District 9, surprisingly, really good.

An Education, don't stand, don't stand so close to me, where are Sting and the boys when you need them?

The Hurt Locker, really? I fell asleep watching this movie.

Inglorious Basterds, or how WWII should have ended. I loved it.

Precious, hard to watch, really good.

A Serious Man, never heard of it.

Up, best movie I saw last year.

Up In The Air, Hollywood tells us what it's like to be fired. Please don't, although, George would take the sting out of being canned.

What's going to win? Probably Avatar, or knowing Hollywood, it will be A Serious Man. They do love the obscure. Who heard of Slumdog Millionaire before the awards season last year?

Will I watch? Yes, I love to see the gowns and what get-up Mickey Rourke will wear. In honor of the occasion, I will make my Great-Aunt Matt's Hollywood Lemon Cake. This cake is great for parties, it's old fashioned and really easy. Everyone loves it. Sorry about the picture, this was the last piece.

Hollywood Lemon Cake

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

1 Yellow Cake Mix

1 Box Lemon Jell-O

3 Eggs

2/3 cup Oil

1 cup water

2 Tbsp Fresh Lemon Juice

1 Tbsp Fresh Grated Lemon Zest, one lemon should do it

Combine all ingredients and mix with electric mixer for 2 minutes. Pour into prepared, (greased and floured), 9X13 pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 30 minutes if using glass, 30-40 if using metal. Cake is done when a toothpick or knife is inserted and comes out clean. Glaze upon removing from oven.

Glaze

2 cups Powdered Sugar

1/3 to 1/2 cup Fresh Lemon Juice, usually two lemons.

Mix glaze while cake is baking. When cake comes out of oven and while still hot, poke holes all over top with fork, going down to the bottom of the pan. Spread glaze over top of hot cake. I try not to let it all go down the sides, so glaze slowly.

Red Riding Trilogy

Based on David Peace's Red Riding Quartet, these three films were made for British TV, by BBC Channel 4. Written for the screen by Tony Grisoni. Titled 1974, 1980, and 1983. The three films also include actual events that have been greatly dramatized. Mainly, they are about two serial killers, amid the backdrop of rampant police corruption.

I kept hearing about these movies and how "Brilliant" they were. I still think there are a lot of reviewers who think if it's foreign, and obscure, it must be the best thing ever made. Elements of the films were like the finest of British Noir, think Get Carter. Gritty, bleak, and nihilistic. Those were the parts I liked.

Watching these three films was like watching paint dry in a foreign language. I know they were speaking English, I'm sure of it. However, with thick Yorkshire accents, who the hell could understand them, except a fellow Yorkshireman? You could not throw a cat without hitting a "nowt" or a "somat", I mean, I think Sean Bean turned in a fine performance, based on body language and facial expressions alone. All I know for sure is he was a construction contractor who was obsessed with swans, kind of skeezy and used the verb were way too much.

Which leads us to ALLEGORY. I had to shout it, because these films really whack you over the head with the concept. Wolves, rats, swans, corruption, innocence, sin, redemption, carnality, purity and on and on and on. Mostly, these films were confusing and disjointed. I don't think it helped having three different directors.

If you're looking for a gripping thriller about serial killers watch Silence of The Lambs or The Boston Strangler. If you want gritty Brit-Noir, rent Get Carter, the original with Michael Caine, or even The Third Man, voted number 1 film by the British Film Industry.