the holiday movie season

It's been a little bit slow this season in terms of me getting out to see some flicks. First, I had to dig myself out of a foot of snow, then a parking lot full of slush to get to the theater. Thank goodness we're in the thaw and that is over now. Here's the super abbreviated summary of what I've seen lately:

Yes Man -- funny throwaway Jim Carrey comedy. Zoe Dechanel is, however, very charming in this.

The Day the Earth Stood Still - Bland sci-fi remake. Renter.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button - Sweeping epic fairy tale of huge proportions. Loved it.

Australia - another sweeping epic that I loved. Loved very much.

Special mention - Mrs. Palfrey at the Claremont. This has been in my Netflix queue for years now and I finally caught it on Starz. I found it touching, charming and absolutely lovely. I could be a new Rupert Friend fan as well. Very Orlando Bloom.

Txori

It's pronounced Cho--ri. And it's pure heaven. I went here with Karl and Angie and Dan 9 days ago -- the first day of Winter Storm 2008. It started snowing as we finished up our nth tapas. From the moment we walked in I was sold. It was casual, yet sophisticated and simple -- and cozy. The staff wore logo'd tees and the tables were intimate.

But mostly the food was fantastic. I can't stop raving about it. But alot of times, the atmosphere of a place can count for quite a bit in overall experience and this place just spoke to me.

Everything was excellent, but especiall the tortill espanola, this oxtail thing, duck with butternut squash puree, and this duo of octopus -- one grilled and one served as a salad. The octopus was so tender. It was quite amazing.

Save Three Sheets!

My beloved HD drinking program, Three Sheets, is in jeopardy. The MOJO network, which is where it lived until December 7 is going off the air and no other network has yet picked up the series -- including a whole bunch of taped, but yet unaired episodes.

Including LONDON NEW PUB CRAWL. Can you imagine missing that? I think not!

Sign a petition! Write a network to pick up the show! It would be a shame to let this one slide into oblivion. Plepius thanks you.

Here's Comedy Central feedback form:http://www.comedycentral.com/help/questionsCC.jhtml

Here's the Travel Channel form (they also have an HD channel):
http://www.travelchannel.com/About/Viewer_Relations

Here's the form for Discovery Channel (they also have an HD channel):http://extweb.discovery.com/viewerrelations

Cioppino

I know I poo-poo the Rachel Ray 30-Minute Meal, but I've made a few of her recipes and they usually turn out pretty tasty -- and in 30 -35 minutes or so, no less! I made this (with a few modifications on my part) and it really hit the spot on a cold, cold day.

Ingredients
1/4 cup (3 turns around the pan in a slow stream) extra-virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 to 3 flat fillets of anchovies, drained
6 cloves garlic, crushed
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
2 celery ribs, chopped
1 medium onion, chopped
1 cup good quality dry white wine
1 (14-ounce) container chicken stock
1 (32-ounce) can chunky style crushed tomatoes
4 sprigs fresh thyme, leaves removed (about 1 tablespoon)
1 handful flat-leaf parsley, chopped
1 1/2 pounds cod, cut into 2-inch chunks
Salt and pepper
8 large shrimp, ask for deveined easy-peel or peel and devein
8 sea scallops
16 to 20 raw mussels, scrubbed
A loaf of fresh, crusty bread, for mopping

Directions
In a large pot over moderate heat combine oil, crushed pepper, anchovies, garlic, and bay. Let anchovies melt into oil. The anchovies act as a natural salt, the pepper flakes will infuse the oil, providing heat.

Chop celery and onion near stove and add to the pot as you work. Saute vegetables for a few minutes to begin to soften and add wine to the pot. Reduce wine a minute, then add chicken stock, tomatoes, thyme, and parsley. Bring sauce to a bubble and reduce heat to medium low.
Season fish chunks with salt and pepper. Add fish and simmer 5 minutes, giving the pot a shake now and then. Do not stir your soup with a spoon after the addition of fish or you will break it up. Add shrimp, scallops, and mussels and cover pot. Cook 10 minutes, giving the pot a good shake now and again.

Remove the lid and discard any mussels that do not open. Carefully ladle stew into shallow bowls and pass bread at the table

Here's one that looks good

Voila! I think the fresh berries really makes this dessert. It's a layered mousse cake king of thing I think. Tres bon!

8 years ago....

8 years ago I went to cooking school at the Cordon Bleu in Paris. A classmate just posted a bunch of pics online so I downloaded about 100 or them or so. Here is our entire class on croissant day. I remember eating like 10 pain au chocolate that day, fresh out of the oven. Pure heaven. Ahh....good memories. The other bonus? I didn't take very many pictures of the food we made. Now I have some! Really, it looks a lot less appetizing than I would expect. I will post one next....

Return of the Double Feature

It's been SO long since I've been to the movies, let alone a double feature! And, both choices were good -- equally good.

Zack and Miri Make a Porno -- I'm glad that I didn't know before going that this was a Kevin Smith movie. I like about every 3 movies that he does. But I love Seth Rogan and the rest of the cast was also great. It had a surprisingly large amount of heart. Ok, so it had the usual gratuitous gross factor and tasteless jokes -- but they were more palatable in this package for me.

Rocknrolla -- I like about every third Guy Ritchie movie that comes out as well. But this one is the winner. Funny, entertaining and satisfying. It takes a little while to get going, but comes together well in the end.

Do-Nuts

Ok, now that I mentioned them, I have to give you the details on the fresh-fried mini donuts at Fall City Farms. They are simply delicious! As you may know, I am not even a fan (not even a little bit) of the donut product. In fact, just the smell can cause feelings of nausea. However, these little delightful morsels are different.

I saw a mini version of this donut frying machine and contemplated getting one to conduct my own fundraisers and such.

Pumpkins and Halloween Candy

Look at my cute pumpkin! I got it at our annual White River Autumn Bazaar. We roasted up the seeds for a little snack. And had Halloween candy for dessert!

Earlier this month, we took a field trip out to Fall City Farms for some pumpkins -- and got our fresh fried mini-donuts, some leafy greens, beets, and fresh pressed apple cider. Talk about yum!

Pork Chops!

I made these pork chops with maple glaze that I really liked. Here's the glaze recipe:

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup chicken broth, low-sodium canned

On the side I served roasted acorn squash and some sauteed zucchini and onions. I have to say that it was the perfect autumnal (as MS would say) meal!

I have been a bit remiss on the movies lately -- hopefully that will change soon. Let's pray for some good movies to come out and a little bit of rain to encourage the viewing. The weather's been pretty nice on the weekends. Go figure.

Mexican Soup

I made a Mexican Tortilla Soup the other night. It came out pretty tasty! I would definitely make it again. Lighter than enchiladas or tacos, it has the same flavors and was very satisfying -- especially topped with a little sour cream and avocados!

Ingredients
4 split (2 whole) chicken breasts, bone in, skin on
Good olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 cups chopped onions (2 onions)
1 cup chopped celery (2 stalks)
2 cups chopped carrots (4 carrots)
4 large cloves garlic, chopped
2 1/2 quarts chicken stock, preferably homemade
1 (28-ounce) can whole tomatoes in puree, crushed
2 to 4 jalapeno peppers, seeded and minced
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon ground coriander seed
1/4 to 1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro leaves, optional
6 (6-inch) fresh white corn tortillas

Directions
For serving: sliced avocado, sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and tortilla chips
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.
Place the chicken breasts skin side up on a sheet pan. Rub with olive oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and roast for 35 to 40 minutes, until done. When the chicken is cool enough to handle, discard the skin and bones, and shred the meat. Cover and set aside.
Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven. Add the onions, celery, and carrots and cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes, or until the onions start to brown. Add the garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the chicken stock, tomatoes with their puree, jalapenos, cumin, coriander, 1 tablespoon salt (depending on the saltiness of the chicken stock), 1 teaspoon pepper, and the cilantro, if using. Cut the tortillas in 1/2, then cut them crosswise into 1/2-inch strips and add to the soup. Bring the soup to a boil, then lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes. Add the shredded chicken and season to taste. Serve the soup hot topped with sliced avocado, a dollop of sour cream, grated Cheddar cheese, and broken tortilla chips.

Friday Tradition

Over time, when time allows, our favorite Friday tradition is getting some sushi at Izumi's in Totem Lake. This is as old school as it gets in terms of Japanese restaurants. I'm guessing that it is run by a family -- with the head of the clan being this 65+ old dude (who wears shirts like my dad, by the way) and a gaggle of ladies who remind me of my aunts.

I love it. They have a maguro sushi plate with 8 pieces of my favorite -- both regular and white fin tuna.

My favorite server likes to tease and has captured our hearts. I just want to call her auntie.

Mabuhai!

The other show I've been in to lately is Three Sheets.

So much so that I was inspired to buy a Three Sheets tee for me and a Pleepleus one for Karl. Yes, we are 3 sheets geeks. The premise? This funny guy goes around the world to drink with people and explore their drinking customs. It is awesome.

Tony's Back!

It's sexy season 6 of Ellen and much to my surprise and pleasure, Tony is back as DJ. Yay! He really does make the show for me. And you can tell that Ellen is happy about it too. The gang's all here.

You know, it's the little things! The new fall season of shows is just launching. I watched the season premiere of Heroes the other night. I'm glad to see that Hiro and Ando are back together in Tokyo. There is a bunch of time skipping around and characters from the future mucking about. It seems like it's already more violent than usual. All kinds of skull cutting and exposed brains. Looking forward to new episodes of Chuck, The Office and 30 Rock!

3 Days of Steak

Today is Labor Day and my third day in a row of grilled steak. I'm not complaining or anything, but I think I've had enough meat for awhile! Saturday, we went white water rafting (fun, but wet and COLD!) Then they grilled up some steaks for us. Day 2 was Sunday and my dad's grilled steaks. So you know that we had like 2 steaks for person. I took an extra one home and grilled it up myself tonight. I have to say that it came out fantastic. Even though I am sick of steak, it was damn good!

So I haven't had a chance to go to the movies in weeks now, but sadly there is not even anything to see! We relented and ended up going to see the Mummy -- disregarding all the poor reviews. It was worse than I imagined. Oh well.

I did see a good movie on dvd -- Son of Rambow. Been waiting for this for awhile, and it was excellent. Check it out soon.

Lobstah!

I just got back from 5 days in Maine. And yes, I got my Lob-stah! See lobster roll to the left from Gilbert's Chowdah House. And, we got a home cooked lobster meal the evening before our departure -- it was all I had dreamt and more! The lobster was sweet and tender and delicious dipped in melted butter. Oh, yeah. Other highlights was a fabulous scallop and shrimp linguini from a wonderful place called Azure in Freeport. Yum! Time to get back to the workout schedule....

Rotating Sushi

I'm a fan of the conveyer belt sushi -- as long as the sushi is good. So Aa Sushi in Juanita will do -- as long as you go early enough in the dinner service. Go too late and the selection goes down. The fun part of this is that there is no waiting. You eat as much or as little as you want. Plus, they seem to anticipate what you need....it's time for tuna, or a roll or cream puffs for dessert. Karl loved it! So, we will go back when we want a quick bite. And you can never beat sushi for a nice, light dinner.

It Beats the Heat

It's been nightmarishly hot these last few days. One treat that came out of it was an evening viewing of Tropic Thunder. I've become a matinee kind of gal these last copule of years. Parking is easier. You never have to share a row with anyone. You can do a double feature if you are so inclined. So, the matinee experience has become one that I have come to cherish. But anyway -- we went to the 8:10 Friday evening showing of Tropic Thunder and it was a riot. The theater was packed (where are all the Chinese people coming from?) and it was fun to laugh along with the rest of the crowd. This movie was pretty hi-larious. And how can you really go wrong with Ben Stiller, Jack Black and Robert Downy Jr? The mock previews at the beginning of the movie pretty much set the tone and I was hooked from minute one.

Not for my birthday....

But I'll take it! For Karl's b-day celebration (a couple of weeks early) we went to a matinee showing of Pineapple Express. From the team that brought you Superbad, is one man's tale of life on pot. It takes awhile, but it actually turns out to be a pretty hilarious film. Alot of it is mindless meanderings of non-coherence, but it ends up having sort of a plot (albeit a ridiculous one) and a message of friendship.

The highlight was dinner at Lola. This is Tom Douglas' newest venture. Greek-inspired, I found it to be warm and inviting, with the clientele only somewhat pretentious (is it me, or am I turning into a suburbanite?)

Our selections:

Suckling pig

slow roasted lamb

green beans with tomato and dill

smashed garlic fried potatoes

Loukoumathes (doughnuts)

chocolate pot de creme

We also tried to order the sampler plate which had a whole slew of greek munchies, but our server kindly told us that would be over the top in terms of quantity of food. So we passed and still had leftovers to take home! I guess it gives a reason to go back. The highlights -- a wonderful server who recommded a wonderful wine to us. She was so excellent and cool. This great cocktail -- a fresca vodka or something like that. A mixture of grapefruit juice, vodka and apparently, magic. The company, of course. And....we had a celebrity sighting of Tom Douglas himself. Maybe that's why it seemed so yummy!

He's Irish and He's Proud....

My new favorite television discovery is the Graham Norton Show on BBC America. He's a flamboyant Irish guy with a biting wit. I regularly guffaw out loud for more than 5 seconds straight when I watch this show!


A typical chat show on the surface, Graham interjects a lot of audience participation, current events, and many-a-joke that makes this refreshing and hilarious.
Check it out!

Movies Continue...

I took last week off from movies, so there were a couple to catch up on. I heard the X-Files movie was quite bad, so I've decided to wait for dvd. I went to see Step Brothers -- not really meant to be high art or anything, but it really did lack any sort of class or depth, or warmth. There were some funny moments, but the jokes wore thin and after awhile, you were just embarrased for them.

Maybe next week I'll go see the Mummy Returns. It did not fare much better with the critics, but hopefully it will be good fun.

On the other hand, I did a repeat viewing of Once -- one of my favorite movies of 2006. And this never happens, but I was every bit as moved as the first time. Maybe ever more so. It's so worth multiple viewings. And the music is SO good. This may be one of the sweetest stories of all time. And the music is so good.

Blueberry Season

2 blueberry pies

1 batch lemon poppy seed, blueberry scones

1 batch blueberry muffins

That's what I've made so far with the bounty of blueberries I picked along with the family. We amassed a total of 11 pounds among the 5 of us. Still on the "to make list": peach and blueberry shortcakes, blueberry pancakes, and enough to freeze for the upcoming months. Still weeks of berry picking left so I'll be out in the fields again soon. Blueberries are one of the "perfect" foods that you should eat as much as possible because it's full of anti-oxidents. I'll just say that they are full of yumminess!

Obon 2008

My dad was not in charge of the Beef Bowl booth at the annual Japanese folk dance festival at my parent's church this year. So, I did not have to cook like I've done every year for the last 10 years or so. But, I did take a shift serving up the dish in the booth. Not quite the same, but it was ok. I ran into old friends from highschool, which is always a trip. Now I don't have to go to the highschool reunion!

Strawberries!

What kind of food adventures have I been getting in to? I got my local strawberries that I have been craving. And I gorged on them until sick! Just like the old days!

I did not get to do the usual picking event, but there was roadside stand on the way back from Whidbey Island 4th of July weekend. Got the small flat and proceeded to eat my way through it.....and it was heaven.

On another happy strawberry note, we went to Chinooks a couple of times for summer birthdays and they had strawberry shortcake on the menu. Strawberries picked fresh from a Kent farm just that morning. It makes a difference!

My advice to you -- always go local. These little jewels are a whole different ball game. Just like I remember.

It's Dark, Very Dark

And I mean that figuratively and literally. The low level hum of anxiety and the low level light of a dark soul is what The Dark Knight is all about. A great movie, a puff piece it is not. Not to mention the fact that you are faced with watching the most kick-ass performance of one of my favorite actors who is no longer with us -- Heath Ledger. It seems more of a shame than ever as you watch the brilliance unfold.

So, here's the catch up over the last couple of weeks:

Hancock. It ends up being the tragic tale of a good movie gone bad. It starts out with so much promise, but the storyline takes an unfortunate turn, resulting in what seems like a ridiculous waste. Oh well. It's still some good fun. But you'll tell everyone about how it could've been so much better.

Hellboy. This was actually not bad. It reminded me, however, of a full-length movie based in the Star Wars cantina scene. I mean, it's basically a bunch of crazy creatures and their quirky personalities. I did not say that was a bad thing. Just more of an observation. There were funny moments. Action. A little gore. And in all, a bunch of fun. Too bad, the hell boy himself is not more appealing. He's one of those stunted male personalities who irriate me because of his inability to express himself in any way except lashing out. So old.

on DVD

One of the absolute best movies I've seen lately came in the form of dvd. Charlie Bartlett is awesome! It's one of those movies that I loved from the moment it started. Quirky characters, really good writing, and pretty good acting = a good thing. I won't get into too much detail. Just rent it. I'm trying to get through some other netflix tonight so with that I sign off. And I hardly ever rate 5 stars on the Flix, which I immediately said I would once the credits were rolling.

Summer Movies

I've been seeing a bunch of the summer movies, but haven't found the one yet that makes my summer. The most recent was Wanted -- the superspy movie with James MacAvoy (my favorite since The Chronicals of Narnia). It has Angelina Jolie and Morgan Freeman and claims to have the most surprising and amazing effects since the Matrix. However, I couldn't quite connect to it or like it as much as I wanted.

Summary: Get Smart -- disappointing. The Incredible Hulk. Better but still waiting for something more exciting.

What's Cooking?

I grilled up some veg and salmon this evening that turned out pretty good. All you need is a little olive oil, salt, pepper and lemon and everything on the grill turns out fantastic.

I also tried cooking up some country pork ribs the other day. That was a bit of mystery meat before as I have never made it before. I used the crock pot, and it came out tender and fall-off-the-bone perfect. Asian seasonings and it was pretty yummy. But talk about fatty!

Another great meal at Alligator Soul. This time I had the jambalaya. Oh, mama. Crawfish, scallops, mussels, clams, shrimp, ham, sausage. This thing has got it all. I got it at the minimum 4 star spiciness, which was perfect. Next week they are having a crawfish boil. You better believe that I am gonna be there.

Worth Every Penny

I had heard about this movie. A mockumentary, the Grand's final poker tournament scene was a real game -- and they just filmed it as part of the movie. If a particular person lost then they were out of the tournament -- and out of the movie at that time.

This is the kind of humor I love. Quirky characters. Hilarious dialogue. You'll love it. Chris Parnell of Saturday Night Live is a standout here. His character is a social misfit, brilliant, but "off" who takes pieces of Dune to live his life by.

I loved this movie! And it had pearls of wisdom....such as "we are like water -- if agitated, then the way is not clear"....or something to that effect. I felt like that was totally talking to me.

And I adore Jack Black, so why wouldn't I like his characterization of a chubby panda who, a bit of a misfit, has big dreams.

Oh, the other little tidbit to remember: there is no secret ingredient. The answer is you.

The kids loved it too. I want to see it again! The fight scenes were awesome.

It's About Aliens

I finally got a little bit caught up on some movies this weekend -- yes, the classic double feature. It was a long day because both of the movies we chose were 2 hours each.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull. Spoiler alert -- the crystal skull is an actual alien's skull. It seems kind of dumb, but oh well. I was more impress at how well Harrison Ford and Karen Allen have held up after all these year.

You Don't Mess With the Zohan. The premise is ridiculous. An Israeli counter-terrorist just wants to cut and style hair -- and make people silky smooth. Don't forget this is Adam Sandler and he's been way too serious lately, so he pulls out all the stops in making this over the top crazy. I laughed a lot.

I read that popcorn actually has a lot of tryptophan in it. I don't know if it is true, but I was feeling mighty drowsy after gnoshing on my medium bag at the movie. I'm still sleepy!

Mmmm....cupcakes

I was told that Trophy Cupcakes are the best. I may just believe it. These cupcakes are insane! Talk about rich, moist and delicious. It is not for the faint of heart. And it's definitely a splurge any which way you look at it. The red velvet could be my favorite ever. I've always been against them because of the use of red food coloring. But the hint of cocoa and cream cheese frosting are quite delightful.

And the joint is so charming and retro -- who wouldn't be enchanted. Perhaps I will have my next birthday party here. Yum -o.

Ok, I give in

I have been resisting Grey's Anatomy for 3 years now. I mean, it seemed like a Sex in the City thing except in a hospital, where life is frivolous and people are shallow. McDreamy. Doctors sleeping together. All the hype. I thought that I'd seen it all before. Well, yes, in a way I was right. There is nothing new here, but I finally got talked into watching the series (season one, at least) and it was not bad! In fact, I rather enjoyed it. The characters were likable and the situations, while sometimes not plausible, still kind of fun and relatable. So, season 2 is in my queue. I'm sure at some point I'll get sick of this soap opera, but there's not much action on my Tivo these days and I get to watch episodes back to back!

I Grill, Therefore I am

The grilling season has more than launched. It's been super nice the last few days. Here's an example of some grilling I have been doing. There were also some really nice steaks -- and the surprise were some nice pork chops. I had not really grilled those before. They turned out REALLY GOOD! And, I'm able to just sort of cook away without having to consult guides and recipes anymore. It's really cool. I just grill and it turns out. WOW.

Oh, this is a brat that we did with some onions, peppers and kraut. All on a French roll. Not too shabby. I know this is hard to believe, but I ate this without making a total mess. Whoa.

Go Speed Go!

It didn't totally suck. Next week is more of the official start to the summer movie season with the new installment of Indiana Jones. So I thought I'd get a few other movies out of the way to make room in the schedule. Speed Racer turned out better than I expected. A purist of the original animated series, I was skeptical. I mean, I grew up watching this stuff. While this was nothing like the series at all, it had a very stylized, saturated, and colorful feel of it's own that was both campy and fun.

I also saw The Chronicals of Narnia: Prince Caspian. I think I was actually a little disappointed. The first movie was a total pleasant surprise. This seemed disjointed to me -- I didn't where or where from it coming or going. I fell asleep for a few minutes (not the fault of the movie) but I did not quite recover from there. It was in no way bad -- it just didn't capture the magic of the first movie for me. The purity and grace of the characters as they were -- innocent and fresh

This was last weekend, but it is definitely noteworthy: Ironman. Robert Downy Jr. is the man. He makes this movie, which is quite good on its own. But he's funny and smart and so is this movie. The action takes some time to pick up, but the buildup is good. It really shows the motivation behind our hero. This has summer blockbuster written all over it.

As next weekend is Memorial Day, the big stuff comes out soon. I will wait till the crowds die down again.

I hear it's also time for the annual Seattle Film Festival. Now that I'm an eastsider, I don't think it is for me anymore. Oh, how sad....

Series 2: Vending Machines

My other favorite thing in Japan -- the fabulous vending machines. They have everything. I had to try as much as possible. The grapefruit water -- yummy! And the best? An iced cocoa that is SO, so yummy. Hot, cold. No problem.

When I get a chance I will share more food pics. There are so many cool things.

Japan Series 1: plastic food menus

I love these! One of my favorite things about being in Japan are the plastic food menus.

Picture one: a whole bunch of ice cream flavors. I think there are more than 31....

Picture two: typical Japanese menu items of noodles, bento boxes, etc

Movies on a Plane

So, I'm now back in town after my adventure in Asia. I'm having a hard time adjusting back to the time change, but had no trouble sleeping over there. Curiuos....

Anyway, i had a chance to check out a bunch of movies on the 10 hour flight over and the 8 hour flight back. While plane movie viewing is never ideal, announcement interruptions have to be made in 2 languages on international flights making it even more annoying.

I Am Legend -- kept my attention and was not as bad as i expected

Sadly, that is the only one I can remember 8 days later. Oh well. They were all on my Netflix queue, which I have now been able to update.

Not as interesting a post as I had hoped...

The Movie Spreadsheet

We have gotten organized and have a spreadsheet of all the movies we want to see until the end of the summer. I'm sure more will be added as I do some more research into the movies coming out. But it's a good 30 movies long. And we have been making headway!

Leatherheads -- entertaining and often charming (who does not like a George Clooney movie? -- plus as a bonus it has John Kraskinsi) this movie ends up disappointing in the end because the ending does not make sense! The likable hero gets taken down at the end for no good reason except for the truth to come out. So, I won't go on and on, but I really don't like Rene Zellweger and I was left with kind of an icky flabberghasted kind of feeling. Why???

Forgetting Sarah Marshall -- another movie by the Apatow gang. This one is written and stars Jason Segel, who was my favorite on Freaks and Geeks. I'll just say that I laughed out loud many, many times, but there was also some moment of "I did not need to see that" as well as the most male frontal nudity I've seen in any movie -- ever. Gratuitous! But at least the guys get the gratuitous scenes for once.

The Forbidden Kingdom -- Jet Li and Jackie Chan together at last. A big deal, yes? By the looks of the crowd at the matinee I would certainly say so. But while it was good, it was also a bit lackluster. It didn't have the epic "wow" nor was it as funny as the previews would like you to think. The fight scenes went on.... and on.....but overall not bad. Just not what it could've been.

Green Valley Meats

Last weekend was like 80 degrees (remember that?) Never mind that it's been doing nothing but raining AND snowing since. Anyway, we went to Green Valley meats to pick up some steaks -- and a couple of extra treats too. The best bacon I've had to date and some smoked oysters that were not bad at all.

The steaks ended up being delicious. Super thick cut. I wasn't sure how long to grill, but they turned out great!

That was the end of the good weather....for now anyway.

Run Fat Boy Run

I loved this movie! It even made me want to be a runner. Not a marathon runner, mind you -- or even a half marathon runner. But the kind of runner who runs often and enjoys it. Anyway, how can you go wrong with a movie written by Micheal Ian Black and Simon Pegg. Run Fat Boy Run chronicles the woes of Dennis, a slacker/loser with a good heart who leaves his pregnant finacee at the alter because he does not feel he is good enough for her. So he spends the entirety of the movie trying to win her back (which involves running) and hilarity ensues. I give this at least 4, maybe 5 stars.

Marinated steak with gorgonzola sauce

I grilled up some steaks with this marinade that I have to say was pretty tasty! So easy too.

1/2 hour before grilling, marinate steaks in 1 tbs. olive oil, 1 tbs. balsamic vinegar, 2 cloves of chopped garlic, 1 tsp. of brown sugar.

Serve up with a sauce of 2 tbs. gorgonzola, 2 tbs. buttermilk and a dash of Worcherstershire.

I grilled a couple of veg on the side and sauteed baby broccoli, which I have to admit was more fabulous than I expected.

Quick and delicious. I got this recipe from one of those healthy cooking shows so that also made me feel good about gorging on it. I had had some weird 36-hour flu that left me quite famished and craving steak. This was totally satisfying.

Triple Play

It was a 3-movie weekend. Those are my favorite kinds. All 3 exceeded my expectations and left me feeling completely satisfied. Oddly, I found Drillbit Taylor, a tale about a homeless guy who is hired by a trio of freshman nerds to protect them from the school bully to be really moving and sweet. I guess I love those stories where the underdogs prevail, lessons of life, love and friendship are learned and everyone lives happily ever after. Of course Owen Wilson is the perfect guy to play Drillbit -- perfectly imperfect. Teetering on jerkdom, his soft side pervails in the end. And my heart totally went out to the nerdy kids. Love the nerdy kids.

Miss Pettigrew Lives for A Day. I heard good things about this, so it was no surprise that this was a winner. Sort of a modern day Jane Austen tale (where modern is the 1930's) where a woman who is not born into money has to do what she has to do to make her way in the world where a career is not an option open to her -- I guess she could be an actress, but i mean women were not expected or given many opportunities to make her own living outside of being a governess or something like that. I cried at the end. True love finds a way in the end and who doesn't like that?

Took the kids to see Horton Hears A Who. Now, I don't really remember this Dr. Seuss tale that much and I wasn't sure they could make a whole movie-length story from it, but it was quite brilliant! And sweet and heartwarming and yada yada. A lot of that going on this weekend. And yes, I may have even shed a tear or 2. Honestly -- go see it. It has a moral. It has relevancy. It reminded of the feeling I got when I saw War of the Worlds and witnessing one race try to obliterate another for what reason? Yes, it's cruel, heartless and painful to watch. In any case, i liked it, the kids liked it and the boyfriend liked it. What more could you ask? The animation was top-notch. The voiceovers also great. Jim Carrey and especially Steve Carrell were fantastic.

You should go. Really!

The Calcium Kid

Not yet available on DVD and never released in the States (?) The Calcium Kid is exactly the kind of movie I love. I love the mockumentary. This one takes aim at the boxing industry -- but in a way only the British can do. It stars Orlando Bloom like you've never seen him. Very natural and at home with the wry humor, he is both charming and exudes a wholesome optimism which is refreshing and sweet.

Filmed in 2004, Orlando looks fresh-faced in this low-budget, unpretentious movie. So, the way I got to see this is that it is one of the "see it now" films offered through Netflix. This is the first I've taken advantage of this feature -- it rocks! Nothing on tv....not in the mood for my other Netflix movies. What a great alternative. Now that I have the new laptop that actually works and have actual internet I can take advantage of such technology.

A movie about boxing that is charming? If anything, watch this just so you know it can be done.

My New Addicition

I've managed to get down to the Pike Place Market a couple of times in the last couple of weeks. I am now hooked on the beautiful cheeses at Beecher's. Cheeses are local and fa-bu-lous. There is a gorgeous camembert that is ooey-gooey delicious on a french baguette. And let me tell you, this brought me right back to my days in Paris. Then there is this Organzola that I have been enjoying on salads. I'm going to do a flank steak and make a sauce with the gorgonzola. I can't think of anything that sounds more tasty. We got some great recommendations this last time and some did some serious sampling. I love cheese.

Made In Kitchen

I've been wanting to try Made in Kitchen for some time. One of those upscale Vietnamese fusion joints, it's inviting and stylish on the inside. The menu is also inviting with dishes called "meatball treasures" and claypot catfish.

However, it fell short in wowing me overall. I have to say that I prefer Tamarind Tree down the street where they have fabulous cocktails and dishes that i have to say that I am unable to forget about because they were so good. My favorite being a version of the spring roll that is just delectable and unique.

Plus there was an odd scuffle outside during dinner where a bunch of little thugs got into a bit of a fist fight then tried to come in for a bite to eat. Weird and unsettling.

Movie Marathon!

It's been quite some time since I've done the double feature. I had a couple of short movies selected so it didn't seem like an all day event. But I enjoyed both quite a bit!

Semi-Pro. Nothing new here, but Will Ferrell does it so well. Nothing tops Anchorman in my book, but this movie had its moments. Taking us back to the 70's once again, he wears a 'fro this time. Go for a giggle.

Penelope. While it did not have all of the magic I had hoped for, it was still a pleasant movie about learning to love yourself. It will appeal to the romantic in you. And has the whimsey of a modern fairytale.

Daylight savings is already messing with me. I had time for a couple of dvds. Conan O'Brien's 10th Anniversay Special. At only 64 minutes, this was easy to fit in. Funny stuff. And I also watched Across the Universe. Over 2 hours, if you let yourself, you will become immersed in it. I found it absolutely moving and engrossing. It could have gone all wrong -- it's a fantasy reimagining of the 60's Vietnam war story threaded together with Beatles songs. It worked for me.

Season 6

Whoa. I just finished Smallville season 6. Is Lana really dead? And what about Chloe? Like every season, the last episode blows your mind. How is Clark going to get out of this one?

Highlights of season 6: the inception of the League of Justice with the Green Arrow, Aquaman and some robot guy (I don't remember him from the cartoon, but I never did read the comic books). Smallville remains true to its roots in that it pretty much follows the original storyboard --I think!

Jimmy Olsen is introduced this season. And the rivalry between Clark and Lex Luthor heats up. Lex is finally seen as a character plunging into the dark side who can not be saved by Clark's friendship. He steals Lana from him and it's irreconcilable.

It can be corny at times and yes, there is gratuitous cleavage at times (as well as beefcake) but I am hooked, even 6 seasons later.

Weekend Movies

So after the lovely crepes, we headed down to Pike Place Market and picked up some amazing cheeses to snack on for dinner.

Got some kind of runny cheese that was absolutely fabulous on a baguette. Some Oregonzola -- you can guess what I'm talking about. We put it on a salad of greens with sliced apples and cranberries. That was spectacular. And the Beecher classic, which I have yet to break in to.

So then off to the movies to see Be Kind Rewind. It turned out to be way more heartwarming than expected with an actual plot! It took a bit to get started, but once it did, I was charmed.

Then a couple of dvd's to go with all the cheese. Gone Baby Gone. A more complex plotline with some twists and turns than what I would have expected. A frustrating ending where there are no answers really. I could not understand what the characters were saying half the time because aside from the Boston accent being ugly sounding, it's also unintelligible at times. But more than I expected from the Affleck, since I generally see him as an untalented schmuck. Not bad, tho not really my cup of tea.

The it was Starter for Ten -- a surprise hit in my book. Charming coming of age comedy with James MacAvoy (I admit I rented it for this reason alone), but it was sweet and had a kick-butt 80's new wave soundtrack that really took me back. It was the movie John Hughs would have made had he been English.

Unicorn Crepes

This is my favorite new discovery in the I-District. It's sheer perfection and fun if you are looking for some tasty novelty crepes. I had the chocolate cream crepes with bananas and custard. And the Unicorn crepe, which was teriyaki chicken, eggs, cabbage and mayo. If if they didn't also have the best chai. So GOOD! The atmosphere was rad (fun music playing above -- i think there was some disco in there). The staff was friendly and decidedly Japanese and very hip. The crepes were delicious! The plastic display menu reminded me of my favorite thing Japanese. Ok, and he's the secret -- the bathroom is the most cool, unique thing you've ever seen. Someone went to a lot of trouble to make it special. I can not do it justice, so you'll just have to go and see for yourself. I know I'm going back!

A Seafood Feast

Here's a picture of the seafood feast we made a few weeks back. We actually shucked our own oysters on the half shell (i'm very impressed by this) and made some mussels in a white wine/saffron broth. Can I just say that it was SO easy and tasted SO good! Top it off with a nice loaf of bread and a simple salad. Bellisimo!

My Birthday Cake

My sister made me my own little personal cake for my birthday. Too bad no one was well enough to help me celebrate! Plus, I was busy getting ready to travel for a work trade show. But the cake was so cute -- and my mom insisted that we light a couple of candles anyway and sing a song. I think it's completely darling! And the lemon glaze on it made it super yummy as well.