Saturday, September 26, 2015

What that movie inspired me to do #24

Okay, few weeks ago, I commented on the fact there wouldn't be a lot of posts before middle of October, and that I half way had something up my sleeve to post for this weekend. If things went even sort of half way as planned.

Well...they sort of almost went half way as planned. So, I'll post it anyways.

Remember back in 2013 (Friday the 13th Sept) I did a vampire themed dinner? Well, yeah we all remember how laughable that turned out to be. Anyways, I wanted to redeem myself for that, and keeping with the vampire food theme, had planned on doing a Brunch with the Vampire.  Only, a slather of things went wrong.
The food was much better, I admit my cooking has improved specially given the fact I actually cooked stuff this time instead of just heating up packaged things.  My decorating on the other hand leaves something to be desired, and there were a few technical issues with my camera dying midway.  I actually attempted to do this meal twice, on two different days. Finally, I threw my hands up in defeat and decided I was not going to try it again.

But...I had been inspired by two movies. Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the first Hotel Transylvania. It was Hotel Transylvania that really kick started this, and the memorable scene where they are all by the pool side having brunch before anyone realizes Jonathan isn't really Jonnystein but a human.  Omlettes are talked about more then once, as is garlic bread in the movie.
But, that seemed too easy just having that, so I started to think about some of the vampire movies that I didn't add last time, and Buffy was one.  Throughout the film, Buffy says the word "toast" or "toasty"; and there is one scene where she's being hunted by the basketball player and she mentions blueberry snapps.
So, my Brunch with a Vampire contained garlic-buttery croissants and omlettes via Hotel Transylvania and french toast with blueberry sauce via Buffy the Vampire Slayer. (actually, the first attempt was french toast and blueberry muffins and the second was just the sauce)





The muffins I made from scratch, got the recipe from The Joy of Cooking.  Yes, that is my main recipe book, I like to call it the grand grimoire. Seriously, I wonder why I ever bothered to buy any of the other 500 cookbooks I find myself tripping over, when all you really need is Joy.  Recipe is on page 635.

2 cups flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs,
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup butter OR 1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup frozen blueberries.
The recipe called originally for 1 full cup of milk, but since the blueberries were frozen and a lot of liquid came out of them, I cut the milk in half.
Recipe also calls for the oven to be 400degrees and for you to bake 17 minutes.


The second time around, when I decided to scrap the muffins and just go with the sauce, I just used what was left over from the September Food n Flix when I did the blueberry sauce.

blueberries,
sugar
lemon juice

As for the Hotel Transylvania offerings, I did cheat and used Pillsbury Crescent Rolls.  The garlic butter I made myself, which was simply

5 Teaspoons butter at room temp
1 Tablespoon minced garlic
salt
parsley
 
Mix together, spreading on the inside of the rolls, and then bake them to the directions on the package. 

The omlette was a 2 egg omlette with cheese, and onion. (yes that's hot sauce...but pretend it's blood to go with the vampire theme)

And you can see the second time around, I ditched all the extra "decor" and went with just one special ingredient...Count Chocula!





I was hoping to find a spiffy Hallowe'en themed bowl for it, but didn't.  Yes, this is a 2015 edition of the limited holiday release, and getting that box of cereal was an all day event. (2 stores, 4 and a half hours, 6 buses to find that damned box of cereal)

Did I redeem myself? Little. You know that some point down the line there will be another vampire food related meal. 

Random movie -Hotel Transylvania 2

plot: Mavis and Jonathan get married and have a son. Dracula is worried because Dennis has yet to fang, while Mavis is content to believe he's totally human. But it's looking more and more like the newest Dracula is nothing more then a typical 5 year old. Dracula convinces Jonathan to take Mavis to visit his parents in the U.S, while the rest of the gang take little Dennis on a crash course in being a monster, in hopes that he'll get his fangs. But, when everything goes wrong, Mavis decides it's time to move away from the hotel, and invites her grandfather Vlad to visit one last time.

This is a 2015 animated comedy starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James.

So I got to the cinema today, and you know I've been looking forward to this film for over a year since I found out they were doing a sequel.
I have to say, there was one big flaw and that is the fact Mel Brooks doesn't have enough air time.
There is one great gag that is clearly a toothy smirk to both Bram Stoker's Dracula from 1992 and Mel Brook's Dracula Dead and Loving It from 1995.  hint...the big haired wig.

I'm trying to write this without giving away too many spoilers as this is it's opening weekend.

*SPOILERS ALERT*

There is a comic-ly touching scene where Jonathan hugs the wall of the castle and says that it is the only place he's felt like he can truly be himself. Meanwhile, Mavis is doing everything possible to be more human and fit in. When she goes to the U.S., she realizes how sheltered she really was and expresses the fact she's envious of Jonathan's life before he met her.  (I nearly cried cause that hit home for me big time) All the while, their little bat-boy who is obsessed with both Batman and the Cake Monster (total rip off of Cookie Monster) just wants to hang out with the werewolf pups and be like all the monsters he has come to know and love. 
There is even a scene where Dennis is standing on a very unsafe stack of boxes trying to will himself into being a bat so that he can fly; knowing that if he's a vampire they won't need to move away.  

The themes here are accepting yourself as well as those who are different then you. Being comfortable in your own skin. And not forcing yourself to be what other people might expect you to be if it's not who you feel you really are.
I love the fact that they made Mavis this sort of wide eyed innocent girl even though she's suppose to be a few hundred years old. That one of the other sub-plots running through the film is that just because your current phase in life has changed, that doesn't mean you have to give up what makes you happy; what makes you -you at your core.  Which is expressed in a scene where Mavis and Jonathan are watching a group of kids bike and skateboard, and she expresses the desire to join them, but cuts herself off at first saying she's a mom there fore too old, but Jonathan talks her into just going with the flow and enjoying the moment.

*End of Spoilers*

There was a few times in this film I nearly cried, but I managed to keep it together as the comedy was quick enough to overshadow any really heavy scenes. 

There is talks already of a part 3 coming out in the next few years. Personally, I'd love to see how the new character of little Dennis handles human school or something along that line.

Monday, September 21, 2015

The Nosferatu Adventures s9 p15

The Nosferatu Adventures 
page 239, chapter 239

2023
Rolf's Kingdom

Flicking his long hair out of his face, the large male sat on the overturned tree, one foot stretched out in front of him, the other bracing the edge of the chunk of wood. Holding it up to survey his work, Rolf let out a huff of exhaustion letting his shoulders slouch in defeat.

"What's that huh? What's that? " he felt the slap on his back as Reuben seemed to appear out of nowhere just to his right. "That a stake? Are you making wooden stakes? What do we need wooden stakes for?" The other male ask in rapid concession as he reached his right hand out to tap on the object before stretching to this full height then crouching back down on his heels, sweeping his hair back into one of his too smooth to be human ponytails.

Rolf just stared at him from the corner of his eye for a long few seconds. "How many rabbits you have?"

"What makes you think I had any rabbits? Why do you automatically assume I have been hunting rabbits all the time? So what is it for?"

"Not a stake. It's a toy train man." he squinted up his face, his dark eyebrows getting lost in his long curtain of hair. "It's for the kid for Mabon."

"Stick to needlepoint."  Reuben remarked sticking his tongue out at his friend clearly enjoying himself. Looking around them as if he'd suddenly remembered they were not just outside but by the small lake on the edge of the castle grounds, he made a sound that was louder then a growl but not completely a scream.
The auburn haired eight year old dropped the handful of dirt he was playing with along with the pebbles and turned to rejoin them. Standing in front of Reuben, he stomped his feet smiling letting the werewolf sniff his hair.

"Seriously. How many rabbits you been snacking on? I haven't seen you like this in years." Rolf asked again mindlessly tossing the failed attempt to carve the toy into the lake.  Damen looked over his shoulder at his uncle then turned back around to stare into the depths of Reuben's chocolate brown puppy dog eyes, before inching closer to him so that he was directing standing between the werewolf's knees, leaned his forehead towards Reubens and placed both small palms on the wolf's face.
Reuben closed his eyes giggling as the grains of sand still on Damen's hands felt like rocks pelting him. Moving from him the little boy held up his hand towards Rolf, with four fingers up.
"Dude, four? You had four rabbits?" Rolf asked half smirking himself. "No wonder you're bouncing around like a teenager."

"I was hungry."  He stood just as Damen's attention was caught by a squirrel, leading the little boy to move away from the werewolf and towards the edge of the bushes a few feet from them.

"Na you were greedy." Rolf replied.  Both werewolf's stiffened as the air around them changed. Rolf already to his feet growling. The scream broke not only their good humour but frightened the birds from the trees. Reuben covered his sensitive ears before realizing he was already running towards where the sound was coming from. 

Rolf's breathing didn't return to normal till he was standing a few centimeters away from Damen, who's pale face was mostly hidden behind a very large strong hand.

"Owwwwww!"  The male screamed as he doubled over shaking out his hand. "He bit me! I think I need a tetanus shot!"

Rolf put one massively strong arm out to grab his buddy. "You deserved it." he smiled wide. "You're immune to everything you don't need a tetanus shot." He slapped him on the back a couple of times just to add a dash of insult to the injury. "We done with our deja vu?" he asked seeing that Reuben was now holding Damen.

"Yeah yeah sure." Dagan replied nodding his head. The auburn haired male started to run his hands through his hair smoothing it back, then began patting himself down, looking back behind himself on the ground for something.
The little boy sniffed back a tear, still clearly shaken as he grabbed tight to Reuben's neck with one hand, holding out his other towards Dagan. "Ah there it is." The werewolf said retrieving his prize. He seemed frozen for a few seconds as his fingers grazed the boy's hand. Shaking his head, the male took a large step away from the kid. "You're creepy." he growled as he began to stalk away towards the edge of the woods. "You coming or what?" he screamed back over his shoulder.

"Should we tell him?" Reuben asked swinging the little boy around to give him a piggy-back ride.

"Na, let him find out about Maxwell himself." Rolf sniffed flicking his hair out of his face. Turning to look at his nephew he asked what happened?  Reaching a dirty fist up to the tall male, Damen tapped Rolf on the forehead letting him see a vision of the squirrel running into the bushes and up the nearest tree, and when Damen had run after him, he was flung backwards fifty feet. That's when he screamed. He hadn't seen where Dagan had come from.  "I reminded you before we came outside, to be careful about the invisible wall. Come on, we better get back inside, something tells me a storm is about to land in our laps."

The little boy looked up at the sky shaking his head, his little eyebrows knitted in confusion. "Not that kind of storm." Reuben said laughing.


Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Been a few weeks I know, but distractions, distractions, dis...look air)

Saturday, September 12, 2015

Coffee Talk sept 12 2015

Spudguns!  You awake yet?  It's a frosty windowed morning here. You'll notice it's a bit slow here on the blog right now. And that's because I'm running around like a maniac trying to get things done for next month's series of blog posts.
I'm not kidding, I've been trying to find Hallowe'en props, doable Hallowe'en recipes, find some new movies to slip into the mix that fit with the theme.

There is going to be a major update of an old favourite as part of the "13 Days of Hallowe'en", too. So, yeah I'm putting a ton of pressure on myself.

So posting will be sort of a snail's crawl between now and the middle of next month. But, fear not my lovely coffee swigging fiends. I've got something up my sleeve for the end of the month, if all goes even sorta-kinda according to plan.  You know; when Hotel Transylvania 2 comes out.

And now it's time for a supersized coffee.

Monday, September 7, 2015

The Nosferatu Adventures s9 p14

The Nosferatu Adventures
page 238, chapter 238

Out of Time

The lights in the coffee shop were too bright, causing him to squint as he adjusted to the green tint. Slowly, he scanned the place, trying to find her.  Smirking, he started to make his way through the half empty groups of tables, past the long line of impatient people as they stood and shoved their ways to the order counter. Snapping his fingers just before reaching her table, a large double double appeared in his hand. Luckily enough, our heroine had her nose buried in a book and hadn't noticed.

"Hi." he leaned over the table.

"Go ahead." she pushed the empty chair with her foot under the table. "Take it. I'm not waiting for anyone." she replied turning the page of her book, not bothering to even glance away.  The sound of the chair then scraping on the floor as he pulled it out enough to slide into it was lost in the crowd. Seeing his cup suddenly on the table just a few centimeters away from her own caused our heroine to finally glance up. Tilting her head to the side, her eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "What are you doing? You sat down...why did you sit down? There are more then enough empty tables still...so?"

"That is the weirdest introduction I've ever heard. So let me start again. Hi, I'm Baker."  The confused look didn't leave her face as she gave him the once over. He was about her height, maybe closer to 5 foot 10, with jet black hair that was slicked back with a sharp but nicely drawn nose, thinner lips and blue eyes.  He cleared his throat nervously adjusting himself in his seat. "This is the part where you tell me your name." he took a sip of the coffee. "Since your chicken scratches earlier were unreadable."

"Oh! You're the delivery guy." she shook her head at her own stupidity closing her book. "Sorry, um, Nosferatu." she scratched at her forehead closing her own hazel eyes. "Sorry, I didn't recognize you. But you did have a cap on when you were in the office."

"Yeah, part of the uniform." he said giving her an awkward smile. "That book really seemed to have your attention. What are you reading?"

"Um..." she had to look at the cover to see what the book was. "Just some old romance novel from like thirty years ago." she felt sheepish then as if having to defend herself. "I spotted it in the desk drawer at work. I guess the last secretary had left it or something."

"And you decided to give it a go?"

"Yeah. It's been forever since I had a chance to read anything." Which was as much of the truth as she could give him. And since she'd been locked up in an abandoned well for the last four years, the truth hurt. "Speaking of the office, I should really get back."

"Boss got you on a short leash?" Baker asked sipping his coffee.

"Something like that." she remarked collecting up the trashy novel and her own coffee cup, making her way out of the building.
She found Loki in his office when she got back, the toilet flushing as she entered the room. "You needed the toilet? You're a god." she pointed to the bathroom door in the far corner of the room.

"We eat, we drink so yeah gods still need the toilet. We shower too." he smirked at her winking. He crossed the room to pick up a folder, pretending to read it. "Did you need something?"

"Yeah actually." she stood with her arms crossed under her chest giving her boobs a boost. "A few things. One, if there is anyway for you to get me my stuff back from the middle ages, I would appreciate it.  Two, I'm going to need more then just a few bucks for coffee if I'm going to buy myself some groceries. And three, where am I going to live?"

The dark haired god said nothing as he continued to flip through the folder, still pretending to read it. Snapping his fingers, the leather bag and spellbook suddenly appeared in the middle of the desk. Tossing the fold down he leaned against the edge of the desk facing her, his hands behind his butt. "The kitchen in my penthouse is freshly stocked and you're living with me."

"Shacking excuse me?" she turned from the table the spellbook in her arms cradling it like a wounded child.

"What part of that sentence didn't you understand? I told you earlier that I need to keep an eye on you."

"And you can't keep an eye on me just at work? Or even from an apartment across the street or something?" she asked clutching the spellbook tighter to her.

"No I can't." he let out a sigh of disgust which turned into a burp. "Magick might be different here, but you're still a banshee, still half werewolf."

"You don't think I can control myself is that it?" she squinted up her nose at him. Grabbing the leather bag from the middle of the desk, our heroine turned on her heels walking out of Loki's office. Sniffing she told him his 3 o'clock meeting was in the elevator.

The elevator doors opened, just as Roger exited it not looking up from his cell phone. "Vicki, is he in?"

"Yes, he's in. You must be Roger?" she said dumping her stuff under the desk where no one could see it. "Vicki doesn't work here anymore." her voice cooed at him as he began to move down the hallway towards Loki's office. Turning around in mid step, he glanced up at the new girl.
The older male nearly stepped on his cell phone as it slipped from his hand bouncing on the rug. "Sir are you okay?"

Roger stood still for a long pause, his mouth slack as his eyes searched every inch of her. "Fine...Fine." he said clearing his throat bending to retrieve his cell phone.

"You look like you've seen a ghost. Can I get you anything? Water, tea, coffee?"

He shook his head as he turned back towards Loki's office, trying to understand how the woman Edward had been drawing for god knows how long was suddenly standing five feet from him? 


Tune in again for another installment of the Nosferatu Adventures starring your heroine...me(straight up story. Well, remember Edward is The Seer...)

Saturday, September 5, 2015

Theme Week p4-Sandler's Drac Pack

Just Go With It

plot:After having his heartbroken, a plastic surgeon uses a fake wedding ring to have a string of one night stands for years. Until he gets caught and his latest fling wants to meet his wife. He then manages to talk his co-worker into pretending to be his wife, and drags her kids into the mix.

This is the 2011 comedy starring Adam Sandler and Jennifer Aniston  and is a remake of the 1969 film Cactus Flower

I had no idea this was a remake when I sat down to watch it.  This was one of the better Sandler films I've seen.  The chemistry between Aniston and Sandler could be stretched into other films.
I think I was more surprised to see Nichol Kidman in this playing the snobby semi-friend of Aniston, who keeps trying to one up her, then of much else.

This is another one of those "I was so busy chasing that other person that I missed the fact my best friend was in love with me"  movies.

Sandler does the voice of Dracula in both the Hotel Transylvania movies

Friday, September 4, 2015

Theme Week p3-Sandler's Drac Pack

Zookeeper

plot: After asking his girlfriend to marry him and being turned down, a zookeeper discovers that he can communicate with the animals, and ends up getting relationship advice from them.

This is a 2011 comedy staring Kevin James and Adam Sandler

I actually found this to be a fairly decent, if not predictable, movie. It was charming enough to be something you might want to watch on a Sunday afternoon.  There is a lot of computer graphics as all the animals talk at some point in the film.
You have your typical boy meets girl, boy gets dumped, boy fails to see his best friend who is in love with him plot happening, but otherwise it makes for a good romantic comedy.

It's also a buddy movie given the fact he becomes best friends with a large talking gorilla that he takes to a bar. Yeah, it sounds twisted but proves to be right on the money.

Kevin James does the voice of Frankenstein and Sandler of Dracula in both Hotel Transylvania films.

Thursday, September 3, 2015

Theme Week p2-Sandler's Drac Pack

Joe Dirt 2

plot: After being caught in a tornado, Joe Dirt is sent back in time to see what his life would be like if he had never come into the lives of those he loves.

This is a 2015 comedy starring David Spade and Christopher Walken

Why. Did. I. Sit. Through. This?
I got the Wizard of Oz reference, and that was about it. This movie sucked the air out of my brain in a bad way, nearly turned it off in the first few minutes with the fart jokes, and to be honest, I should have. There's nothing to say about it, there is no reason for this movie to exist.

Spade plays the voice of  Griffin the Invisible Man in both Hotel Transylvania movies.

Wednesday, September 2, 2015

Theme Week -Sandler's Drac Pack

Pixels

plot: Aliens viewing video games in the 1980's via a time capsule, believe that humans have intentions of starting an interplanetary war, and attack as giant versions of the games. Lucky for the president of the U.S. he and his best friends are former video game champions. They figure out a way to make a weapon that shoots electronic pulses in order to kill the attackers. But, when one of the heroes is caught cheating, all bets are off.

This is the 2015 comedy starring Adam Sandler and Kevin James. Based on the French film of the same name.

First big cheer because I was actually able to get to the cinema. Yay me!  This film was surprisingly fit for the family.  So bonus points for that.
There is no doubt about it, it was targeted for my age group; ya know those of us who actually grew up in the 80's.

I did find it dragged in a few places, as I was expecting it to be more of an action geared story, but it seemed to take it's notes not just from the pop culture of the 80's but the pacing styles and story telling of movies from the 80's as well. Refreshing in a way too.
Is it wrong for me to say that what this movie did more than anything was make me all that much more interested in seeing the reboot of Ghostbusters?  Cause it did.

Okay, remember I said the other week I was struggling with finding a theme for this month, well it sort of hit me like a slap to the face; given later this month Hotel Transylvania 2 comes out. Adam Sandler does the voice of Dracula in both Hotel Transylvania movies and Kevin James does the voice of Frankenstein. 

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

September Food n Flix

This month's selection for Food n Flix is being hosted by Girlichef. In honor of this being the 5 year anniversary of Food n Flix, Heather has allowed everyone to pick their own movie from the past 5 years worth of selections.   When she told me this, I yelped for joy and did my geek chair dance.
Okay, so the Food n Flix group hasn't covered any vampire movies...yet, so my specialty was not on the menu, but fear not, my lovely little Spudguns! there was still a great selection to choose from, and it happened that I had half of the past selections on dvd.  My issue was choosing between them.

My gut reaction went straight to Practical Magic and to the scene at the end where Gillan needs to be saved and Sally activates the phone-tree, getting help from all the women in the neighbourhood. Particularly the part where both sisters are carrying the large soup pot to the garden.  Made me think of a potluck.
A Practical Magic potluck...a practical magick potluck... and then I laughed out loud continued to geek chair dance, and decided to make it a real (for the blog's sake) potluck. So I picked three more movies that had a similar theme, Simply Irresistible, Woman on Top and Mistress of Spices.
Three of these films I've talked about in year one of the blog, the fourth I haven't yet.  Be warned, my notes are intensely long this time around as I did notes for all four films. 


Mistress of Spices plot: A herbalist who's life is dedicated to seeing to the needs of the members of her community, falls in love braking all the rules set out for her by her coven; and soon believes the very spirit of what she works with has turned their back on her, taking revenge on everyone around her.

This is the 2005 drama starring Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Dylan McDermott and based on the book of the same name.

...paprika, hot oil, black pepper, bay leaf, chilies, cherries (her bracelet) salt, garlic, turmeric, raisins, sesame seeds, oil infusions, donuts/imarti, goat, saffron, orange, beef, banana, cardamon, coffee, energy drinks, coconut, garlic, grilled eggplant, tomatoes, coriander leaves, cinnamon, pickled eggs, coconut milk, mint leaves, lemons, ginger, basil, chives, rosemary, black cumin seeds, cham-cham,(form of sweets) mysore pak (form of sweets) mango pickles, eggs, capers, green apples, flat bread, almonds, limes, hearts of palm, fennel seeds, beans, mustard seeds, peppercorns, lime soda, honey, Mexican food (beginning he's standing in front of a burrito truck) Greek food (the sign of the restaurant when they go outside) Chinese food, octopus, prawns, sushi, chai tea, "love potion #9" (the end when she's rubbing powders and oils on her skin to seduce him)

Practical Magic plot: Two sisters who come from a family of witches, and have been hampered by a family curse, each believe they have finally found love. Sally, though married briefly with two daughters, ends up widowed and having to move back in with her aunts, while Gilly, finds herself in an abusive relationship. After the girls accidentally poison the abusive boyfriend, they find themselves haunted by his ghost literally, and soon Sally becomes involved with the detective sent to investigate the murder.

This is the 1998 drama starring Sandra Bullock and Nichole Kidman, based on the novel of the same name.

...apples, wine, grapes, alcohol, oatmeal, ice cream, clams, limes, coconut, pancakes and syrup, cheese, potato salad, chocolate, strawberries, cake, brownies, chicken, bread and butter, stuffing, walnuts, fruit tart, salt, toast, oranges, muffins, cherry jello, eggs, jelly donut,  jello molds (the recipe in Sally's old book) pound cake, chowder (the name of the cafe when they are reading the post card) squash, mint, fish, potatoes, lemons, "cauldron cookies", molasses, nectarines, tomatoes, pastry, onions, garlic, homemade bread, cupcakes, coffee, whip cream, "frogs legs" (cause of all the toads), mugwort tea, peas, jams/preserves, leeks, bacon,

Simply Irresistible plot: About to have her family's bistro closed by the bank, a young woman is given a message by someone claiming to be friends with her dead mother. He points her in the direction of a wealthy businessman, talking her into buying a bucket of crabs. One of which happens to be her familiar. Taking the groceries back to the bistro, she finds her luck starts to improve when not only does she make the best food she has in her life saving the bistro, but falls in love with the wealthy businessman. As each meal she cooks for her customers casts a spell causing them all to reflect back her own emotions, she realizes where her real power is.

This is the 1999 romantic comedy starring Sarah Michelle Gellar and Sean Patrick Flanery.

...crab, raspberries, blackberries, strawberries, mushrooms, apples, chicken, potatoes, cucumber, leeks, tomatoes, rye bread, green onions, fresh produce, vanilla beans/flowers, peaches, crab napoleon, coffee, eclairs, martini, peanut butter and jelly, blue cheese, carrots, beer, "southern fried mac and cheese" (the place is called the Southern Cross) souffle, iced tea, chicken paillard, olives, spinach, limes, dill, sugar cookies, champagne, truffles, slow roasted spare ribs, fennel salad, carrot soup with mussels, tomato/cucumber/feta salad, duck confit pizza, rack of lamb, taco with cilantro sauce, roasted vegetable sundae, foie gras, herb poached salmon, jumbo prawns, vanilla custard, blueberry cheesecake, eggs, pastries, caramel, lettuce, shellfish, scallops, chops, wine, red peppers, asparagus, figs,

Woman on Top plot:After finding her husband cheating, a Brazilian chef heads to America to live with her best friend. Not wanting to be heartbroken any longer, the two friends preform an offering to the goddess Yemanja, asking for her to take away the heartbreak. The same time, back in Brazil, her husband insults the goddess during an offering by the local fishermen, causing their restaurant to close. Finding out where she has gone, her husband follows her, but learns that she's more popular as a cooking host on the local news then he ever was in their restaurant and plots to get her back.

This is the 2000 romantic comedy starring Penelope Cruz and Harold Perrineau Jr.

... seafood, tomatoes, leeks, eggplant, peppers, celery, paella, mango, rice, fish and chips, coconut braised lobster, codfish balls, carrots, birthday cake, seafood stew, souffle, chilies, fresh basil, mushrooms, limes, "Jerk chicken" (the taxi driver) beer, coconut shrimp, crab, artichoke hearts, cinnamon coffee, garlic, cilantro, "passion fruit" (show is called Passion Food) cloves, banana, brown sugar, pineapple, watermelon, papaya, avocado, bamboo shoots, tabasco, mac and cheese, sea bass,   

Deep sigh- I was going to find a few common foods in each movie and make one big dish, but in the end I decided to do one dish per movie, to make it a "potluck" (cooking =pot, magick=luck...well I thought I was funny) Choosing the dishes was surprisingly easy, having them work together taste wise was where the real "magick" came in. Then again, that's what you expect from a real life potluck.

Mistress of Spices "Kick Start My Heart" Spiced Soda

1 cup sugar
2 cups water
1/2 teaspoon salt
minced or grated FRESH ginger
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper or chilli flakes
2 limes juiced
2 cups club soda





Make a simple syrup with the sugar, water, red pepper flakes, salt and ginger.
Bring to a boil, turn heat down to low and simmer for 15 minutes.
Remove from heat, cover and let steep for 30 minutes

Strain into glass bottle, and let cool.

Add the lime juice and club soda. Shake.

Serve over ice. 

This was inspired because of the scene where she offers him a lime pop, and as he begins to tell her about his mom dying then gets up to leave, she sneaks a pinch of ground black pepper into the drink and it causes him to open up to her, telling her about his mom.

I have to admit, I was stuck on what to call this, until I actually tasted it myself.  The pepper flakes leave a wicked kick in the back of your throat for a few minutes but have you going back for more.

Yes, the bottle says "milk". When I was looking at the store for something that looked like the pop bottle she uses in the movie, this vintage style printed one was too perfect.

Woman on Top "Hell of a Heartache" Mac and Cheese

This was inspired by the scene where she tries to make the second offering to the Goddess and everything goes wrong and they end up  using a boxed mac and cheese.

1 package of pasta
1 tablespoon butter
1 small onion chopped
1 jalapeno seeded and chopped (or to your taste)
2 1/2 cup milk
1 tablespoon cornstarch
1 package of cream cheese
1 cup shredded cheese (your favourite)
few shakes of hot sauce



Make pasta to package instructions.  I thought it would be cute to use the "shells" given Yemanja is a sea goddess.

Melt the butter along with the onions and the jalapeno, sauteing for a few minutes,
add milk.

Stir in cornstarch,
Simmer, then reduce heat, add the cream cheese,

Slowly stir in the other cheese (I used Monterey Jack), add hot sauce (to your taste)
Continue to stir until the sauce is thick, then pour over pasta (or depending on your pot add the pasta to the mix)

Because I used a white cheese, I sprinkled a few pinches of crushed red pepper flakes on top just for a splash of colour. 


Simply Irresistible "Bewitching" Blueberry Cheesecake

This was inspired by the scene where the love interest shows up at midnight with the vanilla plant, and she starts to make them dessert, creating the vanilla fog; while the blueberry cheesecake is sitting beside them on the table.

for the crust

1/2 cup butter unsalted melted
2 cup graham cracker crumbs

Mix the butter and the crumbs well, lining bottom and sides of your spring latch pan (depending on shape of pan)
firmly press into place  (I used the bottom of measuring cup)
Chill for 10 minutes

For the filling

2 packages of cream cheese softened
3 eggs
1 cup sugar
splash lemon juice
splash vanilla
500ml sour cream

Mix up the cream cheese till smooth with beater,
adding the eggs one at a time,
add sugar, mix till smooth,
add juice and vanilla, mixing again
add sour cream mixing again,

Spread over crust,

Preheat oven 325degrees, and bake for 45minutes if using a water bath.
Let cool for a half hour, then chill for 5 hours.

for the topping

500ml blueberries
2 tablespoon sugar
splash lemon juice

Bring to a boil, lower heat,
simmer, let cool before adding to cake



I had a square pan so I had to double the crust ingredients. And the original recipe called for a water bath, but I didn't have any other pans large enough to do that.  So instead, I just turned the heat down to 300degrees and gave it an extra 20 minutes of cooking.

Practical Magic "Inviting" Pancakes with Apple Syrup

Apples are a theme in the film, from being on the dinner table in the backyard scene when the characters are younger, to representing the death of Sally's husband, to a bowl of them being knocked over by Gilly when she goes to throw the pancakes away.
And this was really inspired by the scene where Officer Hallet joins them for breakfast, where they have pancakes, and Gilly tries to use her enchanted syrup spell to un-invite him.

 I normally use the recipe in the Joy of Cooking on page 644 and just alter the measurements cause the original recipe feeds 16-18 large pancakes.

Ingredients (original recipe)

1 1/2 cup flour
3 tablespoon sugar
2 eggs
3 tablespoon butter melted
1 1/2 cup milk
1 3/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

 So I used a lot less then the recipe called for, giving me about 5 pancakes.


The syrup

half an apple peeled and chopped up
1 cup sugar
2 cup water
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon

Bring to a boil, reduce heat
simmer, let cool.
It didn't come out as thick as I was expecting, but I'm going to put that down to the fact by the time I had gotten to this recipe, I was low on sugar. I'm sure an extra few teaspoons would have done the trick. 
The tastes worked together surprisingly well. Though I don't think I would have a large glass of the spiced pop right after eating a forkful of the nacho-mac n cheese.


As I said, when I heard we could do this, pick our own selection from the past 5 years, my mind instantly went to my favourite movie Practical Magic, and it ended up being the one dish that almost didn't make it on the table.
It being a breakfast food, I was wondering how well it would fit with the rest of the meal, but had to remind myself, potlucks don't always jive when it comes to the choices on the menu. Some stick out like a sore thumb.


I know this is the longest post I've ever done, and if you've forgotten what the common themes were running through these four selections, it's magick, heartbreak, fear of falling in love, community.


Coffee Talk Sept 1st 2015

Spudguns!  This month's Food n Flix selection is being hosted by Girlichef who is actually the creator of the group. This marks her 5 year anniversary of the group. Very cool right, right. And her selection is...a surprise.  You'll have to come back in a few hours to find out. Yeah, I should have done the shout out yesterday...bad me.

In the meantime, I've got the theme week finally sorted out and will post that starting tomorrow.

And that's about all I've got right this second so...coffee it is.