From Very Good Taste

The blog » The Omnivore’s Hundred:

Omnivore’s Hundred:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.

OK, here's mine...

1. Venison

2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile
6. Black pudding
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal (I’m so ashamed!)
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

High Crimes -

Mt. Everest in an Age of Greed

I’ve been reading ‘High Crimes’ and found it to be fascinating. And a terrible commentary on human behavior. I only have a few pages left to read, but I wish there were more.

Review

Ursula, Under, by Ingrid Hill

It's a great book and the author is incredible. Twelve children, including two sets of twins! How does she find time to write? She tells you how in this interview.

For shame!

Speaking of ugly… as I was on another blog; we saw the movie The Wicker Man last night. When, during the opening credits, I saw that more than four production companies had a hand in this movie, I should have known right then that the movie was a stinker. In fact, this has to be one of the worst movies ever made. What were they thinking? OMG! All that money…gone, wasted on 106 minutes of painful acting!

Acting? It was obvious within a few minutes that the actors were there to collect a paycheck and nothing else. Nicolas Cage; someone I used to enjoy watching as he worked, was dreadful! And if you saw the movie, did you wonder, as I did…would he ever stop putting on that darned coat and tie? At the end of each action scene, our hero would collect his coat and tie and put them back on. No matter what happened, no matter where he was, he was always perfectly dressed. Well, maybe not at the end, but I would have loved to see that coat go up in flames with him!

Imagine That!

I haven’t posted here in awhile, but after making dinner last night, I thought I would share a recipe. A Trader Joe recipe and a variation on one I made a long time ago. Very simple; a carton of TJ’s Carrot Ginger Soup and 8 of TJ’s Chicken Gyoza pot stickers. Heat and eat. The Trader used to have a Sweet and Sour soup that was great with the pot stickers but they don’t carry it anymore. I need to spend some time in the ethnic foods sections of otyher stores and I might find something else interesting to accompany pot stickers. Let your imagination be your guide.

Book Reviews?

Since I started experiencing this pain of mine; two months ago? I’ve been spending a lot of time in my favorite chair. So I read. It’s crazy; I’m reading about a book a day now. Not always the good stuff. I have a tendency to read what I used to call ‘airplane books’, books that you wouldn’t really mind forgetting in the seatback pocket when you arrived at your destination. They are useful to pass the time and not much else. And sometimes I would leave them on the plane, purposely. Too much trouble to carry with me.

I’m going to the library at least once a week now and I’m always looking for that one good book that will captivate me. This week it was a funny book, well written; and that’s not what I usually like… it was The God Project by Stan Lee. Though it was written 18 years ago (Amazing!) it reads as if it were yesterday. Check it out.

The Thing About Life Is

That One Day You'll Be Dead...
by David Shields

A very different book. But I like it. I'm almost through with it and though it sometimes reads as if you were skipping pages in a diary, it has a certain fascination. Yes, I'm dying. And so are you.

Thoroughly Modern Millie

A Chicken Soup Recipe

Yes, it does sound pretty good. Certainly worth a try. Now, will I find any parsnips?

Alta Marie's

Bakery and Soup Shop

Yes, it is located on the Planet Orland and right downtown. To the north of the old theater. We stopped for breakfast this morning and had the typical bacon, eggs and hash browns...with a muffin. This is a bakery, after all.

The shop is a real working bakery with just enough room for about 5 tables in the back, but it's also a wireless 'hot spot' and so I was able to get on-line with my Palm and read the Times and note that Alicia had posted something to my blog. All while I was enjoying breakfast! The eggs were done just right and the bacon was crisp and not soggy at all. The serving size was just right as well. Not so large that you were challenged to finish it, which is the trademark of the Kolesterol Kitchen, just down the street.

We were tempted by the Cinnamon French Toast, but it sounded a little richer than our diets allowed. Next time. And we need to come back and try the soups, for lunch.

Cookies!

I had a great chocolate chip/oatmeal cookie the other day while I was nibbling my way around my Middle daughter's kitchen. (I love doing that!) And I was told that the recipe came from the Pioneer Woman Cooks! blog.

(later) Well, I looked and I looked...no recipe. My daughter must have realized that I wouldn't find it and when we saw her yesterday, she had written it out and copied it for me.

Here it is...

• 1 cup Shortening (Yes...you could Crisco non transfat)
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs - beaten
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 3 cups oatmeal
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts or pecans

Cream the sugars and shortening. Add eggs and vanilla and mix well.

Add the soda and salt to the flour and mix. Now add it to the sugar/shortening and mix.

Add the oatmeal and the nuts. (Of course the nuts are optional...but why not!)

According to my daughter, Pioneer Woman rolls the dough into a log (or logs) and chills.

Alicia didn't chill the dough and simply used the 'drop' method. Your choice.

(Oops! Almost forgot...350 oven and cook for 10 minutes.)

I REALLY deserve it...

It wasn’t long ago that I reported that I had failed in my attempt to win the Golden Ladle at the Federated Soup Cook-Off. My Sweet Potato Soup was simply OK. No pizzazz at all. Well, I’m ready for next years contest. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if I were given the Golden Ladle in perpetuity for this one recipe.

For once I followed the recipe exactly. Almost. My herb garden has plenty of fresh Rosemary, but no fresh Basil at this time of year. I used dried. If that makes a difference, it’s slight.

The taste and the color were heavenly. Tomato soup with real tomatoes and real onions. Not that pink pureed stuff you might remember from childhood days. This is ‘Adult’ soup!

On Another Planet

Here's a review of the restaurant we chose to eat in last night. Pat N’ Larry’s Steak House in Willows. Now Willows isn’t on the Planet Orland, but it is in the same galaxy and looks very similar; perhaps smaller. And it really doesn’t have any better restaurants than Orland does…except, for one; Pat N’ Larry’s. Orland does have a steak house, but it’s crowded and noisy and the tables are far too small. Bah!

From the outside, Pat N’ Larry’s is… well, it’s ugly. That’s all there is to it. Even new paint wouldn’t help to correct the architectural failures of this building on the outskirts of town. You have to gather up some courage to enter and after that, it’s fine. And if you’re lucky, the sun will have set when you exit and you won’t notice anything till you get back in the car and turn on the lights.

The inside is spacious, clean, well lit and the tables are the right size. We were seated promptly and given menus. Yes, they had O’Doul’s to drink. That’s a plus. And they serve LAMB as well as beef. But we were there for beef and I chose a ‘regular’ sized New York while Laurae had the Filet. Salad, potatoes and vegetables come with the entrée. We had the Caesar salad and I chose the Garlic Mashed potatoes while Laurae had hers baked. The meat was cooked as ordered and was quite tasty. Well, not as good as I could have done it, but certainly sufficient for our evening out. The bill? $59 for the two of us. Not excessive, but not a cheap meal.

We arrived at 5:30 and found the restaurant to be pleasantly uncrowded. And by the time we left, business had picked up and about half the tables were taken. I also noted that most of the patrons were ‘regulars’, knowing one another and greeting the waitresses familiarly. And we will go again; I have to try the ‘Basque Lamb, only $18.95!

- one for the table

Desserts -

You may not want to hang around this page for long...far too enticing!

Philippe -

The Original -

Just a stone's throw from Union Station in Los Angeles and right at the edge of Chinatown. Good memories of eating lunch here with Mom and Dad.

Try it

I was working on the new storage shed at the Plant Barn the other day when Denise asked if I would like a little snack that Maria had fixed. Maria works next door at Chico Propagators and meals are often shared between the two businesses.

Denise returned with a plate of carrot slices, orange quarters, chips and a tasty combination of cottage cheese, salsa and sour cream!

Yes, I should have taken a picture.

Pepperoni Lasagna

From Chickens in the Road

No, I haven't tried it yet...but I will! Just give me a few days to get the leftovers out of the refrigerator.

Chickens

in the Road

More recipes! (Like I need them...)

The Pioneer Woman Cooks!

The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake. Ever.

How did I get here? What am I doing? Seriously; I'm thinking of making this cake. I must be out of my mind!

A Face in the Crowd

1942 Shorpy

A tricky question...what's the average weight of the individuals in this crowd? Is this an early meeting of Weight Watchers?

A Movie

I thought I would get a head start on the movies and order a current one, one that hasn't been out that long, so I ordered 3:10 to Yuma. What a silly movie. Mr. Crowe is not a cowboy. He's an Australian. So he had to talk real slow to hide the accent. He doesn't even wear a real cowboy hat! I couldn't muster up any outrage...it was simply a waste of our time and I'm sure I will get over it.

The Pioneer Woman

Cooks!

What a great blog...I look every day at my RSS feeds, hoping that I will see a new one from her. And today I was rewarded. I don't know how you could read this all of the way to the end without wanting to race out and buy a dozen chicken legs...or, how about that Morton's Hot Salt? Something new?

Soup, beautiful soup!

Well, it wasn’t mine. The Soup Simmer-Off at the Federated church attracted about 13; or was it 14 contestants? And my Sweet Potato Surprise didn’t win. It was good; but presentation is everything and mine was very bland looking.

I started with a recipe that attracted me because of the colors it promised. Orange and red and purple… from the sweet potatoes. But I only found white sweet potatoes and they turned a sort of pale green upon being cooked.

Here’s the original recipe;

Sweet Potato Ginger Soup

Eating a rainbow of colors isn't so easy in the winter, but here is a

soup that is as sweet and pungent, as it is colorful. More accurately,

the soup will be as colorful as the sweet potatoes that you choose,

which come in an array whose colors include red, orange, purple,

yellow and white. With the added benefit of only 3 grams of fat per

serving, this soup is a winner for your health.

1 teaspoon ghee or olive oil

1 pinch red chili flakes

1 cup chopped leeks or onions

1 tablespoon minced fresh ginger or 1 teaspoon powdered ginger

2 tablespoons tamari or Bragg Liquid Aminos (I used soy sauce)

5 cups sweet potatoes, peeled and cubed

1 teaspoons coriander

1 teaspoon garam masala

6 cups vegetable stock (I had to use chicken stock)

1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro

Heat the oil in a soup pot over medium-high heat. Add the red chili

flakes, leeks, ginger, and aminos. Sauté for two or three minutes. Add the

sweet potatoes and sauté until they are well coated and begin to brown

slightly. Add the coriander and garam masala. Sauté another two minutes,

stirring frequently. Add the vegetable stock to cover the sweet potatoes

and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer until the sweet potatoes

are tender. Blend with a hand blender or food processor into a smooth

consistency, adding more stock as necessary. Reheat before serving and

garnish with the chopped cilantro. Serves 4.

I had to double the recipe, as we were supposed to make enough for 8-10 people. And then, the liquid seemed to overwhelm the potatoes, so I had to add…surprise! Yukon Gold Instant potatoes. Which were great for adding consistency and giving the color a slight boost into the less than nauseating range. And I had to strain the soup to remove the Coriander as some people (nameless) seemed to think soup should not contain ‘things’. But I had to do something with the flavor. Crystal! OK, all was well; a smooth soup with a great flavor but a mild green and boring look. Even our crock pot was boring! Now why didn’t I think to use yams and not sweet potatoes? That’s next time!

Good Reading!

No, I haven't stopped reading. I just haven't found much worthy of posting any comments about. Mysteries and thrillers, thrillers and mysteries. Bah!

But...then I did find one the other day that was a worthy read. The Driftless Area by Tom Drury. Short but very powerful. I went to bed with it firmly stuck in my head.

Here it is

Here's the meatloaf; a few days later. It slices perfectly!

Old Recipes

Laurae had to make dessert yesterday for the Merry Martha’s gathering at the church and she chose a recipe from deep within her archives. This was a recipe from our neighbor of 35+ years ago, when we lived in Newbury Park.

Here’s Karleen Griffin’s recipe for Fruit Cocktail Dessert.

Mix together…1 egg, slightly beaten and 1 #10 can of Fruit Cocktail (use only 1/4 of the juice)

Now mix together the following and then add to the eggs and fruit.

1 cup flour

1 cup of sugar

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

Almost last… place the mixture in a 9x13 pan, buttered.

Last, mix together ¾ cup of brown sugar and ½ cup of walnuts. Place this on top of the mixture and bake in a preheated 350 oven for 30-40 minutes. Serve with whipped cream topping.

As I was posting this recipe to the church blog, I decided to create a link to Newbury Park. And once again I was surprised to see what had become of the small community we once called home. Our first ‘home’. Apparently, once a place becomes popular or seems headed that way…we’re outta there!

Just an idea

When I decide to make a meatloaf I never remember to get the camera. I should have as it was quite photogenic.

And...my meatloaf recipes are very much open to your own interpretation. Add or subtract anything you like, you can rarely go wrong.

I started with 2.5# of ground turkey and added the following.

1/2 jar of Homade Chili Sauce
1 dozen baby carrots, sliced thin
1 cup of frozen peas
1 egg
1 Tbs Greek Seasoning
1 Tbs Black pepper, freshly ground
I cup of bread crumbs...any kind. (I used Panko, because that was what I had)
I small jar of Trader Joe Bruschetta
1 Tbs Worcestershire sauce
1/2 red onion, chopped

Put it all in a standard loaf pan and cook for an hour at 375.

It was beautiful! And tasty! In retrospect, I should have used a full jar of Homade Chili Sauce, but that was all I had. And maybe another splash of Worcestershire. Next time...

Pot Roast Update

Well, I did it and it was good...way good. But, if I were to take pictures, mine wouldn't look as good as the originals. And the spices should have been placed in a cheesecloth bag to avoid the rosemary leaves floating about in the gravy. Now I am waiting for her next pot roast recipe.

I should also include the fact that we used 'instant' mashed potatoes. If you can tell the difference between those and the real deal; more power to you! I used Paradise Valley Yukon Gold potatoes, from Winnemucca? Now I have been to Winnemucca before and I did not see anything resembling paradise, but hey! I could be wrong.

If you follow the link above and scroll down, you will see that Costco no longer stocks this product and that's a shame. I suppose I could drive to Paradise Valley?

2008:

The Year of the Pot Roast

Oh, man! I have to go to the store...now!

A sharing

a side of Volcanoes !

I was Google'ing for some images of Crystal Hot Sauce and ran across this image. Whoa! Made me wonder? How do you eat them? Carefully, I suppose.

But, back to Crystal Hot Sauce. Forget the Tabasco. Crystal is the 'bomb'. You get flavor with your heat, something that Tabasco can't do.

Winter Dinner

I made a pretty good dinner last night. I started with a pot large enough to handle the ingredients; a quart of beef stock, a cup of baby carrots, 4 red potatoes, quartered, ½ cup of mushrooms, 5 Johnsonville Bratwurst sausages, 1 tsp of minced garlic, 1 tsp of minced ginger, 1 Tbs of Worcestershire sauce, ½ tsp of Crystal red pepper sauce, 1/3 cup of chopped onions.

I began by heating the liquid ingredients, simmering them for about 15 minutes. Then I added the garlic, ginger, onions, carrots and potatoes and let them simmer for about 45 minutes. Then it was time to add the sausage (whole) and the mushrooms. Cook at low/medium for another 15-30 minutes, or until the carrots are like pasta; al dente and not limp. Serve in a shallow pasta bowl. Most excellent!

BOOKS

The Bestiary

I just finished this. Yes, it's a great read. If you love complex and rich language, this is one for you.

All About Charlie

I forgot to mention that I was reading the book, Charlie Siringo’s West: An Interpretive Biography. I finished it last night; a most fascinating book! And since it dealt with cowboy history in New Mexico, among other places, I found it even more interesting. New Mexico is one of my favorite places in the world. Yes, I would live there gladly. Charlie is remembered in Santa Fe with two three streets named after him. Siringo Court, Lane and Road.

KGO-AM 810

For Cookies!

OK, a good friend of ours, Lisa Johnson, has made it to the TOP 25! She will be baking her 100 cookies at the end of the week for the finals on Saturday.

Art Walk and Dinner

We had made a decision some time ago, that on those art walk evenings, we would try a new restaurant for dinner. Each time. Well, we missed a few months of the art walk and so last night it was time to try one that I had planned on visiting long before this. Priya’s is the name of the restaurant and they specialize in Northern and Southern Indian cuisine. The restaurant is located in one of those typical storefront locations that could be a restaurant this week or could be a bookstore next month. So much for ambiance. But…great food! We had never tried Indian food before and so the experience was a little unnerving; what is this and how do we eat it? It would be great if ethnic restaurants included a primer in their menu. But, with some experimenting, I figured it out and enjoyed the great tastes. It’s all about taste… and Indian food has such a rich variety of them. Little explosions in your mouth. I was little bit bummed that the Sharp’s NA beer, on the menu, wasn’t available and they had no substitute. Overall, a good experience and we will return.

Don't Ask

Alicia made it… and we devoured it. I didn’t ask for the calorie content and I don’t think it would be wise to know that fact. Just enjoy it.

1 four (4) pack of Buttermilk Biscuits

1 cup of sugar

1- ½ teaspoons of Cinnamon

1- ½ cubes of Butter

1 teaspoon of Cinnamon

1- ½ cups of Pecans, chopped roughly

Preheat oven to 350°

Using a 1 gallon sized Ziploc bag, add the sugar and the 1- ½ teaspoons of Cinnamon

Sprinkle a layer of chopped pecans into the Bundt pan

Using kitchen scissors, cut biscuits into quarters and place in gallon bag of mixed sugar and cinnamon. Shake to coat. Don’t add too many at a time, they will clump together and make the coating uneven.

Place cut and coated biscuits in the Bundt pan, adding pecans as you do this. Make sure your pecans are well distributed.

In a small saucepan, melt the butter and add sugar and remaining cinnamon. Mix well.

Pour this mixture over the biscuits.

Bake at 350° for 30 – 40 minutes.

More Books

I have been reading an interesting book and I finished it over the holiday, Open Me, by Sunshine O’Donnell. It’s her first book. The reviews you see on the Powell’s website are fairly close to my reality. An interesting book, but sometimes hard to follow. What I did find fascinating though, was the author’s bio with her interest in, “…creative writing, visual art, and quantum physics.”

Of course I had to find out if professional mourning is really illegal or was it just a fictional piece of the authors plot. I found it difficult to believe that it could be illegal; maybe tasteless, but I couldn’t imagine it being something you would go to jail for. I Googled all the possibilities but could find no definitive answer.

And while I was on the Powell’s website, I saw the other book I finished, Divisidero, by Michael Ondaatje. A very good book. But, I have to wonder… is the author interested in quantum physics?

Book Review...

I finished the book, Adopted Son, the story of the relationship between George Washington and the Marquis de Lafayette. It’s certainly a good read and of course I learned a lot that had never been mentioned during those silly US History classes in high school.

A lot is said in history classes about how the French aided America in the fight against the British; but it was really just one French citizen who did most of the hard work, both in battle and behind the scenes. That was Lafayette. French generals were a dime a dozen back then and all were shown the way back to France when they attempted to bully their way into the fight. Except for Lafayette.

Yes, it was a quirky relationship. Washington had no children and Lafayette had no father. And they bonded as if they had truly become related by blood. They wrote to one another frequently and spoke of their love and great respect.

But, at the end, the book gave me some surprises. Lafayette had returned to France just in time for the French Revolution and he had picked the wrong side to be on. Short story; he is thrown into prison in Austria where the new French government wants him to stay. His son, George Washington Lafayette, is sent to America to keep him safe. (Yes, our GW is the godfather of young George)

At this time you might think it’s time to send in the Marines and rescue Lafayette. But no, it’s politically incorrect. In fact, our GW is advised to not meet with or associate with his godson, young George. And he doesn’t. He sends him letters professing his deep love for young George, but telling him he can’t really meet with him right now.

Finally, Adrienne, the wife of the Marquis demands to be allowed to live in prison with her husband and she joins him, with their two daughters. Soon, the whole world knows of the fate of this brave family and is appalled. Does this get the Marines into action? No. Though, to GW’s credit, he writes a personal letter to the Austrian Emperor, asking for Lafayette’s release. Denied.

It’s not until Napoleon defeats the Austrians that Lafayette is released with his family. But he is told he cannot return to France. Young George, after a short stay (Finally!) with his godfather, leaves to find his family. We’re talking about a young boy (15), crossing the ocean and searching Europe. Successfully.

The story continues on to chronicle the last days of both men. All very interesting.

Personal view; George Washington should have been ashamed of himself. I certainly hope so!

The Last King of Scotland

It's quite a movie. But I had a feeling it would be, based on my small knowledge of the plot. A movie about Idi Amin? No good can come from that! Or so I thought. Yes, it was disturbing and the 'hero' wasn't a hero after all.

I can't help but wonder how they were able to film such a story? How can Ugandans stand to relive those times, even for a part in a movie?

This movie had me sitting up and paying attention...give it 4 stars. But I'm going to wait awhile before I watch anything similar. I think I need a comedy.

Everything?

We watched a great little movie last night. One that I would recommend. Everything is Illuminated. It’s going to take some thought on your part, as it’s not a mindless action movie. No car wrecks. No sex. Violence? Yes, but you don’t see it. You simply know it happened. There’s even comedy; a dog named Sammy Davis Jr. Jr. Some questions are never answered in the movie, but that’s OK. You know it ended as it should. Illuminated.

ps. Great music!

Lists and More

I ran across a 'new' old book. The Book of Lists #2. As a hauler of books from the Chico Library to the Orland Friend's of the Library, I have a chance to pick through the books and take what I want to read. (Yes, I will return it...) As anyone who knows me can attest; this is my kind of book!

Movie Time

We watched Enemy of the State the other night, an older movie (1998) that was obviously released about 9 years too early. It was a good movie, although the director must have left the cutting room a few times for a cup of coffee and while he was gone, some vandals must have spliced in some idiotic scenes that should have been left on the floor. Those had me scratching my head. 'Hunh? Whatdidhesay?'

I can imagine that if I had watched this movie when it first came out, I would have been incredulous concerning the technology that they were displaying. But now? Yes, some of it is now very much real. Real enough to be scary.

The Prestige

We watched this the other night and you will get two different reviews from us. I loved it and Laurae didn't like it at all.

"At the dawn of the 20th century, rival magicians Robert Angier (Hugh Jackman) and Alfred Borden (Christian Bale) are desperate to reveal each other's secrets. Obsessed by the escalating competition, the two illusionists begin to perform increasingly risky tricks -- which soon turn deadly. Michael Caine, Scarlett Johansson and David Bowie also star in this taut psychological thriller from director Christopher Nolan."

I must admit that at the end, I wasn't really sure of who was who anymore? But it was still a great movie!

I must also note that the movie plays fast and loose with history and the story of Tesla. Tesla was a genius but he wasn't able to duplicate matter.

Thai Basil

We have decided to vary our dining experiences and not get stuck in a food rut. So when we were downtown yesterday, we stopped short of Smokin' Mo's barbecue place and went in to Thai Basil instead. It was 11:30 and we were the only ones in the restaurant. Nice atmosphere of course... it was quiet!

I ordered the signature dish of rice (Jasmine) and stir fried vegetables. (Medium heat) Laurae had a chicken, rice and salad.

All in all, a good experience. The food was tasty and the service was quick. Lunch will cost about $8-$9 and that's reasonable enough.

And we finished just in time, as the place was beginning to fill up as we left.

I Scream for Ice Cream

I have had most of my coffee now; maybe one more cup before I call it quits for the morning. I was awake at 3 and my mind was quite active, even at that early hour and without any caffeine. I wonder what would happen if I were to stop drinking coffee? I may not need it and it would certainly save money if I gave it up. How much good would it do for my health? How about tea? Now there’s something to think about. The caffeine levels for tea are almost non-existent. But first I would have to get past the headaches that come with caffeine withdrawals.

I really do need to start thinking ‘healthy’ and losing the daily caffeine fix would be a good start. And eating better is another thing that needs to be done. We have been thinking about going back to the old days. The days of yore when lunch was dinner, or was it supper? Anyway, the bigger meal was at noon and a light meal was provided for the evening. We could do that.

Eating right is important; especially after yesterday, when we had a normal lunch and then had ice cream for dinner. Only ice cream. We were contestants in the annual Ice Cream Crank-Off at the church and I submitted two entries in my quest for the Golden Dipper (Or Scooper) award. My first entry was the winner; the Orange Marmalade Ice Cream, followed by a second place win for my Boysenberry Chocolate Ice Cream. I was on a roll. But seeing that there were only two contestants, it really wasn’t that hard. Especially as I was the only contestant using cream in my recipes. Heavy cream.

If you want to make this ice cream, use your favorite heavy cream vanilla recipe and make sure you scald the cream. Once the mix is chilled, add at least 8 ounces of King Kelly Orange marmalade. I also created a red/yellow blend of food coloring to give it an orange look. Do the usual mixing in your ice cream maker and then be sure to put it aside in the freezer to ripen for a day before you do any tasting. It will be worth the wait.

The award? I would have shown you the photo but the trophy couldn’t be found in time. Maybe later.

Kiwi's

I picked up The Bone People, by Keri Hulme when I was at the library. It’s good reading; she definitely has a gift for the use of ‘words’… some made up. But great words none the less. See her blog.

She writes of the South Island, a place I’ve never been but would love to visit. If only it wasn’t so darn far away! I can’t even imagine sitting in an airplane for over 8 hours… and to get to the South Island would require at least 16 miserable hours. Perhaps a cruise ship? Okay, Holland America cruise lines can get us to Auckland for about $8,000. That's a cabin with a terrace...

The Painted Veil

We watched a recommended movie last night; The Painted Veil. All in all, a very good movie. Sure, the story was predictable, but the acting was great and that made a lightweight story into a heavyweight. I particularly liked Naomi Watts and the unknown actor who played the role of the British diplomat stuck in the backwater village where the action takes place. Of course the scenery was fantastic; all ‘authentically’ filmed in China.

Who is this with Naomi?

It's Over...or is it?

We watched Kill Bill Volume II last night. Absolutely funny! No, it was not ha-ha funny. More of a nervous kind of funny. Like, I shouldn’t be laughing at this, but I am…why? Ok, funny or not, it was entertaining in a campy sort of way. And I can’t help but wonder if there won’t be a sequel? Is Bill really dead?

And, (below) remember what happened after this shot? Whoa! And the last time you saw these toes? Gross!