Coaching Cooking

Being a movie snob means never having to watch tacky crap unless trapped on an airplane or stuck in a hospital waiting room. I just couldn’t resist this one though. Maybe it’s all the articles in US Weekly, People.com and endless reports online and elsewhere. I took the plunge and began watching…

Technically, I never finished watching “Crossroads.” My brain cells and my inner intellectual began to rebel and it was getting tougher and tougher to buy Britney Spears as the innocent, hard-working square with the inner hooker who also happens to, ahem, have a heart of gold (can we see where the road to baldness lay?).

Anyway, there’s nothing like driving on the road with your stereotypical pregnant teen friend and your cold-as-ice, bitchy token minority friend to make one hunger for some down home food.

If I had to hang out with those three girls from “Crossroads” then this is the ammo (at least food-wise) that I would need to survive them:

Lots of Red Vines (even sentimentalist crappy lines like “Y’all, we used to be so close” sound better with a little sugar…)
A great gallon of iced tea (see recipe below)
Several ham sandwiches (or, if you dig it, mortadella)

The list continues…
The crunchiest potato chip I could find: these ones are so crunchy that I could almost block out all of the cheesy dialogue in that sinkhole of a movie that I mentioned earlier
Several books on tape…maybe something by Margaret Atwood or Margaret Cho or anyone NOT found in an airport bookstore

Jenny’s Iced Tea

4-5 bags of favorite tea (I like to use Republic of Tea’s Ginger Peach plus a few bags of Celestial Seasonings Decaf Green Tea or Celestial Seasonings Vanilla Rooibos Tea)
4 cups of boiling water
2 cups of ice cubes
1 lemon, thinly sliced
A few sprigs of mint or basil

Brew the tea with 4 cups of boiling water for 5 minutes in a heat-safe container. Remove the tea bags and add the ice cubes carefully. Refridgerate for at least two hours. Serve in glasses with more ice plus lemon slices and mint or basil. This refreshing drink should cleanse you of any bad movie (although you might also need something stronger…my suggestion is to add a shot of lychee vodka)
**If you’re travelling, put this ice tea in a Nalgene bottle or a travel mug with extra and add the lemon slices and mint or basil on top.

“Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” confused me the first time I saw it. The plot twists around and the beginning of the film is really closer to the end. After viewing it a second time, I really like it. I recommend this film to indie film lovers and people who enjoy the complicated plot twists and wacky antics of a film that does not follow a predictable formula.

The full examination of a love gone wrong put me in the mood to cook something spicy and colorful. The film itself has so many bright blues, reds and oranges. The colors are so dynamic and vibrant that I think this is a film one could readily enjoy with some spicy Asian takeout. So, to wit, see the menu below which includes many colorful dishes.

The following menu is a dinner meant to be enjoyed with the film, but it would work equally well as a fun dinner at home.

Aqual pearl cocktails: These drinks are a slightly fancier version of the ones that Joel and Clementine drink when he goes up to her apartment in the beginning of the film. You can also replace this cocktail with any drink that uses blue curacao or with a bright blue fruit drink (such as Baja Blast).

Thai Grilled Beef Salad or Thai Noodle Salad

Coconut green curry sauce: Serve this sauce with grilled vegetables and/or grilled chicken or shrimp plus steamed rice and sauteed broccoli or asparagus. This meal can be served semi-fondue style with the sauce in a large bowl or fondue pot (over a Sterno or candle to keep it warm). Dip cook veggies or meat into the sauce and serve with warm rice. Note: this is a romantic way to eat dinner with a loved one, especially if you feed each other!

Here’s a quick recipe for sauteed asparagus.

Banana and mango spring rolls or fruit sorbets and fresh tropical fruit plus a pot of jasmine tea

At this point the movie should be almost over and you can have a great discussion about Joel, Clementine, Mary, Howard and the boys, Stan and Patrick.

Enjoy the movie!

I’ve held out for a long time, but now I must do the inevitable Gilmore Girls-junk food match up. I have been a fan of this show for just a few years and yet the depth of my devotion to Lorelai, Rory, Luke, Lane, Zack, the Gilmores and all of the other quirky characters can not be measured in hours alone (although I have spent more hours on this show than I care to admit, much to the dismay of AB, my male half).

So, in honor of the Lorelais, here are some great junk food match-ups:

Lorelai and Rory’s Ultimate Junk Food Meal:

Appetizers:

Buffalo wings
Nachos (see recipe below)
Fried Zucchini and ranch dressing

Entrée:

Mini cheeseburgers (by the way, this recipe looks great and has great photos to go along with it…the recipe calls for a George Foreman grill, but you could easily use a frying pan or a grill pan)
Curly fries
Virgil’s root beer (seriously, this is my favorite root beer…look for it at Trader Joe’s or other grocery stores like Whole Foods)

Dessert:

Triple chocolate chip cookie ice cream sandwiches
S’mores tableside (see recipe below)

Recipes:

Nachos:

Ingredients:

Medium-thick tortilla chips (or be dangerous and use the thin chips)
1 can of refried beans
1 bag of finely-shredded cheddar cheese or cheese blend (try the Mexican blend)
1 cup of salsa
1 cup of sour cream
1 ½ cups guacamole
1 ½ cups of shredded lettuce
½ cup of thinly sliced green onions
¼ cup of sliced olives (optional)

Directions:

Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Using a small spoon, place a small amount of refried beans on each chip and place the chips on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle a third of the cheese over the top of the chips. Add another layer of chips and beans and sprinkle the remaining cheese on top. Repeat the layers as desired and finish with the rest of the cheese. Bake the nachos for about 7-10 minutes until the cheese is melted, but still runny.

Remove the nachos from the oven and carefully sprinkle the nachos with the olives, green onions and shredded lettuce. Top the nachos with spoonfuls of salsa and sour cream. Serve immediately.

S’mores tableside

Ingredients:

1 bag of large marshmallows
1 box of graham crackers with each graham cracker broken in half
2 large bars of chocolate (pick the type that you like: Hershey’s, Scharffen Berger, Guittard)
6 tealight candles and a sturdy plate (have extra tealights on hand)
metal skewers

Directions:

Place the marshmallows and graham crackers on a plate. Break the chocolate into small pieces (about 2� square pieces). Place the tealights on the sturdy plate and light them carefully. Each guest can take a metal skewer and a marshmallow. The tealights are not too strong so the marshmallows will take several minutes to toast. Serve the toasted marshmallows sandwiched between the graham crackers and chocolate. This is a great dessert for people who want to chat and who need a little time to digest the plethora of food that preceded dessert!

Gilmore Girls, junk food, nachos, root beer, s’mores, mini cheeseburgers, fried zucchini

I’ve had a long love affair with the movie Amelie. The story itself is delightful, but the cinematography is what I love the most. The colors in this film are gorgeous—so lush and ripe (the word delectable also comes to mind). Some of the best scenes include food. In one scene, Amelie explains what she enjoys most in life and she is shown at an outdoor market plunging her hand into a sac of grain. She cooks for and it is often a simple meal such as pasta with freshly grated cheese or a cake or a cozy libation that she shares with her hermit-like neighbor.

So, with the inspiration of this film in mind, I went to my local farmers’ market in search of the freshest, most colorful ingredients.

I found some unusual cauliflower, known as Romanesco cauliflower. This type of cauliflower is greenish, chartreuse if you will, and the florets spiral. Coincidentally, Bon Appetit’s March 2007 issue has an article that focuses on different types of cauliflower. I plan to make the cauliflower tart today as a special treat for AB.

The farm stand that I bought from yesterday also had celery root. The one that I bought looks not unlike a craggy old man or a character from some fairy-like movie (Lord of the Rings? A hobbit perhaps?…). I’ve never prepared celery root, but as a nod to Amelie, I will make a remoulade which is a classic French salad that incorporates celery root with mayonnaise.

For now, I’m enjoying another delight: chocolate cupcakes. I tested the new Barefoot Contessa’s chocolate cupcake mix (which includes frosting mix) and here are the results:

Enjoy a farmers’ market wherever you are. Here’s a link to California farmers’ markets. It is such a delight to walk around a farmers’ market with the smell of fresh vegetables and fruits and the joy of buying local goods at their peak of ripeness.

Apologies in advance for the estrogen-laden comments in this post. I own all of the “Sex and the City” seasons on dvd and now many episodes have entered themselves into my daily lexicon. Sorry, guys. I am truly sorry.

So, although I am now married, I still desperately cling to random behaviors from my past (and I’ve also developed new ones). I won’t bore you with all the details, but here are a few:

knitting while watching anything on iTunes, making a quick lemonade in my Nalgene bottle with lemon slices, sugar, lemon juice and several large ice cubes, painting my toenails red while watching Law & Order…and now on to the food…

Lately, I’ve realized that many people have secret single behaviors that involve peanut butter (and yes, the ones I speak of are all G-rated, so don’t get too excited).

My secret single behavior involves Trader Joe’s mini stone wheat crackers, peanut butter and jam. See below:

Somehow this combination is vastly superior to pb&j with the crusts cut off (sorry, Bender). There’s a quick crunch of the cracker plus the immensely satisfying creaminess of the peanut butter and the sweet tang of jam.

Peanut butter is one of those foods that inspires plenty of SSB or at least some brief attacks with a large spoon. Here are some other combinations that might inspire SSB or a nice snack:

Spoonfuls of peanut butter with honey (this is a nod to my father-in-law, Mark)

Spoonfuls of peanut butter and chocolate chips

Peanut butter on toast with honey and coconut

And there are many more…enjoy your secret single behavior with peanut butter. I know my furniture secretly enjoys the break it gets while my yappy mouth is busy chomping away at pb&j on crackers.

Hah! I mean, “Party Girl” and falafel sandwiches….or as AB says, “Don’t eat too many or you’ll falafel.” Yak yak yak…
“Party Girl” is an obscure Parker Posey vehicle from the mid-90s. It features Ms. Posey as a crazy party girl who suddenly finds herself broke and working as a library clerk. Along the way she meets Mustafa, the Lebanese man of her dreams who also sells her favorite falafel from his street cart near the library. Of course this movie ends with love, catharsis and delicious falafel.

Falafel sandwiches are my favorite street food aside from burritos. The crunch and salty tang of the chick peas and herbs plus the creaminess of the hummus.

Where does falafel come from, you ask? This food has a contentious history. According to Jodi Kantor from the New York Times, in her article “A History of the Mideast in the Humble Chickpea,” both Israelis and Palestinians have debated where the original falafel comes from. In fact, Israel tauts falafel as “Israel’s National Snack”–a contention rigorously debated by both parties. I won’t drown you with all the historical details, but Kantor makes it clear that food is another component of cultural conflicts, albeit a tasty one. Regardless of origin, I find falafel is both delicious and interesting given its apparent “biblical” origins (check out Kantor’s article at nytimes.com…it’s a Times Select article, but it’s definitely fascinating for those foodies who enjoy a little history with their supper).

I’ve never made falafel at home. I imagine that it becomes easier the more you cook it. Also, it seems like a great meal for inviting friends over. Set out platters of the falafel, sliced red onion, lettuce and sprouts plus hummus and tahini sauces. Arrange a plate full of halved pita bread. I always like pairing falafel sandwiches with a citrusy drink like Orangina, orange soda (pick your favorite) or simply lemonade or water with lemon. A platter of fresh fruit such as oranges, figs, apples and grapes (or anything you like) would also add a lavish and healthy touch.

Set out the food and crank up the Party Girl!

Recipes:

About.com has a thorough walk-through on the falafel scene.

indianchild.com has a vegetarian recipe for falafel.

Joan Nathan, a cookbook author featured in Jodi Kantor’s article on the chickpea and falafel, includes her favorite Israeli falafel recipe here at epicurious.com.

Last week, I imagined a dinner involving Carrie and Aidan. This week, I imagine a fabulous dinner with Carrie and Mr. Big in grand, New York-style.

The menu:

Champagne and oysters on the half shell with mignonette sauce

Lemon-caviar pasta (see recipe below)

Pavlova with berries and Chateau D’Yquem (try this recipe for Pavlova or this one also known as Drama Queen Pavlova…perfect for those Sex and the City Girls)

Lemon-Caviar Pasta (adapted from Barefoot Contessa’s first cookbook…check it out because it’s fabulous!)

Ingredients:

1 package of fresh angel hair pasta
1 lemon–grate zest and reserve the lemon juice
1 small tin of caviar (you pick the grade! I used Tsar Nicoulai malassol Hackleback Sturgeon which is great for incorporating into dishes)
2 tablespoons of heavy cream

**Note**: Caviar is expensive, but it adds such an amazing, salty note to this pasta. If you prefer not to break your wallet, try using shrimp or crab or even lobster (for those of you who still want luxury!).

Directions:

Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Reserve a few teaspoons of the caviar for spooning on top of the finished pasta. Drain well and immediately toss with the heavy cream, 2 T of lemon juice, lemon zest and caviar. Plate the pasta in attractive pasta bowls or large plates. Top with the remaining caviar. This dish also looks wonderful with chopped chives or a few springs of parsley. Serve immediately.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: yes, I know this is not a movie, yet I find myself pairing certain foods with this successful cable show. There are so many gorgeous scenes with Carrie and the girls eating wildly fabulous meals. Yes, sometimes I wish I had such an exciting and interesting life. But, I can at least infuse my longing for such fictional greatness with great cuisine.

I’ve imagined two different dinner scenes involving Carrie’s two great loves. This week, I’ve featured Carrie and Aidan. Aidan, the casual, granola hunk of Carrie’s love life would appreciate a laid-back Chinese food dinner complete with tasty fried wontons, beer and an exotic dessert. And Carrie would enjoy feeding Aidan the wontons and the beef stir-fry. Or this could be a relaxing dinner to have with your sweetie. The wontons can be made ahead of time and even fried (just reheat them in the oven).

* indicates this menu item is a featured recipe below.

Carrie and Aiden’s Casual Date:

Beer
Fried Wontons*

Chinese Chicken Salad
Sesame-Ginger Beef and Asparagus Stir-Fry
White Rice

Canned lychees and almond jello (tune in for this recipe later this week!)

Recipe for Fried Wontons

Ingredients:
1/2 lb. ground beef
1/2 lb. ground pork
1 cup of chopped water chestnuts (get the sliced kind in the can and finely chop)
4 green onions, thinly chopped white and green parts
3-5 tablespoons of dark soy sauce
2 tablespoons of dark sesame oil (optional)
Square won ton wrappers
1 egg, beaten in a medium-sized bowl

Using a food processor, place the first six ingredients in the cup part of the blender. Blend until all ingredients are combined well.

Make a work space on a table using a medium-to-large-size cutting board. Have a wet towel on hand (your fingers will become floury and, well, trust me…).

Line a cookie sheet or a large tray with wax paper so you have somewhere to put all of the wontons. The wontons can also be made ahead of time and frozen (freeze on cookie sheets and then transfer to freezer-safe containers).

Place a wonton wrapper on the cutting board so that one of its corners points to you. Using a teaspoon, put a teaspoon-full of the meat filling into the center of a wonton wrapper. Dip one of your fingers into the egg mixture and wet the two closest corners of the wonton wrapper. Fold the wonton wrapper up and seal the two remaining corners together while simultaneously pressing down on the filling to flatten (and to get rid of excess air).

Heat vegetable oil on medium-low heat in a large, nonstick pan. Have a tray, cookie sheet or large plate ready and lined with paper towels for draining the excess oil. Fry wontons a few at a time (about 4-5 wontons) until the wontons are golden about 3-5 minutes.

Serve the fried wontons with ketchup or spicy chili sauce. Fried wontons can be heated in the oven at 350 degrees for about five minutes.

Enjoy!

This is the quintessential pairing and many thanks goes to my wonderful husband, AB, for the suggestion. Although I’ve mentioned my love of Annie Hall many times (see here and here), I think it’s only fair to provide a fabulous dinner to pair with this classic movie.

Annie Hall and Lobsters: For those of you who haven’t seen this movie yet, I encourage you to watch it at least once for the intellectual neuroticism and glory that is Woody Allen (okay, and he’s narcissistic too). The lobster scene is hilarious.

Menu:

White wine of your choice

Herb Salad

Ingredients:

1 head of butter lettuce
2-3 cloves of garlic, chopped

Stuffed Lobsters with Shrimp and Bread Crumbs (see these recipes for inspiration) or check out this fancy recipe from Emeril Lagasse. I promise to post my own recipe (once I have enough money to indulge in such lobster dishes). The recipes I’ve included links too represent some great, simple recipes for stuffed lobster. Nervous breakdown not included!

Roasted Carrots
Ingredients:
3-4 large carrots
2 tablespoons of olive oil
Salt and pepper to taste

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Chop carrots, on the diagonal, into 3/4 inch pieces. Place on a rimmed baking sheet and sprinkle with the olive oil, salt and pepper. Roast in the oven for about twenty minutes then check the carrots and turn them over. Keep roasting until the carrots are slightly brown and crisp on the outside.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Cherries and White Buttercream Frosting (this recipe is fabulous and easy to make so I will post it a bit later today…use yellow box mix, good cherry jam and a frosting with powdered sugar, milk and butter).

Enjoy!