Kinsey
The best movie I have seen this year, definitely. Unless The Magdelene Sisters was also this year, in which case it's a tie.
the cookbook archives
I was recently given three file boxes full of old cookbooks, to sort through and keep as I wish. I have only made it partway through the first box, but already I have saved the old Julia Child French cooking book, a bread cookbook, and a collection of homemade ice cream and cake from the editors of some "farm living" type of magazine. From this last comes what must surely be the most disgusting cake ever: sausage cake, whose ingredients include a pound of sausage, coffee, cloves, and frosting. I mean, what?
An American in Canada
You'd think I'd like this show. But I don't. Mainly it just isn't very interesting. Also the "American" character is played by a Canadian who doesn't try very hard to sound like he isn't Canadian. I woudl be curious to know about who writes this - I bet it isn't an American in Canada. I bet it's Canadians who, through no fault of their own, do not know what it's like to be foreign in their own country. Because it isn't like this. Nice try. Due South did a much better job at portraying each through the other's eyes.
I know who
pimpin' Josh
another Canadian observer
Even if the content weren't good, which it is, I would have been hooked by the title alone: The Poutine Diaries.
And the Trophy Wife of the Month is...
Melina! Since she probably will not name herself TWOM, I shall gladly do the honors. Because it is her birthday; because she embraces the Anglo-Saxon Victorian Christmas with her whole heart, right down to yorkshire pudding, despite a dislike of most things English (including the English themselves); because she is generous and joyous; because she serves ginger ale in wine glasses and always with a marascino cherry; because she is full of good sense about other people; because after 25 years she regularly sends me into wheezing, crying laughing fits - because she and me be sisters.
So, as with all the powers vested in me as a former TWOM (May 2004), I dub thee, Skipette, Trophy Wife of the Month, December 2004
So, as with all the powers vested in me as a former TWOM (May 2004), I dub thee, Skipette, Trophy Wife of the Month, December 2004
"It struck me as pretty ridiculous to be called Mr. Darcy and to stand on your own looking snooty at a party."
Rosalie's description of someone as possibly being like Mr. Darcy was really, really good - impatient, a little snide, not affectionate about anything or anybody (except, apparently, mid-1990s local music (rather than Pemberly or Wickam) - and then I got thinking about Bridget, as I am wont to do, and was reminded of the above.
a very Watkins Christmas
I used to say this was our only family holiday tradition. On further thought, there are lots of other little typical objects and routines: felt stockings my mom made in the 1970s, our tree has several red teardrop-shaped glass ornament, we leave cookies out for Santa, I get to open a present on Christmas eve, we take turns opening our presents on Christmas morning (from under the tree first, then from stockings)....
But this is the most important one. Voila our gingerbread, originally from Joy of Cooking but much adapted to particular taste and fondness for chewy cookies.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees; check for doneness at 6-7 minutes depending on thickness.
Blend together 1/4 C butter and 1/2 C sugar (we use half brown, half white)
Add 1/2 C dark molasses, blend well.
Sift following together:
3 and 1/2 C flour
1 t soda
1/4 t cloves
1/2 t cinnamom
1 t. ginger
Mix into the molasses mixture, alternating with 1/4 to 1/3 C. water--may have to mix with hands. Get a rolling consistency and roll, cut, put on greased cookie pan, and cook. I usually decrease the cloves and ginger and increase the cinammon. Have fun!
But this is the most important one. Voila our gingerbread, originally from Joy of Cooking but much adapted to particular taste and fondness for chewy cookies.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees; check for doneness at 6-7 minutes depending on thickness.
Blend together 1/4 C butter and 1/2 C sugar (we use half brown, half white)
Add 1/2 C dark molasses, blend well.
Sift following together:
3 and 1/2 C flour
1 t soda
1/4 t cloves
1/2 t cinnamom
1 t. ginger
Mix into the molasses mixture, alternating with 1/4 to 1/3 C. water--may have to mix with hands. Get a rolling consistency and roll, cut, put on greased cookie pan, and cook. I usually decrease the cloves and ginger and increase the cinammon. Have fun!
right on
"[Christmas] stands as a marvel of organized generosity and proof of the contagiousness of love." Wayne Coyne
fab fab fabbity fab
CD Baby's lists of Beatles-inspired music here and here are sooooooo good and so right on. I can't believe I haven't heard any of this on the Beatles-a-rama radio station or on a power pop station. Risking overstatement, I must say this really does feed my soul and make me happy in a way that flows into my whole day. Maybe because I haven't been excited about any new music for awhile, especially in a lasting way.
Well duh. Like zillions of us hadn't thought of that already.
MSNBC - American abroad? Try traveling Canadian. They need to add some geography training - a real Canadian could sniff you out in a second if you don't know where you're from.
And to all the real Canadians: yes, you really do look like this when you're in Europe.
And to all the real Canadians: yes, you really do look like this when you're in Europe.
P&P
The modern-day Mormon retelling of Pride and Prejudice is utterly satisfying. There is something very enjoyable about a filme that takes as much of its look and feel from the BBC adaptation as from the novel itself. Genius.
I wonder what it's like to live in a world, all its own yet part of the giant, relentless shrieking that is modern American popular culture for young people, in which getting married right after college is often the ideal? In which pairing up is so important, especially with someone just like you?
I wonder what it's like to live in a world, all its own yet part of the giant, relentless shrieking that is modern American popular culture for young people, in which getting married right after college is often the ideal? In which pairing up is so important, especially with someone just like you?
