Taking a little break...will be back Soon!!

I truly miss sharing my love for food and movies with you all and I hope you've missed it too. I sincerely apologize for hardly posting the past few weeks but a hectic schedule made it very difficult to write posts I thought were worthy or sharing with you. I hope you all stuck with me through my dry spell and will check back with me within a week or two when I promise things will get back on schedule. Until then I want to wish all of you a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas baking

As far as food goes, Cookies are as important to Chtistmas as Turkey is to Thanksgiving. We all have our favorite kinds and the secret family recipes to make them. Here are a few helpful hints to make your cookie making quick, easy, and efficient this holiday season! We all know how much old Saint Nick in particular loves his cookies on Christmas Eve!!

One of the best tools you can buy yourself if you're an avid baker is a cookie scoop. Believe it or not, size does matter when you're baking cookies. Sure you can make them as big or small as you want but where the importance of size comes in is in the baking time. Scooping dough out by hand is a flawed method because it's difficult to get every mound of cookie batter the same size. If you have a tray or mostly larger cookies and one that's a bit smaller, obviously the smaller cookie will be overdone by the time the rest are ready to be taken out of the oven. Use a cookie scoop to ensure equally sized cookies and you'll be able to have a whole tray of cookies that are baked evenly.

A good collection of measuring tools. Sounds simple and obvious enough to most but having the correct meausrements in baking really is vital. I was cooking at a friends house one time and told her I needed a tablespoon of baking soda. Not being an experienced cook, she grabbed a regular spoon and took a scoop of baking soda for the container. Baking is like a science, percession does matter so make sure you have the correct amounts of your ingredients.

Parchment paper is a must have for me when I bake. It add a non stick layer to my baking pan without adding anymore fat. Not only will it ensure your cookies come off your tray in one piece, it'll spare you some clean up when all is said and done and I think it's safe to say we're all thankful for an easy clean up in the kitchen.

Cookie cutters are a great way to make your holiday baking fun and festive. No need to be picky with what kind of cookie cutters your buy, just buy ones that have the shapes you enjoy. These cookie cutters where a gift to me and they're my favorite since they are spring activated! I make countless short bread cookies using these handy little cutters.

 A good humble rolling pin goes a long way. I prefer rolling pins like the one I have that doesn't have handles on the sides and a metal rod running through the middle. Perfect for crushing up nuts, candy pieces, and chocolate to go inside cookie batters and ideal for rolling out shortbread or sugar cookie dough. A rolling pin is worth it's weight in gold in the kitchen!

The final essential tool to Christmas baking is Christmas music!!! I'm a traditonalist when it comes to my christmas music! Nat King Cole, Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and The Carpenters Christmas Cd are among my favorites. The very first A Very Special Christmas album is also a staple in my holiday playlist since it's one of the albums I grew up listening too. I also love throw in some newer versions of the classics by Michael Buble, Diana Krall, and Faith Hill. Listen to what you love and cook what you love and you'll get the most out of your day baking!!

 Happy Holiday Baking Everyone!!

Holiday Movie Favorites

I love Christmas for a multitude of reasons. Obviously, the delicious food I'll be fortunate enough to and enjoy this season and also the classic holiday films that never fail to lift my Christmas spirit. From the timeless classics like It's a wonderful life, Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer, Miracle on 34th Street, and Frosty the Snowman to some of the more modern classic Christmas tales like A Christmas Story, National Lampoons: Christmas Vacation, and Will Ferrel's instant Christmas movie staple Elf. Here is my pick for the top 5 Christmas movies I can't go without seeing each year. Please comment on your own list!

Here are some honorable mentions: Love Actually, The Holiday, Christmas with the Kranks, The Santa Claus, Miracle on 34th Street.

Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas: - The 1966 classic animated tale of the mean old Grinch and his plans ruin Christmas for all the Whos of  Whoville. With his heart 3 sizes too small, he comes up with a sneaky plan to dress up his dog Max as a reindeer and himself as old Saint Nicholas and rid the Whos of their precious Christmas once and for all. While I mention this classic version I can't help but touch on the 2000 version from Director Ron Howard and starring Jim Carey. While it can't compare with the original animated, I still thought it was a decent attempt to bring a bit more to the story. This version is far outside my top list but still worth watching if you happen to stumble across it while channel searching.

Home Alone and Home Alone 2: Lost in New York: - KEVIN!!!!!!!!!! At this day and age I think we all know and love the story of dear old Kevin McCallister and his adventures of being accidentally left by himself while his family flies off on vacation. While enjoying his freedom from his family he never can seem to get along with, his house is target by a duo of outrageous burglars and Kevin has to find a way to stop them from robbing his home all by himself. The Sequel to the film is just as great to me and both films are Christmas classics. You can't help but fall in love with these movies and all the things that make them great.

Elf - "SANTA!!!!!!! OH MY GOD!!!!!!!! SANTA HERE???? I know him......I know him!!!" Sorry I couldn't resist doing that. Elf is the new instant Christmas classic about a man named Buddy who grew up in the North Pole and was raised by Santa's Elves. Though Buddy is 6 feet tall and struggles at toy making, he never knows his true identity as a human until he over hears his co-Elves talking. This leads Buddy on a trip from The North Pole all the way to New York City in search of his biological father. The result is a comical Christmas story with a lot of heart, laughter, and Christmas spirit. Can't be Christmas without watching this one!!


A Christmas Story - Let me just say that if I had to pick my all time favorite Christmas movie, I'm not sure if I have a solid answer between A Christmas Story and Christmas Vacation (Elf is far behind either). This is widely considered the best Christmas movie ever made and lets face it, there is a reason why this movie runs for 24 hours every year starting on Christmas Eve. The timeless tale of Ralph Parker and his quest to get the ultimate Christmas present this year from Santa, an official Red Ryder, carbine action, two-hundred shot range model air rifle! This movie never gets old for me and it's not Christmas without seeing it.

National lampoons Christmas Vacation - Clark W. Griswold Jr. is skipping the vacation this Christmas and has invited the family to the Griswold's in Chicago to have a big fun filled old fashion Griswold family Christmas. This is my Dad's favorite Christmas movie and you can't help but love it. Chevy Chase can make me laugh by doing just about anything and the craziness that always follows his love able character of Clark Griswold is in no short supply in this timeless Christmas tale. The Character of Aunt Bethany is without a doubt my favorite part of the film and every single one of her lines is a hilarious classic that I often find myself quoting through out the year. My personal favorite is the hysterical part of the film where Clark asks his great Aunt to lead the family in saying grace before Christmas dinner.



Can't wait to hear which films you all can't go without watching throughout the Christmas season.

Turkey Croquettes

Still have some leftover turkey stashed away in the refrigerator? Here is one final quick and delicious recipe to use up the last of the Thanks Giving bird in a way that won't make you think you're eating leftovers. This recipe is also great with leftover roasted chicken so it's one that can come in handy more than once a year.

2 tablespoon of butter
1 onion finely diced
1 garlic clove minced or grated
2 cups of shredded Turkey or Chicken
1 cup of Mashed potatoes
1/4 cup of flour
1 large egg
Fresh Parsley
2 cups of season Panko bread crumbs
Salt and Black Pepper
Vegetable oil

In a small saute pan, melt the two tablespoons of butter. Add the onions and cooked until translucent and tender. About a minute or two before the onions have cooked, add the minced garlic clove and stir into the cooked onions. Remove from the heat.

In a mixing bowl, combine the cooked onions with the shredded turkey and the mashed potatoes. Lightly beat the egg and add the to the turkey and potato mixture. Add the flour, parsley, and season with salt and pepper. Mix well so that everything is combined. Form the mixture into patties to whatever size you desire.

Pour the bread crumbs onto a flat dish and gently place your croquettes into the crumbs and move around so that they become coated. Place the croquettes in the refrigerator for about 10 to 15 minutes to allow them to firm up a bit.

Remove from the refrigerator and heat enough vegetable to coat the bottom of your frying pan over medium heat. Once the oil is nice and hot, brown the croquettes for about 3 t0 5 minutes on both sides until they're golden brown and crisp. Serve hot with your favorite sides and gravy or some cranberry sauce.

Mark's must see Movies - Love Actually

Love Actually is the 2003 holiday romantic comedy that was met with much admiration and praise by many critics and viewers at it's release and the film has only garnered more of the same as it's aged. An all star cast consisting of Liam Neeson, Hugh Grant, Collin Firth, Emma Thompson, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, and Kierra Knightly combined with a charming plot are what makes this movie the special film it is.

The film takes place in London and follows the lives of the multiple and very different characters in the film and their journeys in and out of love. Among the central characters in the film is the newly elected Prime Minister of England David (Hugh Grant) whose career in politics has left him a bachelor for far too long. Though he seems to grow and instant connection with one of his new assistants. Karen (Emma Thompson) plays the devoted wife and mother who grows increasingly concerned with her husbands flirtatious antics with his secretary. Liam Neeson is the recently widowed Daniel who is caught between his period of mourning and having to deal with his 10 year old step son dealing with his own love crisis. And the last major character is Collin Firth who plays a young writer named Jamie who flees to a isolated house in France after catching his wife cheating on him. During his stay, he meets a woman who doesn't speak English but may be the true love he's been searching for. No matter what kind of plot line you enjoy in a movie, you'll find interests and relate with at least a few of these well written and portrayed characters.

My only real complaint for the film is that at times there is quite a bit going. For the most part the film is made very well but naturally when you follow eight different stories at a time some are well explored and others only have time to be loosely touched on. Bill Nighy for example brings the most comedic value to this movie as the aged pop star Billy Mack and I could have watched his character on screen far longer than he actually is. Just about every time this seasoned actor takes the screen he drew a laugh from me and his performance was vastly underrated. Andrew Lincoln who plays Mark, a young photographer who secretly loves his best friends wife acts out one of the most romantic scenes in recent film memory and one that helped propel the movie into fame.

Love Actually is a holiday movie that won't leave you wanting to sing a bunch of Christmas carols but it will remind you of one of the most important things to remember this holiday season. Love is te most important thing in the wold, without it where would we be? Though we need to be aware of it throughout the entire year, the Christmas season is no better time to truly show someone just how much they mean to you. Love is abundant in the world. As it's said in the opening monologue, Love Actually will show you that love actually is all around.

Haven't done this in a while --- Click here for the trailer to Love Actually 

Thanksgiving Turkey and Cranberry Panini

The day before Thanksgiving, it's the eve of the meal we wait all year for. Oven roasted turkey and all the classic sides will fill our kitchen tables and our stomachs. They will also most likely fill our refrigerators for the next few days with more leftovers than we know what to do with. I'm always looking for new and creative ways to use up those delicious Thanksgiving leftovers and this Turkey and cranberry pannini is my favorite turkey sandwich ever! Fresh roasted turkey, sweet and tart cranberry mayo, sharp cheddar cheese, and peppery arugula blend perfectly sandwiched between two slices of ciabatta bread.


Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Ciabatta Bread
Fresh Roasted Turkey Breast
1/2 cup of baby Arugula
2 Tablespoons of Cranberry relish or Sauce
2 Tablespoons of Mayo
About 1/2 cup of Freshly Shredded Cheddar Cheese
Salt and Pepper

Slice a loaf of ciabatta bread in half length ways. In a small mixing bowl, combine together the cranberry relish and the mayo. Add a pinch of salt and pepper. Spread the cranberry mayo on both the top and bottom of the ciabatta bread.

Spread half of the cheddar cheese over top of the cranberry mayo. Take a few slices of turkey and place them over top of the cheese. Next add the arugula followed by a few more slices of turkey and the remaining cheddar.

Preheat your panini press or frying pan over medium heat. Drizzle a bit of olive oil on both the top and bottom of the bread and place the sandwich onto the panini press. Grill the sandwich until the bread is crisp and the cheese has melted - about 5 to 7 minutes. Rotate the sandwich 180 degrees half way through cooking to get criss cross grill marks. Cut the sandwich in half and enjoy!!

Tuscan Sausage and Potato Soup

In the chilly months of the year, nothing is more comforting for dinner than a bowl of homemade soup for dinner. In addition, a bowl of soup is the perfect meal for a movie night. This is a recipe I came up with after many attempts to duplicate the soup at a very popular chain of Italian restaurants. A blend of flavorful Italian sausage, tender red potatoes, with bright and crisp blanched kale in a creamy broth is an irresistible combination. Easy to make and flavor beyond belief, this is a recipe I'm sure will easily find it's way onto your dinner table frequently. quintessential

1 and 1/4 pound of Sweet Italian Sausage
1 large Onion
Pinch of crushed red pepper flakes
3 cloves of garlic
6 cups of Chicken stock
1 bay leaf
About 6 Red potatoes
1 and 1/2 cups of Heavy Cream
Kosher Salt
Freshly Cracked black pepper
1/4 cup of freshly grated Parmesan
8 leaves of Fresh Basil

Place a large pot over medium heat drizzle a touch of olive oil in the bottom. If using a link of sausage, cut down the center and remove the sausage from the casing. Place the sausage into the hot pan with a pinch f crushed red pepper and crumble the sausage as you saute. Once the sausage is browned, carefully remove some of the excess fat.

Next, dice the onion and place it into the hot pan with the sausage and cook until the onions are beginning to become tender. Mince the garlic and add to the sausage and onions and cook for another minute or two but making sure to stir so that the garlic doesn't burn. Add the 6 cups of chicken stock to the pot and add the bay leaf as well.

Thoroughly wash your potatoes until cold water and peel if desired. Carefully slice the potato in half length ways and cut the halves into 1/2 inch slices. Add the potatoes into the pot to allow them to cook.

Fill a medium sized pot with water and place over high heat to bring the water to a boil. While the water boils, add some ice to a large bowl and add very cold tap water. We're going to blanch the kale quickly for a minute or two and then transfer to kale right away to the ice water. this will shock the kale and lock in the beautiful green color.

To remove the kale from the stem, firmly hold the stem of the kale with one hand and wrap your other hand around it just behind the leaves. Pull your one hand down while still griping the top of the steam and the kale will quickly and easily be removed. Give the kale leaves a rough chop.

Once the water has come to a boil, add the kale and cook for only a minute or two. Remove the kale from the water and immediately plunge the kale into the ice water bath and allow the kale to cool. Drain the kale and pat dry with a kitchen towel and add into the hot broth.

Once the potatoes in the soup are tender, add the heavy cream, freshly cut basil, and grated parmesan to the broth and stir. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with an extra grating of parmesan cheese. Perfect soup for a chilly movie night and one that all your friends and family will enjoy.

Mark's Must See Movies - Chinatown

In mid 1940s Los Angeles, Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is a private detective who specializes mostly in catching husbands and wives committing adultery. When a woman named Eveyln Mulwray hires Jake to follow her husband Hollis, the case presents itself to him like any other. After finding Mr. Mulwray keeping company with a younger woman, Gittes believes that his job is done and yet another one of his cases has been closed. Jake soon discovers though that the woman who hired him to follow Hollis Mulwray as an imposter and to complicate things even more, Hollis has been found dead.

What started off as a simple investigation for Jake has now led him into a web of lies and murder. Jake soon finds that finding the truth will be far dangerous and disturbing than expected.

Chinatown is widely considered one of the true classics of Hollywood. Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunway portray their characters perfectly and give some of the best performances of their careers. With plenty of twists and turns, Chinatowns greatest strength is in it's screenplay. Now almost 40 years old, this movie is solidly in my must see category.

Jalapeno Popper Panini

A deep fried Jalapeno Popper is almost irresistible to me. Problem is being breaded, deep fried, and filled with cheese I only allow myself to have one or two on very rare occasions. My love for a popper left me looking for a way to get everything I loved about them but in a slightly more figure friendly package. Transforming a pub favorite finger food into a panini was an experiment of mine and I was thrilled with the results. I guarantee you won't miss the classic version of a popper once you try this sandwich with crunchy ciabatta bread, oven roasted jalapenos, and sharp cheddar cheese.

Yields two Paninis

4 Jalapeno Peppers
Kosher Salt and Freshly cracked Black Pepper
5 slices of Cheddar Cheese
1 small loaf of Ciabatta bread (look for a take and bake)


Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Take jalapeno peppers and cut off the tops and slice them in half. Place them on a small baking tray lined with a piece of tin foil. Sprinkle the peppers with a pinch of kosher salt, freshly cracked black pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil. Roast in the oven for about 12-15 minutes or until the skins of the peppers are tender.

Remove the peppers from the oven and remove the seeds. The seeds are what gives the peppers there heat so leave some in if you want your panini to be a bit spicier. Use any oil left on the pan to spread on the inside of the ciabatta bread for extra flavor as well.

Take the the ciabatta bread and carefully slice it in half length ways. Lay 5 slices of cheddar cheese down and top with the roasted jalapenos.Top with the remaining cheese and cap the sandwich off with the other half of ciabatta bread.

Drizzle a touch of olive oil on the top and bottom and place the sandwich onto a preheated panini press and grill for about 3-5 minutes or until the outside is crisp and the cheese has melted. Rotate the panini slightly half way through the cooking time to achieve a cross hatched grill mark look. Cut the sandwich on an angel and serve hot. Perfect snack for a movie!!!

PS - busier schedule now than I've had recently so I hope you"ll all bare with me if I'm later than normal with my posts or even miss a few here and there! I'll be writing as much as I can! Thanks all :)

A good set of Knives goes a long way

One of your best friends in a kitchen is a good set of cooking knives. Their is nothing more difficult, dangerous, and frustrating than trying to prepare a meal and having work with dull and poorly crafted knives.

If you've looked online or through your local department stores, I'm sure you've noticed how knives range in price to extremely cheap to outrageously expensive. Like all things, you get what you pay for but that doesn't mean you have to break the bank to get a good quality collection of cooking knives. Here are a few key things to look for when trying to select whats right for you.

-Make sure the knifes are full tang. The tang is the how far the steel of the blade runs though the handle of the knife. If the steel doesn't run through the entire handle, you risk breaking the knife when applying a lot of force. Not only will this ruin your knife, it could cause injury as well.

-Be sure you get a wide selection from a good chefs knife, a chopping knife,a boning knife, a serrated edged knife, and a pairing knife. Kitchen shears and a set of steak knives are also a huge plus.

-A wooden block to store them in comes in handy. It protects the knives and gives them easy access.

-A sharping steel is also something you'll want to be included in with your knife set. Knives dull, even if they tell you they don't. Keeping your knives sharp is the key

-And finally -- stay in your budget!! Buy the best equipment you can afford, and take care of them.

Rosemary Parmesan Puff Pastry bites

Looking for a great finger food to serve at your movie night or your next cocktail party? Puff Pastry sheets with flavorful rosemary and parmesan are quick to assemble, quick to bake, and you and your guests are sure to enjoy them. Chances are you already have most of the ingredients needed for this recipe. Serve with your favorite glass of wine for a great pairing.

1 sheet of Puff Pastry Dough
2 Tablespoons of melted butter
Fresh or dried Rosemary
Grated Parmesan cheese
Freshly cracked Black pepper

Preheat oven to 400 degrees

Lightly flour a clean and flat work surface. Unfold the puff pastry sheet and brush the top with the melted butter.



Next, crack a bit of freshly ground black pepper over top and then sprinkle some parmesan cheese. Evenly distribute the rosemary over the cheese and the pepper.

Carefully roll the dough into a log shape and slice the dough into slices that are about 1/2 inch thick or so. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper to prevent them from stick. Lay the bites out along the pan leaving room in between them because they will spread out. Brush the tops of the cut puff pastry with some of the remaining melted butter and sprinkle with a touch more cheese, rosemary, and a pinch of kosher salt. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes or until the tops and the edges have turned golden brown. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Puff Pastry Sheets - Frozen layers of deliciousness

Puff Pastry sheets are gifts from pastry heaven and you'll find them in just about every grocery store's freezer section these days. Making your own puff pastry isn't the easiest thing to do and it's certainly a very time consuming process. When you're in a pinch to make a quick appetizer or desert, these sheets of buttery and flaky pastry are a life saver!

Possibilities are pretty much endless! Simply sprinkle cinnamon and sugar over top, roll the pastry into a log, and cut into one inch segments for a quick desert or swap out the cinnamon and sugar for some freshly grated cheese and herbs for a quick and easy appetizer. I've been developing a lot of tasty treats with puff pastry sheets so on your trip to the grocery store this weekend, pick up a box or two to have on hand in the freezer. They'll certainly come in handy for the upcoming holiday season!

Haunted Halloween Hummus

Here is a quick and healthy snack for a Halloween movie night that you can whip up in no time. Hummus is super healthy which means we can have a few extra pieces of chocolate and not feel guilty about it. A touch of siracha chili paste for a bit of heat and loaded with fresh garlic flavor, it's sure to ward off Count Dracula himself.


a 15oz can of chick peas
5 cloves of garlic
1/2 teaspoon of freshly Cracked pepper
1 teaspoon of Kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon of Siracha paste (Plus more for the top)
1/2 cup of Tahini
4 tablespoons of fresh lemon juice
3 tablespoons of water

In a food processor with the blade attached, pulse together the garlic cloves until they are finely minced. Drain the chick peas and rinse under cold water. Add the chick peas to the food processor and and pulse a few times.

Add the rest of the ingredients to the food processor and pulse together until the mixture is pureed. Season the hummus to taste. Scoop the hummus into a serving bowl and allow it to chill for about 30 minutes.

For presentation. Serve on a large platter with a variety of snacks to dip into the hummus such as pita chips, freshly cut vegetables, tortilla chips, or pretzels. To make a festive design on top of the hummus, take the siracha paste and draw two to three circles over top. Next take a tooth pick and starting from the top, drag the tooth pick down through the siracha circles to make a spider-web shaped garnish.

My Favorite Movies for Halloween

Happy Halloween week everyone! Though my childhood days of Trick-or-treating are long behind me, I still like to get into the spirit of Halloween and watch some of my favorite scary and Halloween themed movies. Since I'll be having a movie night of my own this Thursday, I thought I'd share a few of my favorite Halloween movie choices with you. Whether you're looking for a fun film to watch with the whole family or a horror movie to watch with your friends in the dark, here are my top recommendations for a Halloween movie night.

The Woman in Black - A newer to addition to my favorite ghost story movies. Daniel Radcliffe plays Arthur Kipp's, a young widowed lawyer who's struggling to prove his worth at the office where he works. When he's assigned to travel to a remote village to settle estate and organize the affairs of a deceased woman. Upon his arrival, Arthur is keen to pick up on the mysterious aura the town and he's instantly met with residents who will do whatever they can to stop him from going to the estate where he must work. Arthur soon discovers the tragic and horrid history of the town as he finds that the woman still haunts the house and the town - searching for what she lost. "The Woman in Black" is really a solid film and one I thoroughly enjoyed. It provides scenes of fright and suspense and it just may make your own mind play tricks on you in the dark.

Halloween - This cult classic still gives me the chills today. The mask alone of Michael Meyers was enough to give me nightmares but the additive of John Carpenter's chilling theme really pushed it over the top. The story revolves around a psychotic killer named Michael Meyer's who has been locked away in a mental hospital since he was a child and killed his sister on Halloween night. Now on the loose, he returns to his home town who has no idea of the danger that's come home as he stalks a young girl named Laurie (Jamie Lee Curtis). Shot in three weeks time and with a very small budget, Carpenter and the crew of Halloween provide the perfect example that blood, gore, and special effects are not what make a film horrifying. 

Young Frankenstein - Mel Brooks and Gene Wilder's classic comedy is perfect if you wish to laugh and not scream this Halloween. Gene Wilder plays Dr. Frankenstein, the Grandson of Dr. Victor Von Frankenstein, and he has just inherited his grandfathers castle. Upon his arrival he meets Igor and Inga and while Frankenstein is a skeptic of his grandfather's work, he discovers a book where his grandfather wrote down the details of his work and Young Dr. Frankenstein begins to change his tune. In true Mel Brooks fashion, this is a laugh out loud comedy with memorable performances by Wilder, Terri Garr, Peter Boyle, and the rest of the cast.

Brahm Stroker's Dracula - Long before vampires became on obsession of teenage girls, there was the horrifying story from Brahm Stroker's classic novel Dracula. Gary Oldman plays the undead Count Dracula who brings his reign of evil and horror over the city of London in search of the lost soul of his once beloved bride. Oldman, as he so often does, becomes his character and his haunting performance as Dracula is reason alone to watch this film adaptation of arguably the most well known horror stories in the world.

Hocus Pocus -For my generation this is a Disney classic and will remain my favorite Halloween themed movie for all time. Hocus Pocus is a classic 1993 Disney movie starring Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy as the Sanderson Sisters - three witches who are looking to steal the youth from the children of Salem. 300 years ago the, the sisters were hanged after sucking the life from a young resident of Salem. Now in the modern day, three teenagers will mistakenly bring the witches back to life. With the aide of cursed talking cat named Binks, They’ll have to find a way to stop Winnie, Mary, and Sarah Sanderson before they succeed in their evil plans 300 years in waiting. Hocus Pocus will put a spell on you that you wont be able to break.

Quick Shrimp Scampi

 Need a quick dinner idea that doesn't come from the freezer section or from a microwave? Shrimp Scampi is a delicious dish that can be done in under 30 minutes. It's a great meal for a special treat on a weeknight or as a homemade date night dinner.

 

3/4 of a pound wild caught gulf shrimp (peeled and vein removed)

1/4 cup of white wine

4 tablespoons of butter

1 tablespoon of Olive oil

4 cloves of garlic (Minced or grated)

1 Shallot (Diced)

1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice

Fresh basil and Parsley 

1 package of Linguine or angel hair pasta

Fill a large pot with water and season generously with some salt. Place over a medium high heat to bring the water to a boil. Once the water is boiling, Cook the pasta according to the directions on the package.

Meanwhile, In a satue pan, melt the butter and olive oil together over medium heat. Add the diced shallot and cook until the shallot is tender but not brown - about 7 minutes. Next add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Garlic burns very quickly so keep a close eye. Pour the white wine into the pan and cook for a few moments to cook out the alcohol. Now add the shrimp to the pan and cook until the shrimp have turned pink - this will happen quickly as well (about 5 to 7 minutes).

 

Remove from the heat and add the lemon juice and the freshly chopped basil and parsley. Pour the shrimp and the sauce over the drained pasta and toss everything together. Serve hot will fresh Italian bred and a dry white wine.

Sausage, peppers, and onions with Penne

**Back again after technical difficulties kept me from posting**

Flavorful Italian Sausage with peppers, onions and pasta tossed together in a garlicy tomato sauce is one of my favorite dishes.Using both sweet and hot Italian sausage gives your taste buds the best of both worlds but feel free to use all sweet or hot to suit your liking. The key for a perfect dish of sausage and peppers to me is cooking the peppers just until they've become tender but still have a bit of crisp to them. Serve with a nice piece of bread and fresh parmesan cheese and this plate is sure to be a favorite of yours too!

Serves 4-6

1 pound link of Sweet Italian Sausage
1 pound link of Hot Italian Sausage
1 large red onion
1 medium sized Green Bell pepper
1 medium sized Yellow Bell pepper
1 medium sized Red Bell pepper
16oz can of Diced Tomatoes
16oz can of Tomato Sauce
2 cloves of Garlic
10-12 fresh basil leaves chopped
1 pound of penne pasta

Preheat your oven to 375. Place the links of sausage onto a baking sheet with a slight drizzle of olive oil on the bottom. Bake the links for about 10 to 15 minutes. Turn the sausages with tongs about halfway through cooking time. Once done, remove from the oven and set aside for now. Wash the bell peppers and cut them and the red onion into medium sized pieces. Finely mince or grate two cloves of garlic.

In a large satue pan, drizzle some olive oil and heat oven a medium high heat. Add the peppers and onions and cook for 10 minutes stirring frequently during the cooking time. The goal here is to cook the vegetables long enough where they start to become tender but still have a slight crisp to them as if they were raw. Bring a large pot of water season with plenty of salt. When the water comes to a boil, add the pasta and cook according to directions on the package.

While the peppers and onions are cooking, slice the sausage links on a bias. Add the sausage and garlic into the satue pan with the vegetables and continue cooking for about 3 minutes to give the garlic time to cook.

Add the can of diced tomatoes and tomato sauce and stir together. Add the freshly chopped basil and salt and pepper. Allow the sauce to simmer while the pasta finishes to boil. Once the pasta has been cooked, drain and add the pasta straight into the pan with the sauce. Stir together to coat all the noodles with the sauce. Serve hot with parmesan cheese.

The Heat - on DVD and Bluray Tomorrow

In the film The Heat, Sandra Bullock and Mellisa McCarthy star as two polar opposite law enforcers who have to work together to bring a ruthless drug lord to justice. One of the funniest movies I've seen in years, if you're looking for a movie to deliver the comedic goods you need not look any further.

Sandra Bullock plays FBI agent Sarah Ashburn who is a rather up tight agent who does every by the book. With a possible promotion close at hand, she takes on a case in Boston to help uncover the identity of a drug lord. Ashburn who already had trouble communicating and getting along with co-workers meet her match when she meets the Boston PD detective she's paired with, Shannon Mullins (Melissa McCarthy). The unlikely duo will have to learn to trust one another to find and stop Larkin before it's too late.

Seeing The Heat while in theaters, I can't remember how many times this movie made me and the rest of the audience roar in laughter. I'm actually very excited to see this movie again because there were moments where the laughter in the theater was so loud I missed a lot of the dialogue that followed. Purchasing or renting The Heat should really be on your do to list this week. With all the hustle and bustle around you, you'll be happy to take a few hours out of your day to laugh your butts off! 

Take the Weekend to Enjoy the Season

 Stop what you're doing. Those weekend errands and home improvement projects can wait a few days, not like you haven't put them off already. Step outside and take a look around you. Living in the Northeastern corner of the United States, fall is in full bloom and nature is showing us it's most spectacular event. Autumn is my favorite time of year and it's only here for a few short weeks.

The Autumn harvest excites me for the many recipes I can come up with. Butternut Squash Risotto, Apple Crostata, Pumpkin Muffins, Butternut Squash soup, Pumpkin Pie....the list goes on and on. Tomorrow morning, make a pot of pumpkin spice coffee and pile into the car with your friends and family and take a drive through the country.

Stop at an apple orchard and grab a bushel of freshly picked apples and get down and dirty and go pick your own pumpkin out of the field. Trust me, an apple tastes light years better when it comes straight from the tree and not off a supermarket shelf. Gala, Macintosh, Honey Crisp, Cortland, Golden Delicious, or whatever kind you love the most are waiting for you to bite into them.

Now that we have our apples, grab a few and pack a lunch and go for a hike. A big part of this blog is taking pictures so it should come as no surprise that I love the art of photography. I love packing a bag with a few bottles of water, a couple of orchard fresh apples, a sandwich, and my Nikon and just going for a walk in the forests of  red and gold. I hope, if you weren't planning on doing so already, you plan a few outdoor activities for the weekend like I am. Autumn is just about at it's peak and I for one don't want to miss it.