I've moved to a new blog

My apologies for my little break that I expected to last only a week or two turning into over a month. As one door closes another will open. Please come to my new blog for more cooking tips and tricks, general food info, and recipes at my new blog called Mark's Casual Kitchen. Hope to see all of you there

http://markscasualkitchen.blogspot.com/

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.