Then Again by Diane Keaton

For over 40 years, Diane Keaton has been one of America's most loved and iconic film actresses. Her roles in films like Annie Hall, Baby Boom, Father of the Bride, First Wives club, and Something's Gotta give have proven over and over the comedic charm and bliss Keaton sheds onto the silver screen. In 2011, Keaton truly opened up her world and her life with the rest of the world by releasing her memoirs entitled "Then Again".

In "Then Again" Diane Keaton writes about her life experiences as well as her mother's. Diane and her mother, Dorothy, shared a special bond and did so until the day she passed. "Then Again" is both Diane's memoir and her mother's through the use of her 85 journals. Diane writes mostly about her early years, growing up and finding herself and the unique artist within her. She tells us that she never thought herself to be an attractive girl and she writes about a long and painful battle with bulimia.

There isn't any ghost writing here. The words you read off these pages are either taken straight from her mothers journals or they are Diane's words themselves. That made this book feel so real to me. There were times when I would be reading and it almost felt like I was sitting in my living room talking with Diane herself as we shared a cup of coffee. This book was a birthday present to me last year and with no prior knowledge of the book, I expected the memoir to be more about her work in films. Instead, its more a story of love and family and how Diane was so inspired by her parents - her mother most of all. A fan of Diane Keaton will truly enjoy this read but I would recommend it to anyone. Attached is a short video promotion Diane made for her book. Hope that you enjoy it and that you're able to soon read "Then Again".

Vegetable tray and fresh Dill and herb dip

Who doesn't love a nice tray of fresh cut vegetables and a dish of creamy herb dip to go with them? It's perfect for entertaining guests and it's a great snack for watching movies or sporting events. It's no cooking and no fuss and something anyone can put together no matter what their kitchen experience level may be. You can customize your vegetable try with any of your favorite vegetables and I encourage you to be creative with the dip recipe as well. Add some fresh herbs that you might like and see what you come up with! A grocery store would way overcharge you for a vegetable platter like this and you can make this right in your own kitchen with little effort and half of the cost! Vegetable platters are perfect for any event throughout the year. Here is what I use to serve anywhere between 6 to 10 people.

2 Broccoli crowns cut and washed
1 Red bell pepper sliced and washed
1 Orange Bell pepper sliced and washed
4 - 5 Carrots peeled and cut
4-5 stalks of celery sliced and washed
1 English cucumber sliced
For the dip
1 cup of sour cream
1 cup of Mayo
½ teaspoon of garlic powder
1 teaspoon of onion powder
2 tablespoons of freshly chopped dill
3 scallions finely chopped
½ teaspoon of salt

½ teaspoon of black pepper

For the dip - mix all the spices and 2 of the finely chopped scallions together with the sour cream and mayo and make sure everything is combined very well. Cover and chill the dip in the fridge for at least an hour or two before serving. Garnish the dip with the reserved scallions and a sprig of fresh dill.

To assemble your veggie platter, arrange your vegetables in an orderly fashion along the platter. I like to bunch them together as best as I can. Another tip I like to give is spread the colors out on the tray. Don't bunch all the green veggies right together - place some red or orange next to them so the platter is more eye appealing.

Daybreak Parfait and "Morning Glory"

One of my favorite breakfast meals is a fruit and yogurt parfait. Quick, easy, delicious, and nutritious it's the perfect way to start off a busy morning or a relaxing weekend. Homemade granola couldn't be easier to make and not only is it better than most store brands, you can customize it with any flavors you like. Layer the granola with some fresh berries and creamy yogurt and you've got a breakfast that's sure to please! 

For the Granola
3 cups of oatmeal
¾ cup of sweetened/shredded coconut

1 cup of chopped walnuts

½ cup of sunflower seeds

2 teaspoons of cinnamon

½ teaspoons of nutmeg

¼ teaspoon of kosher salt

¼ cup of brown sugar (light or dark)

¼ cup of vegetable oil

½ teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

2 tablespoons of maple syrup or honey

½ cup of dried cherries

½ cup of dried cranberries

For the Parfait

Your favorite yogurt - about a  ½ cup per parfait (I recommend vanilla)

2 Fresh peaches sliced

A pint of fresh Raspberries

Our freshly made granola

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

In a large mixing bowl - toss the oatmeal, coconut, walnuts, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt together. Make sure the spices are mixed thoroughly. In a separate bowl, whisk together the vanilla, oil, brown sugar, and the maple syrup. Pour the wet ingredients over the oats and toss together. The best kitchen tool to do this step with is a set of clean hands - a cooks best friend. Spread the oats evenly onto an ungreased baking sheet and place into the oven.

Bake the granola for about 20 to 30 minutes stirring every 10 minutes to ensure all the granola gets a nice even golden brown color. Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes and return the granola back into a large mixing bowl. Add the dried fruits and stir to combine. Let the granola cool completely and store in an air tight container.

To assemble the parfaits, first place a few raspberries on the bottom of the glass. If you can't find fresh, frozen berries will work just make sure they are thawed. Top the berries with a little bit of the granola. Mix a few of the sliced peaches in with the yogurt and pour over the granola. To finish the parfait, top with more granola and serve. Obviously, this parfait can be customized with any of your favorite fresh fruits and your favorite blend of yogurt. Now for this weeks movie we're staying with the theme of the morning and going with with 2010 film "Morning Glory."

Rachel McAdams stars as Becky Fuller, the newly hired energetic and passionate producer for an early morning news program called Daybreak (which inspired the name for my parfait). Daybreak is at rock bottom when it comes to ratings against the other morning news show but Becky is determined to turn the show around. Diane Keaton plays Colleen Peck, the only news anchor on the show left after Becky fires Colleen's co-host on her first day. Knowing she has to get the ratings up in order to save her job and the program, she goes after legendary news anchor Mike Pomeroy (Harrison Ford) to fill the empty news chair and bring a respectful presence to the show. Problem is, Pomeroy feels morning news shows are a disgrace to news has no enthusiasm for his new position that he was forced to accept. To make matters worse, Colleen and Mike don't exactly enjoy sitting behind the same news desk together and Becky will have to use everything she has if she wants Daybreak to stay on air. Jeff Goldblum, Patrick Wilson, and John Pankow co-star.  "Morning Glory" is really a wonderfully entertaining film with a great mix of comedic and heartfelt moments. Keaton and Harrison both give strong performances to add to their already brilliant film acting careers and Rachel McAdams was the perfect choice to play the loveable Becky. Click here to watch the trailer for "Morning Glory" it's a great film and one I'd recommend to all! 

Movie review - "Hope Springs"

"Hope Springs" was the 2012 film starring Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones who play a married couple who have lost that "spark" in their relationship. Meryl plays Kay, a devoted wife to her husband Arnold (Lee) who after 31 years of marriage lack any kind of romance or communication with each other. When Kay goes and purchases a one week couples therapy session, Arnold is less than enthusiastic about the idea and refuses to go. Kay decides she would be going with or without Arnold and her stubborn husband soon gives into the idea, though he still isn't happy about it, and the two travel to a small Maine town called Great Hope Springs. Kay and Arnold visit marriage counseling specialist Dr. Feld (Steve Carell) who will use his experience to help them turn their relationship back on the right track.

"Hope Springs" is an enjoyable movie and I would recommend it to anyone who wanted to see the film or is a fan of any of the actors in it. Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones both give compelling performances and you genuinely care about their characters and want Kay and Arnold to find what they are looking for. My biggest issue with the film is that it's really not all that funny. The reviews and the previews for the film made it seem more a comedy where the film seems to fit more into the drama genre. That being said, it is still one of the better films I've seen lately and all of cast in the film are at the top of their game. As long as you're not looking for a film to kick back and have a bunch of laughs at, "Hope Springs" should be on your radar of films to see. Here is the trailer for the film.

Making perfect blanched vegetables

To make perfect blanched vegetables without fail every time is one of the simplest cooking techniques known and makes your vegetables taste and look incredible. All you need to do is follow 4 simple steps.

1.) Bring a large pot of water seasoned with salt to a roiling boil.

2.) Fill a large bowl with Ice water and set aside.

3.) Submerge your vegetables in the water and blanch for anywhere between 3 to 6 minutes or until they've reached the desired tenderness you want.

4.) Transfer the vegetables right from the pot into the bowl of ice water. This shocks the vegetables and stops them from cooking. It will also lock in their flavor and their color. After the vegetables are cooled, no more than a minute, remove them from the ice water.

Once these steps are completed you can use your vegetables in any dish you'd like. I love preparing my vegetables this way for an Asian style stir fry or just sauteed with a little butter and garlic.

Chipotle Chicken Corn Chowder and "The Ghost Writer"

Nothing warms you up on a chilly day like a nice bowl of chowder - or as I sometimes like to pronounce it "Chow-dah". One day walking through the market I saw a display for a new flavor of canned soup called Chicken corn and chipotle chowder. While I wasn't tempted to purchase the item, It did trigger my culinary gears and got me thinking I could easily make that myself. I have to say I am very happy with the results and everyone that I have made this chowder for loved it. It's creamy and flavorful and the chipotle gives it just the right amount of heat. It's the perfect soup to warm your body and your taste buds on a chilly day.

4 Boneless/skinless chicken breasts
1 bag of frozen corn
1 large bell pepper (preferably red or orange but any color will do)
1 medium sized red onion
4 cloves of garlic
4 tablespoons of butter
5 tablespoons of all purpose flour
2 canned chipotle peppers
5-7 red potatoes
Two 32oz containers of Chicken stock
1 cup of heavy cream
salt and pepper

To start, get your prep work done by washing and chopping the bell pepper, the cloves of garlic, and the onion. Wash the potatoes and cut into fairly small pieces so that they cook quickly once we add them to the chowder. The reason I use red potatoes is that since the skins are tender and flavorful you don't have to peel them. You can use a regular potato if you wish but just be sure to peel them. Once all our chopping is done, melt the butter in a large soup pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and peppers and sauté for about 5 to 7 minutes or until the peppers and onions are slightly tender. Add the garlic and the bag of corn, mix everything together, and sauté  for another 5 minutes. Have your chicken stock near by for the next step. All at once, add the 5 tablespoons of flour to the vegetables and stir constantly for about 2-3 minutes just so that we are sure to cook off all the raw flour taste. All the vegetables should have a "floury" coating on them. This step is basically making a roux which will help thicken our chowder. Next, pour all the chicken stock into the pot and stir everything together. Now add the potatoes to the chowder and bring the pot to a simmer - a simmer is where steam is rising from the pot but no bubbles are rising to the surface. We cut the potatoes small so they should only take about 20 minutes to cook but test them by poking them with a fork - the fork should easily pierce the potatoes.

While the potatoes are cooking, time to cook the chicken. You can cook your chicken anyway you'd like for the chowder but the best way is to grill them either on the grill or with a grill pan. Just coat the chicken breasts with a little bit of olive oil and a seasoning of salt and pepper. Grill the chicken breast for about 7 minutes on each side or until they are cooked all the way through (no pink on the inside). You can also roast your chicken breasts by placing them in the oven at 375 degrees and roasting them for about 15 to 20 minutes. Once your chicken is cooked, chop the chicken breasts and add them right into the chowder.

In the home stretch now folks! Open the can of chipotle peppers and chop up two of the peppers and add them into the chowder. If you are unsure of how much chipotle you want to use, add one and taste the broth to see if you want to add more. A rule of thumb is you can always add more but you can't take out. chipotle's do have a slight kick to them but they're a flavorful heat. Whatever you don't use out of the can will freeze very nicely in a freezer bag and you'll have them on hand for next time. Stir in the heavy cream and season the chowder to taste with salt and pepper and more chipotle if desired. A nice way to serve the chowder is with some shredded cheddar cheese and some freshly chopped scallions on top. I really think you're all going to enjoy my chipotle chowder so grab a bowl and fire up the DVD/Blu-ray player because it's time for this weeks movie recommendation. While it's not in direct relation to this weeks dish, I still think it's a great dinner to enjoy while viewing Roman Polanski's 2010 film "The Ghost Writer".

Many of you probably never heard of this weeks movie because it's wasn't really pushed to American audiences. Ewan McGregor plays a ghost writer who has just been hired to help the former Prime Minister of England, Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) to complete is memoirs. The ghost writer's agent informs him he's being hired due to the recent death of the writer who had previously been assisting Lang with his book. Though he is reluctant at first to take on the task, the lucrative deal is one he can't pass up and he soon finds himself traveling to Lang's private island somewhere off the coast of New England. Almost immediately after McGregor's character takes on the job, Adam Lang comes under fire with claims and accusations of war crimes while he was in office. As the ghost writer conducts his research for the book, he begins to question not only Adam Lang but whether or not the death of the writer before him was indeed accidental.

Now in the midst of trying to uncover the secret he believed the previous ghost writer uncovered and was murdered for, McGregor's character soon fears for his own life. As he dives deeper into the mystery of Lang's war crime charges and the death of his predecessor, his own safety is now on the line and he begins to worry more about his own life rather than finishing the book on schedule. Olivia Williams, Kim Cattrall, and Tom Wilkinson all play wonderful supporting roles in "The Ghost Writer". Roman Polanski directed a marvelous and thrilling film that swept the European film awards in 2010. If this film was never on your radar before, I certainly hope it is now. It's an entertaining film with a gripping story line and one I hope you make an effort to watch in the near future. If my recommendation didn't sell you on the film, here is the trailer for a sneak peak.

My love for Cinema

My love for films began on my 6th birthday. As part of my birthday gift, my parents took me to the movies. While it wasn't the very first time I saw a movie in the theaters, it was the first time that I got to pick what movie we went to see. Peter Pan had always been my favorite story as a child and I had watched the Disney version more times than I can recall. So it was an easy decesion for me when I told my parents I wanted to see "Hook".

That birthday could not have gone by any slower. Even after getting home from school, I sat for hours next to the front door waiting to see my father to get home from work. I knew as soon as he got home, we were heading straight to the movies. When the lights finally dimmed, I sat in that movie theater watching real life actors fly through the air and a heroic Peter Pan battle one of the most notorious villains ever created. I didn't want to blink in fear that I might miss a single second of the movie. What was happening on the screen in front of me was a form of magic that until that night I was unaware of. I left that theater a victim of the power of cinema. Over twenty years later, my love for film making has only grown with age and It's been a joy being able to share my love for films with my readers through this blog.

Steven Spielberg's "Hook" took a unique twist on the fairytale of Peter Pan. The story focuses on an adult Peter Pan rather than the young boy who vows never to become a man. Peter Pan, played by Robin Williams, has grown up and has long forgotten who he really is. A workaholic layer who puts everything on hold to devote himself to his job, Peter's own children are growing up without him even noticing. Upon his return home to London with his family to visit his wife's grandmother, Wendy (yes that Wendy), Peter's two children are kidnapped. The culprit is none other than Captain James Hook (Dustin Hoffman) who tries to lure his nemesis back to Neverland. Peter will have to remember his past to save his children from the clutches of Hook and his band of pirates. "Hook" still remains one of my favorite films to this day and is one I'm happy to share with any of you who might not have seen it.

The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from my Frontier by Ree Drummond

One of my Christmas gifts I received this year was Ree Drummond's cookbook, The Pioneer Woman Cooks: Food from my Frontier. Ree might be better known as The Pioneer Woman from her wildly Successful blog and her popular TV show on the FoodNetwork, both by the same name. Ree's cooking style is rustic and delicious and this book is filled with great recipes for cooks of all skill levels.

Ree's book has something for everyone but if you're a beginner cook in particular, let me tell you this cookbook will be perfect for you. Ree has kept the flow of her cookbook much like she's done her blog, step by step pictures to go along with the instructions so you can see what things should look like as you cook. Being a very talented photographer, Mrs. Dummond took all the pictures in her book ,with the exception of the cover and title page, herself. It's filled with photographs from her family's ranch in Oklahoma, her family and friends, and of course her delicious food!

While I haven't had time to make many of Ree's recipes yet, I did make her Coffee cream cake this past weekend. Not only was it fantastic but it was a really simple recipe to execute. Moist coffee flavored cake with a sweet cream cheese filling and then covered in coffee flavor icing - it was a really delicious cake from first bite to the last little crumb left on my plate.

To wrap up this cookbook recommendation I have to add that every recipe in this book is one I can picture myself making at home. I really think all of you will enjoy reading The Pioneer Woman's cookbook as much as I am. Don't forget to keep an eye out for her cooking show on the FoodNetwork as well and you can always check out her blog Thepioneerwoman.com! Have a great weekend everyone!

Buttermilk Pancakes and "As Good as it Gets"

My grandpa passed down many things to me. His war medals, his knowledge, his classic jokes, and his love for "flap jacks". I'll take a short stack of fluffy buttermilk pancakes morning, noon, or night! Add a side of crispy bacon or breakfast sausage and I am one happy camper folks! It was long after my grandfather passed away when I made my first batch of homemade buttermilk pancakes but I'm pretty sure they'd get his stamp of approval. They're quick and easy to make and are sure to please any man, woman, or child. I always get in the mood to have some pancakes when I see Jack Nicholson order his breakfast at the restaurant in one of my favorite movies "As Good as it Gets." We'll get into the movie more later, but first here is what you'll need cook up your pancakes before it's movie time.

2 cups of Buttermilk
3 Eggs
1 ½ Teaspoon of pure vanilla extract
2 Cups of flour
4 Tablespoons of Sugar
3 tablespoons of melted butter
¼ teaspoon of salt
1 teaspoon of baking soda
1 ½teaspoons of baking powder

Measure out the buttermilk and whisk into it the 3 eggs, the vanilla, and the sugar until everything is combined. In a separate bowl combine the flour, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Take you whisk and gently stir everything together so you break up any clumps of flour there might be. Next, pour the wet ingredients into the dry, add the melted butter, and stir everything together until it's completely incorporated and is a smooth batter (but don't over beat). Making sure it's a smooth batter is a key step, we don't want any clumps of flour when we are pouring the pancake batter into our pan.

Preheat your oven to 225 degrees Take a large skillet or griddle and preheat over medium heat. The best way to determine if your pan is ready to make your pancakes is splashing a little bit of water onto the surface of the pan. If the water does nothing at first, your pan isn't warm enough and you need to increase the heat slightly. If your water immediately begins to sizzle and evaporate away your pan is too hot and you need to lower the heat slightly. When you splash the water on the pan, it should pop and "dance" around and evaporate over a few seconds time then your pan is at the perfect heat for pancake making.

Melt a little butter into the pan and pour the pancake batter evenly onto the pan. There are plenty of tools out there that claim to pour the perfect pancake but they don't work any better than a good old fashion soup ladle. Just be sure when you are pouring to keep pouring in one spot - Let the batter spread out on it's own. When you see air pockets rising to the top of pancake and the sides start to get golden brown, it's time to flip the pancake. Allow the pancake to cook for a few more minutes on the other side, about 3-5 minutes depending on the size you're making them. My grandfather had a rule that his pancakes had to be a big as the skillet he was cooking them in! Serve your pancake right from the griddle to the plate or your can keep them warm in the oven until you've cooked them all. Serve with some butter and warm maple syrup and breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late night snack is served!

As I said earlier, this weeks films is the 1997 academy award winning movie "As Good as it Gets". Starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt, who both received the academy awards for best actor and actress, this a film about a hard working single mother and the miserable man she's ever served breakfast to. Nicholson plays Melvin Udall, a writer living in New York City who suffers from obsessive compulsive disorder and is in need of a major attitude adjustment. Helen Hunt is the lucky waitress named Carol Connelly who gets the pleasure of serving Melvin breakfast every morning. Greg Kinnear plays Melvin's neighbor, Simon Bishop who always seems to receive Mr. Udall's worst. However with Simon is victim of a brutal attack in his home and Melvin learns or Carol's sick son, Melvin Udall shows that he's not immune to being kind. Cuba Gooding  Jr. and an adorable Griffon Bruxellois co-star."As Good as it Gets" is truly one of my favorite films. Jack Nicholson's character is so mean at times you can't help but laugh and Helen Hunt gives by far her best performance as an actress. If this is a film you missed or overlooked, I can't urge you enough to make it a point to see this movie as soon as possible - here is the trailer for "As Good as it Gets".