09 February 2010

Super Bowl Sunday Recap

Victims of my overzealous menu:
Baked Brie - boo - that was the one thing I was making for me...but that doesn't mean it won't be made at some point this week -- for dinner - how evil.
Sun-dried tomato thing - not a big deal, just had an idea of what I wanted in my head, so the fact that it wasn't made isn't the end of the earth.
Ate hot pepper jelly for lunch this week, so wasn't jonesing for it quite so much by Sunday - gave it a miss.
Totally forgot to make fries. By that time I didn't much care and I don't thinkk anyone missed them anyways.
So the review of those that survived... (including the Saints - that was great!)
Cajun Popcorn - outstanding! I mean really good. I wasn't sure it was going to work, esp after pouring the hot sugar mixture on the popcorn - and making popcorn the old way was great and the house didn't have the fake chemical smell the micro-popcorn does.
Spinach / Artichoke dip - v.g. worth the effort - makes a lot of dip!
Sausage Balls - good as always - froze remaining for easy breakfast. I always have to look this recipe up on the internet... don't know why I don't have a copy - random.
Gouda / crackers - if you like Gouda, you're happy.
Buffalo Chicken dip - again makes way too much. Used can chicken hesitantly as I think that's kind of weird. Not bad, but next time I'll poach a chicken breast or use a rotisserie chicken.
Sliders - easy recipe and I'll make that again this week.
Mini Cheesecakes - excellent - no really, just easy and excellent.

08 February 2010

P'butt Dog Biscuits


Peanut Butter Dog Biscuits - dogs now officially love me (when I'm in the kitchen).

2 3/4 c whole wheat flour
2 3/4 c all purpose flour
2 T brown sugar
1 t sea salt
1 c peanut butter
3 eggs
1/3 c vegetable oil
1 c H20


375 degrees
Combine flours, brown sugar & salt in large mixing bowl. Add eggs and p'butt and mix to incorporated. Mix in oil and add water as needed to develop a smooth dough. Set aside for 15-20 minutes to relax (covered). Roll out dough to 3/8 - 1/2" thick. Cut to desired shape. Arrange on parchment-lined pan. Bake approximately 40 minutes until slightly brown and fairly hard. Set aside to cool.


Source: White on Rice Couple




Notes: mixing the p'butt, wasn't easy, but it eventually came together. Ended up needing more than 1 cup of H20, but just a bit more. Easy easy to roll out. Cut into half dollar size (w/biscuit cutter). Added a score line so they can be broken in half. Made two heart shapes for Valentine's Day for Big and Little.

Emma - Masterpiece Theatre conclusion

Emma concluded last night and what do we think? Well, I'll admit that in general it was enjoyable. I'm just such a sap that a happy ending makes me like something a little better no matter what. Everyone wonders how Marianne in Sense and Sensibility marries Colonel Brandon... is she really happy? I wonder the same about Emma - Knightley is handsome and charming and genuine to be sure, but he's a homebody. Doesn't Emma need to go and do ...  somthing? anything? Realizing the honeymoon by the sea is lovely, but Emma needs to go to Bath and London and experience life. Not stay in Highbury and be self important. Obviously, this has to do with the story in and of itself not this latest video edition of it, but still... What would happen if Emma went to London for a season?
Again, I think my feelings for the actors from the first session of Emma 2009 have remained the same. Johnny Lee Miller - superior, very well done - suprisingly so. Tamsin Greig was perfect as Miss Bates - truley a talented performance of a role that EASY to get wrong. Romola Garai - she got better over time, but not an easy role to play because the character is, herself, hard to like. Blake Ritson and Christina Cole - how hard is it to be so snooty and annoying... they did well. Although I like Ritson more when he's a nice guy. Louise Dylan as Harriet - the natural daughter of nobody know who...and a bit too much of a simpleton in this case. Too bad, because Harriet moves the story along, but when she's this inspid, who cares? Laura Pyper as Jane Fairfax - plain Jane in this case and why has no movie given more time to the attempts that Emma finally does make to be a friend to Jane - this version did more than most, but still not enough. Rupert Evans as Frank Churchill - blech - enough said. Jodhi May not my ideal Miss Taylor/Mrs. Weston, but she did well - on the whole. Unfortunately MIA Dan Fredenburgh - we need more of John Knightely -The Voice of Reason.


Well, next week it's Northanger Abbey or Mansfield Park or something like that and we'll have to be satisifed with one and a half hours instead of four hours... sigh.