Movies!

Had a chance over New Year's to indulge in one of my favorite pastimes - foreign films! This first one is a Japanese film called "Hula Girls". It's based on a true story... think the Jamaican bobsled movie, except, instead of Jamaica, substitute Japan, and instead of bobsleds, substitute hula dancing!



Also found a gem of a little Danish film, called "Italian for Beginners". I bought the DVD without any clue about what the movie was about, guessing from the cover art that it might be a slapstick comedy. It's actually a sweet, gentle, poignant little movie, filmed in the Danish Dogma style. I really loved it.

Back when Funny was funny

I was channel surfing while waiting for someone, and stumbled across this scene from the old "I Love Lucy" show. Remember that? It takes me back to childhood when being home sick from school, or rainy vacation days, meant watching this and other shows like "The Andy Griffith Show", "Bonanza", "Gomer Pyle", "The Dick van Dyke Show", etc. (It also reminded me that I've always had a huge crush on William Holden.) And it made me sad, because I miss the days when comedy depended on humor, not today's easy way out of four letter words, crassness and sex, sex, sex.

Stop the Madness!

As the election year gears up, let’s clear up a few things. I’m already starting to get blitzed by well (and not so well)-meaning friends, relatives and acquaintances with “humorous”, serious, angry, pleading, cajoling, etc., political emails. In an attempt to spend less time hitting the delete button, let me clarify some points:

(a) I left the Republican party for good reason, I am not a fan of Ronald Reagan, and I think Dubya is not far short of being the anti-Christ. So if your political ponderings come from that direction, take me off your email list, as they will only be deleted, after reflexive eye-rolling.

(b) I’m not a Democrat. Nope. Just because you aren’t in one party doesn’t automatically mean you are a member of the other. And I’m not planning on becoming one any time soon, so any pleas, missives, or explanations as to why I should sign up will also be deleted and end up in my cyber trashcan.

(c) Nope, I won’t donate money to you and/or your campaign anyway.

(d) No, I won’t forward your email on to everyone in my address book, why would I do that to them?

(e) Over the past few years and during the last election, my dad and I traded amusing anti-Bush emails/websites with a small group of like-minded friends. You know who you are and are welcome to continue.

Vegetarian Turkey, Mock Turkey, Fake Turkey ...

Have been wanting to try making a vegetarian turkey, and today's potluck at work was a good excuse to do it. I made it up as I went along, and was glad to discover that it tasted pretty good. I wasn't gentle enough when I was moving it back and forth from the oven for basting, and it's little legs broke. Next time I think I'd either support them with some foil, or put a dowel in them, but I propped them back up after baking and it looked fine. If you want to give it a try, here's the recipe I came up with:

Vegetarian "Turkey"

1 16 oz bag stuffing mix (I used Pepperidge Farms Herb)
water/butter as called for on stuffing pkg.
Handful dried cranberries
4 lb roll of Worthington's frozen Smoked Turkey soyameat, thawed
1 red onion
3/4 lb or so, carrots (I just used the baby ones, already cleaned!)
2 small cans mushrooms, drained
generous splash soy sauce
Poultry seasoning or roasting rub
1 can dried breadcrumbs, unseasoned
Olive oil
Maple syrup
Paprika

Mix stuffing mix per directions on pkg, adding dried cranberries, set aside.

In food processor, grind up soy turkey, onion, carrots and mushrooms, place in large bowl. Add soy sauce, poultry seasoning to taste, and bread crumbs. Use hands to knead until throughly mixed.

Lightly oil large roasting pan and mound stuffing firming in middle, forming rounded oval. Gently cover stuffing with flattened handfuls of turkey mixture, until entire mound of stuffing is covered. Smooth firmly with hands. Keep adding turkey mixture, smoothing and shaping to form "turkey" shape. Make sure legs are supported by bottom of pan and extra foil if needed. Could also run a small dowel through legs for extra support if wanted.

Mix olive oil with small amount of poultry seasoning/herbs and paprika (to give turkey a deeper color) and gently baste. Place in 350 oven for about 90 minutes. Baste one more time with olive oil mixture, then again towards end and after removing from oven, with maple syrup mixed with some paprika. Enjoy.

My personality DNA

Better late than never

Finally joined the world of the mp3 player. I'm always a few steps behind when it comes to the latest techno toys. Just spent a couple hours downloading more music than I'll be able to listen to in ages....Franz Ferdinand, Big Brovaz, some soundtracks, Maroon 5, Sugababes, KT Tunstall, etc. So much more I want to add. What is it about music that has such power? I don't know, but I know I would be a sadder person without it.