Baked Cheese Party Dip

Was reminded of this recipe while going through ideas for next week's Daytona 500 party. This dip is incredible, and for awhile I had a hard time convincing friends to let me bring anything different to parties. Fair warning, it won't look or smell that promising before baking, but, have faith, and go for it! The original recipe called for hollowing out a loaf of bread, and using that to bake it in. But, I think it works a lot better, and is much less trouble, to bake it in a baking dish. It's great served with tortilla chips, French bread, and/or pita slices. The leftovers, if any, are great on toast or in sandwiches. Enjoy!

Baked Cheese Party Dip

2 T. butter
1 bunch green onions, chopped
6 cloves garlic, minced
8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature
16 oz. sour cream
12 oz. cheddar cheese, grated
1 can, 14 oz. artichoke hearts, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Saute onions and garlic in butter until
onions wilt, do not burn. Cut cream cheese into small chunks.
Add cream cheese to onion/garlic mixture, stir. Add rest of the
ingredients, mix well. Pour into greased casserole dish. Cover
tightly. Wrap in couple layers of foil. Bake for 1 1/2 - 2 hrs.

I didn't even make it out of January!

Yup, it's official, I'm a bust at the whole Project 365 thing. Too easily distracted by other projects and shiny objects. But, hey, let's be honest, looking at the couple of weeks worth of photos I did post, would you really want to be subjected to another 340 or so more of them?! On to bigger and more exciting things!

2010 Project 365

Nancy inspired me, and so this year I'll give the infamous Project 365 a shot! What that means is that I'll try and remember to take and upload one photo each day during the year. I'm not convinced I lead an interesting enough life to make this an interesting project, but, I've heard it's great for practicing and improving your photographic skills, so I'll give it a go. In theory, I've added the widget correctly, so every few days when I upload the photos to my flickr account, it will also add them to this blog, over to the right. Don't worry, I'll try to get more interesting as time goes on.

A Christmas movie

I just watched a holiday movie that I really enjoyed, "Noelle". I love little indie films and this one is visually poetic; with endearingly real characters; and thoughtful questions. If you have Verizon, it's currently On Demand. It's the story of a Catholic priest, who perhaps shouldn't be one, and how we relate to the "people side" of life. After watching it, I read some reviews and was surprised at how many Catholics took it to be anti-Catholic. I actually thought it was respectful of the responsibility and dedication required of someone in the priesthood. I wonder how often we are over-sensitive, thinking that things reflect badly on us when they do the opposite? It was originally titled "Mrs. Worthington's Party", so don't let that part of the trailer confuse you. I also like the fact that the lead actor is also the screnwriter, that always makes things more interesting. (And, is it just me, or does he look like a young Robert Redford?) Anyway, check if out if you're looking for something to watch.

A new blog!

Yeah, I know, what am I doing starting a new blog, when I can't keep up with this one?! I was bored last weekend (translation = didn't feel like doing the chores I SHOULD have been doing) and decided to start a new blog based on my love of foreign movies. On my "REEL PASSPORT" blog I talk about foreign movies and tv shows I've watched, and give you little video clips to watch. Hopefully you will see something that looks interesting and give it a watch. There are so many great films and shows out there that Americans don't know about, and it's nice to watch stuff that isn't mass produced in the Hollywood mold. I only include stuff I've actually watched, and that is available on DVD online at places like Amazon and Ebay. So check it out! Here's a sample from each category:

ROMANCE

(5) BRIDE AND PREJUDICE



This is a fun, colorful, and musical, Bollywood treatment of Pride and Prejudice. There's a little something for everyone...colorful locales and costumes, music and big dance numbers, comedy, romance, etc. AND, SAYID FROM "LOST" DANCING!!! It's great... kind of corny lines, improbably situations, and some wooden acting here and there... but it's just so cheerful and colorful that its endearing. And probably the only movie where you'll see an musical number including mariachi singers, a gospel choir and baywatch lifeguards all mixed together on the beach...lol.

SUSPENSE

(1) SMILLA'S SENSE OF SNOW



1997 thriller based on a Danish novel. Smilla, an expert on snow, becomes involved in the mystery surrounding a child falling off a rooftop. Plenty of intrigue and suspense, leading to an increasingly far-fetched, but entertaining explanation. Notable for its cast:

* Julia Ormond as Smilla Jasperson
* Gabriel Byrne as The Mechanic
* Richard Harris as Dr. Andreas Tork
* Jim Broadbent as Dr. Lagermann
* Tom Wilkinson as Prof. Loyen
* Robert Loggia as Moritz Jasperson
* Vanessa Redgrave as Elsa Lübing

DRAMA

(7/8) ONCE WERE WARRIORS/WHAT BECOMES OF THE BROKEN HEARTED?



It is no exaggeration to say that "Once Were Warriors", a 1994 film from New Zealand is one of the most powerful movies I've ever seen. This gut-wrenching film explores the effects of alcohol, poverty and violence on an urban Maori family. It literally takes your breath away at points, and you won't soon forget it. Not for the faint of heart, but, such an achingly important message about how families can destroy those they love the most. This is considered one of the all time great movies from this market. Great soundtrack, also.

Thanks to Gavin for letting me know that a sequel, "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted?", was released in 1999. Although good, it is no where near the quality of the first movie, and it seems that the critical acclaim of "Once Were Warriors" led producers to amp the sequel up with more Hollywood-like, less realistic violence and subplots. It is an interesting look into the New Zealand gang culture, and despite being a bit of a disappointment compared to its predecessor, it does have some moving parts. I was touched by the relationship between the fresh out of jail, lifetime gang member, and a local single mother, but, it was a relationship tinged with sadness and doom.



The lead actors, while not well known in Hollywood circles, are acting royalty in New Zealand.

* Beth Heke - Rena Owen
* Jake "the Muss" Heke - Temuera Morrison


COMEDY



One of my all time favorite films. This 2000 British movie tells the story of Grace. Her comfortable, genteel life is thrown into disarray when her husband dies, and she discovers he had lost all of their money. Her one great talent, gardening, leads her to a money-making opportunity when she is asked to nurse a sick plant....a marijuana plant, back to health. Before Craig Ferguson was a late night TV host he was an actor, and in this movie he teams up with Grace to salvage her finances and keep her home from foreclosure. Hilarious film.

* Brenda Blethyn
* Craig Ferguson

TV

(3) MCLEOD'S DAUGHTERS





I love, love, love this show. It ran on Australian television from 2000 to 2009, and I snapped up each season as they were released here in the states. [They are all available on region one dvds, from amazon, ebay, borders, etc.] This series had it all...drama, humor, romance, adventure, etc. The scenes below are not the best ones, because the best ones involve info that will give plots away. But, they are still great and give you a taste for the show. The premise is that rancher Jack McLeod had a daughter, Claire, with his first wife, then another daughter, Tess, with his second wife. When he divorces and Tess and her mother leave, the two sister, then children, are out of touch until Jack dies when they are adults. Claire has remained on the ranch, Drovers Run, and Tess is a big city girl, hoping to own a restaurant. Notified of Jack's death, she assumes they'll sell the ranch and she'll get half the money. But, it doesn't work out that way, and she moves to Drovers. We meet the wealthy Ryan neighbors and all sorts of other locals. When the male ranch hands revolt at the thought of taking orders from females, they're all fired, and Claire and Tess build up an all female team to run the place. This is a wonderful show.

Fat free, low sugar chocolate cake!

I tried the famous Harry Eastwood Deep chocolate cake recipe today, and my verdict is that it's pretty darn good! For those of you who aren't familiar with the concept, her recipe replaces all fat in the cake with......beets! Yuppers, my hands are a delicate purplish pink from grating the beet, but it did the job. The cake is also low sugar, just 3/4 cup in the entire cake, in part because the beets add some sweetness, and also I think from the ground almonds in the batter. The cake is then iced with a deep chocolate glaze of dark chocolate, honey and coffee. Coffee also is an important ingredient in the cake itself, as it makes chocolate's flavor pop. Here's the picture from the cookbook. I didn't take any good pics of my cake because we were all distracted by the birthday candles with flames that matched the colors of the candles....ooohhhh, look at all the pretty colors......., yeah, we were easily distracted.