Tuesday, November 27, 2007

More Movies Ive Recently Enjoyed....



Into The Wild - Review
Enchanted - Review
American Gangster - Review


Screaming Thanksgiving...

And now I bring you a short story from this years Thanksgiving that is sure to warm the heart and maybe make your stomach hurt a little bit...okay maybe just my stomach.

It's always nice to contribute to Thanksgiving dinner when going to someone else's home. Some people make a nice side dish, bring those yam things or maybe make a pie or two. But, when all else fails why not bring some wine...well that's exactly what I did. I opened the cupboard above the stove to grab a few bottles, many that I've accumulated over the years as gifts or thank yous. Reaching way in the back I grab a
sleak black bottle with sleak black label and shiny red foil wrapper on top. The bottle was a gift from Dr. Dre, a thank you for showing his daughter around the set of Hannah Montana. Perfect! A fancy looking bottle, probably a few hundred dollars...what a great thing to bring to Thanksgiving.

Dinner is ready! From the kitchen I hear, "Who brought the Screaming Eagle?" ...This would be the name of the
sleak black bottle with sleak black label and shiny red foil wrapper on top. Next comes, "This is one nice bottle of wine," followed by, "Wow, where did you get this?" So, I proceeded to name drop as every good Hollywood-type should and mention it was a gift from the good Dr. In a matter of minutes the bottle was emptied into various glasses, non of which were mine. No big deal, Im not really a fan of the old fancy grape juice myself. Great, the wine was a hit, and for another year I was free from having to make a side dish or pie that doesn't get eaten because there's always too much food made on Thanksgiving.

Cut to...A few hours later.


Im home now. Sufficiently stuffed, exhausted from the over consumption of carbs in such a short span of time. However, I muster up just enough energy to turn on my laptop as I lay on the couch watching a tivoed "How i Met Your Mother." (great show by the way). Check the bank balance, and quickly reach the end of the internet. But, just before I turn the computer off, Ive got an idea. I don't really know much about wine, I think I'll google "Screaming Eagle," the name of the
sleak black bottle with sleak black label and shiny red foil wrapper on top. Wine trading websites, wine retailers, wine connoisseur magazines...quite a few hits on the old google for the sleak black bottle with sleak black label and shiny red foil wrapper on top. Lets just say this this wine is no close relative to "2 Buck Chuck."...

Average Price....$1700.00 US Dollars



To quantify, that's....
A Mortgage payment...or
550 gallons of gas...or
6800 packs of Juicy Fruit gum

...WOW!!!

After I stopped crying and laughing, and then crying again, I said to myself, "At least this will make a good story..." So, Im glad my family got to enjoy the expensive
sleak black bottle with sleak black label and shiny red foil wrapper on top, and I thank Dr. Dre's family for such a nice gift. I just wish I could tell you what a $1700 dollar bottle of wine tastes like.



Saturday, November 17, 2007

Some Good News...and Shrimp

WGA and AMPTP have agreed to meet for negotiations. This is great news considering we're going into our 2nd week of the writers strike! Doesn't mean the strike is over but its a step in the right direction.

Lots of people out of work with no prospects until this damn strike is over. In the meantime please enjoy the recipe below for Killer Shrimp. Im eating some right now, and boy is it delicious.

Killer Shrimp
  • 2 tbsps fresh or dried rosemary
  • 2 tsps thyme
  • 1 tsp black pepper
  • 2 cloves garlic, peeled and chopped (more if you're like me and enjoy your garlic)
  • 1/2 tsp fennel seed
  • 1 tsp crushed red pepper
  • 2 cans chix broth (I added 1 bottle a beer too)
  • 3 ozs tomato paste
  • 1/2 stick butter
  • shrimp (30,40,50...whatever)
  • french bread

Mix all ya spices, tomato paste, and butter in a pot with the chix broth/beer

Simmer for an hour or two.

Just before serving, add raw shrimp (peel them shrimp to make em easier to eat)

Simmer until shrimp is done, stirring, about 2 minutes.

Serve in bowls.

Each bowl should have a bunch-a shrimp and a lot of broth. The broth should almost completely cover the shrimp. Dig out a piece of shrimp. Eat it. Soak up the broth with the bread and eat that.