Dinner and a Movie

With ‘flu season around the corner, something light, warm and easy on the tummy seems appropriate. This is easy enough that you can prepare it even if you are the one feeling puny. It isn’t really traditional, but you can also swirl in some fresh ground ginger – which has been found to reduce nausea in many people.

Egg Drop Soup
Pour the beaten eggs through a sieve into the simmering broth to create the characteristic ribbons in the soup.

Ingredients

4 cups fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
3 tablespoons chopped green onions
1/4 teaspoon salt

Preparation

Place broth in a medium saucepan; bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low; place a wire mesh sieve over saucepan. Strain eggs through sieve into pan. Remove from heat; stir in onions and salt.

Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 cup)


A Man Named Pearl (2006) Length: 78 minutes

This documentary is about a factory worker and self-taught topiary artist from South Carolina who transformed his once-average yard into a wondrous garden that now draws tourists from across the country.

When Pearl Fryar first moved into his South Carolina home, the people of the neighborhood feared that he wouldn't maintain his yard.

Pearl wasn't willing to let an obstacle born from racial stereotypes determine the outcome of his life, and vowed to win the "Yard of the Month" award from the Iris Garden Club. Years later, tourists from all 50 states flock to the yard of a man who had no prior gardening experience before creating his masterpiece. More than just a yard, Pearl's awe-inspiring landscape creates a feeling in visitors that they didn't have before they set foot on the grounds.

We watched this on October 6 while doing a vicious set of intervals (somebody really needs to talk to the idiot [me] who is putting together our workout plans . . . more on that later). This falls into the “inspiring true story” category of movies we watch.

Pearl and his creations have been profiled in the New York Times and virtually every gardening journal in print.

Sit back and prepare to be amazed & inspired. I might even get a little bonsai tree to mutilate . . . er, sculpt, I mean.

4 Stars. Uplifting, entertaining and educational.

German Chocolate Cake

As the youngest of 6 kids, my siblings will all agree that I was spoiled - the "baby." To that I say, "yes I was and you're just jealous!"

The highlight of my "special treatment" came when I was in law school in California. I was a very long way from home, terrified of failing out of school, and flat-ass broke. I was, in short, miserable.

When my birthday rolled around I received a package from home.

I became the most popular girl in our apartment building when I opened the box and pulled out a homemade German Chocolate Cake from my mom. I'm still not sure how she managed to mail a cake from Shelby MT to Malibu CA and have it arrive in 1 piece, unscathed, and delicious.

Nothing like a little chocolate cake to lift a girl's spirits; that was 22 years ago (yikes) and I still remember how special that was. So, just in case you feel like making someone's day, here's the recipe.

German Chocolate Cake

1 pkg. (4 oz.) Baker's German sweet chocolate

1/2 cup boiling water

1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened

2 cups sugar

4 eggs, separated

1 tsp. vanilla

2 cups cake flour, sifted

1 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 cup buttermilk
Coconut-Pecan frosting (recipe follows)

PREHEAT oven to 350°F. Cover bottoms of 3 (9-inch) round cake pans with wax paper; grease sides of pans.

Microwave chocolate and water in large microwaveable bowl on HIGH 1-1/2 to 2 min. or until chocolate is almost melted, stirring after 1 min. Stir until chocolate is completely melted. Cool.

MIX flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. Beat butter and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer on medium speed until light and fluffy. Add egg yolks, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in melted chocolate and the vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk, beating until well blended after each addition.

BEAT egg whites in small bowl with electric mixer on high speed until stiff peaks form. Gently fold into batter. Pour evenly into prepared pans.

BAKE 30 min. or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean. Immediately run small metal spatula around cake layers in pans. Cool in pans 15 min.; remove layers from pans to wire racks. Remove and discard wax paper. Cool cake layers completely. Spread Coconut-Pecan Filling and Frosting between cake layers and onto top of cake.

COCONUT-PECAN FROSTING

Combine in heavy bottomed, medium saucepan:
1-1/2 cups (12 fl. oz.) evaporated milk
1-1/2 cups sugar
4 slightly beaten egg yolks
3/4 cup butter
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla

Stir over medium heat until thickened, about 12 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 cups shredded coconut and 1-1/2 cups chopped pecans. Cool until thick enough to spread. Makes 4-1/4 cups.

Is it too Early to start Whining?

We are in the midst of our first big snowstorm of the season. It may be a REALLY long winter . . .

view from our rear patio

No hoops today.

Another 8 - 12 inches is predicted before the storm moves out.

I better start shoveling . . .