joy of food

My newest thing lately is to watch the food network. I was never a big fan of cooking yet now I see all these amazing recipes and want to try them out. My only issue is so many of them require skill. I know they say that it is for the everyday person but I find recipes often call for items I don't keep on hand or to do some technique that I don't even know what it is. My issue is not wanting to buy an item for just one recipe and then the rest goes to waste. I also cook for one person as I am home by myself during the week and recipes always seem to be family portioned. So my goal was to find recipes that are provided by the average person and if not portion sized are able to be froze. I found a really good blog that provides from what I've seen some really good recipes. I have yet to get a chance to try them out but am going to in the near future. The blog is http://feedingtheravenoushorde.blogspot.com. The recipes look they would taste good and there is a quick response from the blog writer if you have any questions. If anyone knows of some good reciped sites feel free to comment and let me know.

double standards

If anyone saw the AMA’s or clips of the AMA's you know the controversy was regarding Adam Lambert’s very sexual performance. In this case there was male on male kissing and imitation of sexual acts on the stage. His argument from my understanding was based upon if it was a female performer doing this would it be questioned? At this point does the entertainment industry take things too far sexually, my answer would be yes. I think in this case that if it was a female singer’s performance people would not have made such a big deal about the issue. I think of certain celebrities that wear almost no clothing on stage and are very provocative and no one has any major problem with their actions. In our society I don’t think being gay or male should make your actions judged differently but sadly they are. I’m not saying I agree with his choice of performance but I think it is a double standard. If you want to eliminate sexual content from one person’s performance on television then it needs to be drawn across the board that entertainers need to clean up their acts. I don’t think they will do that, let’s be honest sex sells. If the entertainment industry is willing to exploit that fact to draw an audience base then they need to be willing to accept the consequences of that choice.

Books to Movies Good idea or not??

With the release of the latest Twilight movie it makes me think of how good a job they really do making a book into a movie. I enjoyed Twilight and I happen to really enjoy the books in the series. With the first movie I read the book after seeing the movie, and then when I watched the movie again I was disappointed a little. I am hoping that it is not the same with this case but I fear it will be. I find Hollywood remakes of books very often disappointing. I understand you can't get all the details of a book into the movie however I do not see the need to change the story completely. In many cases such as My Sisters Keeper or The Notebook they change the ending completely. After hearing about the changes in My Sisters Keeper I am not willing to watch the movie yet, that may change in the future but I doubt it. As for The Notebook most people I know love the movie, however after reading a sequel to the book I can't like a movie that has someone die who is in the sequel. If you want to make a movie version of a book and you drastically change the story you are defeating the purpose. I get they sensationalize aspects and want to add interest but I don't like it. In the case of The Lovely Bones which is now a motion picture I enjoyed the book so much I am afraid to see the movie in case it is yet another bad job. Maybe it is because I enjoy reading so much but movie versions are such a disappointment to me.

My favorite Christmas Cookie Recipe

1 ¼ cup granulated sugar
1 stick butter flavor Crisco all vegetable shortening
2 eggs
¼ light corn syrup or regular pancake syrup
1 tablespoon vanilla
3 cups plus 4 tablespoons all purpose four, divided
¾ teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon red food color
¼ teaspoon peppermint extract

Combine sugar and shortening in large bowl. Beat at medium speed with electric mixer until well blended. Add eggs, syrup and vanilla. Beat until well blended and fluffy
Combine 3 cups flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add gradually to creamed mixture at low speed. Mix until well blended
Divide dough in half. Add red food color and peppermint extract to one half. Wrap each half in plastic wrap. Refrigerate several hours or over night.
Heat oven to 375F. Place sheets of foil on countertop for cooling cookies.
Roll 1 rounded teaspoon plain dough with hands into 6-inch rope on lightly floured surface. Repeat, using 1 teaspoonful red dough. Place ropes side by side. Twist together gently. Pinch ends to seal. Curve one end into the “hook” of a candy cane. Transfer to ungreased baking sheet with large pancake turner. Repeat with remaining dough. Place cookies 2 inches apart.
Bake one baking sheet at a time at 375F for 7 to 9 minutes, or until just lightly browned. Do not over bake. Cool 2 minutes on baking sheet. Remove cookies to foil to cool completely.

My own personal twist is that I dye one half of the dough red as instructed, and then dye the other half green instead of leaving it plain. My advice is to use rubber gloves when mixing color so you don’t end up with stained hands, and to rinse your bowl immediately. Don’t skip the refrigerate instruction if the dough is warm it is too sticky to work with easily. These cookies always seem to be a hit, but just a warning they are sweet.