Tea Time Tuesdays!

Tea Time makes any time special. Whether it’s a lazy weekday afternoon enjoying the sun pour in through your window, or talking with a friend or two about a long day at work, or hanging out with your family just reminiscing about good times, it makes those simple moments in time a little extra memorable. It is scientifically proven that holding something warm between your hands instantly makes you happier. So does being around the people you love, & enjoying sweet treats. So what’s not to love about Tea Time in the afternoon when it includes all of these things?

 Every Tuesday I’ll try to post yummy little recipes that I think will make any moment with your favorite warm beverage a little extra special, without having to make a big fuss over it. Today I’m sharing with you a recipe that’s been in my family for quite sometime. It’s a Chocolate Chess Pie that my mother use to make, and her mother, and so on. We use to only have it on Christmas day, because my mom always said it gave us something to look forward to if we could only have it one day a year. I don’t think this is very fair myself considering that out of all the kinds of pie the world has given us, this Chocolate Chess Pie is my absolute favorite. How dare I be limited.

I think this rich dessert is a great treat to enjoy with a hot cup of Vanilla Caramel Tea (found on the tea aisle of your grocery store) and homemade Almond Whipped Cream. I’ll be using a refrigerated pie shell as oppose to the frozen ones the seasoned women in my family enjoyed using, because it’s lighter & much flakier which I much more prefer in a pie crust. This pie is best served warm with the cool cream on top, but can certainly be made a day in advanced and eaten cold or at room temperature. So put the kettle on the stove and enjoy a nice warm cup of tea and a slice of pie this afternoon!

Chocolate Chess Pie:
1 small can Evaporated Milk
1 ½ cups Sugar 3 ½ Tbsp Cocoa ½ stick Butter, Melted
2 Large Eggs
1 tsp Vanilla
1 Refrigerated Pie Crust

Place pie dough in 9 inch pie plate. Trim any excess dough that might be hanging over plate. With a fork poke holes all around pie crust to prevent puffing while baking. Mix all ingredients until blended and pour into prepared shell. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour until pie is set and not jiggling when moved. Allow pie to set for an extra 30 minutes or so before diving in.

 

Almond Whipped Cream:
8 ounces Heavy Whipping Cream 1 Tbsp Sugar 1Tbsp Almond Extract Whip until soft peaks form. (Over whipping creates butter.) Spoon over Chocolate Chess Pie Slice, and enjoy!

J'écoute De La Musique en Lisant

There is certainly nothing better than after working six incredibly long days straight, having a night all to yourself. The feeling of having absolutely nothing to do because you choose to do noting is without a doubt one of my most favorite feelings. Tonight I got home a little late (again) and granted I have to go back in tomorrow on my off day for a couple of hours due to some training purposes, but I’m still considering it a day off nonetheless and plan on still having the me party I have been so looking forward to for the past week. Tonight’s dinner isn’t much of a dinner at all, but it’s exactly what I want and it will be perfect eating for listening to a Janis Joplin record spin quietly while I get lost in the current book I’m reading ‘The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy’. With the exception of my meat and potatoes in every meal eating father, my mom, siblings, and I could make entire meals out of just eating bread, fruits, cheeses, & veggies. It’s easy food just for snacking while we would carry on conversations about music, movies, books, politics, & life. Sometimes you just need a little delicious substance and not necessarily an enormous meal to make an evening extra special, even if in this case it is just for me, myself, and I. We certainly will enjoy it. I’m having yummy fresh bakery French bread that I just warmed in the oven for a few minutes dipped in a blend of olive oil & spices. With it, small slices of a spicy chipotle gouda. And of course some carrots, green beans and celery with ranch, just because I think it fits well with this set of snacking. To wash it all down ‘I’mma sip Moscatoooo!’ because it’s a nice sweet wine to compliment the salty and spicy foods I’ll be nibbling on. So if you need me you can find me stuffing myself with a dinner that can sit out and be enjoyed during all the hours I plan on laughing at Mr. Adam’s writing and crying over Ms. Joplin’s heartache all at the same time.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

I would like, if I may, to take you on a strange journey...

“The Rocky Horror Picture Show” from 1975 is a classic B movie musical based on 1940’s horror films about a wholesome couple who gets a flat tire & their lives change forever. Well, for one night anyway.

"You've arrived on a rather special night. It's one of the master's affairs"-Riff Raff

Brad & Janet start their day at a friends wedding & after becoming engaged themselves, they head out to visit with the Science Professor who is the reason these two love birds met in the first place. Simple plot that turns into complete chaos after walking in the rain to a mansion they saw on the road seeking assistance with their tire woes. There they walk into a party & discover a houseful of interesting guests, but none quite as unique as the mansion’s owner- Dr. Fran-N-Furter. After discovering the mind slip of the 'Time Warp' and the Dr. singing to them of his transvestite ways, he takes Brad & Janet to his lair where he shows them his latest creation: a blonde, rippling muscled, hunk of a man whom Frank-N-Furter has named Rocky.

"A mental mind fuck can be nice.'-Frank-N-Furter

From here on our hero & heroine (and us as the audience) are exposed to a new world of sex, murder, feather boas, & aliens. Yes this movie is a classic. I feel like you have to be a certain kind of person to enjoy a movie like this one. The “Rocky Horror Picture Show” fan is one who is open-minded to cheesetastic cinema, & isn’t looking for more than good songs with a confusing plot line, & Tim Curry in fishnets. Personally to me this film has it all with just those things!

I first saw this movie as a young child, because my mom was obsessed with it. Granted I wouldn’t recommend people under 17 watching this film, but my siblings & I all grew up on it & I’d say we all turned out just fine (depending who you ask). I knew how to Time Warp long before I could do the Electric Slide or the Cupid Shuffle, & that’s something I’m quite happy with. And even tho I have seen this movie a million times I still laugh every time. I don’t laugh AT the movie mind you, just at how great everyone is in it. It’s always just as funny, sentimental, scary, & entertaining each time I watch it. With an amazing cast of unique characters & fantastically written songs, this movie is a true entertainment from start to finish.

My mom & I doing the Time Warp...again!

                                                          

The menu for this film is something I’m really happy with. Everything is super easy to make so you can spend more time enjoying this movie with whomever is willing to watch it with you & it all fits just perfectly with the theme of this movie. First up Eddie Ala King. This is my take on the classic 70’s dish Turkey Ala King. We’re still using turkey because the one point in the movie when everyone comes together to eat dinner, which I must add is at a very interesting time of night when already so much has happened, the group appears to be eating turkey…but alas nothing in this mansion is at it seems, Frank-N-Furter removes the table cloth to expose a dead ‘Eddie’ in the glass table. Were they really eating Eddie? I’m not quite sure, but you will be with this delicious dish!


"You're lucky, he's lucky, I'm lucky, we're all lucky! Ha ha ha!!!!"-Magenta

For dessert we have Rocky’s First Birthday Cake, because after all, this is the night of Rocky’s birth, and he’s such a big boy already. Mm-mm-mm. It's made with vanilla cake & what else then Rocky Road Ice Cream. This sweet cake is sure to have your friends more interested in it, then the hot blonde on the screen...um, maybe not.

And to top off this sinister meal we have a drink called Alien Urine which is a mixed cocktail consisting of different ingredients that taste super sweet & girly but will certainly put some hair on your chest. From it’s title to it’s taste, this drink is really quite fitting for Dr. Frank-N-Furter & I’m sure he/she would approve.

The amazing friends helping me with this entry!

Since it’s release this film as become a huge success as a midnight movie & still is to this day. Fans of the movie dress as the characters & reenact the movie as it’s being played on a theatre screen behind them. They also involve the audience to participate throughout the movie & if you haven’t experienced the movie in this way & happen to be a fan, I really recommend it. I also recommend watching this movie with my menu! Both are great ways to rediscover a classic & to enjoy it over & over again.

So without further ado, with an all-star cast including Susan Sarandon, Meatloaf, Barry Bostwick, & many more I give you a sweet transvestite of a film “ The Rocky Horror Picture Show”. Let's do the Time Warp Again!

Eddie Ala King with Alien Urine

"Dammit, Janet, I love you"-Brad

Eddie Ala King:2 pounds Cubed Eddie, I mean Turkey
1 bag of Frozen Peas
White Mushrooms
2 Green Peppers
4 Tbsp Butter for Eddie
2 more Tbsp Butter for rice
¼ cup Flour
1 Cup Heavy Cream
1 Can Chicken Broth
2 tsp Garlic Powder
Cooked White Rice
S&P to taste

The Ala King part coming together!

The butcher deboned & cubed the turkey for me!

Season Cubed Turkey with salt & pepper & cook in pot over medium high heat & remove once cooked thoroughly. In same pot melt butter. Add peppers & mushrooms until just cooked (4-5 minutes). Stir on flour until smooth. Slowly whisk Chicken Broth & cook until slightly thickened. Stir in cream, turkey, garlic powder & peas (You may not need the entire bag of peas, use as much as you‘d like). Add salt & pepper to taste. *For the rice I like to use the 10 minute rice that you boil in a bag. I use about 3 bags for this recipe that can serve about 6 people. After cooking rice I pour it onto a platter dish & mix the 2 Tbsp of butter in the rice for extra creaminess and flavor.* Pour Ala king over the rice & enjoy!

"Hot patootie, bless my soul! I really love that rock n' roll!"-Eddie

Enjoying a slice of Rocky's Birthday cake

Rocky’s First Birthday Cake:
1 box Vanilla Cake mix
Rocky Rd Ice Cream


For Chocolate Buttercream
½ cup Room Temperature Butter
1 ¼ cup Powdered Sugar
½ tsp Vanilla Extract
2 oz Semi Sweet Chocolate Chips Melted & slightly cooled

Molding the Rocky Road Ice Cream

"Touch-a touch-a touch-a touch me / I wanna be dirty! Chill me, thrill me, fulfill me / Creature of the night!" -Janet

Mixing the Chocolate Buttercream

Prepare cake mix as box directs for 8 in baking pans. Cut one layer in half & reserve the other layer for cake for another day. Set rocky road ice cream at room temperature for a little while to allow for easy movement. In an 8 inch cake pan place sirane wrap inside the pan & mold everything form the ice cream container in it to make a nice round shape the same size as the cake. On a cake plate place one split layer of cake, then the ice-cream, then the other split layer on top. Place covered in freezer.


To prepare the butter cream mix together butter & sugar. Once creamy add vanilla then slowly pour in the melted chocolate. Instead of spreading this over the entire cake just before serving with a pastry bag & a 2D star tip make rosettes over each slice. This cake is rich enough that I feel like it only needs a small dollop of this sweet chocolate butter cream. If feeling extra festive place one lit birthday candle in each slice. Happy Birthday Rocky!



Alien Urine
1/2 oz Midori® melon liqueur
1/2 oz peach schnapps
1 oz coconut rum
1 part sweet and sour mix
1 part orange juice

"It's not easy having a good time! Even smiling makes my face ache!"-Frank-N-Furter
I like to serve this in a tall thin glass over ice. Also the coconut rum is optional, this drink is just as yummy without it.

This is what a few Alien Urine cockatails look like. :)

"If only we were amongst friends... or sane persons!"-Janet

*Photos by Megan Ashleigh Evans -A big thanks to her for also adding a creepy look to these pictures!

'The Rocky Horror Picture Show': 1975: Starring Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, Ricjard O'Brien, Patricia Neals, Peter Hinwood, Nell Campbell, Meatloaf:Produced by Twentith Century Fox: Filmed in England: Based on the London play "The Rocky Horror Picture Show.

Grease

Are you ready for some Grease Lightning? Well let’s see, are you looking for a movie about a group of high school student’s Senior Year? Are you hoping for some romance along the way? Or what about a teenage pregnancy scare? Dropouts? Fast cars? How about a lot of singing & dancing to accompany all of this? If you said yes to any or all of these things, then you are totally ready for some ‘Grease’. The 1978 musical that takes place in the 1950’s and has all the charm of what we think the 50’s were, with none of the wholesomeness. Awesome!

Sandy & Danny, a couple almost as famous as Romeo & Juliet, but luckily their romance isn’t as complicated. The sweet Australian girl & the rebel without a cause meet & fall in love over the summer. Then it’s back to school, the end of their “summer lovin’ & time to go there separate ways forever. But this is a movie, & a musical at that! So good writing & fate step in and Sandy ends up at a high school in America…Danny’s school. Sandy befriends Frenchie a sweet teen whose a part of the Pink Ladies; aka the bad ass girls club. Through them she discovers Danny not only goes to school there, he’s also in the leather jacket wearing, gang type T-Birds, aka the no good jerks club. She is not impressed. Though Danny has a ‘tough guy’ image to maintain for his buddies, he still loves Sandy & wants to win her back. ’There are worse things he could do.’ A-ha, good times ensue, with some hand jiving! Will Danny convince Sandy he’s still a good guy? Will Frenchie succeed in beauty school? Will Rizzo & Kenickie have a baby? Well you’re not really suppose to know about that, but ’good news travels fast.’ With a great cast of characters & music that you can’t help but sing along with, it’s no wonder this classic stands the test of time & is enjoyed by new audiences & age groups alike. I mean ‘Grease is the word, have you heard?’

So while we follow the adventures of the T-Birds & Pink Ladies let’s stop in at the Frosty Palace & have some Burgers, Fries & Shakes. Because really, what other menu can you have with this film? ’They go together.’ We’re going to start with some homemade French fries double fried & topped with a sweet surprise. Then a very complex mushroom burger, that’s actually pretty easy to do…well easier than wiring a flying car. Then two different shakes to choose from, the T-Birds Chocolate Malt or The Pink Ladies Strawberry. Both are made with a raw egg for authenticity, just like they use to make them back in the 50’s. These classic diner dishes are so easy to make & super delicious, you’ll never make burgers & fries any other way.



I love this movie! It makes me happy every time I see it. It’s one of those movies where I watch it on DVD regularly, but also whenever it’s on TV no matter what spot in the movie it’s on I stop flipping channels & immediately get sucked into the rest of it. Then I always want a burger…and to ‘go back to high school.’ This really is a great take on high school life in a decade I at some point in my life (and I’m sure you did as well) wish I lived in. It’s sweet, fun, & shows that the tough guys always have a soft side for the girls they love. And that the nice girls…well aren’t so nice. Ok, let’s buckle up, & head on to the menu that will leave your friends ‘hopelessly devoted to you.’ Ok, I’ll stop & start cooking.




Frenchie Fries:
3 Russet Potatoes
2 Liters Vegetable Oil
¼ cup salt
1 ½ Tbsp Cinnamon

Peel & cut potatoes in ¼ inch strips. Place in a large bowl & leave to soak for an hour or until the starch is off. Drain & dry completely. Heat oil to a medium heat (about 250 degrees) & drop dried fries in batches for 4-5 minutes each batch. Place on a paper towel covered cookie sheet. (Fries will still be very pale) Mix salt & cinnamon together. Right before serving heat the oil up to 350 degrees and refry fries in batches for another 3-4 minutes or until light golden brown & crisp. Straight from the fryer place fries in a large bowl & sprinkle with as much salt & cinnamon mixture as desired. (This step should be done in batches also. Toss & serve with Zuko Burgers.

Zuko Burgers:
3 ½ pounds Ground Chuck
½ tsp. Italian Seasoning
1Tbsp. Worcestershire Sauce
½ cup fine diced Portabella Mushrooms
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Pepper
½ Onion (julienned)
1 tsp. Olive Oil
1 Tomato (sliced)
Iceberg Lettuce
Mustard
Ketchup
Garlic Mayo (¼ cup mayo to ½ tsp. garlic powder)
4 Slices Baby Swiss Cheese
4 Large Sesame Seed Buns

Combine meat, Italian seasoning, Worcestershire, mushrooms, & salt and pepper in large bowl. Form into 4 equal sized patties. Leave covered in fridge for about 1 hour. Heat large skillet or grill to medium high heat. Cook for 9-10 minutes on each side. Right before removing from heat add swiss cheese and remain over heat until melted. In a small sauté pan add olive oil and warm up pan. Add onions & sauté until soft & caramelized. Spread garlic mayo on top bun, add mustard & ketchup. On bottom bun place patty, than lettuce, tomato slice, and some caramelized onions. Place top bun on & enjoy!








T-Bird Chocolate Malt Shakes:
8 Scoops Plain Chocolate Ice Cream
1 ½ Cups Milk
1 Egg
3 Tbsp Malt Powder

Add all ingredients in a blender & let ‘er rip until well blended. Pour in glasses, throw in a straw & enjoy!

Pink Lady Strawberry Shakes:
8 Scoops Strawberry Ice Cream (A brand that has nice chunks of Strawberries throughout the Ice Cream)
1 ½ Cups Milk
2 Tbsp. Granulated Sugar
1 Egg
2 Drops Red Food Coloring (To make it very nice & pink)

Follow the same steps for the T-Bird Shake.





Grease: 1978. Starring John Travolta, Olivia-Newton John, Stockard Channing, Jeff Conaway. Directed by Randal Kleiser. Written by Jim Jacobs, Warren Casey, Bronte Woodard, Allan Carr. Nominated for Academy Award for Best Original Song “Hopelessly Devoted to You” in1979 along with 5 Golden Globes. Genre; Musical, Romance, Comedy.

*Photos by Marc A. Richardson

Follow the Fleet

It’s official, spring time is here! Spring is my favorite season: the warmth, sunshine, & fresh veggies make me feel so good. So naturally for this next entry I wanted to choose the perfect movie that makes me feel like ‘spring time’ whenever I watch it. My choice, a 1936 classic that is one of my favorite movies, “Follow the Fleet’ starring the amazingly talented duo Fred Astaire & Ginger Rogers. This is the 5th of the 10 movies they made together, with a delightful score by Irving Berlin, & dance numbers galore Fred & Ginger give us something a little different in this movie. Fred plays “Bake” Baker, a former hoofer-turned -Navy Sailor looking for his former dance partner Sherry Martin (Ginger); whom he finds in a cheap night club now twirling around with sailors for 10 cents a dance. They instantly reconnect & Bake is determined to get Sherry a more suitable gig, & maybe make her fall in love with him along the way. Too bad his fleet has to take sail the same night he looses Sherry’s current job. Now this couple has some things to work out, but they’re not even the main romantic story line in this movie. That would be Randolph Scott & Harriet Hilliard as Bilge Smith & Connie Martin. Bilge is Bakes’ ship mate, & Connie is Sherry’s sister. Bilge & Connie meet, he’s not interested, she gets a makeover, & he’s immediately smitten. They have a lot in common despite all their initial differences. She has a ship of her own left to her by her father, & she wants Bilge to Captain her ship. That sounds great to Bilge, until she starts talking about husbands & what not. Then just like a man Bilge gets scared off & on his way back to the ship falls right into the arms of a wealthy, already married woman.


‘I don't often try to apologize 'cause I seldom make any mistakes.’ -Bake Baker

At this point only two things are certain in the movie, two sisters are in love with two ship mates, & their boys will be back in the Spring. So as the sisters prepare for the boys return, I want to prepare a meal that says ‘the sea’ & ‘springtime‘. First, Blackened tuna steaks cooked rare served on a bed of brown rice with diced tomatoes, & alongside fresh spring asparagus & portabella mushrooms. Then it's time to cool off with some dessert, a ‘Chocolate Sundae with Whipped Cream, & Plenty of It’ straight from the film.



Movies inspire me to do all kinds of things, like the basis of this blog here, but this movie made me want to join the navy, become a hoofer, by a boat, & oddly drink bicarbonate of soda. I did none of those things, thank heavens for the latter, but I was inspired to come up with all of these dishes. I wanted a seafood meal that was spicy like the characters in the movie. And it’s all just as easy to make as the classic is to watch. So yell out ‘all hands on deck!” & get your friends together to see some of Fred & Gingers best numbers & enjoy some great food. Also with appearances from Lucille Ball, & Betty Grable, Ginger in a solo tap number & the memorable “Let’s Face the Music & Dance” where the duo actually step out of character this is definitely a feel good movie that will have you longing for the sea. Luckily, you won’t have to go very far to get it. Just to your local supermarket.


‘It isn’t really that gentlemen prefer blondes, it’s just that we look dumber.’ -Sherry Martin

Brown Rice with Diced Tomatoes:
1 ½ cups water
1 cup Vegetable Stock
1 cup Brown rice
Half of a 14.5 oz can of Fire Roasted Diced Tomatoes with Garlic
1 tsp Salt

Heat salted water & vegetable stock in a saucepan until boiling. Stir in rice, cover & reduce heat to low. Simmer for 45 minutes or until all of the liquid is absorbed & the rice is tender. (Hint: Don't touch the rice while it's cooking! Just walk away for all that time & let the rice do its thing.) With heat still on pour in can tomatoes & just heat slightly.

Blackened Tuna Steaks: (Recipe for two, then yield accordingly)

2 12 oz Tuna Steaks
1/ 4 cup Blackened Seasoning
2 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
Cooking Spray

Pour blackened seasoning into a shallow bowl. Coat steaks with cooking spray & dredge tuna in seasoning. Put oil in a pan. Add tuna once the pan is piping hot. Cook on each side for a minute & a half for rare, 2 on each side for medium, & 3-4 minutes on each side for well-done. Plate tuna over rice. (Hint: The seasoning produces a lot of smoke, so you may want to open a window or the smoke detectors will be going off. I speak from experience.)

Sautéed Asparagus & Portabella Mushrooms:
1 Bunch Fresh Asparagus, washed with the light ends cut off
8 oz Portabella Mushrooms, sliced
½ Tbsp Shallots, diced small
1 Tbsp Extra Virgin Olive Oil
S & P to taste

Heat oil in a large sauté pan, add shallots & sauté for just a minute, then add asparagus & desired salt & pepper & cook for 2-3 minutes or until slightly tender. Add mushrooms & cook another 2-3 minutes. Serve hot!

Chocolate Sundae with Whipped Cream & Plenty of It (Recipe for four):
2 Snickers bars, chilled
¼ cup Heavy Whipping Cream
Chocolate Ice cream
Hot Fudge
Whipped Cream from a Spray Can
4 Maraschino Cherries


‘Sherry tells me you're leaving. Well, that's probably the wisest thing to do. Run away! All this stuff about fighting for your man and all that makes things so complicated. Now, if all girls would just give up and run back to Bellport, then we'd definitely see the end of family life, little Junior would remain just an idea, and every man would burn his own toast. I thank you!’ -Bake Baker

Heat heavy cream in a small sauce pan. Chop up Snickers bar & add to cream & melt continually stirring. The sauce may be a little lumpy. (Reserve some pieces of candy bar for garnish at the end) Heat hot fudge jar in microwave. In a long glass that you can layer in, place some hot fudge at the bottom of the glass. Then a scoop of ice cream. Next Snickers sauce, ice cream again, & pour on the whipped cream. Add a cherry & some snickers pieces for garnish.


‘I’m putting all my eggs in one basket, I’m betting everything I’ve got on you. I’m giving all my love to one baby. Heaven help me if my baby don’t come thru.’ -Irving Berlin


‘Follow the Fleet‘: Released by RKO Radio Pictures in February 1936. Starring Fred Astaire, Ginger Rogers, Randolph Scott, Harriet Hilliard, Astrid Allwyn Betty Grable, & Lucille Ball. Directed by Mark Sandrich. Based on a play by Hubert Osborne, Screenplay by Allan Scott. Score by Irving Berlin. Genre: Musical, Comedy, Romance.

*Photos by Jared Thomas Payne