Mullholland Drive

MULLHOLLAND DRIVE. Yes, you should watch it. Not just because it's directed by the amazing David Lynch but because it will cause your emotions to react to something outside of the norm.

Please watch this clip from MD, it's such a beautiful rendition of "Crying" by the great Roy Orbison sang in spanish and in true Lynch fashion:

1984

When I first read this novel back about 20 years or so ago, I thought it was science fiction. I felt that totalitarianism was something formed inside of someone's imagination. Little did I know that as each year passed me by, the future of our world became more inept to a big brother run society. Anyone who reads this novel should fear and in turn make personal changes, but fear the right thing.

Currently, people are afraid of their government, with given right however to be afraid of the end of the world or to be over-ruled by the government is something we shouldn't fear in America because it has already happened. It happened the moment we paid for expanded cable, it happened the moment we splurged thousands of $$$ on a big screen television. We are our own worst enemy...we are in this hole because of our own mistakes...sad, isn't it?

Orwell is a true genius, a visonary and his words convey a reality that proves tyranny as we speak. His satire seems vague during this day in age because the harshness and shock has coasted from fiction...to non-fiction. However, during his years it's depressingly thoughtful satire that shows that yes...Orwell's mind is revolutionary.

Here is the trailer to the film that was not as innovative as the novel, but still worth watching:

Breathless

The other night I was watching Vanilla Sky (yes, I've seen the original movie Abre Los Ojos, also starring Penelope Cruz) however I prefer VS and believe it to be Cameron Crowe's best film. I was thinking about what images I'd use for my life if I was able to relive my life during my death. Of course I would want to relive images of my childhood, and paste my husband somewhere in there so that we can be classmates and run/play together. I'd also want to relive moments with my son...playing in the mud with pokemon toys, building forts, and pretending i'm Eyore and he is Pooh, sitting in the middle of the kitchen, coloring and eating cookies (the little things).

then of course, there are the romantic images that i'd like to place myself in, just like the image above of Jean Seberg and Jean-Paul Belmondo in Godard's film BREATHLESS.

There is another image of a song, that I would like to be a part of my afterlife:



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNbTC6xLVg0

SAVE ME by Aimee Mann because I feel for all the sadness in the world, and I first heard this song from the film Magnolia by PT Anderson. This was one of the most beautiful films I've ever watched, not just to say that I watched it alone, but the theater was completely empty and dark, and here I was sitting in a dark theater, alone watching Magnolia (a clearly depressing film) but with music so beautiful it turned a depressing film, into something of a present..a gift,because I knew that unlike the people in the film, I wasn't alone and I wasn't hurting, but only feeling pain for those who go through life full of pain and sorrow. Sad but beautiful.

Potroast Sundays

One of my favorite memories of my grandmother is her potroast Sunday's. Not only is this one of my fond memories, but also those of my family to this day talks it up with smiles, and laughter. Grandma was a great cook, in fact she taught a lot of us how to cook, not by instruction but by watching and by default. I miss my grandmother dearly, and I miss the feeling being around a large table full of family and delicious food. Every now and then, I recreate my grandmother's dishes however have found that she used to use a lot of sodium and lard in her cooking, so I subsitute that with fresh herbs, root vegtables and olive oil. Above is a photograph of my recreation of a Sunday meal minus the heavy fatty gravy, canned veggies (corn, green beans), over boiled broccoli slathered in cheese and tortillas.

My meal is a lean shoulder roast seasoned and spiced with kosher salt, fresh ground black pepper, onion, garlic and green peppers, then cooked for 3-4 hours on a low setting (300) degree oven.

My sides consist of mashed red potatoes with some skin left on, low fat milk, real butter, kosher salt, pepper and rosemary. I also added fresh roasted carrots and corn off of the cob. My gravy is only the juice of the potroast thickened then poured over the meat, and potatoes.

This meal is probably one of the most impressionable meals from my child hood. If you have any questions about a recipe, I will share with you.

Lonches

"LONCHES"

I can't culturally describe what a "lonche" is, all I know is that I've eaten them in Reynosa, Mexico and Matamoros, Mexico. Traditionally, the lonches are served from street vendors, and are very delcious. Here in the states, I find it extremely difficult finding a prepared lonche, in fact I've never seen a resturaunt serve one up. Because it's a flavor I am enamoured with, I wanted to prepare my own.

The secret to a lonche is the bread (of course it would be even more delicious if you made your own bread) however, there are plently of local bakeries around, so I purchased my "bolio" bread from a local business.

Lonches can be prepared with any type of meat such as: shredded beef, pork or chicken, even picadillo, which is ground beef seasoned with mexican spices, potatoes, onions and carrots or peas. I prepared my lonhces with shredded chicken, homeade beans, veggies and panela cheese.

Lonches:

for the beans: (soak your beans in water overnight - I use pinto). the following morning drain and rinse the beans, then add to a pot, and cover in twice the amount of water. season beans with cumin, chili powder, granulated garlic, minced onion, salt and pepper. (I prepared whole beans, not charro beans, but make what your prefer). cover beans and cook on low for 2-3 hours. i prepared only 1/2 a pound of beans.

1/2 a chicken cleaned and dried.
You can bake or boil your chicken pieces. If you choose to boil, place chicken in a pot and cover with water, place oregano, cumin, salt, pepper, celery and carrots and bring to a simmer. cover and cook on low for about 40 min.

when chicken is done, let cool then shred the meat from the bone.

in a skillet, add a tablespoon of oil - heat and add 1/2 white onion, chopped, 2 cloves of garlic, minced then cook until tender. add the shredded chicken to the pan, along with a can of blended green chilies (you can use chilies from a can)then bring to a simmer.

meanwhile, have a pot of oil heating up. once oil is heated, add bolios and turn until gently crisp on the outside. take out when golden brown, and place on a paper towel to cool.

prepare veggies such as shredded cabbage or lettuce of your choice, fresh avocado slices seasoned with lime, and salt, tomato, and radish

make sure beans are heated (the juice in beans should be very very thick), drain off any excess juice, then smash the beans with a potato smasher. if you enjoy refried beans, heat an iron skillet and add bacon fat or lard, and fry the smashed beans before serving.

slice bolios down the center, but don't cut all the way through (form a pocket in the center of the bread), place beans, panela cheese, chicken mixture then top with fresh veggies and sprinkle a little salt before serving. serve with hot or cold salsa and enjoy!

Chicken Fried Steak

I have to say the best chicken fried steak I have eaten was at a truck stop while on vacation with my parents YEARS (about 18) years ago. We were travelling to California on a road trip with my cousins and we stopped at a random truck stop for lunch. Chicken fried steak was always a staple in our home. Growing up, my mother would use her Sunday afternoon to prepare home cooked dinners for us that were outside of what we traditionally ate during the week (which was usually Mexican or Tex-Mex cuisine). Sunday's were for pot roast, fried chicken, chicken fried steak, meatloaf, shepards pie and other various dinners. Being an adult now, I find that homecooking is the BEST food. I cook dinner for me and my family Mon-Thurs and lunch on Sunday's. Chicken fried steak is something I rarely cook, but the other day it was something I was craving. Though I prefer a skillet brown gravy, I prepared a home cooked white country gravy along with roasted corn off of the cob, and rosemary garlic whipped potatoes.

Purchase a package of round steak

place raw steak between plastic wrap and gently beat with a pastry roller to tenderize the meat.

season meat with salt, pepper and paprika

dip the steak in a simple egg wash ( 2 raw eggs, 1/2 cup of milk and salt)

then coat the steak in a mixture of crushed saltines, flour, and black pepper

place meat in a heated skillet filled vegtable oil (iron if you have one)

fry the steak for 3-4 minutes on each side for a golden brown crust.

top with gravy, and serve with your favorite sides.

Cooking Diner food @ home

I love greasy spoons, in fact there are very few greasy spoons (or diners) here in my area. Once of my favorite things to order @ a diner is chili cheese fries. I enjoy a hearty, healthy chili (not greasy or over processed) so I made my own chili-cheese fries, with everything homeade.

This is a photograph of a grilled ham & cheese sandwich with a side of homeade chili cheese oven baked french fries.


To make the french fries, I use about 4-5 medium sized potatoes - scrub and peel them, dry off the potatoes, and cut into medium thick wedges. I gently coat the potatoes in olive oil, fresh garlic, and season with kosher salt. I then place the potatoes on a non-stick baking sheet, and cook in a 400 degree oven for about 35 minutes until slightly crisp.

I then top my french fries with homeade black bean chili, and cheddar cheese then bake until the cheese is melted. I don't include my chili recipe because it's my secret, however you can use any variety of chili you'd like (as long as you use homeade fries or potatoes).


:)