Anyone can cook!
Posted on | October 12, 2009 | 3 Comments
Although I was pretty sure that I, together with Ratatouille are the great examples for this theory, it seems others think that they are the reason someone came up with it. Apparently though, they got much better at it and got to be featured in one of my favourite magazines, Good Food that is. I really miss it to be honest, maybe one of the few things I actually do miss when it comes to Romania.
Presenting you today, from the “cooking because I like it” series, I give you:
Easy Peasy: this wonder-woman can cook, have a job, have cats and even a husband - all at the same time! Really nice blog, really yummy and fast recipes and amazingly beautiful cats!
Mazi: another wonder woman, handling it all plus cooking on top. She really haz it when it comes to cooking, she really haz it when it comes to writing.
Good job girls, you make my day brighter every time I read your entries. Keep up the good work!
Easy, peasy, breezy, cheesy lunch
Posted on | October 12, 2009 | 2 Comments
Well, since school here is an absolute nightmare, with more work that throughout the 3 bachelor years (or so it seems to me) I haven’t really had the time to cook very complex recipes. Usually when I arrive home I am already starving and my better half is staring into my eyes like a hungry (yet powerful) puppy. So I open the fridge, turn on the oven and try to make the fastest, most delicious lunch ever…again and again.
So here I was one of these days, hungry and tired and busy, trying to make a decent meal while juggling with I-don’t-even-know-how-many case studies and readings. I turned the oven on…and came up with my own adaptation of Garfield’s parmesan chicken. Yes, I do own Garfield’s cookbook, it’s really nice, you can check it out in my widget that will take you to amazon.co.uk.
Anyways, since I didn’t have breadcrumbs, I skipped that part of the recipe, and here is what I did instead:
I took two chicken breasts, cut them in half and let them sit in barbecue sauce +olive oil+herbs for a little while. I took out a bit of bacon from the fridge, as well as some parmesan cheese and mozzarella. I peeled some potatoes, cut them into wedges and put them in a bowl. I added olive oil, herbs, paprika, salt and pepper and tossed the bowl to coat the potatoes evenly.
I took half of the chicken breast, cut it into strips and rolled them in bacon. I heated the oven at about 200 degrees C and took out a pan. I put the potatoes in it, the chicken breast with bacon and the regular one. Popped them in the oven for about 25-30 minutes until the potatoes were tender.
Meanwhile, I cut some nice slices of mozzarella and parmesan cheese. When the food was nearly ready, I put them on top of the chicken and let them in the oven for another 10 minutes, until the cheese was nice and melted.
All I can say…yum!
Knowing
Posted on | October 10, 2009 | 6 Comments
You would think that “Knowing” is a movie that would actually let you know something. Like any teensy bit of information. Or at least tell you that knowing something will let you do something about it. But nooo. Not this movie.
You see, I’ve always like Nicolas Cage. Even with National Treasure, I thought: OK, so a little children’s fantasy movie never hurt anyone. I tried to remember the good old days of Gone in 60 Seconds and 8MM and wait for something more like him. And Knowing seemed a good movie, with a good idea for a plot: in 1959, a group of elementary school children make a time capsule imagining what the future would look like. One of them though only writes a series of numbers that seem to have no connection whatsoever. 50 years later, the capsule is dug up and every child that is now in elementary school receives one of the drawings. Caleb Koestler, son of an MIT professor, receives the paper with the numbers and from then on everything goes ballistic.
Apparently, the numbers are the exact dates and positions of the major catastrophes that took place in the last 50 years. While ‘googling’ them, John Koestler finds that 3 of them have not yet happened and realizes that the last one may well be the end of the world.
What is to like about this film: everything, apart form the last 10-15 minutes. I really did enjoy it as it was quite different from the usual “good guy saves the world when there are 13 seconds left” kind of thing. Nicolas Cage is a professor, very smart indeed, but not the usual ’superhero’ you would expect. He is powerless in front of what could be called destiny and is struggling to find a way to solve it. Should’ve called Bruce Willis there, in my opinion. Also, the special effects are okay, quite impressive I might add.
What I disliked?
SPOILER ALERT!!!
Well, the ending, obviously, which, without being a cliche, is too weird and to ‘out there’ for me to enjoy. Some say it’s related to Scientology beliefs, but I really wouldn’t know that. I also disliked the so called “strangers” that appeared throughout the film and that are supposed to be aliens. They look really weird and…white and…ew. Plus, their constant following of the children is quite creepy.
All in all, it probably seems a better movie to sci-fi lovers. The ones that can actually like the aliens-we are not alone crap. I am sorry, but I don’t enjoy it that much. Plus, there are a LOT of plot holes in it that you can go past but can’t really ignore for good. I for one am not seeing this again, especially since I don’t think I would be able to stand again through the crappiest ending ever. There, I’ve said it.
For those of you thinking and believing that the truth is out there, enjoy!
Meow, meow, or what it’s like to have a cat…
Posted on | October 5, 2009 | No Comments
I saw this at Alyna’s and couldn’t resist picking it up for my blog as well. Although, unlike her, I DO know what it’s like to have a cat. Or two. I really miss them actually. Oh well, for those of you who don’t know what it’s like, you can get inspired here. It really is CLOSE to the truth 
Fete des Vendanges
Posted on | September 28, 2009 | No Comments
Well, first, I need to tell you I have no pics of this actual event so I am terribly sorry. Second, I also need to tell you it was AWESOME! You see, every year, Neuchatel hosts this ‘fete’ of the grape harvesting and wine making. You would say it’s no big deal, but in fact, it is. Apparently, people from all the region come together to celebrate and the result is one of the most crowded street party I have ever seen.
In just a few hours, silent, moderate Neuchatel turns into a party zone with music, drinks, food, mini-roller coasters and everything you would need to have the time of your life. Open air dancing, all kinds of traditional food (including Indian, Chinese, Thai and Swiss of course), lots of alcohol (which, unfortunately I didn’t even taste) and happy people. Yep, happy people dancing together even if they never met before, lots of pushing and crowding but I suppose that is part of the game.
Some special events during the three days this whole thing happens are a Miss Fete des Vendanges election, a ‘defile’ (I have no accents on this keyboard) of some “cars allegoriques” and another one of drummers form all over the region. Nice. Really, really nice. I enjoyed everything about this fete and especially the fact that I was able to enjoy it with people I really like. So this is to you, my crazy, all kind of nationalities (ummm, French, Swiss, British (and Welsh), American, German, Belgian, Italian, Russian, Greek, Turkish, Polish to name just a few) new acquaintances who have made my stay here so far absolutely great. So I’m looking forward to the next ‘fete’.
Cheers!
The Yellow Smiley Face
Posted on | September 27, 2009 | 4 Comments
Lately the film industry in Romania has been growing and growing, producing quite interesting works. I would always recommend 4, 3, 2 for those who can handle it (I should write a review about it), but that one requires a tough stomach and the ability not to get actually ‘involved’ in the film action (so that you can go to sleep later that night).
On a happier note though, this is one of our recent short films, light and easy and cute. It makes me think of my grandmother who actually got herself a laptop when I moved to Switzerland. This is to all those who love us but hate computers and struggle with them just to keep in touch. Thank you
When You’re Gone…
Posted on | September 27, 2009 | No Comments
I realize I’m in love…one day to go
You can find the whole ‘Best of Me’ album on amazon.co.uk ——————->
Places I’ve been
Posted on | September 26, 2009 | 3 Comments
…and some more where I would like to go
I’m gonna put these wheels in motion…
Posted on | September 24, 2009 | No Comments
As you might (or might not) remember, I’m a big fan of British movies, a big fan of Colin Firth, a big fan of Jessica Biel…and a big fan of Easy Virtue 
. Since there are a few days left till…well, till the going won’t be tough anymore, I thought of adding here this song that is very, very dear to me. Well, when the going gets tough, the tough gets going!
You can find the whole Easy Virtue soundtrack and movie on amazon.co.uk. Check out my widget
Tags: Colin Firth > Easy Virtue > Jessica Biel > soundtrack > When the going gets tough
Shortbread…yummy I presume :)
Posted on | September 21, 2009 | 3 Comments
Last night I went to see some friends who made a nice, yummy traditional dutch meal that I don’t remember the name (sorry, I know I heard it a billion times) with mashed potatoes, salad and bacon and I thought I should bring some desert. You know me, I love baking, and I love sharing whatever I bake, too!
Knowing there were going to be a few people from the UK, and since I had no baking powder at home (on Sunday, EVERYTHING is closed here!) I decided to go for shortbread. Yum. As I have recently purchased a nice book from Good Food called 101 Cakes and Bakes I decided to give the recipe in there a try. Very nice indeed.
The recipe is actually rather simple, full of butter and sugar, obviously. You will need:
300 grams flour
200 grams butter (creamy, yummy, the best you can find)
100 grams caster sugar
a pinch of salt (I used Himalayan pink salt, but any good salt is ok)
First, you will need to blend the flour and softened butter together, preferably with a food processor. You have to pulse a few times until you get something resembling bread crumbs. You will then mix in the sugar and knead a bit the dough until it all comes together. If you feel it is too dry, you can add a teensy bit of water but be careful because you don’t want it too become too moist.
You then roll it on a lightly floured surface (I just patted it with my hands since I don’t have a pastry rolling pin yet) into a nice 28 cms disc and transfer it in a greased baking pan. You can now make some markings on the disc to help you cut the shortbread after it’s done. I cut it into 16 pieces and pricked it with a fork. Pop it in the oven (preheated to about 140 degrees C) for like 35-40 minutes (watch closely until the edges become light golden brown) and when it’s done sprinkle some caster sugar on top and a teensy bit of salt.
For those of you wondering what the dark red thing on top is (no, it’s not blood, although I do come from Dracula land): it’s plum jam that I had made a few weeks ago and I just spread on top of the shortbread before sprinkling with sugar.
All in all, people raved about it and after tasting it, I must say it’s really awesome. Easy to make, would probably go amazingly with a cup of tea (yes, I am a tea lover, sorry). Definitely going to make it again.
Scrumptious!
