Tag Archives: dinner and a movie

Dinner and a Movie: Our 3 Picks For Recreating Mouthwatering Scenes at Home

How often during a movie have you wanted to sink your teeth into the dishes on the screen? The masterminds in Hollywood know how to conjure the most appealing images, and even some story lines leave us feeling hungry. So next time you’re opting for a cozy night in with dinner and a movie, why not use the film as the inspiration for your menu? Here are my three picks to recreate at home.

Eat, Pray, Love + Spaghetti all’Amatriciana

Have you ever fallen in love with your food? Liz Gilbert sure did in Italy, and Julia Roberts devouring a Margherita pizza in Naples will have you aching to follow suit. In fact, the entire Italy leg in this three-part trip to self-discovery may make you drool, but few food scenes on the big screen are more iconic than Roberts eating spaghetti in Rome.

Spaghetti all’Amatriciana: Each region in Italy has its own twists on the classics, but this basic recipe for Amatriciana sauce (with my slight variations) should nicely do the trick. Check the pantry because you may already have a few of these items on hand. Here’s what’s needed:

  • 2-3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
  • 1 28-oz can peeled tomatoes with juices
  • 4 oz thinly sliced pancetta or chopped unsmoked bacon
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2-4 cloves minced garlic (I prefer more than less)
  • a few large basil leaves, roughly chopped
  • salt
  • 12 oz dried spaghetti
  • finely grated Pecorino or Parmesan Reggiano
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper (optional)

First, puree the tomatoes until creamy (with a regular or immersion blender) and set aside. Heat the olive oil in a skillet over low-medium heat and add the pancetta or chopped bacon. Saute it until the pork turns golden brown (the crispiness will depend on your preference). Then toss in the garlic and red pepper flakes and saute for a minute before adding the pureed tomatoes, basil, and salt. Reduce the heat to low and stir occasionally, for about 15 minutes or until the sauce thickens. During this time, boil a pot of water and cook the pasta. Finally, incorporate the sauce into the pasta and serve with some parsley, cheese, black pepper, and a drizzle of olive oil.

Julie & Julia + Hollandaise sauce with potatoes and veggies


Julia Child may not have approved, but I think Julie Powell’s take on cooking through Childs’ cookbook was genius. Despite her difficulty at times, Amy Adams (who plays Powell) has a knack for making fans want to jump on the bandwagon and try a few recipes themselves, while Meryl Streep is simply marvelous as Mrs. Childs. Since many chefs would agree with these two women that there is no such thing as too much butter, here is a hollandaise sauce recipe!

Julia’s Hollandaise Sauce: In addition to eggs, you can drizzle it over boiled potatoes and steamed or grilled vegetables. There is also an easier blender version to this recipe, but it involves uncooked eggs, which I am hesitant to try. Here is a recipe variation that I learned while watching Childs’ TV show (or you can try the one linked)!

  • 1 lemon
  • 1 stick of unsalted butter
  • 2 egg yolks
  • salt and pepper (to taste)
  • a bowl of cold water

According to Mrs. Childs: Squeeze the juice of one lemon into a small sauce pan and sprinkle salt and pepper. Place the sauce pan over low heat and stir occasionally. On the side, whisk the egg yolks in a second small sauce pan until they become thick and fluffy. Add a small bit of butter (about a teaspoon). Once the lemon juice has reduced a small amount (there won’t be a lot to begin with), remove the pan from the heat, place it in the bowl of cold water for a minute, and then whisk the juice into the eggs (in small bits at a time).

Place the pan back over the stovetop and continue whisking. Childs’ tip is to repeatedly remove the pan from the heat for a few seconds at a time as you whisk (to control the heat and thickening process). The yolk mixture is ready to remove from the heat completely when the mixture is creamy enough to see the bottom of the pan between strokes.

Continue whisking the yolk mixture off the heat and add more teaspoon-sized pieces of butter one at a time (letting them blend completely before adding the next). You’ll want to eat this soon after it’s finished or keep it warm in a thermos!

Chocolat + Chocolate gravy over biscuits, pancakes, or waffles


Who says you can’t eat dessert for dinner? Warm up a cold winter weekend with this movie and a few chocolate recipes. (The Johnny Depp scenes won’t hurt, either.) From hot chocolate with chili pepper to decadent sauces and enticing candies, there is no limit to the confectionery madness.

Chocolate Gravy: The gravy will be the superstar while biscuits provide the perfect base. Of course, you can add it to pancakes or waffles if you’re more interested in breakfast than dinner.

  • 1/4 c cocoa
  • 2-3 tbsp all-purpose flour
  • 3/4 c sugar (I like ½ cup dark sugar instead)
  • ½ tsp cinnamon
  • 2 c milk
  • 1 tbsp butter
  • 1-2 tsp vanilla

Mix the cocoa, flour, sugar, and cinnamon in a bowl until there are no lumps. Then pour the milk and continue mixing until it’s well blended. Pour the mixture into a saucepan and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently, until it feels like gravy (which should take between 7 to 10 minutes). Immediately after removing the sauce from the heat, stir in the butter and vanilla. Spoon this creamy piece of heaven over fresh biscuits (or whatever else you choose) and ignore any guilt!

5 of the Best Fitness YouTubers You Should Subscribe to Right Now

Winter may be upon us, but that’s no excuse to neglect your fitness routine. Staying active throughout the chilliest of months can do wonders for both your mental and physical health. If you can’t quite muster the courage to battle the cold and make it down to the gym, you can still work out at home with utter ease. Setting up an exercise area in your living room and watching a few video tutorials is a simple way to stay in shape without having to leave your house. Here are some of the very best fitness YouTubers the web has to offer.

1. Yoga with Adriene

If you’re hoping to find your inner zen whilst also having a good old stretch, yoga may just be the thing. Sports meets meditation in this ultra popular activity. A rather massive 28% of Americans have tried yoga, according to a study by The Yoga Alliance. If you’ve yet to join the club, now may be the perfect time. Yoga with Adriene offers of a 30 Days of Yoga challenge which will ease you into the art one video at a time. Each session is just about half an hour long and teaches you a new area of the discipline. The idea is that at the end of the first month, you will have a good grasp on the basic techniques and will want to continue on your newfound yoga journey.

2. TheLeanMachines


For those wanting to build muscle tone while getting active, TheLeanMachines is a YouTube channel that will help you do just that while entertaining you along the way. You’ll be coached by the likes of not one but two personal trainers: John and Leon. Many of their videos show you how to make the best out of your workouts, while there are a few surprises packed in there too. Of course, exercising is but one side of your fitness regime; and what you eat can have just as big an impact on your health. Luckily, these guys have got that covered too with simple recipe tutorials for some healthy and delicious meals.

3. Kayla Itsines


If you’re looking for short, sharp bursts of exercise, Kayla Itsines is your gal. She is doubtless one of the best fitness YouTubers of the moment, with eight years of professional fitness training experience under her belt. Plus, she knows a thing or two about how to push your body to its very limits. You’ve been warned. Most of her YouTube tutorials are no more than a minute long. She uses that sparse amount of time to simply demonstrate a workout challenge you can try in your very own home. While her video updates are few and far between, she also has a cell phone app so that you can work out with her anytime, anywhere.

4. Lauren Hefez


Aiming to help the YouTube viewing public to live a “healthy and happy lifestyle,” Lauren Hefez offers a range of short (about 10-minute long) exercise videos. Many of her workouts focus on the abs, hips, butt, and thigh areas. So, if you’re hoping to shape and tone up, dedicating a little time to her workout routines is a surefire way to kickstart your quest. She also slips a little cardio in there now and then, which is essential in any workout regime. Lauren uploads new videos every Tuesday and Thursday, which means that you’ll never be at a loss when it comes to new routines and fitness trick to help you reach your goals.

5. Blogilates

The wonderfully fit Cassey Ho is the lady behind the immensely popular Blogilates YouTube channel. In her short and sweet video tutorials, she offers Pop Pilates, which will help to sculpt and tone your body while also giving you a darn good workout to boot. Her videos are truly carried by her cheerful brand of charisma along with her informal chitchat style of coaching. That combined means that you will hardly notice the routines passing you by since you’ll be entranced by this lady’s sunny, bubbly personality. What’s more, when she’s not showing you how to work out, Cassey creates uplifting opinion-based videos such as the lovely Stop Trying To Be Perfect! vlog. Now, there’s a message we can all get behind.