Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Oscars, Heartthrobs, Movie.

kings-speechIt appears The King’s Speech is leading for Oscar nominations with the rest of the film categories as follows”

  • Facebook tale The Social Network
  • Dance thriller Black Swan
  • Boxing drama The Fighter
  • Sci-fi blockbuster Inception
  • Contemporary family drama The Kids Are All Right
  • True-life survival tale 127 Hours
  • Animated tale Toy Story 3
  • Revamped western True Grit
  • Ozarks crime thriller Winter's Bone

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/story/2011/01/25/oscar-nominations.html#ixzz1C5XP9iXf

I haven’t yet seen The King’s Speech but everyone says it’s a great movie, not sure how many say that because they are so enamoured of Colin Firth, LOL. I must say from what I have seen on TV it looks like a good movie. George VI came to the throne before I was born, but I remember him very well in later years. I certainly never knew for years that he had a stutter, I only learned about it long after he was dead.

Talking of Colin Firth, I had no idea who he was when lots of friends were talking about him in throbbing voices *g*, however, I then discovered I have seen him in lots of movies including Nanny McFee which I watched again last night. I hadn’t realised that was Colin Firth and I had seen the movie before. Until I saw the credits last night, I still didn’t know. I am afraid I don’t agree with the statement “the greatest specimen of manhood to walk this earth” which is the way one friend described him. Anyway, I have now arranged to see The King’s Speech tonight with a friend, so I can tell you what I think of the movie.

Not only did I think this looked different, I thought it looked delicious. I suspect we would use the goat cheese as Matt is not to keen on Gorgonzola although I love it.

Caramelized Onion Lasagna

Caramelized Onion LasagnaFrom EatingWell: May/June 2008

This unusual lasagna with portobello mushrooms, sweet onions, spinach and Gorgonzola cheese has a rich, complex flavor. It's also great with goat cheese instead of Gorgonzola, if you prefer.

9 servings

Ingredients

Caramelized Onion Lasagna
  • 8 ounces lasagna noodles, preferably whole-wheat
Caramelized Onion Filling
  • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 large sweet onions, thinly sliced (about 10 cups; see Kitchen Tip)
  • 4 medium portobello mushroom caps, gills removed (see Kitchen Tip), diced
  • 1/2 cup red wine
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • Freshly ground pepper, to taste
Spinach & Cheese Filling
  • 4 cups baby spinach
  • 2 cups nonfat ricotta cheese
  • 1/2 cup chopped fresh basil
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
White Sauce & Topping
  • 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 2 cups low-fat milk
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 ounces crumbled Gorgonzola cheese
  • 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
  • 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil
Preparation
  1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Cook noodles until not quite al dente, about 2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain; return the noodles to the pot and cover with cool water.
  2. To prepare onion filling: Meanwhile, heat 3 tablespoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and cook, stirring frequently, until golden brown and very soft, about 25 minutes. (If they begin to stick, add water 1/4 cup at a time to release them and prevent burning.) Add mushrooms and cook, stirring, until just beginning to soften, about 3 minutes. Add wine and 1 teaspoon salt and continue cooking until most of the liquid is absorbed, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat; stir in pepper.
  3. To prepare spinach filling: Place spinach, ricotta, basil and 1/2 teaspoon salt in a food processor and process until smooth.
  4. To prepare white sauce: Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium saucepan over medium-high heat. Add flour and stir until bubbling, about 30 seconds. Gradually whisk in milk and 1/2 teaspoon salt and bring to a boil, whisking constantly. Cook, whisking, until the sauce has the consistency of thick gravy, about 1 minute. Add Gorgonzola and gently whisk until it is melted. Remove from the heat. (The sauce will continue to thicken as it sits.)
  5. To assemble lasagna: Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat a 9-by-13-inch baking pan with cooking spray.
  6. Drain the noodles and spread out on a kitchen towel. Spread 1/2 cup white sauce in the prepared pan. Place a layer of noodles over the sauce. Spread half of the spinach filling over the noodles and top with one-third of the onion filling. Evenly spread 1/2 cup white sauce over the onions. Repeat with another layer of noodles, the remaining spinach filling, half the remaining onion filling and half the remaining white sauce. To finish, top with a third layer of noodles, spread the remaining onion filling over the noodles and then spread or dollop the remaining white sauce on top. Sprinkle with walnuts and basil.
  7. Bake until hot and bubbling, about 30 minutes. Let rest for 5 minutes before serving.
Nutrition

Per serving : 345 Calories; 14 g Fat; 3 g Sat; 7 g Mono; 9 mg Cholesterol; 39 g Carbohydrates; 16 g Protein; 8 g Fiber; 680 mg Sodium; 514 mg Potassium

2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 1 1/2 starch, 2 vegetable, 1 medium-fat meat, 2 fat

Tips & Notes
  • Make Ahead Tip: Cover and refrigerate the caramelized onion filling (Step 2) for up to 1 day.
  • Kitchen Tip: Onions contain a volatile compound called lachrymator that reacts with the fluid in your eyes and makes them water. To chop them without crying, try wearing goggles, burning a candle nearby or cutting them under cold water. To mellow the bite of a raw onion, soak it for an hour in 1 cup cold water, 1/4 cup vinegar and 1/2 teaspoon salt and then rinse thoroughly.
  • Kitchen Tip: The dark gills found on the underside of a portobello mushroom cap are edible, but can turn a dish an unappealing gray/black color. Remove the gills with a spoon, if desired.

Have a great day

Jo

2 comments:

  1. Our family has seen 3 of those you listed, Jo. We haven't seen The Kings Speech but I do want to see it. My husband always watches the Oscars and I'm one who flits in and out while it's on, lol!

    Good actors become whatever the role requires. They can be a heart throb in one and not in another. Can't think of any, off the top of my head, I would classify as heart throbs. lolol!

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  2. I know Sia, and yet I have had several friends assure me that Colin Firth is the bees knees.

    One of the best actors in my book is Anthony Hopkins. I also love Peter O'Toole, I think they are both brilliant.

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