Tonight I made Tomato Soup and Grilled Cheese. It's cold and windy here, so that felt like a really good meal. Rather than opening a can of Campbell's I decided to make my own soup. I found a recipe on Allrecipes that gave me a good idea, but then I tweaked it and came up with a Tomato Soup that my wife said is the "best tomato soup she's ever had". I've been doing a lot more recipe tweaking lately. :-)
Here's the recipe...sorry that I forgot pictures.
Ingredients:
1 - 28oz can crushed tomatoes
1 - 11.5 oz can V8 Tomato Juice
1 cup chicken stock
1 cup veggie stock
1 Parmesan rind (or probably 1/4 cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese)
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 cup butter
2 tsp dried basil
2 tsp sugar
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp dried parsley
Directions:
1. Add crushed tomatoes, tomato juice, stock and Parmesan rind to a large pot. Bring to a boil and let simmer for 20 minutes.
2. Remove any remaining Parmesan rind.
3. Remove from the heat and add basil, garlic powder and dried parsley and blend gently with an immersion blender.
4. Add heavy cream, butter and sugar. Return to the heat until butter is melted. Serve immediately.
This is a rich soup with lots of great tomato flavor. We ate it with grilled cheese and oyster crackers. I can't wait to make this one again!
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Sunday, January 20, 2013
More Movie Reviews
It's been a while since I've reviewed any movies. I have quite a few (for me) to get through. If this were Nuke, this would be a short movie review since he only reviews movies about twice a year. I've been watching a lot of animated DC movies on Netflix Instant Watch, and not too many discs lately. So, here are my reviews. A lot of 3 and 4 star movies that I'll rate in the order that I think you might care about them.
"The Bourne Legacy": The latest installment in the Bourne series doesn't feature Jason Bourne at all. This movie starts a new story line with Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner). Cross is the next step in the Bourne Evolution. He has been physically and mentally enhanced, so he's stronger, faster, able to heal quicker and smarter than your average Bourne. While on a training mission in Alaska, the CIA attempts to kill Cross, to eliminate the threat of program exposure. Of course they fail, because it wouldn't be much of a movie if they succeeded. Now, with the risk of losing his abilities, Cross must find the only doctor (Rachel Weisz) who can help him while evading his CIA pursuers.
The movie gets a 4 star rating because I absolutely love the Bourne movies. Honestly, 45 minutes in, I was quite worried. "The Bourne Legacy" starts off very slow, but picks up in the 2nd half of the movie. Jeremy Renner is good as Aaron Cross, but not great. I really like Rachel Weisz in this role, and Edward Norton is good as always.
So, overall, a pretty solid follow-up to the Bourne Trilogy.
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides": Finally, a "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie that comes close to capturing the genius of the original. While not as great, this movie is so much better than the last two that it's not even fair to compare them.
Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back again, this time playing a dangerous game with the English, the Spanish and the evil Capt. Blackbeard (Ian McShane) over the location of the Fountain of Youth. We also meet Angelica (Penelope Cruz), apparently a love interest from Jack's pass. Honestly, there are so many plot turns that I can't do it justice by trying to talk about the plot, but let's just say it's mostly fun.
Missing from the cast were Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley, and that was ok. Geoffrey Rush was back and Capt. Barbosa, which I thought was a good move. There is kind of a dumb plot line about a mermaid and a missionary, but other than that, I really liked "Pirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides". I'll give this one 4 stars as well.
"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter": This was a movie that I was going to see in the theater, but after really poor reviews, I decided to skip it. It was a good decision not to spend theater bucks on "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter", but as a popcorn eating flick for a Tuesday night, it suffices as a 3 star movie.
The plot is fairly simple. After watching his mother get murdered by a vampire, a young Abraham Lincoln dedicates himself to revenge against the vampire that killed her. After a near fatal encounter, Lincoln meets a man who can teach him the skills he needs to kill a Vampire. Once trained, Lincoln becomes a one man Vampire wrecking machine, until realizing that his battle is a futile one unless he gains political power. Hence Lincoln embarks on a political career that ends with the Presidency and the Civil War, which is really a battle between the Vampire free north, and the Vampire lead south.
I know a lot of people were upset about the portrayal of Lincoln in the movie and about the fact that the Civil War in this movie was essentially a war between Lincoln and Vampires, and not about freeing slaves. To those people I say, it's fiction! Lighten up!
"Lemonade Mouth": This is a Disney movie that we considered watching as a family back when it came out in 2011. For whatever reason we didn't see it, and we missed out. "Lemonade Mouth" is a really fun, clean, family movie with some pretty good music. Also, surprisingly, it doesn't follow the typical Disney feel good ending, though you end feeling pretty good anyway.
"Lemonade Mouth" is the story of 5 high schoolers who are sort of outcasts, but band together in detention to form a music group that turns life in the high school on it's head. Led by Stella Yamada (Hayley Kiyoko), Lemonade Mouth becomes a symbol for all the kids who don't fit the mold of the perfect high schooler. But, can they pull it together and win the rock band competition, or will life conspire against them?
We really liked this movie. I'd give it 4 stars. It's not as cheesy as "High School Musical", but also not as unique. The cast of Bridgit Mendler, Naomi Scott, Adam Hicks, Blake Michael and Kiyoko really seem to like each other and works well. Christopher McDonald plays the school principal and basically brings "Happy Gilmore's" Shooter McGavin to the role of high school principal. A very fun movie that's good family viewing.
Now on to quick reviews of the animated DC movies that I watched. No pictures for these.
"Justice League: Doom": What happens when all Batman's secret plans for controlling rogue justice league members fall into evil hands? Bad things man...bad things.
I really enjoyed this movie. The correct vocal casting (Kevin Conroy) is used for Batman, which is critical. Tim Daly also appears as Superman, again critical. This is a 4 star movie.
"Batman: Year One": In this movie, we follow the first year of a 25 year old Bruce Wayne as Batman, as well as the future Commissioner Gordon's first year as a cop in Gotham. The two must band together to save Gotham from corrupt cops and the mafia.
I'm a sucker for Batman movies...4 stars.
"Superman vs. the Elite": In the 21st century, the ideal of Superman has become old fashioned and his methods have become tired. When a new band of anti-heroes show up and take steps Superman will not, the public embraces them. But, when they go too far, will Superman have enough to save the day.
I'll give this one 3.5 stars.
"All Star Superman": After being tricked by Lex Luthor into overexposure to the sun's rays, Superman has weeks to live. But with new powers from the sun's rays, Superman performs some of his greatest feats.
This is 2.5 stars. Kinda sappy and not real action packed.
"The Bourne Legacy": The latest installment in the Bourne series doesn't feature Jason Bourne at all. This movie starts a new story line with Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner). Cross is the next step in the Bourne Evolution. He has been physically and mentally enhanced, so he's stronger, faster, able to heal quicker and smarter than your average Bourne. While on a training mission in Alaska, the CIA attempts to kill Cross, to eliminate the threat of program exposure. Of course they fail, because it wouldn't be much of a movie if they succeeded. Now, with the risk of losing his abilities, Cross must find the only doctor (Rachel Weisz) who can help him while evading his CIA pursuers.The movie gets a 4 star rating because I absolutely love the Bourne movies. Honestly, 45 minutes in, I was quite worried. "The Bourne Legacy" starts off very slow, but picks up in the 2nd half of the movie. Jeremy Renner is good as Aaron Cross, but not great. I really like Rachel Weisz in this role, and Edward Norton is good as always.
So, overall, a pretty solid follow-up to the Bourne Trilogy.
"Pirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides": Finally, a "Pirates of the Caribbean" movie that comes close to capturing the genius of the original. While not as great, this movie is so much better than the last two that it's not even fair to compare them.Jack Sparrow (Johnny Depp) is back again, this time playing a dangerous game with the English, the Spanish and the evil Capt. Blackbeard (Ian McShane) over the location of the Fountain of Youth. We also meet Angelica (Penelope Cruz), apparently a love interest from Jack's pass. Honestly, there are so many plot turns that I can't do it justice by trying to talk about the plot, but let's just say it's mostly fun.
Missing from the cast were Orlando Bloom and Kiera Knightley, and that was ok. Geoffrey Rush was back and Capt. Barbosa, which I thought was a good move. There is kind of a dumb plot line about a mermaid and a missionary, but other than that, I really liked "Pirates of the Caribbean: Stranger Tides". I'll give this one 4 stars as well.
"Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter": This was a movie that I was going to see in the theater, but after really poor reviews, I decided to skip it. It was a good decision not to spend theater bucks on "Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter", but as a popcorn eating flick for a Tuesday night, it suffices as a 3 star movie.The plot is fairly simple. After watching his mother get murdered by a vampire, a young Abraham Lincoln dedicates himself to revenge against the vampire that killed her. After a near fatal encounter, Lincoln meets a man who can teach him the skills he needs to kill a Vampire. Once trained, Lincoln becomes a one man Vampire wrecking machine, until realizing that his battle is a futile one unless he gains political power. Hence Lincoln embarks on a political career that ends with the Presidency and the Civil War, which is really a battle between the Vampire free north, and the Vampire lead south.
I know a lot of people were upset about the portrayal of Lincoln in the movie and about the fact that the Civil War in this movie was essentially a war between Lincoln and Vampires, and not about freeing slaves. To those people I say, it's fiction! Lighten up!
"Lemonade Mouth": This is a Disney movie that we considered watching as a family back when it came out in 2011. For whatever reason we didn't see it, and we missed out. "Lemonade Mouth" is a really fun, clean, family movie with some pretty good music. Also, surprisingly, it doesn't follow the typical Disney feel good ending, though you end feeling pretty good anyway."Lemonade Mouth" is the story of 5 high schoolers who are sort of outcasts, but band together in detention to form a music group that turns life in the high school on it's head. Led by Stella Yamada (Hayley Kiyoko), Lemonade Mouth becomes a symbol for all the kids who don't fit the mold of the perfect high schooler. But, can they pull it together and win the rock band competition, or will life conspire against them?
We really liked this movie. I'd give it 4 stars. It's not as cheesy as "High School Musical", but also not as unique. The cast of Bridgit Mendler, Naomi Scott, Adam Hicks, Blake Michael and Kiyoko really seem to like each other and works well. Christopher McDonald plays the school principal and basically brings "Happy Gilmore's" Shooter McGavin to the role of high school principal. A very fun movie that's good family viewing.
Now on to quick reviews of the animated DC movies that I watched. No pictures for these.
"Justice League: Doom": What happens when all Batman's secret plans for controlling rogue justice league members fall into evil hands? Bad things man...bad things.
I really enjoyed this movie. The correct vocal casting (Kevin Conroy) is used for Batman, which is critical. Tim Daly also appears as Superman, again critical. This is a 4 star movie.
"Batman: Year One": In this movie, we follow the first year of a 25 year old Bruce Wayne as Batman, as well as the future Commissioner Gordon's first year as a cop in Gotham. The two must band together to save Gotham from corrupt cops and the mafia.
I'm a sucker for Batman movies...4 stars.
"Superman vs. the Elite": In the 21st century, the ideal of Superman has become old fashioned and his methods have become tired. When a new band of anti-heroes show up and take steps Superman will not, the public embraces them. But, when they go too far, will Superman have enough to save the day.
I'll give this one 3.5 stars.
"All Star Superman": After being tricked by Lex Luthor into overexposure to the sun's rays, Superman has weeks to live. But with new powers from the sun's rays, Superman performs some of his greatest feats.
This is 2.5 stars. Kinda sappy and not real action packed.
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