Before the cream sets out too long, you must whip it
Weekend update? Sure, why not.
Friday was the "First Ever Shorashim BR-13 Shabbat After Being Back From Israel and Hating That Fact" dinner. It ended up being 16 of us crammed into Boris's office. Some of us cooked, some of us brought pre-prepared food and or wine, and all of us ate a bountiful feast! Funniest thing was, of the 16 people, 6 were guys, and all the guys plus one girl cooked (and that was pasta salad, which isn't really cooking...ZING!). I made two of my Grandma's Kuggels, noodle and zucchini (for those of you whom have never had "Jew Food" kuggel is like a caserole, in a way). They went over real well, which is good, because even though I made the noodle kuggel before, I had never made the zucchini kuggel, so I was worried it would not come out so well. It did end up being a little dry, but that was just from keeping it warm in the oven too long. Maybe next time I make it, it won't be so cold outside and I won't have to worry about making it extra warm to compensate. But yeah, it was an awesome evening and it was great seeing everyone and I hope we can all do it again real soon.
Saturday was Belated International Pie Day (International Pie Day actually being on January 23). I was invited to Brooke and Dave's apartment for the event, since they are professional Pie Day-ers, having already had parties for the two years prior, only up in Buffalo. Having already cooked for Shabbat, and Mike having his sister and her boyfriend visiting, I decided I didn't really feel like baking a pie, which is more of a process then kuggel (I am a strictly from scratch kind of guy). Plus there are 8 bakeries on the way from my apartment to theirs, none of which I had tried yet. So I left with the full intentions of bringing an interesting pie because i knew Brooke was baking, and I figured someone would be bringing apple, and having two apple pies is boring. Of course every bakery I stopped at had either apple, or a choice of apple blueberry or cherry. I didn't want apple, and blueberry isn't too good and neither is cherry, plus they are also boring. So I get to the last bakery before I got to their apartment. They had apple pie, but also really nice looking fruit tarts. Fruit tarts are very much pie like, plus they have big pieces of fruit on top, so I can pretend like I am being healthy. So I got the fruit tart. It was pretty good. Other people brought other various pies and it was a fun time had by all. HOORAY FOR PIE!! Also, on a side note, it is a good way to test your level of maturity when you go to a bakery and ask what kinds of pie they have. I found myself giggling in my head, often. Even writing about pie here.
Sunday my initial plans were canceled, which was a good thing because it gave me a chance to go with Dave and see Pan's Labrynth. First off, let me say that this movie was really, really intense. Way darker then I expected, which was a good thing, definately made the R rating justified (before the movie I wondered how a movie which seemed awfully "kid like" could possibly be rated R). This is definately not a movie for kids, despite the fantasy themes and child main character. I don't want to get too much into the movie, because it is really hard to talk about without ruinning it, which I guess is why you don't really read too much about it other then how good it was. I did have two major problems with the movie, one can't really be helped, the other I am more on the fence about whether it is a personal problem or if it's actually a problem with the movie. The first problem is the fact that the movie is in Spanish with subtitles. The movie visually, is absolutely stunning, and needs full visual attention to really appreciate it; so when I found myself spending time reading the dialouge, I felt it took away from the movie. Of course if you speak/understand Spanish fluently, you shouldn't have a problem. The only word I did understand was "hermono" which I know from Arrested Development, and of course it immediately made me laugh, even the the context of the word in the film wasn't very funny. The otehr problem was with the ending, which I felt was possibly a little spoon fed, but at the same time I wonder if changing it would change my entire outlook on the film. Obviously I won't get into it here, but if you saw the movie, I would love to discuss this with you.
Ok, back to work...I guess. 24 tonight!! With JAMES CROMWELL and JACK'S FATHER!!! WHAT?!?! This season is going to be a dream, it's way to crazy.
Friday was the "First Ever Shorashim BR-13 Shabbat After Being Back From Israel and Hating That Fact" dinner. It ended up being 16 of us crammed into Boris's office. Some of us cooked, some of us brought pre-prepared food and or wine, and all of us ate a bountiful feast! Funniest thing was, of the 16 people, 6 were guys, and all the guys plus one girl cooked (and that was pasta salad, which isn't really cooking...ZING!). I made two of my Grandma's Kuggels, noodle and zucchini (for those of you whom have never had "Jew Food" kuggel is like a caserole, in a way). They went over real well, which is good, because even though I made the noodle kuggel before, I had never made the zucchini kuggel, so I was worried it would not come out so well. It did end up being a little dry, but that was just from keeping it warm in the oven too long. Maybe next time I make it, it won't be so cold outside and I won't have to worry about making it extra warm to compensate. But yeah, it was an awesome evening and it was great seeing everyone and I hope we can all do it again real soon.
Saturday was Belated International Pie Day (International Pie Day actually being on January 23). I was invited to Brooke and Dave's apartment for the event, since they are professional Pie Day-ers, having already had parties for the two years prior, only up in Buffalo. Having already cooked for Shabbat, and Mike having his sister and her boyfriend visiting, I decided I didn't really feel like baking a pie, which is more of a process then kuggel (I am a strictly from scratch kind of guy). Plus there are 8 bakeries on the way from my apartment to theirs, none of which I had tried yet. So I left with the full intentions of bringing an interesting pie because i knew Brooke was baking, and I figured someone would be bringing apple, and having two apple pies is boring. Of course every bakery I stopped at had either apple, or a choice of apple blueberry or cherry. I didn't want apple, and blueberry isn't too good and neither is cherry, plus they are also boring. So I get to the last bakery before I got to their apartment. They had apple pie, but also really nice looking fruit tarts. Fruit tarts are very much pie like, plus they have big pieces of fruit on top, so I can pretend like I am being healthy. So I got the fruit tart. It was pretty good. Other people brought other various pies and it was a fun time had by all. HOORAY FOR PIE!! Also, on a side note, it is a good way to test your level of maturity when you go to a bakery and ask what kinds of pie they have. I found myself giggling in my head, often. Even writing about pie here.
Sunday my initial plans were canceled, which was a good thing because it gave me a chance to go with Dave and see Pan's Labrynth. First off, let me say that this movie was really, really intense. Way darker then I expected, which was a good thing, definately made the R rating justified (before the movie I wondered how a movie which seemed awfully "kid like" could possibly be rated R). This is definately not a movie for kids, despite the fantasy themes and child main character. I don't want to get too much into the movie, because it is really hard to talk about without ruinning it, which I guess is why you don't really read too much about it other then how good it was. I did have two major problems with the movie, one can't really be helped, the other I am more on the fence about whether it is a personal problem or if it's actually a problem with the movie. The first problem is the fact that the movie is in Spanish with subtitles. The movie visually, is absolutely stunning, and needs full visual attention to really appreciate it; so when I found myself spending time reading the dialouge, I felt it took away from the movie. Of course if you speak/understand Spanish fluently, you shouldn't have a problem. The only word I did understand was "hermono" which I know from Arrested Development, and of course it immediately made me laugh, even the the context of the word in the film wasn't very funny. The otehr problem was with the ending, which I felt was possibly a little spoon fed, but at the same time I wonder if changing it would change my entire outlook on the film. Obviously I won't get into it here, but if you saw the movie, I would love to discuss this with you.
Ok, back to work...I guess. 24 tonight!! With JAMES CROMWELL and JACK'S FATHER!!! WHAT?!?! This season is going to be a dream, it's way to crazy.