Grape Crisp Recipe

As I was cleaning out my fridge I realized I had a bunch of green grapes that had not been eaten. The grapes had started to go and were too bitter to eat. I hate waste these days so I scoured the internet looking to see if you could actually cook with old grapes. I found this recipe for quick grape crumble: http://www.food.com/recipe/quick-grape-crumble-178105. I didn't have the exact ingredients, so I made some modifications and used a crumble recipe from another website : http://www.cookingnook.com/apple-crisp-recipe.html.

Here is the recipe that I used:

Ingredients for Grape Filling

2 cups seedless grapes (This is important because part way through the recipe I realized mine had seeds. I fished out what I could but there are still some crunchy seeds left in there)

1/4 cup Welch's grape jelly - this was the only jelly I had on hand

2 tablespoons apple juice

1 tbsp of cornstarch

1 tbsp of lemon juice

1 tbsp of water

At medium heat, mix the grapes, jelly and apple juice in a medium saucepan. The grapes I had were very large so it took awhile for the grapes to split (approx. 15 to 20 min). I then took a potato masher to them to mash them up.

In a small bowl, whisk the cornstarch, lemon juice and water together. Pour into the grape mixture and bring to a boil. The mixture should thicken.

Pour into a 8x8 pan. While you are making the sauce, preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare the crisp as follows: 

Ingredients for Crisp

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1/3 cup butter (or margarine) - I never have butter on hand these days and it still works out great

1/4 cup oats - I used quick oats

Mix all of them together. If you have a pastry blender you can use that, or cross cut with two knives. I personally use a fork to do the job and it works out just fine.

Pour the crumble mixture on top of the grapes and bake for 25 minutes. 

The result is a nice desert that is a bit tart. It works well with the crumble which is sweet from the brown sugar.

Overall I was pleased with the results and I didn't have to throw the grapes out like I normally have to.

Happy Cooking!

Chocolate Spiders for Halloween

I can't believe how long it has been since I posted. I got out of my groove. After the film festival I was exhausted  and I lacked inspiration for writing. The month of October has been a busy one with birthdays, Thanksgiving and now Halloween. Today is my husband's Halloween potluck. I got this great idea from a Today's Parent email to make these chocolate spiders. Of course, when I clicked on the link the recipe was no longer there. Today's Parent has spent the last few weeks revamping their website and somehow the recipe section is lacking now.

I scoured the internet and I found a substitute recipe and then worked by memory. These turned out delicious and kids will love them.

Chocolate Spiders

Ingredients
1 cup of semi sweet chocolate chips
3/4 cup of Rice Krispies
1/2 cup of chow mein noodles
1 bag of smarties, or M&M's for eyes

Line a baking sheet with wax paper.
Place the chocolate chips is a medium size bowl and microwave on medium for 2 minutes. Stir. If the chocolate is still not melted, put it back in the microwave for 25 second increments until it is melted.

Pour the Rice Krispies into the bowl of chocolate and stir.

Place teaspoons of the mixture onto the baking sheet. The recipe says it will yield 12. I got about 14 to 16 out the recipe.

Take 2 chow mein noodles, break each of them in half and stick four legs into the sides of the mound of chocolate.

Place 2 Smarties at the front of the mound for eyes.

If you want to make it really decadent, add a 1/2 cup of chocolate chips to the recipe above and separate into  a smaller bowl when melted. Pour the chow mein noodles into the bowl and mix. Place three noodles on the sheet in a star form and add the mound of Rice Krispies onto the chow mein noodles.

Cool for one hour at room temperature until is hardens or 15 minutes in the refrigerator.

I did 2 batches and it took about an hour to make. Your hands get a little sticky but the result is worth it.

TIFF - Overall Review

The festival is over and already I am in withdrawal. I loved every minute of it this year. I have to say that it was very organized this year. Over the past few years as they expanded, certain venues were not under control. I am glad to see they have a better system in place and things moved along smoothly.

I was impressed with the number of directors and actors that showed up for second screenings this year. It is always a pleasure to be able to listen to the Q&A. This is one of the best parts of the festival. When are you ever going to get a chance to ask a director about their movie? The festival gives you an opportunity to learn about things such as inspiration, budget, casting.

Overall I give this year's festival 4/5 - can't wait until next year!

TIFF - Review of Page Eight

Review - 3.5 out of 5

This is a story of an MI5 agent that is given a document which indicates there are people at top levels that are aware of the Americans torturing people for information.

This is a political thriller. Bill Nighy does an amazing job as Johnny Worricker, the MI5 agent trying to find out the truth before it is covered up. The movie keeps you on your feet as Johnny figures out who he can trust. At the same time, he reveals parts of himself which shows how he became the person he is today.

In the Q&A the director/writer David Hare noted the following:

• Movie was made in 5 weeks with a budget of $3 million
• It is well known that it takes about 7 years for a film to be made. In Britain, a made for tv movie can be ready for production in 6 months. The director indicated he was 60 and after looking at the actuarial tables he decided it was a better idea for him to go the made for tv route. He says this is a made for tv movie that is really a film.
• He was able to get such an all star cast (Bill Nighy, Rachel Weisz, Ralph Fiennes, Michael Gambon and Judy Davis) because of who he is. Everyone has worked with him and when they found out he had written a play that he was going to direct they all came out to help.
• Nighy and Hare have worked together approximately 7 times over their career. The part was written with him in mind. 
• There is talk of a sequel for this movie.

I was able to take some pictures with my blackberry but I was at the back so they are not the best. Bill Nighy is delightful and worth seeing in person. This was the second showing of the film and I was impressed that both of them came out for the movie to do the Q&A.

TIFF - Review of The Awakening

Review 4 out of 5 - I am on a role with these movies. The last few ones I have thoroughly enjoyed. I would recommend renting this one. I don't think you need to see it at the theatres.

This movie is set in the 20's. It focuses on an educated woman, Florence Cathcart, who earns money by proving there are no ghosts. She is hired by a boarding school to investigate a siting of a ghost. A small boy that supposedly died years before when it was a private residence haunts the school. The children are afraid and Ms. Cathcart is hired to prove it is just a hoax. The director summarizes the movies by saying "we see ghosts because we need to".

Rebecca Hall who stars is the movie does an amazing job. The director made a note that she is wonderful to work with which is something important in the industry. I have summarized some of the comments the director made in the Q&A today:

He composed a small song that was part of the opening of the movie. 
The boarding school will be recognized by some as Pemberley in Pride and Prejudice. The location is really called Lion Park
The director drained the colour from the film to give it that feeling of being sick
All interiors were shot in three empty homes in Scotland
He chose not to film in high def because he didn't feel it was appropriate for a period film.
The writer is an incredibly nice guy. Original story set in a different time period. The director decided to set it in the 20's right after World War I.
Director has never seen a ghost.
Director had Rebecca in mind when doing his section of the writing. She liked it on the first read. 
Uk film counsel was shut down but it is evolving into another name. They play a major part in making up gap financing. It is soft money meaning that they don't get a say in the film. It is a charity funded my lottery money. Another huge player is bbc film. 
The director's future project is called Blood about the moral decline of a police family. Paul Bettany will be associated with it. 

Spoiler alert - Director wanted the only general threat to come from the living. It was important to him that he show that only a living person be the real threat.
 
Spoiler alert - The leg thing was survivor guilt and self hate. Self abuse and self harm was not unusual in this time period. Mallory's self harm comes from if "I feel pain I am making up for what I gained."
Spoiler alert - he did not want Ms. Cathcart to be rescued by a man since she is a strong determined woman.
Spoiler alert - Paintings in the film were chosen specifically. He wanted the lion attack to be part of a memory. The other painting was to detract the viewer. He felt if there was only one painting it would take on too much meaning early on in the film.  

TIFF - Review of Friends with Kids

Review - 4 out of 5 - this is a must see for anyone with young children. You will laugh as you watch and nod your head with understanding. It is a fun romantic comedy that will make you realize you are not alone. Everyone experiences the same thing.

The story is about two best friends who watch as their friends change when they have kids. Both want children and have not yet found the one they are suppose to be with. They don't want the downside of marriage so they decide to have a child and split the responsibility 50/50.

The movie shows what an adventure it is to have kids. It can be rough but the benefits are amazing. Everyone thinks things will be the same but it never is again. One day you are going out to fancy restaurants, staying out all night, meeting new people, the next day you are changing diapers and watching your babies grow into these amazing people.Relationships change when you have kids. Its like watching the Amazing Race. Some couples survive the race and others realize it wasn't meant to be. Raising kids is the same thing.

This will be a movie that you watch over and over again.

TIFF - Review of Michael

Review - 4 out of 5 - this is a difficult movie to watch. Your stomach will be tied up in knots and you will be filled with hatred towards the main character. A very disturbing subject matter that will leave you feeling unsettled

Michael is the story of a pedophile. He lives a normal life, with a sister and mother who love him. At night when he comes home you realize he has kidnapped a young boy. They eat dinner together, watch tv together and then Michael has sex with him.

The film does not show the sex scenes with the child for obvious reasons. Everything in implied. The director of the film was very open with the parents and explained everything that he wanted to do before starting the film. Prior to viewing the film at Cannes, the director had the parents watch the film to ensure they were okay with everything. The child was also told what the movie was about and everything was explained to him.

A large part of the movie is in silence with you observing Michael and his interaction with the boy. The viewer is stressed because you don't know if anyone will find the boy.

This is a first time movie for the director. Prior to this he was a casting director. He noted several points in Q&A last night:

• He wrote the script in 5 days
• His inspiration for the topic was based on all of the stories that were in the headlines at the time (2008)
• He did no research for the film. He didn't want a story he read to influence the writing.
• He gave the script to a forensic psychiatrist who works with the courts and has interviewed pedophiles. The feedback she gave him was that his portrayal of the pedophile was accurate. 
• He has no problems getting funding. He passed the movie to the investors and had money for the film the next day
• There was no music for most of the film. The director felt that music is something that tells you how to feel. The thought of putting music to this topic was nauseating to him.
• The subtitles did not include what was on the news. The director felt that the tv was background noise was not relevant to the film and did not want it translated.
• Originally the investors wanted a well known actor in the role of Michael. The director did not want this. He mentioned that people watch the news and look at these people as monsters. He wanted a unknown actor to play the part so that you could identify with the character. It shows that the pedophile is not someone you can identify in the crowd. He is the guy next to you at work. The quiet one that works hard, has a family who loves him, a home, friends and women that are attracted to him. 
• Spoiler alert  - at the end of the film, the intention was that the boy was alive when he is found
• Spoiler alert - Michael burns the card the boy gives him because he is hurt it is impersonal. He wants the boy to like him.

You won't stop talking about this film after you see it. It is disturbing to watch and makes you realize how easily this could happen to your children.