The Secret Life of Bees - the movie

"Never judge a book by its movie." - J.W. Eagan

The other night I had the rare treat of seeing a chick flick with A. She made a yummy dinner, Mexican Lasagana (insert drool here) and then we headed out for a 7:35pm showing of The Secret Life of Bees. The movie is based on the novel by Sue Monk Kidd, which I adored.

The movie, as predicted, did not live up to the beauty and splendor of the book. It was a nice story for a movie and the actresses all did a fine ensemble job (Queen Latifah, Alicia Keyes, Jennifer Hudson & Dakota Fanning), but the soul of the book, so perfectly delivered in the written word was lost in translation.

I highly recommend that you read this book, and bring a highlighter as some of the verse is quite wonderful and you may want to remember it - my highlighter got much use. As for the movie, wait for the rental.

QoTD

"There will be a time when loud-mouthed, incompetent people seem to be getting the best of you. When that happens, you only have to be patient and wait for them to self destruct. It never fails." - Richard Rybolt

I am a patient woman :)

QoTD

"Ask yourseld: Have you been kind today? Make kindness your daily modus operandi and change your world." - Annie Lennox

Seven Layer Pie

L reminded me this weekend that I need to post this recipe for Seven Layer Pie. So here it is. Some of it is a little different than what we made. Changes made on recommendations and observations of our blind attempt. This, my friends, is what you get when you forget the limes at the check-out to make key lime pie. Well, it's what you get when you are in my kitchen looking through the cupboards for a back-up plan anyways.

Enjoy!

SEVEN LAYER PIE
- graham cracker crust (homemade or store bought)
- Jello Instant Chocolate Pudding (larger box)
- Milk per instructions on Jello box
- 1 cup toasted coconut plus a bit for topping
- 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips plus a bit for topping
- 1 cup Heath bar bits (you can smash bars or get the bits in the baking section) plus a bit for topping
- 1 cup chopped walnuts plus a bit for topping


1. Make the Jello according to box instructions for the pudding (not the pie method).
2. Take 1/3 cup each of the coconut, chocolate chips, Heath bits & walnuts - spread a layer on the bottom of the crust.
3. Take the Jello and spread half on top of the above layer.
4. Repeat a layer of #2
5. Spread the rest of the pudding on this middle layer.
6. On top of the final layer of pudding, spread the rest of the coconut, chocolate chips, Heath bits & walnuts
7. Now take the Cool Whip and top the pie off with a layer of Cool Whip
8. Garnish top of pie with sprinkling of extra bits - coconut, choc chips, Heath & walnuts
9. Refrigerate for at least two hours to set.

And yes - I had all of this in my pantry, except for the cool whip, but that was just a quick walk to the convenience store.

Happiness is...

"There are two types of people -- those who come into a room and say, 'Well, here I am!' and those who come in and say, 'Ah, there you are.'" - Frederick Collins


For me, happiness is being the latter person in the above quote.

New Cook Books

"A room without books is like a body without a soul." - Cicero (106BC - 43BC)

I should know better than to go to a bookstore when I am annoyed or upset. I impulse buy. Now...it could be worse. I can easily justify venting my frustrations on the purchase of pages of sweet delight. But it can get dangerous. Fortunately for me yesterday, my venting was taken out on the clearance rack of delicious cook books. I got cook books on curries, Thai dishes, cookies, baking in general and bread and an overall holy cow compilation of recipes. I spent a total of $27. Not bad for these delightful 4-color treasure chests. But I know why I bought them, I was quelching some anger and frustration and went to the 2 things that make me so very happy - books and cooking. What got me to that point? A 'conversation' with Pickle & Mo's father. I will leave it at that, for I have vented my frustration into the cook books and have moved on. After all, I cannot hold anger against the ignorant after all.

Looking forward to making some homemade scones and foccaccia now.

QoTD

"The lesson which life repeats and constantly enforces is 'look under foot'. You are always nearer the divine and the true sources of your power than you think." - John Burroughs (1837 - 1921)