Dinner And A Movie Monday – Robin Hood

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action, Cate Blanchett, Dinner and a movie monday, Ridley Scott, Robin Hood, romance, Russell Crowe

If you have read many of my movie reviews, you’re probably certain I’m a Russell Crowe fan. And I am, but mostly because I like the kind of movies he does.

Take Robin Hood. It’s a 2010 British-American film by Ridley Scott, based on the legend we all know. It takes place in 1199. Robin Longstride, played by Russell Crowe, is a common archer who fights for King Richard the Lionheart. The story opens during the siege of Chalus Castle. Robin and his comrades are disillusioned and weary of the war. So, when the King is killed during an attack, they decide it’s time to go home, so they desert.

On the way, they come across an ambush of the English royal guard returning to England with the King’s crown and news of his death. Too late to do anything but scare them away. Robin and his men impersonate the dead English knights so they can return to England. He promises a dying knight, Sir Robert Loxley to return his sword to his father in Nottingham.

In London, Robin assumes the identity of Loxley and informs the royal family of the King’s death. He witnesses the coronation of King John, who is swayed by Godfrey, who plans use French troops to stir up unrest and create an opening for Philip to invade England.

When Robin returns Loxley’s sword to his father, the man asks him to continue impersonating his son to prevent the family lands being taken by the Crown. He wants Loxley’s widow, Lady Marion, played by Cate Blanchette, to inherit instead. Robin agrees and in the process, he and Marion fall in love. What I liked about this is the way it happened. A glance, a smile, her hand in his when he helps her up on her horse, they way he studies her when she isn’t looking. They get to know each other and each of them like what they see. It tugs at the heartstrings.

After King John hears Robin’s plea to sign a charter of right and unite his country, a battle must be fought to stop the French marauders from taking over England. It takes place on the beach below the Cliffs of Dover and the cinematography is spectacular.

I enjoyed the movie and the twist at the end, giving us a new take on the story of Robin Hood and how “the legend began”. There’s comradeship. There’s action. And there’s romance. Definitely my kind of movie.

Medieval spiced beef stew

1.5kg lean braising steak, chopped into bite-size chunks
3 tbsp plain flour
Oil for frying
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground mace
1/8 tsp (small pinch) ground cloves
4 black peppercorns, crushed
1/2 tsp cardamom pods, crushed and green pods discarded
1 large onion, finely chopped
6 large sprigs parsley, stalks and leaves finely chopped, plus extra to garnish
900ml beef stock
50g stale wholemeal bread, torn into small pieces
3 tbsp cider vinegar
Pinch of saffron threads

1 Toss the beef with the flour to coat. Cover the base of a large casserole dish with a thin layer of oil and place over a medium high heat. Add the beef in batches and fry, stirring occasionally, until browned.

2 Return any browned beef to the pan with its juices. Add the spices, onion and parsley with a splash of the stock and fry, stirring frequently and scrapping up the crusty layer from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon, for about 5 minutes until the onions have started to soften. Add the rest of the stock with a pinch of salt and bring to a gentle boil. Cover, reduce the heat to low and simmer for 2 hours, until the beef is tender.

3 Meanwhile, soak the bread in the vinegar with the saffron. Stir into the stew and simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes until the bread has broken down and the stew is thick. Taste and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Serve with bread and buttered green vegetables, garnished with chopped fresh parsley

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Dinner And A Movie Monday – The Last of the Mohicans

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action, adventure, fantastic music, romance, spectacular scenery, The Last Of The Mohicans

The Last of the Mohicans, starring Daniel Day-Lewis is one of my all time favorite movies. If I’m channel surfing and happen across it, I always stop. It has all the ingredients of a good movie. Action, adventure, romance. Not to mention handsome men. The strong, silent type.

It takes place in 1757 during the French and Indian War. The last living chief of the Mohican tribe, Chingachgook, travels west with his sons Uncas and Hawkeye, a white man he adopted. They rescue Major Heyward, along with Colonel Munro’s daughters, Cora and Alice, from an ambush and accompany them to Fort William Henry so they can join their father. While they travel, Cora forms a bond with Hawkeye.

When they arrive, the French hold the foot under siege. Without reinforcements, it falls. The French general promises them safe passage to Albany, but on the way they are attacked by Magua and his Huron army, because he wants revenge for the death of his family. Hawkeye and the Mohicans fight their way through, leading Cora, Alice, and Heyward from the battle, but Magua later captures the major and the women, and takes them prisoner.

The scenery in this movie is spectacular and the music is moving. I’ve read where Day-Lewis immersed himself in the part to the point where he carried a musket around for months. My favorite scenes in the movie have little or no dialogue. Subtle nuance speaks a thousand words. The scene where Hawkeye searches for Cora at the fort and his expression when he finds her and realizes she’s been looking for him, the scene at the waterfall, and the silent moments shared between Uncas and Alice at the end.

Sausage-Venison Stew

Nothing says frontier life like venison stew. I grew up eating deer meat, and since my husband was a deer hunter, I learned to cook it as well. Since it has very little fat, the trick is to find techniques to cook it so it won’t end up being tough as a boot! I found this recipe many years ago. It’s still a family favorite.

1 lb venison, cubed

1 lb kiolbassa sausage, cubed

1/2 bag Italian Green Beans

2 c new potatoes or peeled and cubed potatoes

1 onion, sliced

2 T chopped garlic

2 beef bouillon cubes

Salt and Pepper to taste

Parsley for garnish

Put sausage and venison in a skillet. Brown it with onions and garlic. Add green beans and potatoes. Add bouillon, salt, pepper and water to cover vegetable. Cook on top of stove or in oven at 350 degrees for about an hour. Garnish with parsley. Serves 4

Dinner and a Movie Monday – Tomorrowland

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action, adventure, fantasy, George Clooney, time travel, Tomorrowland

Tomorrowland is a 2015 movie, directed and co-written by Brad Bird and stars George Clooney. The actor always amazes me. He’s never been one of my favorites, but whenever I see him in movies like this one, I’m reminded of the kind of actor he is when he doesn’t portray the suave, debonair and less than honest character he usually portrays. It’s hard to say whether he’s acting in the former roles and being himself in the latter or vice versa. In this one, he plays Frank, a disillusioned genius inventor who travels to Tomorrowland with Casey, teenage science enthusiast, to change the future which is affecting the past.

Frank and Casey team up to prevent it from happening. It’s a race against time in more ways than one. The movie played to mixed reviews, despite the stunning visuals and good acting (in my opinion). It was one of those simple films you didn’t have to spend time dissecting to enjoy.

Tomorrowland is a place that reminds me of the kind of future envisioned in the fifties. All shiny rockets and jetpacks in a vivid blue sky filled with tall buildings and monorails. The kind of world where you’d expect to see Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon. A world of imagination.

I’m not going to include a recipe this week simply because when I think of a fair I think of corn dogs, cotton candy, fried ice cream, funnel cakes, and all kinds of things we loved as children. A recipe simple wouldn’t do them justice.

Close your eyes. Let your senses take over. Listen to the sound of people having fun, breathe in the tantalizing smell of the vendor food.

Turn back the clock for a little while and enjoy!!

Dinner And A Movie Monday – OUTLANDER

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action, adventure, Dinner and Movie Monday, Mead, Outlander, romance

A spacecraft crashes in a lake in ancient Norway. On board is an alien monster, the Moorwen, and Kainan, played by Jim Cavizel, who activates a distress signal and sets out to trace the monster which had stowed away on his ship and caused the crash.

Kainan is captured and held prisoner by king Hrothgar, who goes hunting for the bear he thinks attacked his village. Kainan saves his life. When his daughter, played by Sophia Myles, realizes the kind of man he is, she falls in love with him.

The Moorwen goes on a rampage. Neighboring king Gunnar is forced to seek alliance with Hrothgar. In an attempt to trap Moorwen and its newly born offspring, many of the Norsemen are killed, including both kings.

The survivors retreat, with Kainan and Wulfric staying behind the Moorwen, eventually defeating it in a cave. Fatally injured, Wulfric transfers the kingship to Kainan. Just as the rescue ship approaches for Kainan, he deactivates his distress signal, opting to remain on earth with Freya.

The movie didn’t do very well at the box office, but I think it was a good story for someone who likes had a lot of action, along with just enough romance. Jim Cavizel portrayed a believable character. As did Sophia Myles.

Mead

This week I’m not sharing a recipe. For one thing, I don’t know if any of us would appreciate sampling a true Viking meal. Instead I opted for something else. In just about every movie I’ve ever watched, the Vikings are always guzzling mead out of horns or flagons. As a writer, I was curious about the beverage, so I looked it up.

Mead is an alcoholic drink created by fermenting honey with water. It sometimes contains other fruits, spices, grains, or hops. The hops act as a preservative and lend it a bitter flavor…something like beer. Alcoholic content can be anywhere from 8 to 20%. It is carbonated or naturally sparkling and it can be dry, semi-sweet or sweet. The beverage is known from many sources of ancient history throughout Europe, Africa and Asia.

And there you have it!

Dinner and A Movie Monday – FREQUENCY

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action, Dinner and Movie Monday, hot dogs, science-fiction

Frequency is one of those movies you didn’t hear much about. It either doesn’t show up at a movie theater near you or else it comes and go in the blink of an eye. It’s a shame. I saw it after it came out on dvd, and it’s one of those movies I stop and watch whenever it airs.

Jim Caveziel plays John Sullivan, a homicide cop who still lives in the same house where he grew up. He tinkers with his father’s old ham radio equipment and because of freakish aurora borealis activity somehow manages to make contact with him 30 years in the past.

His father Frank, Dennis Quaid, refuses to believe John is who he says until his warning saves his life the next day. Frank’s survival creates a new timeline, one in which John’s mother was murdered by a serial killer. The two men, one living in the past and one living in the present, work together to find the killer before he can get to her.

One of the reasons I find this movie so touching is because of the relationship between the two men. The two actors did an excellent job portraying father and son meeting each other and reconnecting as grown men. John Sullivan gets to experience time spent with his father he never had when he was young, and Frank gets a second chance to tell his son how he feels about him.

It’s a twisty plot, and you have to pay attention the way you would if you were watching a mystery, but in the end I think it’s worth it.

HOT DOGS

In the movie, the characters have a cookout with friends. What better thing to serve than hot dogs. Nothing fancy. No difficult preparation, but there are a million ways to cook the “tubular steaks”. You can boil them, grill them, cook them in the oven or cut them up and serve them with pork and beans. And you can eat them with a hundred different relishes: chopped or grilled onions, peppers, sauerkraut, pickles, cheese, chili, all kinds of mustard.

Makes me hungry right now. I think I’ll go fix myself one for lunch right now.

John Rosenman Takes Over!!

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action, adventure, fellow MuseItUp author, John Rosenman, science-fiction, space travel

Today, I’m turning my blog over to a fellow author from MuseItUp, the super organized John Rosenman. He’s made my job easy. What an imagination he must have. His stories really sound fascinating! Take it away, John.

Hi. Let me tell you a little about myself. I’m a retired English professor who plays a lot of tennis, at least when the weather’s friendly. I’ve also published twenty books and three hundred short stories, most of them in the science fiction, speculative fiction, fantasy, paranormal romance, and horror genres. Two of my major themes are the endless, mind-stretching wonders of the universe and the limitless possibilities of transformation—sexual, cosmic, and otherwise. I’m the former Chairman of the Board of the Horror Writers Association and the previous editor of Horror Magazine.

When it comes to writing, a surprising thing has happened to me. I never thought it would take to my seventies before I wrote my first fiction series (The Inspector of the Cross series). Thirty-four years ago, I wrote a novel called Inspector of the Cross about a half black, half white man named Turtan who is nearly 4000 years old.  Why? Because this elite agent or Inspector travels in freeze ships in suspended animation from planet to planet to investigate reports of devices or weapons that might turn the tide against humanity’s vicious and seemingly invincible alien enemy.  In the process, our hero has outlived many generations, including his own children and countless lovers.  He has also almost singlehandedly saved humanity. However, if he doesn’t find a solution, we are ultimately doomed anyway.

I thought it was a cool concept.  I even had Turtan and a member of the enemy flying down the raging, mind-warping tunnel of a black hole together. Trouble was, I couldn’t sell the novel.

Flash forward over three decades.  I dug the story out, revised it, sent it to MuseItUp Publishing, they accepted it, it received excellent editing, and it was published.

Inspector of the Cross has received excellent reviews, and for the first time in my life, I’ve found one of my characters acquiring a life and staying power of his own.  In the sequel Kingdom of the Jax, Turtan continues to travel about the galaxy, experiencing adventures and encountering dangers from emperor and aliens alike. Marvels and mind-blowing wonders abound.

In Book 3, Defender of the Flame, Turtan returns to the space academy he graduated from 4000 years before for a glorious homecoming.  He believes he finally possesses the weapon he needs to defeat the aliens and win the 5000 year war, but he must have the cooperation of officials at the First Station to do so.  Will he get that cooperation or will he only be betrayed once again by his own leaders? If that happens, the people will die, and humanity itself will be doomed to extinction.

 

Currently I’m at work on Book 4, Conqueror of the Stars, in which more adventures await our hero.   Please stay tuned.

Recently, MuseItUp released a four book bundle of my fiction, The Amazing Worlds of John B. Rosenman.   My publisher made up the title, so please don’t think I’m vain even though I am. This collection contains four books—two novels and two short stories.   One of the stories, The Blue of Her Hair, the Gold of Her Eyes won Preditor’s and Editor’s 2011 Reader’s Poll award for best SF/F short story. It exemplifies one of the two major themes I mention above: the limitless possibilities of transformation. Rachel Ross contracts a mysterious disease which makes people fear and shun her.   Soon her body starts to change in strange ways. What will she turn into? If you’ve ever had a strange disease or illness which doctors found hard to diagnose, then this tale might resonate for you.

 

As for me, about the time this story was published, I fell sick with a mysterious disease which my doctor was unable to diagnose.   “Could I have cancer?” I finally asked him when I’d lost nearly thirty pounds and he had run every test.   What happened to me? What was the disease?   Did I die? Ah, that’s another story.

 

Some of my fiction belongs in other categories.   For example, I write humor as well as metafiction (fiction that often pokes fun of fiction itself and the act of writing it). And yes, I’ve written some mainstream or realistic fiction.   For example, The Merry-Go-Round Man is a novel that takes place in the 1950’s mostly in Ohio, and it’s based on three kids I knew. This is a coming-of-age/rite of passage story featuring violence, sexual initiation, and self-discovery. Do you believe in destiny or that anyone can ever change it or escape his fate?   One day when they are twelve, Jimmy Wiggins says that the boy who climbs first to the top of the school merry-go-round will be The Merry-Go-Round Man, or a winner for the rest of his life. So the three boys run to the merry-go-round and scramble madly over each other’s bodies to reach the top first. Who will win, and will he really be “The King of the Mountain” until he dies?

 

My thanks to Susan for hosting me, and I invite you all to write me about anything. My e-mail is jroseman@cox.net or johnr829@gmail.com, and my website is www.johnrosenman.com. You can also visit my Amazon Author Page at http://www.amazon.com/John-B.-Rosenman/e/B001KMN69E.

Check out John’s books at these links.

INSPECTOR OF THE CROSS – http://amzn.to/1xfv02X

KINGDOM OF THE JAX – http://amzn.to/1O77OsL

DEFENDER OF THE FLAME – http://amzn.to/1Cuc6G1

THE MERRY-GO-ROUND MAN – http://amzn.to/1DBdKap

THE AMAZING WORLDS OF JOHN B. ROSENMAN – http://amzn.to/18IS2DT

Thanks for coming again, John. You are welcome to come back and visit anytime!

Dinner and a Movie Monday ~ Hunger Games

Tags

action, adventure, Hunger Games, Jennifer Lawrence, post apocalyptic, Sausage Venison Stew, young adult

Like most post-apocalyptic stories, The Hunger Games trilogy depicts a bleak world for all but the ruling class. It takes place in the future in Panem, a nation built on the ruins of North America. The Capitol is located in the Rocky Mountains and is lavishly rich and technologically advanced in contrast to the rest of the country which supply its resources. The rest of the country consists of twelve districts existing in varying states of poverty. Every year one boy and one girl, between the ages of twelve and eighteen, are randomly chosen from the districts to participate in the “Hunger Games”. The Games are a televised event where the participants, called “tributes”, are forced to fight to the death in a dangerous public arena. The winning tribute and his/her home district is then rewarded with food, supplies, and riches for a time. The purpose of the Hunger Games is to provide entertainment for the Capitol and to serve as a reminder to the Districts of the Capitol’s power and lack of remorse.

Katniss Everdeen, a 16 year old girl from District 12 volunteers for the 74^th Hunger Games in place of her younger sister, Primrose. From the beginning Katniss questions the rules and refuses to follow then. In an act of defiance, she places flowers over the body of one of the other participants, and in order to save Peeta’s life she threatens a double suicide. Her ruse is successful, and both tributes return home victorious. Because of her actions she becomes a symbol of hope that fuels the rebellion against President Snow.

The Hunger Games can be considered violent for YA, but I enjoyed them. Jennifer Lawrence plays the part of Katniss with just the right amount of grit and determination. She’s tough and she’s a survivor, yet she allows us to see the turmoil she carries inside. She have no love for the government, but she has no desire to be a symbol for the rebels. All she wants is to be left alone, along with those she loves.

A dish made from wild game would be appropriate to go with this movie, so here is one of my old favorites. A real stick to your ribs stew that’s great on a chilly night.

Sausage-Venison Stew

1 lb. Kiolbassa sausage, sliced

1 lb venison, cut in small chunks

1 onion, sliced thin

½ pkg Italian Beans (frozen)

3 medium potatoes, peeled and cut in chunks

water

1-2 Beef Bouillon cubes

1 T oil

Salt, Pepper, garlic salt to taste

Put oil in a dutch kettle, heat sausage until fat is rendered. Add onions and venison. Cook until onions are sauteed and meat is browned on both sides. Add potatoes, green beans, bouillon cubes, potates. Add water to cover. Season to taste.

Cook on top of stop at medium heat for 30-45 minutes until meat is done and vegetables are tender. Or cook in oven on 350 for about an hour. Great with rolls, biscuits or cornbread.

Five On Friday

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action, adventure, alternate reality, Ann Everett, fantasy, From Now On, In My Own Shadow, Not Long Ago, romance, Talking Twang, time travel

Join me at Ann Everett’s Blog today where I answer five random questions. You just might find out something about me you didn’t know. Leave me a post. I’d love to hear from you! http://www.anneverett.com/

Happy Birthday MuseItUp!

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action, adventure, anniversary specials, birthday, MuseItUp Publishing, Not Long Ago, romance, Susan A. Royal, time travel

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/component/content/article/3-about/about-us/470-museitup-4-year-anniversary-specials#top

Want a break from your everyday routine? Ready for an escape from reality? Journey to another world with Erin. Maybe you’ll find your knight in shining armor like she did. Get it while it’s on sale for 80% off! That’s less than a cup of coffee!

MuseItUp is celebrating their birthday this month with all kinds of specials, so hurry over. There’s some great reads to pick from. Don’t miss this opportunity.

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/now-available-in-ebook/not-long-ago-detail

DEAR READERS

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action, adventure, alternate reality, castles in the sky, desert people, fantasy, From Now On, ghosts, In My Own Shadow, MuseItUp Publishing, Not Long Ago, romance, time travel

So many of you have read my books and shared with me how much you enjoyed them. I can’t begin to tell you how much it means to me as a writer to hear those words of encouragement. Having readers tell me which character they loved (or loved to hate) and ask when the next book is coming out is inspiring! As you know, marketing is a large part of being a writer. I need to get my name out there so even more people will pick up one of my books. So I’m asking a big favor. If you will post a review for one of my books and send me the link when the review is up, I’ll send you one of my other ones for free.