Challah French Toast

Better than any restaurant's french toast!!

Liquid mixture (let sit overnight if time permits):
2 eggs
2 cups milk
1 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 ½ Tablespoons pure vanilla extract
1 ½ Tablespoons sugar
1 large loaf of challah bread -a few days old so that it's firm throughout, sliced 1 inch thick
Vegetable oil for frying


In a shallow dish, combine eggs, milk, cinnamon, vanilla extract and sugar.

Add oil 1/2" deep to a large skillet or griddle. Preheat over medium heat.

Soak bread on both sides. Place in pan and let cook few minutes until golden brown. Flip bread, cover pan and let cook 1 minute (this ensures the french toast is cooked through and not soggy).

Uncover and let cook another minute or until golden brown.

Remove bread from pan, add additional oil and repeat process with remaining pieces of bread.

Serve hot with butter and maple syrup. Serves 6.

Rugrats in Paris - The Movie (2000)

Ahh Paris, the beautiful city of lights and outstanding dishes. Our Challah French Toast recipe celebrates Paris and our film inspiration, "Rugrats in Paris", adds a fun twist. "Rugrats in Paris" is entertaining for children and adults alike. Challah French Toast is the best French Toast recipe ever, and it will be a breakfast favorite for your whole family. Bon Appetit!

Deluxe Pizza Spaghetti

1 (16 oz.) package spaghetti, cooked according to package directions

2 Tbs olive oil

1/2 cup chopped onion

1/2 cup chopped green peppers

3 cloves minced garlic

1 lb. ground turkey

1/2 lb sausage (casings removed)

1 -15 oz. can pizza sauce

1 -15 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 cup sliced mushrooms

3/4 cup water

3/4 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. black pepper

2/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese

1/2 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes

Add olive oil to a large skillet over medium high heat. Cook onions and green pepper until soft. Stir in garlic, ground turkey and sausage. Cook, stirring constantly until cooked through (no longer pink). Drain excess liquid. Add pizza sauce, tomatoes, mushrooms, water, salt and pepper. Combine well, reduce to low heat. Let simmer 25 minutes. Stir in Parmesan cheese and crushed red pepper flakes.

Serve over spaghetti.

Serves 8.

My Cousin Vinny (1992)

Our recipe for Deluxe Pizza Spaghetti delivers two great Italian dishes in one, and its two times crazy delicious! Our spotlighted film "My Cousin Vinny" stars Joe Pesci as Vinny and Marisa Tomei (she won the Oscar for this role) plays his girlfriend Mona Lisa. They are two New Yorkers "fish out of water" in Alabama. Lawyer Vinny is attempting to defend his first murder case, and his cousin's life is on the line. Like our Deluxe Pizza Spaghetti and "My Cousin Vinny" you may do a double take at first glance, but you sure will enjoy the ride!

Cheesy Grits and Turkey Bacon Souffle

Wonderful for Breakfast, Brunch or Dinner!

1 cup grits -quick cooking (not instant)

2-1/3 cups water

2 cups milk

3 Tablespoons butter

1 Tablespoon onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1 -1/2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese

6 slices crispy turkey bacon cooked and crumbled

1/2 cup egg whites, from 4 eggs

In a saucepan, bring water and milk to a boil over high heat and stir in grits. Return to a boil and reduce heat to low, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until grits are smooth and creamy, about 10 minutes. Transfer grits to a large bowl and allow to cool. Melt butter in a skillet. Add onion and garlic and saute until softened, about 2 minutes.

When grits have cooled, stir in sauteed onions and season with crushed red pepper, salt, black pepper, grated cheese and crumbled bacon.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9 inch baking dish. Set aside.

In a large bowl beat egg whites with a pinch of salt until stiff peaks form. Gently mix 1/3rd of the beaten whites into the grit mixture, then fold in remaining whites (do not over mix). Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake 40 to 45 minutes, until golden brown on top. Serves 6.

True Grit (1969)

"True Grit" is a hell of a good western and gave me an appreciation for John Wayne as an actor. He won the coveted Oscar and Golden Globe for his portrayal of Reuben J. "Rooster" Cogburn. "True Grit" and our recipe for Cheesy Grits and Turkey Bacon Souffle is more than just a play on words, both have down-home goodness and a style all their own.

Ultimate Devil's Food Cake with Raspberry Puree

The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

"The Devil Wears Prada" is the story of Andy (Anne Hathaway), a young college graduate who has the highly coveted, but HELLISH job of being Assistant to Runway Magazine's Editor, "Miranda Priestly (Meryl Streep). Miranda is a woman at the top of her game who is both admired and feared by all. She is a total bitch, and we just love her! Meryl Streep shows us once again in "The Devil Wears Prada" why she is a Hollywood icon. Her portrayal of Miranda earned her an Academy Award nomination for "Best Actress".

Our recipe for the "Ultimate Devil's Food Cake with Raspberry Puree" was inspired by Miranda. Like her, our devil's food cake is rich, over-the-top and unapologetically bold. But wait, that's not all! We are serving it with our sweet and tangy Raspberry Puree. Our cake and Miranda are so "fierce" they deserve double photos and double video clips.

Totally Bitchin'

1-2/3 cup all purpose flour
1 cup cocoa powder
1 Tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter (2 sticks), softened
2-1/4 cups sugar
5 eggs, beaten
1 cup sour cream
2/3 cup milk
1 Tbs. pure vanilla extract

Raspberry Puree:
4 Tbs. lemon juice
2 cups raspberries
8 Tbs. sugar

Frosting (Nestle's recipe):
1 stick butter, softened
3 cups confectioner's sugar
2/3 cup Nestle's cocoa
1 Tsp. pure vanilla extract
5 Tbs. milk

To make the raspberry sauce, mix lemon juice, sugar and raspberries in a small saucepan. Let simmer on low heat about 5 minutes or until sugar has thickened. Set aside to cool. Puree fruit mixture in a blender. Pour into a small bowl, cover and refrigerate. Grease and flour two 8" round cake pans. Set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking powder and salt. Set aside.

Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar on high speed for 3 minutes or until creamy and fluffy.

Add 1/3rd of beaten eggs to mixer. Mix on medium speed until combined. Repeat with remaining egg mixture.

Reduce mixer to low speed. Blend in 1/4 of flour mixture, then 1/4 of sour cream. Alternate remaining flour and sour cream. Blend in milk and vanilla until well combined.

Pour mixture into cake pans. Bake for 35 to 40 minutes or until cake tester inserted into center of the cake comes out clean. Remove from oven and let cool 15 minutes before inverting.

To make the frosting:
Using an electric mixture, beat butter, 1 cup confectioner's sugar and 2 Tbs milk on high speed. Alternate remaining confectioner's sugar and milk. Beat in vanilla. Frost cooled cake. Serve with raspberry sauce.

Serves 16.

Turkey Meat Loaf with White Wine Mushroom Sauce

Mix well in a mixing bowl:
1 lb. ground turkey
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup ketchup
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup chopped onions
3 tablespoons green peppers, chopped
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
3/4 teaspoon season salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1 Tablespoon hot sauce
1 Tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

Make a loaf shape and place in a 9 inch baking pan, cover loosely with foil and bake for 50 minutes. Remove foil and continue baking another 20 minutes.

In the meantime... Heat a saute pan over medium heat and add:
1 -1/2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 - 1/2 tablespoons flour

Stir constantly until mixture turns lightly brown, then add:
4 button (regular) mushrooms, sliced
2 tablespoons oyster sauce
1/2 cup California white wine
1 -1/2 cup water

Stir over high heat for 1 minute, then lower to a simmer and cook an additional minute. Place turkey loaf on a serving dish and pour white wine mushroom sauce over the entire loaf.
Optional, sprinkle with fresh or bottled parsley. Serves 5.

Sideways (2004)

The true star of the film "Sideways" is California's beautiful wine country. This film was nominated for 5 Academy Wards, including "Best Picture", and won the Oscar for "Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay". Two friends Miles (Paul Giamatti) and Jack (Thomas Haden Church) start out on an adventure to have one last "hurrah" before Jack gets married.

Our recipe for Turkey Meat Loaf with White Wine Mushroom Sauce includes the irreplaceable California white wine and the "magic" it adds to great sauces. Our turkey meat loaf stands up to any meat loaf including the one's made with ground beef. Enjoy our recipe with the film and a bottle of your best California wine!

Oatmeal Raisin and Chocolate Chip Bites

1 -1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup butter, room temperature (2 sticks)

3/4 cup packed light brown sugar

1 cup granulated sugar

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

2 large eggs (room temperature)

1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract

1 cup quick oats (not instant)

1 cup raisins (soak in 2 cups of water for 30 minutes, then drain)

1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/3 cup walnuts, chopped (mix in a bowl with 1 tablespoon honey)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a medium bowl, sift through a strainer; flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugars until light and fluffy.

Add eggs and vanilla, mix. Add flour mixture, mix. Add oats, raisins, cinnamon, and chocolate chips, mix.

Drop by small teaspoons about 1 inch apart onto cookie sheets sprayed with Pam. Bake 9 minutes or until lightly golden.

Serving: approximately 75 cookie bites.

A Raisin in the Sun (1961)

Lorraine Hansberry’s play, "A Raisin in the Sun", was the first successful Broadway play ever written by a black female playwright. She was nominated for Broadway's 1960 Tony Award for Best Play. In 1961, The all black cast starring Sidney Pointier, Claudia McNeil, Ruby Dee and Diana Sands recreated their roles for the movie. This dramatic film has one of the very best acting ensembles ever to grace the stage or film. Standout scenes throughout this film, but one of my very favorites is when Lena Younger (Claudia McNeil) learns that her son Walter Lee (Sidney Pointer) has handed over $6,500 of her dead husband’s insurance money to a low-life hustler, who has taken off. The loud cries of sadness, disappointment, and total devastation moves your very soul.

Our Oatmeal Raisin and Chocolate Chip Bites recipe and our Classic Movie, “A Raisin in the Sun” work so well together. Days gone by have left us memories of wonderful dishes and movies that can still move us, no matter how many times we have experienced them. Its like going home again, but in a good way!

Fried Green Tomatoes

4 green tomatoes
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup flour
1/4 cup olive olive

Combine all the ingredients below in a mixing bowl:
1 cup Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)

1/2 teaspoon Season All

1/2 teaspoon paprika

1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper

1/4 teaspoon garlic power

1/4 teaspoon thyme

Slice green tomato slices thick, about 1/2 inch.

You should have separate bowls for egg, flour, and panko mixture.

Dip and coat green tomato slices in flour, then egg and lastly panko mixture. Repeat for each slice.

Preheat skillet with olive oil over med high heat. Saute for about 2 minutes on each side until golden brown. Tomatoes will brown quickly, do check after each minute. Remove and place on paper towel.

Add dashes of salt to tomatoes after you remove from skillet.

Serves 6 to 8.

Optional Dip, combine and mix well:

1/2 cup ketchup

2 tablespoons low-fat mayo

1 teaspoon yellow mustard

dash of parley flakes. (Keep Refrigerated)

Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

"Fried Green Tomatoes" is two stories in one. First a menopausal and overweight housewife Evelyn (Kathy Bates) who's life is spinning out of control. Then an elderly, wise and lovable woman name Ninny (Jessica Tandy) who lives in a nursing home. The two women meet and the tale of Idgie and Ruth from Ninny's past is told. Our recipe for Fried Green Tomatoes pays tribute to the "Whistle Stop" diner portrayed in the film. Please enjoy the video clip below. It shows when Idgie and Ruth opened the diner. Idgie's first attempted at making fried green tomatoes was a bust, but we have put our touches on it and now its the "bomb."

Lord of the Onion Rings

The Lord of the Rings (2001)

From J.R.R.Tolkien's trilogy we spotlight the Oscar Awarded film "The Lord of the Rings." This is storytelling at its very best. Beautiful film with important messages for all of us. Our recipe for Lord of the Onion Rings was our quest (as Frodo Baggins was for the one true ring) for a great tasting and beautiful onion ring that could be done easily by home cooks. "The Lord of the Rings" film and our recipe for Lord of the Onion Rings are both the chosen ones.

3/4 cup flour
1 egg, beaten
1 large yellow onion
1/2 cup vegetable oil

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Combine the ingredients below in a mixing bowl

1 cup Panko (Japanese bread crumbs)
1/2 teaspoon season salt
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
1/2 teaspoon parsley flakes
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon Thyme

Wash, peel outer skin of onion, and cut off top and bottom (about an inch). Cut across onion to create rings (about 1/2 wide).

Place flour in mixing bowl, and dust rings with flour. Beat egg in a mixing, then dip and cover rings in egg. Roll each ring through Panko mixture until coated inside and out.

Preheat oil in skillet on med high heat. Cook rings about 30 seconds on each side, or until golden brown. They will brown quickly, please don't leave skillet.

Remove from skillet and place on paper towel.

Serves 4

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Optional Dip Sauce:

Combine ingredients below in bowl and mix well
Serve with onion rings
1/2 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons low-fat mayo
1 teaspoon yellow mustard
Dash of parsley flakes

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Chicken Wings 2-Ways (Chick Wings)

(Use first and second wing portions, also called "Party Wings")

For Baked Wings:
10 chicken wing pieces
1/3 cup low-fat zesty Italian dressing
1 tablespoon liquid smoke
Dashes of season salt
Dashes of black pepper
Pam Spray to cover baking pan

Marinate 10 wing pieces in low-fat zesty Italian dressing, liquid smoke, and dashes of season salt and black pepper, mix well. Marinate at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 365. Spray baking pan with Pam, place chicken on pan and cook uncovered (turn after 30 minutes) for about 40 minutes or until golden brown.
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For Fried Wings:
1 egg
1/2 cup low-fat buttermilk
1/2 teaspoon each Essence of Emeril
1/2 teaspoon season salt
1/2 teaspoon lemon pepper
10 chicken wing pieces
1 cup flour in mixing bowl, add dashes of Essence
1- 1/2 cup vegetable oil

In a bowl, add egg, low-fat buttermilk, Essence of Emeril's, season salt and lemon pepper, mix well. Add chicken wing pieces, mix and cover well. Drain egg and buttermilk mixture from chicken. Cover each wing with seasoned flour well.

Preheat skillet with vegetable oil over medium heat. Don't crowd pan when you place the chicken wings in the skillet. Cook about 13 minutes, turn over, and continue cooking another 10 minutes. Cook until brown, but not too dark. Total time should be about 23 minutes per batch.

White Chicks (2004)

"White Chicks" film is funny, 2 ways, Shawn and Marlon Wayans. They are FBI agents who pose as rich "white chicks" for a case. The laughs keep coming and our recipe for Chicken Wings 2-Ways brings you chicken wings baked with zesty delicious flavors and fried chicken wings that are tender inside and crusty "sick" goodness on the outside. If you haven't seen "White Chicks" check out the video clip, now is the time!

Peppercorn and Garlic Pork Chops with Buttermilk Potatoes

No Reservations (2007)

"No Reservations" is a film about a beautiful Head Chef Kate (Catherin Zeta-Jones) who creates delicious gourmet dishes every day and runs her kitchen with precision, skill, and professionalism. Our recipe for Peppercorn and Garlic Pork Chops with Buttermilk Potatoes could definitely be one of Kate's gourmet creations, but its ours. Niece Zoe (Abigail Breslin) comes to live with Kate after her mother dies, and Kate's kitchen is invaded by a new chef Nick (Aaron Eckhart). Zoe is having a hard time dealing with her mother's death, but with Nick's help, she and Kate find happiness in and out of the kitchen. Wonderful film about the people behind fabulous gourmet dishes and why we love them both.

4 thinly cut pork chops

Marinated for pork chops

1 -1/2 teaspoons black or mixed peppercorns, cracked

2 garlic cloves, minced

2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce

2 tablespoons red wine vinegar

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 teaspoon Season All

1/2 teaspoon sugar

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4 medium size red potatoes

2 tablespoons butter

1/4 cup low-fat buttermilk

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley or dashes of bottled parsley

Dashes of salt and pepper

Marinate pork chops (the longer you marinate the more flavorful your chops will be). At least an hour.

Preheat oven broiler. Place pork chops in baking pan and broil 9 minutes on each side. Keep a close check, since they are thin broiling time will be short.

Peel, dice and wash red potatoes. Place in 4 cups of boiling water. Cook until tender, about 17 minutes. Drain. Add potatoes, butter, low-fat buttermilk, parsley and dashes of salt and pepper to a mixing bowl. Use a potato masher or electric mixer and blend until potatoes are smooth.

Serve pork chops with buttermilk potatoes

Serves 4

Spinach with Jalapeno Cream Sauce

Iron Man (2008)

We are happy to share with you our iron rich Spinach with Jalapeno Creamed Sauce. The "Iron Man" film stars Robert Downey Jr., who portrays Tony Spark and he becomes our Superhero. I am giving this film "two spoons up" for its great screenplay and acting. Iron Man always ate his spinach, it gave him the extra strength he needed to save the world and our recipe for spinach is just the ticket!

2 Tbs butter
2 cups cooked spinach, liquid reserved
1 Tbs. flour
1 Tbs. green onion, chopped
3 Tbs. milk
1/2 cup jalepeno cheese, shredded
1 Tbs chopped green chiles
dash worcestershire sauce
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. black pepper

Melt butter over medium high heat. Add flour and stirr until thickened but not brown. Stir in 2 tablespoons reserved liquid. Add onions and cook until soft. Add milk, jalapeno cheese, chilles and worcestershire sauce. Stir until well combined and creamy. Add salt and pepper, stirring until well combined.

Serves 6.

Serve as a side dish or with tortilla chips as a dip.