Ham & Cheese Muffin's A'la Mr. Food

When it starts getting cold, I love to bake. Today I found a super easy savory muffin recipe from Mr. Food.

Mr. Food makes the best easy Ooo it's so good stuff, and this recipe is a winner and one you can play around with.

I used the cubed ham you can buy in any grocery store and Mexican cheese blend. The recipe calls for cheddar, but you can use whatever suits you.

I like to use butter cooking spray to grease my muffin pans.

Makes: 1 dozen muffins
Cooking Time: 15 min
What You'll Need:
2 1/2 cups biscuit mix
3/4 cup half-and-half
3 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 large egg, lightly beaten
3/4 cup diced ham (for maximum flavor, use country ham)
3/4 cup shredded sharp Cheddar cheese

What To Do: Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.

Pour biscuit mix in a large bowl. Make a well in center of mix.

Combine half-and-half and remaining 5 ingredients; pour into well of biscuit mix mixture, stirring just until moistened.

Spoon into greased muffin pans, filling two-thirds full.

Bake at 11 to 12 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Remove from pans immediately.

Read more at http://www.mrfood.com/Bread/Ham-and-Cheese-Muffins-5012#uJQIORlILvX2FFGi.99

Stay Safe Atlantic City

My heart is breaking for all the loss on the Jersey Shore, and I don't mean the Guido and Guidettes of that crap Mtv show

One of the things that is still standing proud, albiet in a big ole pool of Atlantic Ocean is Lucy The Elephant.

She's the star of Margate, NJ. She's even pictured on their water tower!

Here's Lucy on a sunnier day.



We love you Lucy! Hope you weather the rest of the storm well. Here's hoping some other landmarks stand strong too. It is a shame parts of AC's Boardwalk have washed away..and Ocean City's Boardwalk is gone.

Movie Review: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Blurb:An award-winning, all-star cast, led by Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Tom Wilkinson, and Maggie Smith, lights up this "buoyant comedy laced with genuine emotion." (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone) When seven cash-strapped seniors decide to "outsource" their retirement to a resort in far-off India, friendship and romance blossom in the most unexpected ways. Smart, life-affirming and genuinely charming, THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL is a "true classic that reminds us that it's never too late to find love and a fresh beginning at any age." (Rex Reed, The New York Observer)

Review: This movie follows the lives of a group of Brits who in their retirement years decide to relocate to Jaipur, India.

The cast is really superb with great acting by Judi Dench, who always brings life to any role she plays, Maggie Smith is a lovable curmudgeon and Bill Nighy will have you all falling for his poor husband role. Fans of Doctor Who will also recognize Penelope Wilton, who plays Nighy's wife in the film. Can I just say her character is enough to make you want to toss her off a cliff or something. God she was a cranky woman.

What you have in this film is a mixture of stories, like most of us are used to with films such as Love Actually and Valentine's Day.

The character's you can't help but love are Dench's Evelyn, a widow left with little but debts from her husband, Douglas, the husband that tries to hold it together, and Graham, the judge retiring to the place of his youth.

There are secrets and life issues all around. One of the best plot lines involves Maggie Smith's Muriel. She's a bigot. But as she recovers from her hip surgery, she undergoes a change and by the end of the film she's a totally different person. It is a shame the same thing couldn't be said for Douglas' wife.

Dev Patel's Sonny is another character you can't help but love. One of two young cast members, he brings a lot of laughter to the film. He's an eternal optimist, even as the hotel is crumbling around him.

It is a long film, a little over 2 hours, but it worth every minute. Sometimes good films don't have to be about 20 somethings. Oh and like the Hotel's sign reads, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful, and really that's what this cast was!

Cover Reveal: Julie Leto - Dirty Little Christmas

This is the new cover of Julie Leto's Dirty Little Christmas! A novella I'll be looking forward to this holiday season! Woo hoo! Yay for sexy Christmas books!

Favorite Historical Films

Having watched Miss Potter this week, I got to thinking about the movies I've watched that are about historical figures or that take place in days gone by.

Here are five of my favorite historical films.


Dangerous Liasions is probably my favorite of all historical films. I think this has to do with the brilliance and downright sexiness of John Malkovich as Valmont. Glenn Close was also superb in her role.

I never could bring myself to watch the version of this film where Colin Firth plays that part, because I simply can't see Colin as a villain.

This movie was super sexy and sensual without crossing the line to soft core porn. (You know, in films like The Other Boleyn Girl)


Vanity Fair is another historical film that I adored, based on Thackery's epic novel and starring Reese Witherspoon.

Another really sexy historical film.

Do you see a pattern here?

I like smutty historical flicks!



The Duchess is stunning. Keira Knightley place Duchess Georgina of Devonshire wonderfully.

This is the kind of film that makes you want to learn more about the life of the woman that the film is about.

The first two films were based on classic novels, this one is based on a real person, and a descendant of Princess Diana too! Oh and on the eye candy front there's Ralph Fiennes to drool on too.



Nanny McPhee is the family friendly additon to this list.

Colin Firth had to be in one of the films on this list, right?

I absolutely loved this film.

Nanny McPhee is a film that you will want to watch over and over. Great film for both kids and parents.


Chocolat has to make the list for a more contemporary historical.

This film is just beautiful. Everything about it is beautiful, the story, the cast, the scenery, the cast...did I mention Johnny Depp is in this film?

Ah....

He not a true starring character, but his Roux is superb, proof that he doesn't always have to play the quirky character to be fantastic!

Movie Review: Miss Potter

Synopsis By Amazon: Miss Potter walks that fine line between charming and cloying with pleasing sure-footedness. Apple-cheeked Renee Zellweger (Bridget Jones' Diary) once again slips into a British accent to play writer/illustrator Beatrix Potter, the creator of Peter Rabbit. Potter, born into wealth, fought the disapproval of her high society mother to do something as crass as publish a book...and to fall in love with her publisher, Norman Warne (Ewan McGregor, previously teamed with Zellweger in Down With Love). Unfortunately, their love runs into something worse than upper-class stuffiness. Miss Potter skips through Potter's life a bit too briskly at times, but Zellweger's thankfully restrained performance, McGregor's infinite charm, and some beautiful shots of the English landscape keep the movie grounded and engaging. Also featuring a crackling supporting performance by Emily Watson (Breaking the Waves) as Warne's sister Millie.

Review: Thanks to a cozy mystery series that has Beatrix as a central character, I've become fascinated with the author. This movie is a beautiful telling of how she came to be a published author and how she found love twice in her life.

Renee Zellweger plays Beatrix to perfection. She is an actress I don't usually care for, maybe it is because she's usually in roles where she's playing a glamorous lead, like Roxy or Bridget. Beatrix Potter is not glamorous.

But beyond the acting, which is superb with all players, MacGregor and Watson as well, is the way the characters of Miss Potter's books are brought to life, particularly the cheeky Jemima Puddle Duck, who wags her tail feathers at Norman on Christmas Eve.

This film is a feast for the senses. Potter's Lake District is lush and beautiful. It leaves you longing to visit Hill Top farm and all of her animals. To take in the sights of the English countryside. Even Potter's London home is stunning.

Knowing a bit of Potter's life made watching the last 30 minutes a trial. Not because there was any problem with the story, but because I knew that Norman was going to die and my heart broke for her.

I did like how the ended it showing her finding love again, with William Heelis.

This is definitely a must see movie for anyone that longs to learn more about the life of a very intriguing woman.

Movie Review: Dark Shadows

Blurb: From the wonderfully warped imagination of Tim Burton comes the story of Barnabas Collins (Johnny Depp), a dashing aristocrat who is turned into a vampire by a jilted lover and entombed for two centuries. Emerging from his coffin into the world of 1972, he returns to his once-majestic home, only to the few dysfunctional descendants of the Collins family who remain. Determined to return his family name to its former glory, Barnabas is thwarted at every turn by his former lover - the seductive witch Angelique (Eva Green) - in this wildly imaginative"

Review: First things first, this film is really nothing like either version of the show or the films that were made back in 60s and 70s.

Its one of those films that's so gloriously bad that you like it.

Johnny Depp brings his fantastic campy self to the part of Barnabas.

Where the movie fails is in bringing something of the old story to the audience.

This is truly a re-imagining, as Tim Burton, likes to say.

The characters are all there, Josette/Victoria Winters,  Elizabeth, David Collins, and most importantly Angelique.

The best scene by far in the film, is the hot vampire/witch sex scene with Johnny and Eva, where they totally destroy a room while they get it on most violently.

Lots of laughs are had there.

Actually if you try to forget that the other series and films existed, this is a campy, fun vampire flick, where best of all, the vampire did not, not even for one moment sparkle!

However, too many people know this series. It has a huge cult following, and Burton really didn't do it justice the way he does other films. It was like he was trying to fit too much stuff into the hour and a half time allotment.

There was more Barnabas/Angelique than Barnabas/Victoria, and yet we are supposed to believe they shared a love for each other.

It didn't work.

That doesn't take away from the fact that it is a funny movie and Johnny Depp is the kind of vampire we all want hanging around to bite our necks.

This isn't a great piece of filmography, but it is fun and Danny Elfman's score is pretty awesome!

When Cute Guys Wear Bad Clothes

This week I'm featuring Elvis Costello, because well, he not only wears bad clothes, he wears bad accessories too!

Elvis has the scariest hat collection of any man out there!

Example!

Tracy Woodword TWP

From The Hollywood Reporter website

Why I Love The Neighbors

If you haven't tuned in to The Neighbors yet, what the heck is wrong with you?

I know this show is destined for failure, for several reasons.

1. I laugh through all 30 minutes of it.

2. It has a sci fi twist and for some reason that doesn't work on network tv anymore.

3. The characters are absolutely a hoot!

This show is more slapstick then Third Rock From The Sun was, but you might draw comparisons, because they are both comedies with the main characters being aliens. Though I have to say, I think the aliens in this show are much funnier.

I have already stated that if they can this show, the Simon Templeton should be cast as the next Doctor. I kept watching him thinking...yes he would make a great Time Lord.

One of the things that makes this show so awesome are the cute kids that aren't obnoxious.

This is one of those cute kids

Ian Patrick plays Dick Butkus. He's absolutely adorable, and he's the youngest of the alien kids, I think. The most fun part of the show is watching how the aliens try to adapt to life on Earth.

This show is hysterical. Even if you don't have a love of Sci-Fi you should give it a try.

Favorite Episodes

I wanted to highlight a few of my favorite episodes of Doctor Who, Torchwood and Red Dwarf

First off is Vincent and the Doctor from 2010.

This had to be one of the best episodes in Moffat's reign with Doctor Who.

This one is totally emotionally charged and it is impossible not to fall in love with Van Gogh in this hour. I love Eleven and Amy.

It is also impossible not to cry at the end.

The next episode on my favorites list is The Unicorn and the Wasp.

This was the Agatha Christie whodunit episode. I loved Donna in this one..and the big ole kiss she plants on the Doctor is definitely a highlight to the show.

Hell who wouldn't want to plant one on David Tennant?

Now on to Torchwood. There's really only 2 series of this one..I don't count that awful mini-series or the American series, cos they SUCKED.

Best epi by fari is To The Last Man.

Can you tell I love period episodes?

This is another one that is totally emotionally charged. There won't be a dry eye in the room at the end of this one.

Plus it was nice to see Tosh have a guy....

I miss Torchwood.

Next up is my favorite Sci Fi Comedy, Red Dwarf

Best epi? Parallel Universe!

This was a total hoot for so many reasons. The parallel versions of Rimmer, Lister and Cat were so funny!

But probably the best thing about this episode is the opening musical number, sung by Cat aka Danny John-Jules, who incidentally performed in the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express. That song, was of course, Tongue-Tied.

It doesn't get much better then this.

Your Cheating Heart

OMG! A country singer was caught "cheatin'" on his wife! Jason Aldean was drunk and trying to get it on with a former American Idol contestant, Brittany Kerr.

This is what he had to say on his Facebook.

Hey Guys – I wanted to talk to you directly, so you were hearing the truth from me and not just reading allegations made about my personal life on gossip web sites.The truth is that I screwed up. I had too much to drink, let the party get out of hand and acted inappropriately at a bar. I left alone, caught the bus to our next show and that's the end of the story. I ultimately ended up embarrassing my family and myself. I'm not perfect, and I'm sorry for disappointing you guys. I really appreciate being able to work through this privately with my family and for all your continued support

I don't usually care about this stuff, but the comments made about his transgression just floored me. So many fans that were disappointed in him because of this and they say they'll stop buying his music!

WTF!

Seriously!

Let's go back in time shall we to the mid-60s. John Lennon shacks up with Yoko Ono while married to Cynthia who is also the mother of his son, Julian. OMG! I won't listen to the Beatles cos John cheated on his wife?

No way.

Now I'm in no way comparing the music of Mr. Lennon with Mr. Aldean or even the result of the affair. In John's case, he loved Yoko...in Jason's case...he was likely drunk and stupid. But god, if we abandoned talented artists because they screwed up in their personal lives, well there wouldn't be anyone making music or movies.

I can't believe how much attention this has received...We are a sad lot of people...aren't we?

When Cute Guys Wear Bad Clothes...

I'm going through the men of Doctor Who. Last week, I featured David Tennant, a master at wearing stuff that is truly awful.

This week, I spotlight Arthur Darvil, aka Rory Williams!

What I would love to know, is why I can't find one of these, even with the awful bird sweater at my Barnes and Noble?

Arthur Darvill
04/08/2011
Mr. Blue/WENN.com

Doctor Who In Review: The Angels Take Manhattan

The midseason finale of Doctor Who is everything the other episodes in this season weren't and that's good.

This was everything that Doctor Who should be.

It kept you on the edge of you seat with your heart racing.

It also was "The Ponds" last episode.

Now, I know many people didn't like these companions, though I'm not sure why? Maybe it is because everyone wants The Doctor to have a companion that's more a girlfriend than a traveling companion. Whatever the reason, for me, I loved The Ponds and I loved Donna Noble, because they weren't all madly in love with The Doctor. They loved him, but they didn't want to sleep with him.

That said, I loved Amy and Rory's love for each other. It stood the test of time, many times.

I still loved Rory more than Amy, but I'm a girl...and hey, it was nice to see The Doctor with a male companion that wasn't

1. An idiot

2. Gay.

Not that I minded Captain Jack...I loved him and I miss him an Ianto like crazy...but its the "I want to bed The Doctor" thing that annoyed me with the previous seasons be it Rose, Martha or Jack Harkness.

Oh and note to the writers Rory was a freakin' nurse, he couldn't be that much of an idiot. I don't know why they talked down his profession in the show. Its a rather important job. (I don't know about the UK but in the US it is a pretty good paying job and hard work)

But back to the episode. I loved River in this one...she felt more likable than she was before. I also like that she said she would travel with him again, but the Tardis only needs 1 psychopath inside it! So maybe that Pond will be back again sometime. She is the Doctor's wife after all.

The Angels returned to their super scary bad ass selves in this one...And OMG baby Weeping Angels!!! Scarier than the big ones.

I'm seriously not going to any cemeteries in the near future!

I'm not going to give any spoilers for the end. (At least not directly)

But I am going to say this....Mr. Moffat you are a cruel and heartless man and I think I don't like you anymore. I may, in fact, like Uncle Rusty a bit better after this one...and now...like The Doctor..I hate ENDINGS!

A Thing Of Beauty

Elvis Costello covering Penny Lane

When Cute Guys Wear Bad Clothes

I love David Tennant. He's a doll baby, and he can get away with wearing just about anything, no matter how ridiculous.

He's lucky that way.

However there are some outfits that are unforgivably bad. They make you wonder, who decided it was ok to be photographed in this. (Especially since it is a promo type shot and not a paparazzi shot)


This is one of those outfits!

Doctor Who In Review: Power Of Three

Last night's episode gave us a glimpse of The Doctor dealing with Pond Life and an alien invasion of the most boring kind.

It didn't really make for a super exciting episode, but  it did help set the scene for The Ponds departure which is really sad.

I think they are possibly the first companions that you see really consider leaving The Doctor at least in this way and you see how they manage their time with The Doctor and at home. More so than with the other companions in the new series, you got the idea of how long they were gone when they were living "Doctor Life."

To me the episode was dull, because the boxes took so long before they actually did something. I was almost as bored as the Doctor on a few occasions. (I think I might have nodded off 20 minutes in for a few)

Overall this episode is just another disappointment for me. There are three great actors and they are being utilized so poorly.

Oh and story arc? This one is so bleh....

Giggle, Drool and be Informed!

This song will be stuck in my head forever!

Doctor Who In Review: A Town Called Mercy

Episode three of Series 7 is A Town Called Mercy. After last week's episode, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was frankly very depressed with Dinosaurs On A Spaceship.

This episode was pretty depressing too, but it did give us some insight on The Doctor.

He's 1200 years old now. Dang! I wonder what year it really is on Earth!

For the most part, I enjoyed the Wild West plot and I liked Jax and the comparisons they make between him and The Doctor. They are very much alike, even in the crimes that Jax committed. I also like seeing the Doctor as more flawed, losing patience and ready to make sacrifices that you normally wouldn't see from him. I like that Amy brings out the good that's in him.

Again, I found too much death in this episode, and seeing The Doctor with a gun, wasn't right before and it still doesn't feel right now. It isn't who he is.

The ending was nice, better than Dinosaurs on a Spaceship.

So far, this series has had too much drama and not enough fun for me. The Doctor is getting to be a bit too serious and I think that is a bad thing. Matt Smith certainly could carry some more comic scripts and lord knows there needs to be something more amusing here...if we're going to recycle not to great aliens, why not bring back the adipose, at least they were cute!

Doctor Who In Review: Dinosaurs On A Spaceship

Episode 2 in the new series of Doctor Who is Dinosaurs On A Spaceship. It features Nefertiti and Riddel along with Amy, Rory and Rory's Dad.

This episode puts me on the fence. I liked it up to a point but then something happened that spoiled.

I'm probably the only person who can be turned off an episode because of one scene, but that happened to me here.

I was really enjoying this one, because it wasn't about evil aliens, though the plot reminded me a bit of Voyage of The Damned in some ways. I get tired of the same old same old. How many times can the Doctor defeat the Daleks, The Cybermen and The Weeping Angels?

What bothered me so much?

It involved the Triceratops.

That truly pissed me off and put me off the entire episode. I also didn't like the foreshadowing of what may happen to at least one of the Ponds.

I like that they know that their time with the Doctor is coming to an end..but the thought of either of them dying, (in Rory's case, AGAIN) well it just breaks my heart. I really feel attached to these two as companions.

There were things that I did like about this episode. The dinosaur for one...until that moment! Grrr. I loved Nefertiti! She was badass! And Rory's dad really helped you fall in love more with Rory.

So what did you think of the episode?

Movie Review: The Lorax

Blurb: The imaginative world of Dr. Seuss comes to life like never before in this visually spectacular adventure from the creators of Despicable Me! Twelve-year-old Ted will do anything to find a real live Truffula Tree in order to impress the girl of his dreams. As he embarks on his journey, Ted discovers the incredible story of the Lorax, a grumpy but charming creature who speaks for the trees. Featuring the voice talents of Danny DeVito, Ed Helms, Zac Efron, Taylor Swift, Rob Riggle, Jenny Slate, and Betty White, Dr. Seuss' The Lorax is filled with hilarious fun for everyone!
Buy: Amazon

Review:  The Lorax is one of the Dr Seuss books that I didn't read as a kid. Go figure, but the movie looked so amazing that I had to rent it, and I wasn't disappointed.

Like most Seuss specials and films it is full of fun music and a good message.

Ted is a young boy (voiced by Zac Effron) who will do anything for Audrey (voiced by Taylor Swift) including hunting down a real live tree!.

See in Thneedville, there are no trees. Things are super modern and there is no need. There are artificial ones that do so much more. Hey, they go spring summer autumn winter and DISCO!

But like many things it is more than just a cute movie about a boy trying to impress the girl. When Ted finds The Once-ler he learns why there are no more trees. How greed can spoil everything and how lies shouldn't be the only way to make money.

The Lorax is a lovable curmudgeon as we see when he tries to persuade a young Once-ler not to spoil the forest.

The star of the show is Ted's granny (voiced by Betty White). How can Betty not steal the show? 

The movie had a great message for kids and parents alike. The animation was stunning. Even without glasses you can see the 3-D in the film. Everything is so vivid and well, just gorgeous. A must see for kids and parents!