Sunday, January 10, 2010

Eggs en Cocotte

Eggs en CocotteI feel rather sheepish posting so easy a recipe. It's not really fair to call it cooking it's so simple but I do love me some eggs. I will eat them in a pan, I will eat them in a flan, I will eat them poached or fried, I will eat them on the side . . .

So another sweet way to eat an egg makes me happy.

If you're running short on time but have it together enough to throw this in the oven for half an hour you'll have a fancy warm breakfast that will make you look quite elegant.

Originally the recipe calls for butter and cream but I've substituted lighter ingredients that worked satisfactorily.

6 eggs
3 tablespoons butter (I substituted light cooking spray)
6 tablespoons cream (I substituted low fat milk)
1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese
salt and pepper to taste

Use 1 tablespoon butter or light cooking spray to thoroughly grease each of three ramekins. Crack two eggs into each ramekin then top with 2 tablespoons cream or milk, salt and pepper. Divide the crumbled cheese between the three dishes (I used Alouette's Mediterranean goat cheese and it was amazing) then bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Serve with a side of juice and toast and you're in business.

***

So we finally saw Avatar. For Christmas Grace gave Andrew and I tickets to see it because she knew he was dying to go. Me? Not so much. I mean I know that James Cameron is known for painting with a brush of subtle artistry but I just didn't want to worry about whether this movie would live up to the high quality and multi-level significance of, say, Terminator or True Lies (pardon the sarcasm).

Though I told Andrew that Cameron making a CGI film makes a lot of sense--it's really a logical step for him because given his history with his actresses I'm bettin' the current missus is limiting his work to strictly computer-generated leading ladies.

Anyway, we tried to go last week and it was sold out. We tried again this week and bingo . . . success. I have to admit I was curious because everyone (and I mean EVERYONE) is raving about how great this movie is. Critics seem to like it and here it is three weeks after opening night and there are still lines in snaking through the theater half an hour before show time. I know people who have already seen it two or three times.

And I hate to be a nay-sayer . . . but seriously? That was it?? I mean it's definitely a visual effects movie and if you like visual effects to the point that two and a half hours of James Horner blasted at you over 3-D CGI is your idea of a great way to spend $15 then this is your lucky day but I had a hard time sitting through the whole thing. It was probably a case of there being no way this movie could meet all the hype I'd heard.

"WHY?" You screech? Well I guess I objected to being repeatedly hit over the head with Cameron's morality play. The "save our planet from the evil corporate white man" thing has been done to death seventeen times over and I was kind of expecting that a movie ten years in the making would have started with a creative, unique or even mildly interesting plot. Isn't that the first item on the "How to Make a Movie Checklist"?

1. Write great plot.

So that kind of disappointed. Though it has been said, and I do agree, that there are no new plots. Everything gets rehashed in one way or another and I suppose that's the case here. In fact, if you've seen Dances with Wolves you've seen Avatar. Only Dances with Wolves was slightly less formulaic and had a lot more clothing. A LOT. In fact I think the word "avatar" in Latin must mean "without clothing"--I'm pretty sure.

And while the computer graphics really were amazing I wasn't buying into Cameron's view of utopia. Though I guess I can see how a man of his wandering-eye reputation might be attracted to a society of naked supermodels loping through the forest, stopping occasionally to squat in provocative poses. No really, and for all the nipples and bare breasts you see there's not a saggy one among them. Apparently that low-gravity thing is really working for them.

But maybe I'm just thinking too much. Go go for the "wow!" visual effects. Go for the chance to relive the life of a 12 year-old boy sneaking peaks at the National Geographics in hopes of seeing something naked. Maybe go for the chance to sit with your husband and enjoy some nice "alone" time. Shoot, even go to see what all the hype is about. But if you're going for a story that will transport you or for dialog that lifts you with its richness or for characters that thrill you with their universal timelessness and roundness (and not that kind of roundness) then you might want to instead try out Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel. I'm just saying . . .

Sponsored by Polkadot Peacock for children's bedding.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Haven't been yet but find it rather strange that both males here can't wait to see. Must be the gravity thing and the special effects.

I was so disheartened during the holidays because aside from A Christmas Carol, there were no holiday movies. I always look forward to an inspiring holiday movie during the rush.

Janelle said...

Like I said last week, I've heard a lot of people say that the plot is basically just FernGully, done via CGI. I also found this on a friend's blog, which likens it to Disney's Pocahontas.

Admin said...

I couldn't agree more. We saw it last weekend and while it was visually beautiful - it wasn't anything that grand in terms of the plot/script. Janelle, I saw that pocahontas thing and died laughing -it was so right on. It originally came from the Huffington Post. I had to send it to a friend of mine who is SO fiercely obsessed with this movie being "perfect". lol

Geekwif said...

Didn't see it, mostly because of what I'd heard about the plot problems. After reading this I'm even more glad I didn't. On the other hand, if you haven't seen Sherlock yet, I highly recommend it. Great movie!

Karen Olson said...

I am laughing so hard...when we saw the interview with James Cameron on 60 Minutes, my husband turned to me and said, "It's basically Dances with Wolves with aliens."

I haven't seen it and don't want to. Did see Sherlock Holmes and really liked it.

Anonymous said...

Oh, your review is a RIOT! Lol!

I admit, as a sci-fi/animation geek I was really hoping that this movie would be great. Based on all the reviews I've scaled back my expectations tremendously. It sounds like a perfect Bear Tooth movie to see on a date with my hubby.

I have the feeling people aren't so hyped about the movie as that they feel they *should* be hyped about the movie, because IT'S JAMES CAMERON FOR GOD'S SAKE. A far less-objectionable form of the rallying that's happened around Roman Polanski.

jean said...

My son and nephew went to see it and LOVED it. However, when I asked what it was about they quickly lost interest. They were more impressed with the 3D and technical stuff.

April Mack said...

I've heard it called Dancing with Pocahontas in Fern Gully and that's about right.

Personally, though, I still loved it. Predictable story lines don't bother me too much if the acting is done well enough and it looks pretty. And this movie is very pretty. :)

April Mack said...

Forgot to mention that this recipe looks great! I'll have to try it sometime soon.

Janel said...

Oh cheery-o. Whoever said there wasn't a good Christmas movie this year, just wait until next. We have the promise of butchering the next installment of Narnia. : p At least they'll be wearing clothes! lol

(Jab aside, I enjoyed the other 2 Narnia movies. Except for maybe Anne of Green Gables 1, movies aren't their books and I appreciate that.)

embroidery thread said...

It is the first time that I heard to cook porridge like this.It seems very dilicious.Thanks for your sharing.

Kathryn said...

I love your review of Avatar!! I saw it this week too, and while I LOVED the CGI and Digital 3D, the movie would have been more enjoyable if it had NO plot. LOL!

The only reason the plot didn't bother me too much is because I read the plot ahead of time on Wikipedia (which can be a great time saving technique).

J said...

I haven't seen it yet, either. Cameron's films always disappoint me, because they lack subtlety. He hits you over the head, again and again, until even the idiots get it. Yawn.

The effects, I'm sure, are gorgeous. Maya saw it, and loved it. And I know we will see it soon ourselves.

Some Lucky Dog said...

I am so glad to know that I am not the only one not impressed. I thought exactly the same thing(s)...beautiful effects...but dull, dull, dull, predictable, and I am so sick of hearing about killing the planet (especially from Hollywood) I could spit!

Some Lucky Dog said...

Oh...and thanks for the recipe. Hubby will love it!

Lori said...

What is with this movie? I'm more in line with your assessment. My father in law wanted to take my husband and four year old because he thought it would be a good family movie.

I nixed that. I nix all his movie suggestions though--he took his son to see Scarface when he was six!

Lori said...

Oh and anything with eggs and goat cheese has my blessing--YUM!

Cheri said...

Glad to read your review and comments. I rarely get out to see a movie and this was not one that I really wanted to see and now I know I am going to pass on it for sure.

I have a recipe question, I love simple recipes!! Do you leave the yolk whole after cracking into the dish or mix them a little?

page2 said...

Thanks for the warning. I was already annoyed by Avatar when three of my kids got the same lame Avatar toy in their Happy Meals. I don't see many movies, so I probably wont bother to see this one, unless my husband really wants to see it.

Mercy's Maid said...

I saw Avatar this weekend because some friends of mine wanted to see it. Like others have said, it's a beautiful movie. I liked all of the colorful plants and fanciful animals, but it was...boring to me. The story line has been done to death.

Stephanie said...

So your egg recipe is great and all, BUT...your movie review was laugh-out-loud funny. You are smart and hilarious and so awesomely sarcastic. That piece deserves to be in The New York Times or something.

P.S. I haven't seen the movie yet...and now I don't really care to.

stephanie@metropolitanmama.net

Marissa said...

I agree completely. We saw it last week and an hour and a half through I asked my husband how much longer it was. There was still another hour or so! Oh, the agony. We actually left before it was over and saw The Blind Side. Much better movie!