Invictus

I was under the mistaken impression that this was a Matt Damon movie about soccer. It's not. It's a Morgan Freeman movie about Nelson Mandela and how rugby (and Captain Matt Damon) brings South Africa together as a nation. I should have realized that from one look at the movie poster and the trailer, which I just watched. I don't even remember seeing the trailer when the movie came out. This movie did not penetrate my consciousness at all. Was the problem with me? In fact, the only real notice I took of it was at awards season last year, and it took me this long to get around to finally watching it. I did start the movie with an open mind though, ready to be pleasantly surprised.

Plot summary: The movie begins as Mandela is elected to the presidency of a badly divided South Africa. Mandela recognizes that rugby can be the thing that brings blacks and whites together. He's right! Roll credits.

Invictus is okay. It's Saint Nelson stretching out his arms and pulling the country into one big group hug - or high five - over a successful World Cup run. Freeman is good as Mandela and Damon is okay as the captain of the rugby team, but the movie is too long. It's interesting and there are some good moments, but it's predictable and not particularly moving. Like I said: it's okay. Catch it on cable if there's nothing else on.

Linguine with Pancetta and Sauteed Cherry Tomatoes

 Our go-to meal on busy weeknights is pasta with sauce (either Safeway Select or Classico) from a jar. It's fast and filling and satisfying. It's also so predictable. I had pancetta left over in the refrigerator from the Pasta and Lentils, Sicilian Style so I searched Epicurious for something quick and easy using ingredients I already had in the house. The ingredients - linguine, olive oil, garlic, pancetta or bacon, red pepper flakes, cherry tomatoes, grated cheese, and fresh basil - are pantry staples and summer garden bounty. It was good in February, but my mouth waters thinking of how it will taste this summer prepared with just-picked tomatoes and basil. I would not use canned tomatoes or dried basil for this recipe. There are so few ingredients that the ones you do use should be as fresh as possible.

Winter or summer, it can't be simpler to make. In the time the linguine cooks the sauce can be prepared. You heat the olive oil, sauté the garlic, add the pancetta and red pepper and cook until the pancetta is crisp, add the tomatoes and cook until soft (maybe 4ish minutes), and then add chopped basil and shredded Parmesan (please, please, please use only fresh), and salt and pepper to taste. It's oh-so-simple but good. I didn't love it (my husband did) but I loved how easy it was to make and that makes it a keeper in my book.

Pasta and Lentils, Sicilian Style

I love lentils. I love pasta. Who doesn't crave comfort food? Healthy comfort food is even better. Pasta and Lentils, Sicilian Style fits the bill exactly. This recipe is from The Washington Post Food section last December (there's a nice picture there too which I realized I probably shouldn't be copying without permission). The only meat in it is two tablespoons of pancetta so it could easily be omitted for a vegetarian meal. It's basically a lentil stew (onion, carrot, tomato puree) with broken pieces of thick spaghetti in it. Definitely drizzle it with olive oil and serve with grated Pecorino as recommended. I served this with a small green salad to start, some good Italian bread (homemade!), and a nice Italian red wine for a hearty, filling meal.

Full disclosure: I have not actually made this. My dear husband has made this several times, and it's been delicious each time. There's not a lot of "cooking" required, merely following easy steps. If you open the red wine while you're cooking, it's even easier!

Super Bowl Sunday

It's a couple weeks late, but here are the lessons I learned from hosting a Super Bowl party:

1. If your team is playing the Super Bowl, do not host a party of non-fans. Guests will come late, leave early, and try to talk to you.
2. Don't use the honor system for the football pool. Despite everyone's best intentions, there will be problems.
3. If it's not a potluck meal, it will still be a potluck meal. Don't cook too much.
4. Tacos are not the most party friendly food. Move the carpet before serving.
5. Taco fixin' leftovers make a great, healthy soup. (I added leftover chicken, tomatoes, beans, tomatillo, and salsa to some chicken broth and taco sauce. Yum.)
6.  Don't expect to see much of the game. As mentioned, guests come and go and, also, the mountain of accumulated plates, dishes, and pots will not wash themselves.
7. Beer-laden husbands aren't a tremendous amount of help.
8. Dogs cannot and will not resist temptation.
9. After a loss, guests clear out fast. But before they go, they'll want a good luck at how you're taking it.
10. An early night does not take the sting out of a loss.
11. Sometimes it's good to miss most of the game.

Maybe next year, Steelers. One thing I can guarantee: I'll be at someone else's house.

Scorpio

My horoscope today was spot on. This should be my horoscope every day because it's so accurate.

You'd rather work to live than live to work. That's why you might make an executive decision to put off minor responsibilities in favor of some much-needed leisure.

The problem is that my definition of "minor responsibilities" may not match work's definition. Or my husband's. Sigh.

My Favorite Simple Roast Chicken

My Favorite Simple Roast Chicken is the name of the recipe, and it's an appropriate one. For years for me, to roast a whole chicken meant stuffing and hours in the oven. Not with this recipe. It's absurdly easy and fast. I was skeptical when I first read the recipe: one hour at 450 degrees. Seriously? A caveat: That's true if you can find the 2-3 pound chicken called for in the recipe. I haven't been able to. The smallest organic chicken I find in the grocery story is usually around 4.5 pounds. So I adjust the recipe a bit. Here are the ingredients:

• One 2- to 3-pound farm-raised chicken
• Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
• 2 teaspoons minced thyme (optional)

• Unsalted butter
• Dijon mustard

I don't use the thyme, butter, or mustard. What you do is rinse and pat dry the bird, truss it, and salt and pepper it inside and out. The recipe says to "rain the salt over the bird so that it has a nice uniform coating that will result in a crisp, salty, flavorful skin (about 1 tablespoon). When it's cooked, you should still be able to make out the salt baked onto the crisp skin." Yes. But, if you place thick sliced potatoes on the bottom of the pan to catch the drippings (which I recommend), they will be very salty. You have to be judicious in your salting, but don't skimp. That's it. Salt and pepper. I know it sounds bland yet salty, but it's not.  The short roasting time and high heat keep the chicken oh-so-moist.

I put the chicken on a rack, but I would try it without and lay it right in the roasting pan. Using a rack, only one side gets that pretty roasted skin. The other is pasty and looks unappetizing, necessitating flipping the chicken and putting in back in the oven for another 20-30 minutes. I *think* that putting it right into the pan (as the recipe implies) prevents this problem, but you'd want to use parchment on the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking. You don't want butter or oil because the idea is to prevent any type of steam. A four to five pound chicken requires the additional cooking time, so either way - rack and flip or no - you're looking at 90 minutes. 

I make this as an everyday meal and serve with potatoes (from the bottom of the roasting pan) , a vegetable side, and a salad. I like a nice, not too creamy Chardonnay with it. It's a satisfying, delicious meal.

Here we go, Steelers, here we go!