Dinner and a Movie: Silver Linings Playbook

One of my favorite shows, The Chew, was doing an Oscar inspired week of shows in preparation for the silver screen's biggest night. I have such fond memories of the Oscars. Obviously I had never been to the big show itself, but I remember sitting in the living room with my Mom watching the red carpet coverage and the award ceremony.

Watching all the beautiful people in their gorgeous gowns and tuxes, listening to the award-winning scores and making personal bets on who was going to win the little gold men. Does it get any better? It gave me the kind of thrill that I assume most other people get from gambling. It could be because of my generation, but the movies always fascinated me more than books and music.

Anyway, on The Chew's February 20th show, Carla Hall went to Nitehawk Cinema in Brooklyn. This small theater screens movies and sells meals that are inspired by the movies. Genius! I thought to myself, "I have to do this!"

I love movies, I love food and I love themed parties. Time to take action. Boyfriend and I decided to take inspiration from this dinner and a movie theme night with Oscar nominated Silver Linings Playbook.

In an effort to read more, Boyfriend and I have joined together in a sort of book-to-movie club, just  between ourselves. After we read the book we got the movie and went to the grocery store in preparation for a cute little dinner and a movie night.

Since the plot contains many references to Philadelphia, we immediately thought Philly Cheesesteak. Here's what we did.

Silver Linings Philly Cheesesteak Sandwich

1 tbsp olive oil
1 small onion, sliced
1 bell pepper, sliced (we used 1/2 of a red and 1/2 of a green)
1/2 lb shaved roast beef
4-6 provolone slices
1 french bread loaf
salt and pepper to taste

Market fresh ingredients

In a large saute pan or skillet, heat oil over medium high heat. Saute onions and peppers for 2-3 minutes, or until they start to become soft. Slice roast beef into bite size pieces and add to peppers and onions, along with salt and pepper. Saute for 4-5 minutes until everything becomes tender. When meat mixture is warm and tender, place provolone over mixture and cover skillet/pan to melt cheese.

Melt cheese, melt! Muahahahaha!

Meanwhile, slice sandwich sized loaves out of french bread and slice in half to make sandwich loaves. Toast bread in toaster oven. Scoop the cheesey mixture onto the bread and enjoy.

The movie was great, and the cheesesteaks didn't hurt either. I was surprised see how different the movie was from the book. But it was just as charming. The cheesesteaks were fantastic. Boyfriend and I devoured them. First successful dinner and a movie date of the book-to-movie club.

-Akemi-chan

Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Banana and Oatmeal Smoothie

My friend and I used to go to a health food store in Honolulu that specialized in peanut butter banana smoothies. Amazing! I mean, how can this combo go wrong? Now it's my turn to take a whack at it.

Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Banana and Oatmeal Smoothie

1 banana
1 packet banana flavored quick oats
1 tbsp peanut butter
1 scoop chocolate protein powder
1 cup almond milk, I used original flavor
2 tbsp Greek yogurt

Place all ingredients in a blender and mix until smooth.

Nothing like the combination of peanut butter and bananas. What can I say? Elvis knew what he was doing when he made that iconic sandwich. The goodness of bananas, oatmeal and protein powder with the sweetness from peanut butter and chocolate.

-Akemi-chan

Respect Yours Elders: St Germain Cocktails

When I went to visit my bestie in San Francisco, she made me an amazing cocktail using St Germain's  elderflower liqueur. I never heard of this until she made me this drink she dubbed "The Elderwand." The liqueur had a distinctive floral flavor with a slight hint of sweetness and citrus note. I was completely won over, so much so that I bought a tiny bottle for myself while in the Bay Area.

Teeny tiny bottle

This night was the night that I was to test out my mixology skills. I have never been a bartender, but I'm not one to shy away from a tasty cocktail. Here are the concoctions that surfaced out of my subconscious.

Let the magic begin

Elderflower and Grapefruit

1/2 oz St Germain elderflower liqueur
1 oz vodka
1 oz freshly squeezed grapefruit juice
1 packet of artificial sweetner, I used Splenda
grapefruit peel for garnish (optional)

Place 3-4 ice cubes into a shaker. Add all ingredients except for peel and shake until well incorporated  Place peel into martini glass and pour chilled cocktail into glass without the ice. You could also sugar the rim if you like.

Elderflower and Grapefruit

The grapefruit cocktail was a little tart, a little sweet and a great drink for a girls night. Fun, flirty and floral.

Elderflower Strawberry Lemonade

1/2 oz St Germain elderflower liqueur
1 oz vodka
1 strawberry, fresh or frozen and thawed
1 oz lemon juice
lemon peel for garnish (optional)

In a rocks glass, add 3-4 ice cubes and all ingredients. Use spoon to mix cocktail, serve cold.

Elderflower Strawberry Lemonade

The strawberry lemonade cocktail was sweet with a little kick. Very fruity and summery.



Elderflower and Mint Simple Syrup

1/2 oz St Germain elderflower liqueur
1/2 oz vodka
2 tsp mint simple syrup (see directions below)
splash of lime juice
1-2 oz lemon lime soda
mint leaves for garnish (optional)

Mint simple syrup:
1 cup sugar
1 cup water
1 cup fresh mint leaves, torn

For simple syrup, place all ingredients in a medium pot or medium high heat. Bring pot to a boil and stir until sugar is dissolved. Bring pot to a simmer and steep mint for another 5 minutes. Turn off heat and when cooled, pour into an airtight container and keep in fridge.

For cocktail, add 3-4 ice cubes to a rocks glass and add all ingredients. Stir with spoon until chilled.

Elderflower with Mint Simple Syrup

The great thing about the mint cocktail was how smooth it was. The simple syrup gave the cocktail a silky mouth-feel and it's light refreshing flavor with a minty aftertaste made this simple cocktail sing.

The Elder trio

I'd say that the cocktail night was a success. At least Boyfriend and his sister liked the flavors and I enjoyed playing bartender for the night. Now how am I gonna find a way to finish these drinks? Hmm.

-Akemi-chan

Green Smoothie: Spinach, Apple, Banana, Ginger, Carrot

Green smoothie take two. I followed a recipe I found online that involves ginger. Ginger is supposed to have anti-inflammatory and immune system boosting powers and since I've been feeling sluggish and under the weather, I figured it couldn't hurt.

Green Smoothie: Spinach, Apple, Banana, Ginger, Carrot

1 banana, sliced
1 apple, diced
1 carrot, grated
1 celery stalk, grated
1 inch fresh ginger, grated
1 cup fresh spinach
1 cup Greek yogurt
1/4 cup water
1/4 cup milk, I used almond milk

Blend all ingredients together until smooth.

Pretty colors

This smoothie definitely has a kick thanks to the ginger. It was almost too much ginger for me. The spinach was a great addition and gave it a fresh feeling. Now I have to figure out what green smoothie combination I'll try out next.

-Akemi-chan

Green Smoothie: Kale, Apple, Peanut Butter, Yogurt & Banana

There's been a massive trend in health magazines, blogs and pinterest involving green smoothies. The concept intrigues me. Add the sweetness of fruit with the heath benefits of raw leafy greens, yogurt and supplements. The meal on the go has gone green.

As my introductory green smoothie, I decided to use my new favorite vegetable: kale. I really wish I had some flaxseed or chia seed or vanilla protein powder to add, but there will be more green smoothie opportunities in the near future.

Green Smoothie

1 cup Kale, torn into little pieces
1 medium granny smith apple, cut into 1/4' pieces
1 medium banana, sliced
1 cup Greek yogurt, plain flavor
1/2 tbsp honey
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tbsp peanut butter, smooth
1/2 cup soy milk, I used original flavor
1/4 cup water

Place all ingredients in blender and blend until smooth. You may need to push the ingredients down into the blade depending on your blender and in what order you dumped the ingredients.

Easy peasy

The smoothie turned out mild in flavor and beautiful in color. It had a few hints of sweetness from the banana and honey, some tart from the apple and very filling from the peanut butter, yogurt and milk. Since raw kale has very little flavor it, I didn't notice it except for the green color. 

I can't wait to try out more green smoothies. Pineapple, spinach, peaches, blueberries... the possibilities are endless.

-Akemi-chan

Chicken Thighs with Olives in Tomato Sauce

I've been feeling extremely sluggish lately. Maybe it's the constant jet lag, maybe it's the long hours at work due to cancellations and delays, maybe it's because I haven't been to the gym in a long time, or maybe it's the Winter overcast the puts a grey blanket over everything. Either way, I've been lazy.

One thing I like to do when the lazy bug has bit me, is to make soupy or saucy dishes. They just feel like comfort. Even if I grew up in a hot climate, and am currently living in a cold one, soup always makes home feel homier. Is that even a word?

Simple baked meals are my savior in Winter. It warms up the house and the smells are intoxicating. Take chicken, pantry items and some fresh veggies and the night is the perfect backdrop for warm blankets and a good TVshow.

Chicken Thighs with Olives in Tomato Sauce

6 bone-in skin-on chicken thighs
3 tbsp butter
6 cloves roasted garlic, minced
1 tbsp dried chives
1 tbsp red pepper flake
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 28 oz can of diced tomatoes
1 tbsp tomato paste
1 cup chicken broth
6-10 olives, halved
1/2 zucchini sliced and quartered
salt and pepper


Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a large casserole dish and add the chicken thighs, skin-side up. Season with salt and pepper. In a large sauce pan over medium heat, add butter, garlic, chives, red pepper flake, brown sugar, vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Saute for 5 minutes. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, olives and zucchini.

Pour tomato mixture over chicken in casserole dish. Bake for 1 hour or until chicken reaches 360 degrees F. Baste chicken with sauce ever 30 minutes. Serve with rice.

The olives really give this dish an extra bite. I highly recommend it, even if you're not the biggest olive fan. It gives the sauce such dimension because it gives the savoy sauce a little perk of brine. Enjoy!

-Akemi-chan

Caramelized Onion, Bacon, Cheeseburger

Earlier in the week, I was watching The Chew's burger episode. Needless to say, I ended the episode salivating. One of the best tips I picked up was to treat the burger like it was a top dollar steak. I used to make my burgers like meatloaf, but according to Michael Symon, I've been missing out on the burger's true potential. 

Later that day I watched a youtube video of  Top Chef Richard Blais making a Korean BBQ inspired burger. Again, drool. To my amazement, Chef Blais said the same thing about a loosely packed patty. 

Now, it's my turn to try out this new technique. 

Caramelized Onion, Bacon Cheeseburger

1/2 lb ground beef, 20% fat
Half a large onion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp butter
2-4 strips of bacon 
2 sesame seed burgers
2 slices of cheese, I used pepperjack
Salt and pepper to taste


Form two loosely packed patties of beef and season with salt and pepper on each side. Heat up a flat top skillet to medium heat. Place burger patties and bacon on the skillet. Cook the patties for about 3-4 minutes on each side, add cheese on burger after you flip. Cook bacon for 1-2 minutes each side. When bacon is done cooking, keep fat in skillet and toast the inside of the hamburger buns on the bacon fat.

In a separate pan, or on skillet, add butter, onions, salt and pepper and slowly cook until onions become soft and caramelized, about 5-6 minutes. Assemble burger as desired.

This may have been the best burger I have ever made. Boyfriend usually is in charge of burger assembly, so I am proud that I could pull this off. I think my success has a lot to do with the Blais/ Symon tip on the loosley packed burger patty. It was juicy and sooo yummy. Enjoy!

-Akemi-chan