The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Movie Review
Third Time's a Charm
Enjoy!
Film: Eclipse Movie Review
Yes, this is in fact the most ridiculously on time post in the history of Thoughts of a Film Foodie. Eclipse is here and ready to reign in millions this weekend. I saw an advanced screening last night and I'm not going to lie it's pretty epic. I wasn't a big fan of the first two films, but this one actually gets it right. My review linked below.
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Movie Review
Third Time's a Charm
Enjoy!
The Twilight Saga: Eclipse Movie Review
Third Time's a Charm
Enjoy!
Food: Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
I'm finally settled into my summer schedule, including a new internship and a couple of online classes. I think I mentioned before that my new internship allows me to see screenings of virtually every movie before they come out in theaters (YAY!) for free (YAAAAAAY!!!), so I've been checking out 2-3 movies during the week and exhausting all my theater going options for the weekend. Now I have 3 days free to devote to my other passion: food. I've got quite a few recipes to share with you within the next week or so. First up, is a new cupcake (surprise surprise...I know). It's cookies and cream, which isn't my number one flavor choice but they came out really good and I thoroughly enjoyed.
Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
Remixed version of oreo cupcakes from Lovin' From the Oven. Cake recipe courtesy of Cupcakes From The Cake Doctor
by Anne Byrn
Ingredients
* 1 package (18.25 oz) plain devil's cake mix
* 3 tablespoons Dutch process unsweetened cocoa
* 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 3 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 24 Oreos
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin with 24 paper liners.
Remove top half of the Oreos and place one cookie, cream side up, in each liner. Crush remaining halves in Ziploc baggie, set aside.
Place the cake mix, cocoa powder, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium beat two minutes more.
Fill the cupcake tins 2/3 full with batter. Bake until they spring back when lightly pressed with your finger, 17-20 minutes.
Buttercream "Dream" Icing
Recipe courtesy of The Repressed Pastry Chef
Dream is quoted for a reason. This frosting is a bit annoying to make (check out the sugar to liquid ratio) and didn't taste good at first bite. However, after it set awhile and we frosted the cupcakes I did change my mind. It works well with the cookies and cream because it really tastes like the cream from an Oreo. Definitely not a frosting I'd run to for everything, but for these cupcakes it worked nicely in the end.
* 1 stick salted butter, room temp
* 1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
* 1 cup shortening
* 1 tbsp vanilla extract
* 2 pounds powdered sugar (about 3 1/2-4 cups)
* 4-6 tbsp cold milk
Cream butter and shortening. Add vanilla extract and combine well.
Begin slowly adding in the sugar and mixing thoroughly after each addition. After all the sugar has been added, begin adding the milk, one tablespoon at a time, combining very well after each addition with the mixer on medium-high to high speed until you reach the desired consistency.
Tip: If the mixture becomes too hard to mix before all the sugar is incorporated, start adding milk to thin it out, then continue adding the rest.
Frost cupcakes and sprinkle with crushed cookie crumbs.
ENJOY!
Cookies and Cream Cupcakes
Remixed version of oreo cupcakes from Lovin' From the Oven. Cake recipe courtesy of Cupcakes From The Cake Doctor
by Anne ByrnIngredients
* 1 package (18.25 oz) plain devil's cake mix
* 3 tablespoons Dutch process unsweetened cocoa
* 1 1/2 cups buttermilk
* 1/2 cup vegetable oil
* 3 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 24 Oreos
Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line muffin tin with 24 paper liners.
Remove top half of the Oreos and place one cookie, cream side up, in each liner. Crush remaining halves in Ziploc baggie, set aside.
Place the cake mix, cocoa powder, buttermilk, oil, eggs, and vanilla in a large mixing bowl. Blend with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds. Stop the machine and scrape down the sides of the bowl with a rubber spatula. Increase the mixer speed to medium beat two minutes more.
Fill the cupcake tins 2/3 full with batter. Bake until they spring back when lightly pressed with your finger, 17-20 minutes.
Buttercream "Dream" Icing
Recipe courtesy of The Repressed Pastry Chef
Dream is quoted for a reason. This frosting is a bit annoying to make (check out the sugar to liquid ratio) and didn't taste good at first bite. However, after it set awhile and we frosted the cupcakes I did change my mind. It works well with the cookies and cream because it really tastes like the cream from an Oreo. Definitely not a frosting I'd run to for everything, but for these cupcakes it worked nicely in the end.
* 1 stick salted butter, room temp
* 1 stick unsalted butter, room temp
* 1 cup shortening
* 1 tbsp vanilla extract
* 2 pounds powdered sugar (about 3 1/2-4 cups)
* 4-6 tbsp cold milk
Cream butter and shortening. Add vanilla extract and combine well.
Begin slowly adding in the sugar and mixing thoroughly after each addition. After all the sugar has been added, begin adding the milk, one tablespoon at a time, combining very well after each addition with the mixer on medium-high to high speed until you reach the desired consistency.
Tip: If the mixture becomes too hard to mix before all the sugar is incorporated, start adding milk to thin it out, then continue adding the rest.
Frost cupcakes and sprinkle with crushed cookie crumbs.
ENJOY!
Film: Jonah Hex Review
I'm finally getting more on top of my postings (yay! summer) so here is my latest review. I even went to post it Friday and Gotcha was being a bit finicky, apparently the universe didn't want me getting too crazy on time :) Anyway, this review is for Jonah Hex. It'll probably end up making about $5 considering Toy Story 3 (amazing!) also came out this week. The cast is full of A- list actors and a few apparent up-and-comers, and of course my (cue sarcasm) favorite actress ever, the recently engaged Megan Fox.
Jonah Hex: GotchaMovies Review
A New Type of Western
Enjoy!
Jonah Hex: GotchaMovies Review
A New Type of Western
Enjoy!
Food: Hamburger Cupcakes
As promised I'd like to share a fabulous summer treat perfect for the upcoming 4th of July weekend! I saw a picture of these while flipping through a magazine and was inspired to figure out how to make them at home. They turned out ridiculously cute and it screwed with a lot of my friend's minds. They come out looking like real mini slider burgers and are the perfect fun dessert for any picnic or your next bbq.
Hamburger Cupcakes
By Desiree Roughton
Ingredients:
*1 box store bought chocolate cake mix (prepare as directed)
*1 box store bought yellow cake mix (prepare as directed)
*1 can white frosting
*red, yellow, and green and food coloring
*8 oz. a bag of white chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Fill 24 muffin tins 2/3 with yellow cake mix and bake 20-25 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Set aside and let cool.
Fill 24 muffin tins 1/3 of the way full with chocolate cake batter. (You can use the rest of the batter for regular sized cupcakes if you wish.) Bake 15-20 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
Mix half a can of frosting with red food coloring until the frosting turns red (NOT PINK). Make the other half of the can bright yellow.
Melt the white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl on high in 30 second increments until smooth. Fold in a few drops of green food coloring.
Allow the chocolate to re-harden as a small block in the refrigerator.
Assembly:
Cut each of the yellow cupcakes in half to create top and bottom "buns."
Lightly frost the bottom section with yellow frosting. Make sure there is enough frosting on the outer edges to slightly spill over.
Top with thin chocolate cupcake. (Depending on how the cakes bake up you may need to shave off the curved top for easier assembly and aesthetics.)
Lightly frost the "patty" with the red frosting, allowing spill over again.
Use a spoon or knife to create green shavings from the white chocolate. Sprinkle on the outer edges of your red frosting layer. This will look like lettuce.
Top with yellow cupcake top.
Enjoy!
sorry about the terrible picture quality. I tend to misplace things like my digital camera...a lot, so I had to use my cell phone.
Hamburger Cupcakes
By Desiree Roughton
Ingredients:
*1 box store bought chocolate cake mix (prepare as directed)
*1 box store bought yellow cake mix (prepare as directed)
*1 can white frosting
*red, yellow, and green and food coloring
*8 oz. a bag of white chocolate chips
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350.
Fill 24 muffin tins 2/3 with yellow cake mix and bake 20-25 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Set aside and let cool.
Fill 24 muffin tins 1/3 of the way full with chocolate cake batter. (You can use the rest of the batter for regular sized cupcakes if you wish.) Bake 15-20 minutes. Set aside and let cool.
Mix half a can of frosting with red food coloring until the frosting turns red (NOT PINK). Make the other half of the can bright yellow.
Melt the white chocolate in a microwave safe bowl on high in 30 second increments until smooth. Fold in a few drops of green food coloring.
Allow the chocolate to re-harden as a small block in the refrigerator.
Assembly:
Cut each of the yellow cupcakes in half to create top and bottom "buns."
Lightly frost the bottom section with yellow frosting. Make sure there is enough frosting on the outer edges to slightly spill over.
Top with thin chocolate cupcake. (Depending on how the cakes bake up you may need to shave off the curved top for easier assembly and aesthetics.)
Lightly frost the "patty" with the red frosting, allowing spill over again.
Use a spoon or knife to create green shavings from the white chocolate. Sprinkle on the outer edges of your red frosting layer. This will look like lettuce.
Top with yellow cupcake top.
Enjoy!
sorry about the terrible picture quality. I tend to misplace things like my digital camera...a lot, so I had to use my cell phone.
Film: Killers Review
Last weekend's box office opened three new wide releases, and yes I saw them all. My latest review task was for Killers, which coincidentally was also my favorite of the lot. The film was kept from critics to supposedly run on the word of mouth from social media, I'm not sure how well it worked but I enjoyed it. I lost a little love for Katherine Heigl since hearing about all of her high maintenance episodes, but the women is adorable and so hard to hate.
Also, I know I've been a lot more Film than Food lately which tends to happen when I get busy (not to mention a move), but I have an amazingly cute cupcake recipe coming just in time for the 4th of July.
Killers: GotchaMovies Review
A new breed of romantic comedy
Enjoy!
Also, I know I've been a lot more Film than Food lately which tends to happen when I get busy (not to mention a move), but I have an amazingly cute cupcake recipe coming just in time for the 4th of July.
Killers: GotchaMovies Review
A new breed of romantic comedy
Enjoy!
Film: 1 Year, 100 Movies - May
It’s that time again! I’m a few days late, as usual :), but here is 1 Year, 100 Movies: May Edition.
5/1/10: Why Did I Get Married Too?
Thanks to my boyfriend I have a continuously growing love for Tyler Perry. How someone can put so much comedy and so much tragedy into one film is truly a talent. I never saw the first Why Did I Get Married movie, so I can’t compare the two but this one was thoroughly enjoyable. It explores every marital problem in the book, including the untalked about female emotional affair. The acting is good and the humor is entertaining.
Bottom line: As with any Tyler Perry movie, you are in for a roller coaster of emotions.
5/7/10: Babies
What more does a girl want than 1 and a half hours of adorably cute babies doing all the stuff adorably cute babies do? Not babies doing the weird things babies do. This documentary arguably as like all documentaries, is nothing spectacular. It is cute and keeps up the pace, but I’m not going to lie my American born and raised socialization made some of it a bit uncomfortable. I’m not really sure who this movie was made for, but if you’re interested more power to you.
Bottom line: I love babies, but I didn’t so much love Babies.
5/8/10: Iron Man 2
First and foremost, I was notsoimpressed by the original Iron Man movie, gasp I know. I really didn’t find it action packed or tech heavy enough for my liking. Iron Man 2 however, succeeds everywhere is original counterpart failed. Bad ass action, American soil setting, over the top technology…FTW. Robert Downey Jr. is amazing and the guy who replaced the greedy sidekick guy from the first one didn’t make me miss greedy original sidekick guy at all.
Bottom line: R Downs is a BAMF.
5/15/10: Letters to Juliet
You can read my official review here.
Bottom line: Cheesy central love story, cheap set, not worth your time.
5/16/10: Just Wright
I will start by saying I frickin’ love Queen Latifah. Unlike certain pro real women celebrities *cough* Tyra Banks *cough* Latifah is a true woman with curves making it in Hollywood. This story is fun, cute, and entertaining from start to finish. This is an ugly girl gets the guy story we can actually believe. Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) is a strong women, who refuses to compromise herself for love. She’s neither desperate, nor lacking in self-esteem which creates a loveable character and enticing story.
Bottom line: Super enjoyable, deserves a lot more credit than it got.
5/18/10: Get Him to the Greek
Get Him to the Greek was just release this week (June 4th), but I saw the film at an advanced screening on campus. It’s no Forgetting Sarah Marshal (i.e. best R-rated comedy of all time, and yes I’ve seen the Hangover), but this one is funny. I think [insert what even P Diddy is going by these days] is pretty funny, Russel Brand does his things, and Jonah Hill plays his part really well. Of course the story is over the top and a lot the film relies on stupid comedy, but it does what it does.
Bottom line: Get Him to the Greek is what it is, an overindulgent comedy that provides laughs…but not much more.
5/23/10: Shrek Forever After
You can read my official review here.
Bottom line: I’ll miss Shrek, truly I will.
5/30/10: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Don’t go looking for the next Pirate’s saga and you will be in for a treat. It has a good story, good actors, good action. It’s plot is interesting and not something we have seen before. Prince of Persia deserves a viewing and enough of a following to warrant a sequel. I’m bummed it’s being swallowed up by other, much less worthy releases.
Bottom line: Keep the prince alive!
5/31/10: Sex in the City 2
Honestly, you can all guess what I’m going to say. This movie is ridiculous and it sucks. It’s not even good for what it is. SJP is hideous (granted this is no new news), Cattrall’s age is catching up to her, and by her I mean her boobs, and the other two are too good to be in a film like this. Move on ladies, move on. If rumors of a SATC 3 are true….omg. I don’t even care about the blatant offending of the Middle East, but it definitely doesn’t add any charm to this black hole.
Bottom line: No…just no.
Total count for 2010: 41
5/1/10: Why Did I Get Married Too?
Thanks to my boyfriend I have a continuously growing love for Tyler Perry. How someone can put so much comedy and so much tragedy into one film is truly a talent. I never saw the first Why Did I Get Married movie, so I can’t compare the two but this one was thoroughly enjoyable. It explores every marital problem in the book, including the untalked about female emotional affair. The acting is good and the humor is entertaining.
Bottom line: As with any Tyler Perry movie, you are in for a roller coaster of emotions.
5/7/10: Babies
What more does a girl want than 1 and a half hours of adorably cute babies doing all the stuff adorably cute babies do? Not babies doing the weird things babies do. This documentary arguably as like all documentaries, is nothing spectacular. It is cute and keeps up the pace, but I’m not going to lie my American born and raised socialization made some of it a bit uncomfortable. I’m not really sure who this movie was made for, but if you’re interested more power to you.
Bottom line: I love babies, but I didn’t so much love Babies.
5/8/10: Iron Man 2
First and foremost, I was notsoimpressed by the original Iron Man movie, gasp I know. I really didn’t find it action packed or tech heavy enough for my liking. Iron Man 2 however, succeeds everywhere is original counterpart failed. Bad ass action, American soil setting, over the top technology…FTW. Robert Downey Jr. is amazing and the guy who replaced the greedy sidekick guy from the first one didn’t make me miss greedy original sidekick guy at all.
Bottom line: R Downs is a BAMF.
5/15/10: Letters to Juliet
You can read my official review here.
Bottom line: Cheesy central love story, cheap set, not worth your time.
5/16/10: Just Wright
I will start by saying I frickin’ love Queen Latifah. Unlike certain pro real women celebrities *cough* Tyra Banks *cough* Latifah is a true woman with curves making it in Hollywood. This story is fun, cute, and entertaining from start to finish. This is an ugly girl gets the guy story we can actually believe. Leslie Wright (Queen Latifah) is a strong women, who refuses to compromise herself for love. She’s neither desperate, nor lacking in self-esteem which creates a loveable character and enticing story.
Bottom line: Super enjoyable, deserves a lot more credit than it got.
5/18/10: Get Him to the Greek
Get Him to the Greek was just release this week (June 4th), but I saw the film at an advanced screening on campus. It’s no Forgetting Sarah Marshal (i.e. best R-rated comedy of all time, and yes I’ve seen the Hangover), but this one is funny. I think [insert what even P Diddy is going by these days] is pretty funny, Russel Brand does his things, and Jonah Hill plays his part really well. Of course the story is over the top and a lot the film relies on stupid comedy, but it does what it does.
Bottom line: Get Him to the Greek is what it is, an overindulgent comedy that provides laughs…but not much more.
5/23/10: Shrek Forever After
You can read my official review here.
Bottom line: I’ll miss Shrek, truly I will.
5/30/10: Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time
Don’t go looking for the next Pirate’s saga and you will be in for a treat. It has a good story, good actors, good action. It’s plot is interesting and not something we have seen before. Prince of Persia deserves a viewing and enough of a following to warrant a sequel. I’m bummed it’s being swallowed up by other, much less worthy releases.
Bottom line: Keep the prince alive!
5/31/10: Sex in the City 2
Honestly, you can all guess what I’m going to say. This movie is ridiculous and it sucks. It’s not even good for what it is. SJP is hideous (granted this is no new news), Cattrall’s age is catching up to her, and by her I mean her boobs, and the other two are too good to be in a film like this. Move on ladies, move on. If rumors of a SATC 3 are true….omg. I don’t even care about the blatant offending of the Middle East, but it definitely doesn’t add any charm to this black hole.
Bottom line: No…just no.
Total count for 2010: 41
Film: Shrek Forever After Review
Hey All. Sorry I've been lagging it so much in my postings. The semseter just ended which meant finals and securing my summer schedule which now includes work, two internships, and two online summer school courses. Not to worry though! Enjoy my latest movie review for Shrek Forever After. You can also read up on the film's low box office predictions and promotions to help the environment by going green like Shrek.
I'll be posting a review for Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl's new release, Killers soon as well as my 1 Year, 100 Movies post for May.
Shrek Forever After: GotchaMovies Review
This goodbye brings joy and laughter.
Enjoy!
I'll be posting a review for Ashton Kutcher and Katherine Heigl's new release, Killers soon as well as my 1 Year, 100 Movies post for May.
Shrek Forever After: GotchaMovies Review
This goodbye brings joy and laughter.
Enjoy!
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