Herbed Bread Stuffing with Mushrooms and Sausage

Trying to figure out what to add to your Thanksgiving menu?  I made this stuffing when I hosted Thanksgiving for my family last year and it was awesome.  It gets even better in the fridge too.  Courtesy of Cooking Light.

1 1/2  pounds peasant-style white bread
4  (4-ounce) links sweet turkey Italian sausage
2  teaspoons butter
1  pound cremini mushrooms, quartered
Cooking spray
2  cups chopped onion
1 1/4  cups chopped carrot
1 1/4  cups chopped celery
1/2  cup minced fresh parsley
1  tablespoon fresh thyme leaves
1  tablespoon minced fresh sage
1/2  teaspoon salt
1/4  teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
2  large eggs
1  (14-ounce) can fat-free, less-sodium chicken broth

Preheat oven to 400°.

Trim
crust from bread. Cut bread into 1 1/2-inch cubes. Arrange bread cubes
in a single layer on 2 jelly-roll pans. Bake at 400° for 10 minutes or
until toasted.

Reduce oven temperature to 350°.

Cook
sausage in a large nonstick skillet over medium-high heat 10 minutes,
browning on all sides. Remove from pan; cut crosswise into
1/4-inch-thick slices.

Melt butter in skillet over medium-high
heat. Add mushrooms; sauté 4 minutes. Combine bread cubes, sausage, and
mushrooms in a large bowl.

Heat skillet over medium-high heat.
Coat pan with cooking spray. Add onion, carrot, and celery; sauté 5
minutes or until lightly browned. Add parsley, thyme, sage, salt, and
pepper; sauté 1 minute. Add to bread mixture. Combine eggs and broth,
stirring with a whisk. Add to bread mixture; toss to coat. Spoon into a
13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 45
minutes or until browned.

Yield: 12 servings (serving size: about 1 cup)

NUTRITION PER SERVING
CALORIES
208(27% from fat); FAT 6.2g (sat 1.7g,mono 1.9g,poly 1.2g); PROTEIN
13.6g; CHOLESTEROL 68mg; CALCIUM 46mg; SODIUM 635mg; FIBER 4.1g; IRON
2mg; CARBOHYDRATE 25.9g

Oo-Rah

Jeff and I went to go see Jarhead last night and I was pleasantly surprised.  I was sort of expecting another Blackhawk Down war movie (sorry, no I didn't like Blackhawk Down), but was pleasantly surprised instead.  A war movie without much of a war, Jarhead is really more of a character study and Jake Gyllenhaal does an outstanding job of bringing his character to life.  Peter Sarsgaard and Jamie Foxx also give particularly good performances, though the screenwriter didn't give them too much to work with.  It would have been nice if characters other than Gyllenhaal's had been a bit more developed.  Keeping in mind though, that the movie is based on an autobiography of Gyllenhaal's character, I guess that is to be expected. 

Though several scenes were reminiscent of Full Metal Jacket, I really liked Jarhead overall.  The cinematography was really good, especially the scenes during the burning of the oil wells.  Several critics claim Jarhead lacks a point, but I think that *is* the point.  Throughout the conflict, it seems like many of the soldiers wonder what the point of the war is.  Just like the Gulf War was much different than Vietnam, Jarhead is much different from, for example, Apocalypse Now (which makes a cameo appearance in the film). 

Celebrating our 4th: Indebleu

Yesterday was our fourth wedding anniversary.  Instead of exchanging gifts, we usually go out to a swanky restaurant.  I was really excited to try Indebleu after hearing a few positive reviews from some friends.  Plus, I love Indian and French food, and the idea of fusing the two together was intriguing.

I have to say, I was slightly disappointed in the food.  Not that any of it was bad; it was all quite good.  But none of it left me thinking: "Wow, I have to come back here to try this again."  With so many restaurants to explore, Indebleu didn't make it onto my must return list.

The positives:

• The service.  General Manager Jay Coldren's training at the Inn at Little Washington shows.  The service at Indebleu was probably the best I have had at any restaurant.  Ever.  The several waiters assisting us were very attentive, and friendly, but also non-intrusive.  Definitely five stars for service.



• The naan.  A waiter continuously walked through the dining room giving diners fresh, warm, buttery naan seasoned with rosemary.  Wow - this was good.  I think I ate 4 pieces.



• The wine list.  Holy moley - we didn't have any, but the wine list here is one of the most extensive I have seen.  I think it was even better than the wine list at California Grill.



• The bathroom.  After last month's trip to Zola, this was actually a bathroom to be proud of!  Unique faucets and cameras that broadcast your image to a flat panel screen over the sink (while you are washing your hands, NOT while you are going to the bathroom!).  Along with the bill (tax was listed are "IRS BS" and the final total was "the dough you owe"), the bathroom made it clear that the people at Indebleu have a sense of humour.

Jeff and I each had a three course meal.  Jeff went for the lobster and crab starter and I had the scallops.  Jeff's was very good.  Mine was only OK.  I didn't care for the sauce.  As an entree Jeff had the veal and I had the lamb.  My lamb was excellent, and the side of lentils was very tasty.  For dessert I decided to be adventurous and so I ordered the saffron-cardamom ice cream "spaghetti" which was served in a press and a side of gulab jamun "meatballs".  The waiter pressed the ice cream out onto the plate so it looked like spaghetti.  I liked the taste of the gulab jamun, but the ice cream tasted off.  I like saffron and cardamom, but I didn't enjoy the taste of the ice cream.  Jeff had the pear ginger crumble, which he said was good.

Overall - I would go back, but only if someone else was paying.  ;)

Good Night and Good Luck - That's What Someone Should Have Said as I Entered the Theater

I'm really not sure why this movie won so many awards and has garnered so much critical acclaim.  Yes, the cinematography is great.  It is a film full of eye candy.  However, there is not much substance. 

The supposed point of the film (a commentary on the role of journalism in a democracy) is about as subtle as a mack truck.  None of the characters are developed, let alone well developed.  It's a shame too because you get the feeling there are some interesting stories to be told there.  At several points I thought: "Oh good, now I will figure out what the deal is with (fill in character's name here).", but no such luck. 

The few redeeming things: the interesting and effective use of actual news footage, the performance given by David Strathairn, and the soundtrack.

I hardly ever say this, but I should have waited for the DVD. 

Zola and Othello

Last night we had dinner at Zola (fabulous - except the bathroom) and saw Avery Brooks in Othello at the Shakespeare Theatre. 

Zola was great.  I had a fondue with sausage and sourdough, a really amazing halibut dish with ginger grits, and a peanut butter and chocolate trifle for dessert (you cannot go wrong with peanut butter!).  Jeff's favorite was the lobster mac and cheese.  We will definitely be coming back.  However, I was supremely disappointed in their bathrooms.  They say on their website that their bathrooms are the best in D.C., so I was really curious to see why.  I still have no idea.  The bathroom was fine, but just a bathroom.  Nothing special at all.  I left wondering if maybe there was a super secret bathroom that I had missed (Zola is attached to the Spy Museum after all).  Oh well.

Othello was great as well, though Iago stole the show (as tends to happen in Othello, I guess).  Avery Brooks' performance was great, but Patrick Page's (Iago) was better.  I enjoyed the staging as well. 

We definitely need to make it out to the Shakespeare Theatre more often.  The last time we had both been was in college.

New Pornographers at 9:30

I dragged Jeff to see the NP's at the 9:30 club last night.  It was a sold out show so I wanted to get there early to get a good spot (though at 9:30 there isn't really a bad spot) and also because I wanted to hear the two opening acts: Immaculate Machine and Destroyer.  Immaculate Machine is AC Newman's niece Kathryn's band and they were a pleasant surprise.  I'd never heard any of their music before, but it was really pretty good.

Next up was Destroyer - Dan Bejar's band.  I really liked Dan's contributions to Twin Cinema, so I was looking forward to this set as well.  It ended up being a huge disappointment.  I think largely because Dan was very obviously intoxicated.  The high point of the Destroyer's set was when the guy next to us started heckling Dan for being drunk. 

The NP's finally came on around 11:30 and they were great!  I love shows at the 9:30 because they are so intimate and this show was no exception.  AC told us a story about getting pulled over for speeding on his way to the show and then started taking audience requests.  :) 

The one downside of the show was that their performance mirrored their albums a little too well.  One of the best things about live music is hearing the little differences between the songs live and the songs as they are on the album.  In this regard, the NP's seemed a little scripted.

Regardless, it was definitely worth the $15 to see them live...especially with Neko Case.  I know that they have frequently toured without her, but I can't imagine that those shows were half as good as the shows where she was included.  What a voice.

Listening Too Long To One Song

I recently discovered one of those rareties - an entire
album that
I can listen to on repeat for days, even weeks, on end.  I had never
listened
to any New Pornographers albums before, but "Twin Cinema" had gotten
glowing reviews
from pretty much every news source I read.  And it sounded like my kind of
music. 
One blog said "Belle and Sebastian with more drums!"  Well hey - B+S are
one of my
favorite bands and I like percussion.  "It's the ultimate in power pop..."
proclaimed another. 
Well count me in - I LOVE good power pop.

Well, it's been two weeks since I've picked this album up and it's
pretty much all I've been listening
to in my car since then.  I think it's definitely one of the best albums
of the year.  And yes -
the whole album is good.  I'd be hard pressed to tell you a song I didn't
like.  Plus, they have great harmonies, and
I'm a sucker for interesting harmony.  (As an aside - while they have a
lot of interesting harmonies, I will never get
tired of the vocal bass line in "Stacked Crooked".  I don't even know
which NP sings it, but he makes the voice sound almost
like a string bass.  The actual harmomy itself is interesting too).

One of the major critiques of "Twin Cinema" is that the lyrics are too
abstruse, and in a way they are. 
But the lyrics remind me of Dylan Thomas poetry.  The meaning is not
entirely clear, but the words flow so well together
that instead of believing the words are just a bunch of gibberish, you are
left with the feeling that they possess
a deep meaning, albeit a meaning that you know you are not totally
grasping.  Nonetheless, Dylan Thomas is one of my
favorite poets, and the NP's are now one of my favorite groups.

 

Last
5 songs played on my iPod:
The Jessica Numbers -

New Pornographers

These Are the Fables -
New Pornographers

Stacked Crooked -
New Pornographers

The Bones of an Idol -
New Pornographers

Jackie, Dressed in Cobras -
New Pornographers