From the ArcaMax Publishing, Recipes by Zola Newsletter:
http://www.arcamax.com/news/zola/s-301448-446994
Romance Food...
My guess is the most popular first date is dinner and a movie. It's a
great way to get to know each other. Everyone eats, so you have one
thing in common already, and going to a movie gives you one more thing
to talk about.
For many couples, dinner and a movie might be just as likely to take
place at home. In this age of "cocooning" and great screening room
equipment, I know many that would rather curl up on a sofa and watch a
movie than go to a theatre. Besides, you can eat good food too;
instead of candy and hideously expensive popcorn!
In our family, movies are big, so we do both. When we want to see
first run movies, or movies that are best seen on a huge screen, we go
to the theater. Additionally, we have one of those subscription-based
movie programs that allows us to get movies through the mail or from
the local rental store. Works both ways.
In anticipation of Valentine's Day I decided to take an informal
survey and find out which movies would make a "Most Romantic" list. I
asked men as well as women. Then my plan was to team the list up with
an easy, romantic dish to share, that you can make at home --
together.
Posing the question, "What are your top three most romantic movie
choices?" generates conversation in itself. I was amazed at the
variety, and how women choose different movies than the men do.
Women choose movies that are romantic "overall". The whole movie
pretty much has to have a touching story, plenty of romancing and a
happy ending. Men, on the other hand, choose movies that combine
action with "titillation". They'd say things like, "Remember that part
where..." and then go on to describe a particularly passionate scene;
the setting, the action, the details.
I guess women and men really are wired differently.
For your "Dinner and a Movie At Home" selections might I offer the
following from my informal survey:
Manly Recommendations:
Officer and a Gentleman
Sea of
Love
Romancing the Stone
Jerry McGuire
Top Gun
Dirty Dancing
Female Favorites:
Pretty Woman
Ghost
Sleepless in
Seattle
When Harry Met Sally
Shrek
Casablanca
And 3 Zola Favorites:
Good Bye Girl
Love Actually
Electric Dreams (this movie it not in regular distribution. If you
decide to get this one you need to order it. Be careful. There's an X
rated movie with this same name. That's NOT the one I'm talking
about). This movie has to be the most romantic movie I've ever seen.
You'll be humming the theme song and swaying in your seats by the end.
Comfort food for movies are things that you can make easily and let
cook while the movie is playing or prepare in advance and re-heat.
This yummy Corn and Roasted Poblano tart works either way. Paired with
a simple salad you have a light meal. It will work for vegetarians too
or you can "beef" it up with a piece of grilled meat on the side and
make it more substantial. Any way you choose, this meal will be a hit.
I hope the movie you choose will be a hit too.
Corn and Roasted Poblano Tart
1 pre-made refrigerated piecrust
2 poblano chilies (Large and
green, these are not hot chilies. They just have a smoky taste when
roasted)
2 Tbl of butter
one half of a white onion
chopped
10 oz. of canned creamed corn un-drained (you won't use
entire can)
8 oz. of regular corn kernels drained (canned will
work fine)
1 cup of Mexican Chihuahua cheese grated (or
mozzarella if you can't find Chihuahua)
one half cup of grated
Parmesan
1/2 tsp of Southwestern spice mix (or if you like zing
you can use cayenne)
1 cup of heavy cream
2 eggs
Preheat oven to 375 degrees
Put your piecrust in the bottom of a 10" springform pan. Work the
piecrust up the edges and fold over the top so you have a one
half-inch rim on your piecrust. Prick the crust with a fork 3 times on
the bottom and put in your oven to bake for 9 minutes at 375 degrees.
It will come out light beige. If the tart sides have fallen at all
just coax them back up before the crust cools.
Slice the poblanos into narrow strips. Toss the stem and seeds.
Careful when slicing poblanos that you wash your hands thoroughly
afterwards and don't rub your eyes. These are not inherently hot
peppers but they still have a kick to them.
Put the strips of pepper on a cookie sheet sprayed with olive oil and
roast them 15 minutes at 375 degrees. They can be in the oven the same
time as your crust to save time. The strips will be wilted and might
even have a bit of a blackened tinge on the sides. That's fine. Dice
them as soon as they are cool enough for you to handle.
In a small sauté pan combine the butter and the onion. Cook on
medium until soft.
In a medium bowl, combine the two kinds of corn, the poblano bits, the
Chihuahua cheese, the Parmesan and the spice. Add the cooked onion.
In a small bowl combine the eggs and whipping cream. No need to beat
them. Just mix with a fork until they are stirred together well and
the yoke is broken up.
To assemble, pour your corn mixture into the bottom of the tart pan.
Slowly pour the cream/egg mixture over the top until your tart pan is
full. You might have a bit extra but if you are slow, steady and
careful you should be able to get most of this cream mixture into the
tart shell.
I recommend putting the tart pan on top of a cookie sheet (with sides)
and then put it in your oven. This is in case the filling leaks. If
the drips hit the cookie sheet they won't burn in the bottom of your
oven. Bake at 375 degrees for 30 minutes until set and lightly golden
brown.
Serve warm with your side dish(es). Room temperature is good too. Or
you can make this dish a day ahead and just reheat it.
Enjoy!
Cheers,
Zola
Send email to Zola at dinnerwithzola@hotmail.com.