Chicken Posole

 Even though this is a Martha Stewart recipe, it's surprisingly quick and easy, especially if you use grocery store rotisserie chicken.  I'd probably find her insufferable in person, but she does have some good recipes.

Movie: "Crazy Heart"

I was predisposed to like this movie because I'm a sucker for both outlaw style country music and Jeff Bridges.  I realize that the Maggie Gylenhall character, a reporter for the Santa Fe newspaper, was living in a house that would easily go for $800,000 in Santa Fe and I also realize that Bad Blake's recovery from alcoholism was too quick and easy.  Nevertheless I liked the movie - a lot.

My rating:  **** (out of 5)

Book: "Olive Kitteridge"

This novel, in the form of 13 connected short stories, centers on Olive Kitteridge, an overbearing small town middle school math teacher who ignores many of the social niceties.  Although she's not always likeable, she is understandable.    It deserves the Pulitzer Prize that it won because it's a masterpiece.

My rating:  ***** (out of 5)

Epiphany Pie or Galette des Rois

Epiphany Pie began as a religious tradition, celebrating the visit of the three Magi to the infant Jesus, but has become a French cultural tradition.  It involves a flaky pastry pie filled with frangipane, a mixture of almond cream and pastry cream.

Hidden in the pie is a feve - originally a fava  bean, but now a small porcelain figure.  Traditionally the mother cuts and distributes the pie following instructions from the youngest family member who sits under the table.  The person who gets the feve is the king (or queen) for the day, gets to wear the paper crown that comes with the pie, and gets to choose who will be the corresponding queen (or king).

The French Institute of Michigan, where I take French classes, had a Galette des Rois event today and, as you can see from the photo above, I was lucky enough to find a feve.  For more information, click here.

Alton Brown's Once and Future Bean

Here's another recipe from my knitting friend Lynne.  She makes a vegetarian version, but I kept the bacon Alton Brown calls for, reducing it from one pound to  half a pound.  Jalapeno peppers give this dish some zing.  I expect to make this again.

Black Bean Ancho Chili

The ancho chilies make this a very spicy chili, but the avocado salsa helps cool it down.  I liked it but was not crazy about it.

Maple Granola

I got this recipe from my knitting friend, Lynne, and it's delicious!  Made a half batch because I wasn't sure how much I'd like it, but now wish I'd done a full batch.  I'm having yogurt and granola for dinner tonight.