Cuisine & Screen: Home Edition, Part 4

CUISINE
I'm excited to share this recipe for one of my favorite breakfasts as a child, and still today. My aunt got this recipe from my grandmother's neighbor, but whatever the origin, its been in my family for years! They freeze well and are great for when you don't want to cook breakfast.

Sausage & Cheese English Muffins
-6 english muffins, split open (save the baggie they come in for storage!)
-1 pound ground sausage (Neese's is the best)
-2 jars Old English Cheese ( find it near the cream cheese) OR sub 1 jar + 4-5 American cheese slices
-1/2 stick of butter

Cook and drain the sausage in a large skillet. Add the cheese and butter, stirring to combine and letting everything melt. Spread spoonfuls evenly on english muffin halves. Let cool briefly, then stack them in the baggie and stick in your freezer! To reheat, put one in your toaster oven at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes, or if you're impatient like me, heat it in the microwave for 30 seconds, then toast it in toaster for about 3 minutes.

Margarita - 2 ways
My House Margarita is pretty simple - 2 ounces reposado tequila, 1 ounce Cointreau (or other orange liquour), 1 ounce lime juice, 1 ounce simple syrup - but I recently adapted a recipe from Ree Drummond and loved this change up. It's a Fancy Margarita, and worth it if you have the time and ingredients.

-1 ounce simple syrup (equal parts sugar and water boiled, then cooled)
-6 cilantro leaves
-4 mint leaves
-2 ounces tequila (reposado or blanco)
-1/2 ounce vodka
-2 TB lime juice
-2 TB lemon juice

Put everything in a cocktail shaker and muddle for about 10 seconds, until you smell the herbs release their fragrance. Add ice, shake and pour in a glass. Or drink it right out of the cocktail shaker, who cares.

SCREEN
Hearts of Darkness: A Filmmaker's Apocalypse - Having just watched "Apocalypse Now", I thought it only appropo to watch this documentary about the making of the classic film. I had no idea the chaos that went on behind the scenes, how far over-budget it went, and that production was halted several times because Martin Sheen had a heart attack and Marlon Brando didn't know his lines, among other disasters. Really fascinating if you're a fan of the Coppola film.

Ben-Hur - Again, I thought it was appropo to watch this film during Easter. It was beautifully shot and kept my attention longer than many old films, but at 4 hours? It's really hard. Charlton Heston rightfully won an Oscar for his portrayal of a slave turned Chariot racer, and if you've been to Rome, it's fun to see some of the landscape.

Marathon Man - I've seen this film several times but it's a classic, and always worth re-visiting. Dustin Hoffman at his finest, and Laurence Olivier at his creepiest. Super suspenseful film, incredible score. You'll want to sleep with the lights on.