What Am I Grateful For?

Yes...another gratitude blog! However, this one  is really more of a movie review. This Thanksgiving weekend, I am 2/3 grateful because I have two of my three children home. I am 100% grateful that my parents (mom--this means mostly you since you do all the cooking) are still willing to host the big turkey dinner meal at their house. Though, on mom's schedule, turkey dinner should be re-named turkey lunch--but that's another story.

I am grateful for my good friends-- near and far-- and the relatives from far who were here to celebrate the holiday with us--(Elana and Lou from Philly). I am grateful that we had a few days off from school and I've had time to watch a silly movie on-demand with Ben and Emily and bake and do laundry and even catch up on some grading. Mostly, I'm very grateful that I got to become an honorary/temporary member of the Senior Movie Group. Mom, dad, Elana and Lou planned out their whole visit, day-by-day, movie by movie. They saw (and I skipped) Anna Karenina on Thursday (after turkey lunch) and the SMG was divided about the film. Joan and Lou panned it. Sam thought it was "o.k." and Elana loved it.

Yesterday, I joined them for Silver Linings and it was a home run. We all adored it. Bradley Cooper stars as a young man living at home again after an eight month stint at an in-patient psychiatric facility. The movie plays beautifully with the edges of pathos and humor, swimming easily back and forth between the two. Yes, you will laugh and you will cry! The brilliance of the film is that, as the story line unfolds, we recognize the part of all them (and all of us) that is a little bit crazy. We must inevitably acknowledge that being human takes great courage and none of us is perfectly equipped for the job. We are all playing with just shy of a full deck.

That is a perfect segue into today's film: The Sessions. First the disclaimer: I WOULD NOT NORMALLY RECOMMEND ATTENDING A FILM ABOUT A SEXUAL SURROGATE WITH FULL FRONTAL NUDITY WITH THE FOUR ELDER STATESMEN and WOMEN OF YOUR FAMILY. HOWEVER, MOVIE THEATERS ARE VERY DARK AND WE ALL HANDLED OURSELVES LIKE GROWNUPS (except for an occasional loud laugh from Joan).

Now that that's out of the way, Don't Miss This Movie. Actually, don't miss either movie. They are both winners. They are both smart, well-written films that are brilliantly acted.  The Sessions tells the true story of the deceased poet, Mark O'Brien, who spent the majority of his 49 years of life in an iron lung having suffered from polio as a child in the 1950's. If you are interested, you can view a short documentary film about the real Mark O'Brien on Amazon where you can also purchase his memoir.
The film centers around Mark's desire, at 38, to experience sex.  While his mind is incredibly sharp and creative, his body is weak and ravaged by the effects of decades of immobilization. Though he has a lively wit and a warm persona, he has not met a woman who could see him as a fully-functioning man. In reality, he cannot really see himself in that way either. On top of the physical limitations, he is also bound by his religious convictions and rigid views of sex outside of marriage as sinful. He confides in a kind-hearted priest, played well by William H. Macy, to help absolve himself of some of the religious baggage he carries. Helen Hunt plays the wise and wonderful sexual surrogate who teaches him how to   use his body to receive (and also-at his request- to give) pleasure. The scenes between them, their sessions, are incredibly raw and real. They manage to achieve a sense of beauty and honesty that is not one bit titillating.

Having seen these two marvelous films back-to-back, I am grateful for art and artists, for writers and actors and directors. For visionaries who take life and re-package it in fresh ways so that we can begin to understand ourselves.

Both Silver Linings and The Sessions involve love in all its guises. Friendship, romance, families and even people whose job it is to listen to us and try to help us heal. Both films are brave and gritty and absolutely gorgeous. Both films make us remember that living life is often the greatest act of heroism and that love is the most important tool in our toolbox.

Tomorrow, the Senior Movie Group will be heading out to see Lincoln. Even though I am a great fan of Abe's, I will be skipping that one so that I can grade some more papers and prepare for the busy week ahead. Besides, after hitting the jackpot with the two films I saw, I don't really want to test my luck on a third.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday but it really shouldn't last only one day: EAT MORE TURKEY AND BE GRATEFUL ALWAYS!

Are You A LOVER or a HATER......of Oatmeal?

For most of my life, I was an oatmeal hater. I didn't mean any offense to that particular food, but I hated all foods with a mushy texture. I didn't like Flan, or Creme Brulee or pudding or yogurt or Boston Creme Pie or Key Lime Pie or anything else that gushed and smooshed in my mouth. I craved crunch or snap or bite. For the most part, that is still true; however, the positive health effects (and the earthy ethos) of oatmeal have motivated me to give the humble oatmeal a Rachel Makeover.

The first thing I discovered was that it mattered what kind of oatmeal I started with. Steel Cut Oats, also called Irish or Scottish Oats, have a much chewier texture than regular oats. I have tried several different brands and you can experiment as each has a slightly more or less chewy consistency.

The next thing I realized was that most oatmeal was entirely too bland for me. I like flavor and lots of it!
So I gathered together all the ingredients that I thought might enhance oatmeal's blank canvas and began experimenting. The following recipe is my latest version of Rachel's Oatmeal. I am happy to report that I had my dad taste-test it and it passed the Sam test with flying colors. While dad was used to making a smoother, less jazzy bowl of oatmeal, he soon became a willing convert to my new flashier version.

The first step requires toasting slivered almonds and coconut flakes in a 375 degree oven for about 10-15 minutes until they start looking toasty and brown-ish.

My dad likes a nut-free version so I will add in the almonds at the last minute after putting his oatmeal in a separate container.

While the nuts and coconut are toasting, boil 4 cups of water with a pinch of salt. Once the water has boiled, add in the oatmeal and after about five minutes of stirring and watching, it should start to thicken. At this point, turn the heat down a bit and continue to stir gently.

The easiest measurement is 1 cup of Steel Cut Oats to 4 cups of boiling water.

While the oatmeal is cooking, peel and mash two ripe bananas.

Don't forget to check on the coconut and almonds; make sure to take them out before they get too dark!

Here's a complete list of the ingredients:
1 cup Steel Cut Oats
pinch-salt
2 ripe bananas
1 tsp. cinnamon (add more if you really want a cinnamon-y flavor)
1/2-3/4 cup sweetened coconut flakes
5-6 tablespoons slivered almonds
3 generous tablespoons brown sugar
1/2 cup dried cranberries

After the oatmeal has absorbed all the liquid (about 20-25 minutes) add in brown sugar, oatmeal, mashed bananas, cinnamon, cranberries and almonds.

Then let cool and store in airtight container in fridge. Small portions can be reheated in the microwave all week-long and served with a few tablespoons of milk or half & half.

Delicious!!! Would I turn down a hot slice of buttery brioche in favor of a bowl of oatmeal? Not yet, but this version has the potential to tempt me; the regular kind of oatmeal never could!