The Ramblings of a Mental Meanderthal

Good heavens ... cooked lasagna noodles are slippery little buggers! But after a few slips (they were trying to escape, I kid you not), I managed to pin them onto the cutting board: I am not posting the recipe here because I found it in a cookbook that has copyright and trademark symbols all over it, but I can tell you how to find it: Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook . 1996 edition, published by Better Homes and Gardens Books; Des Moines, IA. Page 355. Verdict: YUM. It needs the parmesan to complete it, though. I tried half a roll with mozzarella, which did nothing to bring out the flavors. But parmesan really made this dish. Broccoli haters, don't be intimidated; the spaghetti sauce keeps the broccoli from overwhelming everything else. Why yes, I do hate vegetables; why do you ask? I also had bruschetta instead of plain garlic bread. It's the recipe developed for Julie and Julia , and I found it here: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/columnists/dianna_marder/2009080...

Ooo, wow. Nora Ephron not only makes delicious movies, but she also makes delicious pies. This is the chocolate cream pie Amy Adams' character makes in the first fifteen minutes of Julie and Julia . I found this recipe and three others connected to the film on the Internet, so I think it's okay to share here. I haven't had any of the finished product yet. I put the chocolate custard into the pie crust, swooped a few pretty flourishes on the top, then mashed them down with a cover of plastic wrap. It's in the fridge to cool and congeal and will be ready for consumption in the morning. (I'll have a taste then, but I'm waiting until I have someone to eat it with before eating a whole piece.) But there were several spoons to lick after I'd finished cooking, and let me tell you ... WOW. The finished custard was a little bitter, like semi-sweet chocolate. But it'll be between a sweet graham cracker crust and whipped cream with sugar and vanilla mixed ...