2/12/12

Video Attempt: A Moveable Dinner Party

First things first: thank you to Ali and James for coming to dinner and committing to keeping the night moving. It was such a pleasure to sit in the bathtub together. Secondly, I must say, this is one of those moments I find myself so thankful for this small, creative outlet. Where else could I share my combined love for Barefoot Contessa, dancing, and having friends over for dinner? I hope you enjoy it!

Lentil Vegetable Soup
via Ina Garten
1 pound French green lentils (which is 2 1/2 cups lentils, which I think is really really good to know.)
4 cups chopped yellow onions (3 large onions)
4 cups chopped leeks, white part only (2 leeks)
1 tablespoon minced garlic (3 cloves)
1/4 cup good olive oil, plus additional for drizzling on top
1 tablespoon kosher salt
1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon minced fresh thyme leaves or 1 teaspoon dried
1 teaspoon ground cumin
3 cups medium-diced celery (8 stalks)
3 cups medium-diced carrots (4 to 6 carrots)
3 quarts chicken stock
1/4 cup tomato paste
2 tablespoons red wine or red wine vinegar
Freshly grated Parmesan cheese

Directions
In a large bowl, cover the lentils with boiling water and allow to sit for 15 minutes. Drain.

In a large stockpot on medium heat, saute the onions, leeks, and garlic with the olive oil, salt, pepper, thyme, and cumin for 20 minutes, until the vegetables are translucent and very tender. Add the celery and carrots and saute for 10 more minutes. Add the chicken stock, tomato paste, and lentils. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer uncovered for 1 hour, until the lentils are cooked through. Check the seasonings. Add the red wine and serve hot, drizzled with olive oil and sprinkled with grated Parmesan.

French Chocolate Bark via Ina Garten
8 ounces very good semisweet chocolate, finely chopped
8 ounces very good bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
1 cup whole roasted, salted cashews (I used peanuts, which worked fine. I think the important thing here is that the nuts be salted and roasted.)
1 cup chopped dried apricots
1/2 cup dried cranberries

Directions
Melt the 2 chocolates in a heatproof bowl set over a pan of simmering water.

Meanwhile, line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Using a ruler and a pencil, draw a 9 by 10-inch rectangle on the paper. Turn the paper facedown on the baking sheet.

Pour the melted chocolate over the paper and spread to form a rectangle, using the outline. Sprinkle the cashews, apricots and cranberries over the chocolate. Set aside for 2 hours until firm. Cut the bark in 1 by 3-inch pieces and serve at room temperature.

51 comments:

Matthew said...

There is a 70% chance we did Ina proud!

Mary Anne said...

AAHHHHHHH, this is the best video yet!! So funny!!! You really kept it moving. The closet scene slayed me.

Oh and your food looked lovely!! Good work!

Jessica said...

As always, you are hilarious! So much fun! I didn't realize that you could "eyeball it because it's soup!"

Cara said...

I loved this! Hilarious!!

chesley said...

Ina's never done bathtub bark! How easy is that??

Colleen said...

This was great but while I was waiting for it to load I noticed the link to your Pivotal Moments. Thanks for taking me back to my Nana's kitchen. Not guite as crazy but still with the Nana and the dishes and most importantly the love.

la domestique said...

Fantastic! Ina will be so proud when she sees this! ;)

Mary Anne said...

I ALMOST FORGOT TO COMMENT ON THE RAD PARTY MUSIC!!!

Anna @ The Littlest Anchovy said...

Love, love, love this video attempt! Favourite part was the espresso in bed, hilarious! Hoping for many more of these :)

Luisa said...

Ha!! Hysterical. My favorite video of yours yet!

danica said...

*applause*

Loved it, Amelia! I would totally be up for eating chocolate bark in a bathtub with you. Gosh, that sounded kinky, didn't it? Whoops.

charlotte au chocolat said...

love your videos! the bedroom + closet scenes were hysterical.

Amelia Morris said...

hahahaha. thanks, Jessica. And, yep, just another tip from the BA kitchen! ;)

Amelia Morris said...

aww, so glad you read it!! I just got the sweetest package from Grandma in the mail yesterday--she sent me her grandma's recipe book filled with all of these newspaper clippings from almost 100 years ago. it's so cool!! And I can't wait to make something from it.

Amelia Morris said...

ha!! and thanks. let's get a blogger meet-up dinner party on the books!

Amelia Morris said...

So glad you all are laughing!! Nearly died from laughter during bathtub scene.

Stephanie said...

OK this was hysterical!! I agree the bathtub and the closet...so funny.

Kelsey said...

Amelia, you are so fun. Honestly, these always make me smile.

tori said...

This is hilarious. You have literally made my day.

Unknown said...

*like*

Your face at the beginning= priceless. Way to cheer up MondaymorninggoAmelia!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

LOL! Ur videos are amazing! How do you make them??

joanna said...

i'm gonna have to agree with anonymous. HOW DO YOU MAKE YOUR VIDEOS???????????

KK said...

the dancing scene was the best!

robbwitmer said...

"Giant Spider" has always been my favorite party song.

Colleen said...

Wow! What a treat to have. I love old cookbooks and the recipes written on scraps of paper passed on. Have fun making something!

Matthew said...

Great catch, Robb! You are probably one of three people that know that tune/demo beat explosion by name.

Natasha Contreras said...

I freaken love you. Not in like a creepy way or anything. Well. Maybe.

Amelia Morris said...

hahhahaha thanks so much for your interest in our video-making capabilities, Joanna and Anonymous! To answer: it's totally Matt's department! He does all the sound, lights, camera and editing. Sooo, a big round of applause from me to him!

Amelia Morris said...

ha! thanks, natasha. right back at you!!

Mary Tambellini said...

Hilarious. You are one talented cookie...

sara said...

so jealous of ali and james!

Mark and Marsha said...

Love, love, love this video. Laughed out loud. Also, gave us a good idea -- have dinner in the tub-- makes clean up a snap.

Bethany said...

I started reading your blog just sometime ago (I found you through Lottie + Doof). I really enjoy your video's, but this is by far the funnest. Thanks for keeping your stuff un-stuffy!!!

Eileen said...

You & Matt are totally rocking the videos. First off, they're beautifully shot & edited. Second - the food looks fabulous. Third - they're hilarious. Keep 'em comin'!

Amelia Morris said...

Thanks, Eileen & Bethany & Mary & Mark & Marsha!!

@Sara: you're toootally invited to dinner when you're here in March!!

penelope said...

So fun. It's like a cooking show with a bit of sketch comedy mixde in!!

Heather Taylor said...

Finally getting around to watching this! SUPER RAD!

Dolcie said...

"You guys seen Contagion?" - so funny!!!

Erin Seabolt Bond said...

HILARIOUS.

Kimberley said...

I don't know what the heck that psychedelic blue interlude was all about, but I'm just gonna roll with the not knowing. Keep it moving!

Kristina D. Closs said...

Very funny! Have you heard of doing the same sort of idea but instead of going to different rooms you go to different homes or apartments. I have been wanting to try that out!

Stephanie said...

tears... tears, amelia!! i haven't laughed to tears in so long- thank you!... you're amazing

Anonymous said...

This is why you are one of my most favorite people, and i don't even know you IRL. AWESOME!

Anne Zimmerman said...

Sean wants to know why you are soaking the leeks.

Amelia Morris said...

Sean! I read somewhere a long time ago that that's a good way of getting the dirt/grit off leeks. Just soak them for a few minutes and all the grit sinks to the bottom. Try it sometime?

Amelia Morris said...

That sounds like a grrrreat idea. though in LA, with all the driving, one course might have to take place IN the car. :) :)

Alex said...

The Perfect Saturday Night. Thank you Amelia and Matt!

Anonymous said...

Adorable!!! I loved this! Did you make this video yourself? Was it easy? I'm thinking of attempting one myself, but don't really know where to start :)

Jessica said...

this is really funny! thanks!

heather said...

hilarious:)

mrs. V | Chez V said...

shut up right now. from the starting montage to the tub. beyond hysterical. b/c I, for one, always live in an Ina induced fantasy land while cooking and pretending to have my own show.