Dinner & a Movie Jan 5, 2013

Tonight we settle in to watch Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. This movie, which features the booming bass of Howard Keel and the dulcet beauty of Jane Powell, is one of my favorites. I know every word to every song and I love singing along. It's a classic MGM musical filled with beautiful scenery, intricate choreography and tons of great songs.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers
 from MGM

If you're unfamiliar with the movie, it's the story of backwoodsman Adam Pontipee who decides it's way past time he has a wife. His six younger brothers have grown into rabble-rousing ne'er-do-wells and he's convinced the steadying influence of a woman will settle them down. He goes down the mountain into town and convinces Milly to marry him on the spot. She accepts to get out of the drudgery of always cooking and cleaning for so many people. When she gets to his cabin, she's dismayed to find herself surrounded by his brothers who live with him: Benjamin, Caleb, Daniel, Ephraim, Frank (really Frankincense) and Gideon. She musters up her manners and decides to make the best of the situation. Soon enough the brothers are restless and wanting wives of their own. After Adam tells them of the saga of the Sabine women, they decide to sneak into town and kidnap their own brides.
This can't end well...

Our dinner menu, inspired by the movie:

Wick Fowler's Two-Alarm Chili

2 pounds ground beef
1 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (half that for one alarm and omit for false alarm)
8 tbs chili powder
2 tsp ground cumin
1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
2 cups of water
1 1/2 tbs dried onion
1 tsp paprika
2 tsp salt
4 tsp masa harina (corn meal) mixed with water to form a smooth paste

Brown meat. Add cayenne, chili powder, cumin, tomato sauce, water, onion, paprika and salt. Cook for 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Skim fat off the top. Add masa harina paste. Stir and cook 30 minutes more.

Serves 4 to 6

Serve with Sweet Country Cornbread

1 cup milk
1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted
1 egg
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

Heat oven to 400. Grease bottom and sides of round pan 9 inch pan or square 8 inch or 12 muffins. Mix milk, butter and egg in large bowl. Stir in remaining ingredients just until moistened (batter will be lumpy) Pour batter into pan. Bake 20 to 25 minutes or until golden brown and toothpick comes out clean.

10-12 servings

Set the table with sour cream, hot sauce, green onions and Granny's Sweet Tea for the perfect meal.


Granny's Sweet Tea

5 regular bags Lipton Tea
6 cups of water (reserve 1 cup)
1 1/2 cups white sugar

Pour five cups of boiling water over tea bags and let steep 9 minutes. In a small saucepan, bring 1 cup of water and sugar to a boil then simmer until the sugar is dissolved (2-4 minutes). Remove from heat and let cool.
Combine steeped tea with 2 quarts of water and add the simple syrup for sweet tea perfection.

Happy eating!
Jennifer