Edward Arnold, Jean Arthur & Ray Milland

Here’s a fantastic film I never heard of:  Easy Living directed by Edward Leisen in 1937. It stars Jean Arthur, Edward Arnold and Ray Milland. Too many screwball comedies seem to start with a misunderstanding, that leads to a little lie which builds to many lies and I’m just screaming, “Come clean for crying out loud!!” But this one doesn’t have the distraction of dishonesty. Just misunderstandings that lead to hilarious outcomes. Is Jean Arthur ever NOT wonderful?  I think not. And in this movie she is too adorable for words. She’s a working girl who gets involved with a banker played by Edward Arnold. His character is a blustering rich guy who loves his family, but his wife and son both raise his blood pressure. The working girl then falls for Ray Milland.

He is at his hunkiest in the film and plays dreamboat as well as angry son with aplomb. It’s hard to reconcile this man with the one who was in Frogs and The Thing With Two Heads with Rosie Grier (both movies made in 1972). If you have not seen The Thing With Two Heads, and like bad movies, this is a must see. It defies description.

Rosie Grier & Ray Milland

Directions from Cottonwood:

Take Hwy 260 south, turn left at the light on Del Rio. Take first left at Cortez, At stop sign turn right on Cayuse. Fourth house on the left is ours, My Studio has 3 stars on it.

Directions from Camp Verde:

Take Hwy 260 north, turn right at the light on Del Rio. Take first left at Cortez, At stop sign turn right on Cayuse. Fourth house on the left is ours, My Studio has 3 stars on it.

Here are some additional bracelets I’ve been making. As you can see, I don’t make my living as a photographer.

They will be for sale along with my other work at My Studio open on February 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

2094 South Cayuse Trail, Cottonwood, AZ  86326

We celebrated at Cucina Rustica in the Village of Oak Creek, a divine restaurant run by Dahl & Diluca. We both have leftovers, but not of the hazelnut torte we split for dessert. Yum. Their food is superb.

Roger & Michele Naylor at Cucina Rustica

We took in a movie during the day, The Book of Eli. Puleeze, I’m 59 years old, I’m not being taken in by this drivel!

Here’s how to cook the squash: Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut squash in half and remove seeds and strings. Place upside down in a shallow pan with 1/4 inch water. Bake 35 minutes.

Pretty simple, just takes more time.

Acorn Squash Stuffed with Chard & White Beans for Two

From EatingWell:  November/December 2009

Acorn squash’s natural shape makes it just right for stuffing, and one squash is perfect for serving two people. This filling has Mediterranean flair: olives, tomato paste, white beans and Parmesan cheese. Serve with: Mixed green salad with radicchio and red onion and crisp white wine, such as Pinot Grigio.

2 servings | Active Time: 40 minutes | Total Time: 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 medium acorn squash, halved (see Tip) and seeded
• 1/2 teaspoon plus 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper, divided
• 1/4 cup chopped onion
• 1 clove garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon water
• 1 1/2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 4 cups chopped chard leaves (about 1/2 large bunch chard)
• 3/4 cup canned white beans, rinsed
• 2 tablespoons chopped kalamata olives
• 3 tablespoons coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs (see Note)
• 3 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

Preparation

1. Cut a small slice off the bottom of each squash half so it rests flat. Brush the insides with 1/2 teaspoon oil; sprinkle with 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Place in a 8-by-8-inch (or similar-size) microwave-safe dish. Cover with plastic wrap and microwave on High until the squash is fork-tender, about 12 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, heat 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion; cook, stirring, until starting to brown, 2 to 3 minutes. Add garlic; cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Stir in water, tomato paste and the remaining 1/8 teaspoon each salt and pepper. Stir in chard, cover and cook until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in white beans and olives; cook until heated through, 1 to 2 minutes more. Remove from the heat.
3. Position rack in center of oven; preheat broiler.
4. Combine breadcrumbs, Parmesan and the remaining 1 1/2 teaspoons oil in a bowl. Fill each squash half with about 1 cup of the chard mixture. Place in a baking pan or on a baking sheet. Sprinkle with the breadcrumb mixture. Broil in the center of the oven until the breadcrumbs are browned, 1 to 2 minutes.

Nutrition

343 Calories; 13 g Fat; 3 g Sat; 8 g Mono; 7 mg Cholesterol; 50 g Carbohydrates; 11 g Protein; 12 g Fiber; 679 mg Sodium; 152 mg Potassium; 2 1/2 Carbohydrate Serving

Exchanges: 3 starch, 1 vegetable, 1/2 plant-based protein, 2 fat

Nutrition Note: Vitamin A (100% daily value), Vitamin C (60% dv), Magnesium & Potassium (33% dv), Folate (29% dv), Iron (20% dv).

Tips & Notes

• Tip: Make it easier to cut a pumpkin, acorn squash or other winter squash: pierce in several places with a fork; microwave on High for 45 to 60 seconds. Use a large sharp knife to cut in half. Remove the seeds and stringy fibers with a spoon.
• Ingredient Note: We like Ian’s brand of coarse dry whole-wheat breadcrumbs, labeled “Panko breadcrumbs.” Find them in the natural-foods section of large supermarkets. To make your own breadcrumbs, trim crusts from firm sandwich bread. Tear the bread into pieces and process in a food processor until coarse crumbs form. Spread on a baking sheet and bake at 250°F until dry, about 15 minutes. One slice of bread makes about 1/3 cup dry breadcrumbs.

Gloria Stuart

We saw Golddiggers of 1935 starring Dick Powell and Gloria Stuart (remember her as the senior citizen from Titanic?). Who doesn’t love a golddigger? Especially in the depths of the Great Depression. Dick Powell is a med student working during the summer at a hotel. Adolphe Menjou is hilarious as a Russian guest/producer/con artist and is quite funny. He’s becoming one of my favorite supporting actors. A play is put on at the hotel with the help of a stinking rich woman. There’s romance, betrayal, acceptance, etc., but the main excitement is the play at the hotel. I couldn’t help thinking all through the play that it was AT THE HOTEL!!!! 

Dick Powell

It’s directed by Busby Berkeley and is fantastic, flamboyant and oh so B.B.  But, what we see on the screen could not possibly have been seen by anyone AT THE HOTEL who was watching the play!!! 

 Even so, Dick Powell stars, so it’s very worth it. And here he is singing I’ll String Along With You

The Bras for a Cause exhibit at Quilters Quarters is now over. My Chest of Drawers won the viewers choice award.  AND someone bought it by writing a check for $100.00 to the Susan G. Koman Foundation.  Sweet.

Map of Verde Village 5

Here are the details of my first open studio. I’m teaming with 4 other women this time. From my house to the farthest house is only 1.5 miles. You could WALK!! (but then you’d have to walk back, so just drive)

I’m first on the tour – dolls, eyeglass cases, collages, bookmarks, cards, prints, acrylic paintings

Pam Fullerton – acrylics, watercolors, prints, cards, ceramics

Birgitta Lapides – paintings in different media plus prints, cards and bookmarks, handwoven and handknitted clothing and handpainted silk scarves

Diana Holladay – old masters style oil paintings, figures & portraits, prints

Jude Peterson – decoupage boxes, collages, stained glass

Open Studio Tour

It’s December 5 & 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. We’re tying red balloons on our mailboxes so we’ll be easy to find. If you need more specific directions e-mail me – mcokl@msn.com

Directions: From Cottonwood, take SR260 south, turn left on Del Rio, take first left at Cortez, go to stop sign at Cayuse and turn right. 2094 Cayuse is fourth house on the left.

 From Camp Verde, take SR260 north, turn right on Del Rio, take first left at Cortez, go to stop sign at Cayuse and turn right. 2094 Cayuse is fourth house on the left.