A Better Life

movie still found here

This movie title caught my attention when Demián Bichir was nominated for a 2012 Best Actor Oscar. His character in the film, Carlos Galindo, is an illegal Mexican immigrant looking for a better life for his son, Luis (played by José Julián), in L.A. Carlos has the most admiral of intentions and an honest moral code that he tries to instill in his son to keep him on the straight and narrow and away from gangs.

This country is a land of dreams. It can be a hard place, a cruel place. But it's where I work, and I dream of a better place for my son. – Carlos Galindo

This movie was a tear-jerker with a phenomenal lead acting performance by Bichir. It was a drama that kept me on the edge of my seat like an action flick until the end–with ups and downs all along the way.

Movie Rating: 

Plot: 4.25 stars

Cinematography: 3 stars

Acting: 4.5 stars 

Average: 4 stars   

Stuffed Poblanos
recipe found here

INGREDIENTS:
1 can (28 ounces) whole tomatoes in puree
1 jalepeno chile (ribs and seeds removed) We added two for extra flavor, although we thought it could have been even spicier!
2 small onions, chopped
3 garlic cloves (2 whole, 1 minced)
coarse salt and ground pepper
1 can (19 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained
1/2 cup yellow cornmeal
1 cup shredded pepper jack cheese We used a "salsa jack" cheese from Whole Foods which was very flavorful
1 teaspoon ground cumin
4 large poblano peppers, halved lengthwise (stems left intact), ribs and seeds removed

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. In a blender, combine tomatoes in puree, jalapeno, half the onions, and 2 whole garlic cloves. Puree and then season with salt. Pour the sauce into a 9 x 13 baking dish and set aside.
In a medium bowl, combine beans, cornmeal, 1/2 cup cheese, remaining onions, minced garlic, cumin, and 3/4 cup water. Season with salt and pepper.
Dividing evenly, stuff poblano halves with bean mixture; place on top of sauce in baking dish. Sprinkle poblanos with remaining 1/2 cup cheese; cover baking dish tightly with aluminum foil.
Bake until poblanos are tender, about 45 minutes. Uncover and continue to cook until sauce is thickened slightly and cheese is browned., 10–15 minutes more. Let cool 10 minutes.

Dinner Rating: 

Movie Relevance: 4.25 stars

Taste: 3.625 stars

Average: 4 stars