Rock n Rolla (2008)

movie still found here

This movie has all the right ingredients for a great flick: lots of great actors, action, and a good plot. But, I am not sure I can give an accurate review of this movie because I am pretty sure the dinner we ate made us both slip into a coma. This was one of those crime movies that you need to pay attention to the whole way along–there are a lot of players and plot twists which should make for a great movie so I will have to re-add this one to my queue and watch it when I can pay attention. Here is the basic plot (which I have adapted from IMBD, not from my own memory): 

There is one guy that rules the London mob through control of the real estate market: Lenny Cole (Tom Wilkinson). Lenny's got a new deal with Russian developer Uri Omovich who, as a sign of good faith, loans his favorite painting to the London mob boss and when it goes missing the tides turn as things slip out of Lenny's control. Small time crooks (The Wild Bunch as they call themselves) find them selves mixed up with these two bosses as well as Uri's accountant (Stella) and Lenny's stepson (the wild, drug-addicted rock and roller Johnny Quid) in a classic plot-twisting account of who's got the painting and who's got the money. 

Movie Rating: 

Plot: probably a 4 if we hadn't gotten snoozy

Cinematography: 3 stars

Acting: 3 stars 

Average: 3.33 stars

Pan Haggerty (British and Irish recipe for skillet baked potatoes, onions, and cheese)

This recipe adds bacon!

INGREDIENTS:

1 tablespoon butter

2.5 ounces streaky bacon, chopped

1 medium onion, slivered into lunettes

1 garlic clove, minced

black pepper

1/4 – 1/2 teaspoon dried sage (we left this out because I didnt have it in the spice rack!)

1/2 – 1 pound yukon gold potatoes

1 3/4 cup grated cheddar cheese

[first time using my new mandolin! oh yeah and the knife proof glove for safety-thanks Barb!]

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F

In an 8" cast iron frying pan, fry the chopped bacon in the butter until crisp. Remove the bacon pieces to a bowl lined with paper towels.

Reserve the bacon fat, leaving about a tablespoon in the pan. Add the onions and garlic. Stir until the onions caramelize. Mix in a couple of pinches of pepper and the sage. Remove from the pan and mix with the bacon.

[YES! that is bacon frying in butter kids]

Remove the pan from the heat and brush the bottom and sides with oil.

Place one third of the potato slices on the bottom of the pan, leaving none of the metal exposed. Layer half of the onion mixture on top and then a layer of one third of the cheese. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Layer half of the remaining potatoes on top, followed by onions and cheese layers. Place the remaining potatoes on top. Dribble the remaining bacon fat on top. 

Bake in the oven for 40–50 minutes or until a knife easily pierces the potatoes.

Sprinkle the top with cheese and bake for another 1–2 minutes. 

We served this potato yumminess with a simple salad of tossed lettuce, diced roasted butternut squash, shopped almonds, balsamic vinegar, oil, and salt and pepper. I usually make this salad with arugula which is even better, but the store was all out.

Another great thing to have with this movie if you can find it: lychee fruit!

Dinner Rating: 

Movie Relevance: 3.75 stars

Taste: 3.5 stars

Average: 3.625 stars