The Darjeeling Limited

Sometimes...you just need some space. Late at night when its all quieted down around here I hear the pratter of the three men in this distinctly off-beat comedy slash introspective drama just outside my mind's eye. Wes Anderson and Roman Coppola (Frances' son) wrote a story about three men whom are lured to a train traveling across India one year after their father's untimely death.

The vibrancy of color and its' contrast to my neutral laden life really blows my whistle. I'm in love with India. As director, Wes Anderson decides to turn up the dial too. Every opportunity is taken to splash the screeen with pigment. Even an otherwise drab coach on a train is awash with hyper-turquoise. I wonder if the director shares my inflection of neutrality or my distaste of it as of late. The only two other travelers in the movie from outside the country, are two squaking women drapped in...khaki. I felt a subtle commentary on all of us. Black is not all there is!

Outside color, I really feel as though there are many levels at which you could digest this film. As a result, I find myself watching it over and over these days. Satisfying in so many ways. Maybe your first time should be right about now. Just before Spring really hits. Then there is still time, should you feel the urge, to book passage out of your routine before summer is through. Don't let cash be a burden. There is always a way.

This flick seems to carry with it an overwhelming desire to smoke a cigarette and sip on a tall cool beverage. Eating would not be appropriate this time around. However; if your sipping gets you feeling a little tipsy, we have a solution nonetheless. This go around we are doing Sweet Lime and Savory Snack from our shots traveling on the train. All aboard!

"Sweet Lime" Juice
Sanskirt name: Mishta Nimbuka
Hindi name: Meeta Nimbuka

Tamil name: Sathukudi

Indications (in Ayurveda)
relieves thirst
toxicity
weightloss
nausea
vomiting

Properties (in Ayurveda)
balances Vata and Pitta (two Ayurvedic Doshas, there are 3)
sweet in taste
heavy to digest
helps in detoxification
strengthening, nourishing improves taste perception

 Ingredients:

 1 sweet lime

30 ml honey (2 tbp or 1/8 c.)

purified water

Method

~ proportion to your liking, ready to drink immediately

*recipe and info for sweet lime coutesy of medindia.net

Vegetable Chips

Ingredients:

100g potatoes (7 tbsp)

50g carrot (roughly 3.5 tbsp)

50g lanki (obo or calabash squash commonly called bottle squash)

50g cucumber

2 green chilies

1 onion, chopped

1 cm piece ginger

2 tbsp oil

1 cup maida (all-purpose) flour

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp red chili powder (optional)

                                                                                                                             

 Method:

Peel, wash and cut all the vegetables.

 Grind in the blender.

Add salt, sugar, maida, oil and knead into a stiff dough.

Roll the dough out into thin chapathis (chips).

Cut into squares or rounds.

Fry them in oil on medium heat till light brown.

Serve with tea.

*recipe courtesy of daawat.com with tweeks by Ouisa

Satnam,

Ouisa

Batteries Not Included, 1987

For some reason I had burr in my bonnet to watch Batteries Not Included. This 1987 movie starring Jessica Tandy and Hume Cronyn takes place on a run down block somewhere in New York City. Tandy (Faye) and Cronyn (Frank) are an aging couple dealing with dementia, neighborhood thugs, a struggling diner, and a big-wig exec who is trying to run them out of their tenement so he can demolish and build high rises where the building stands.

I love the opening credits of this film. You're shown the history of the neighborhood. Sepia toned photos run through a 1930's, 40's, 50's busy family oriented neighborhood of apartment building. The crowning glory begin this diner style restautrant, Riley's. The talented James Horner, (Swing Kids (93), Something Wicked This Way Comes (83), Glory (89), and a slew of other tremendously impactful films (most notably Honey, I shrunk the Kids...um yeah)) takes the reigns for the soundtrack. We are, in a momemt on this city block by way of nostalgic imagery and the playfully smooth big band compostion in this film.

The Diner plays a supporting role in this film, and we come to our decided meal for this flick when one of our "visiting friends" mistakenly serves up one of his own as a well-done burger with cheese. There is no denying a damn fine, griddle fried burger.

*Coca-cola in a bottle for good measure.

Ingredients
Serves 4
(I recommend having a group of just a few friends over for this one. You'll all be smiling after it's all said and done.)

1 pound ground beef chuck (20 percent fat)
4 teaspoons softened butter
4 hamburger buns, split
Coarse salt and ground pepper
3 green onions
4 slices melting cheese, such as American or mild cheddar (american would be most appropriate here I think)
Toppings, shredded iceberg lettuce, pickle chips, thinly sliced red onion, mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise

Directions
1.Heat broiler. Chop green onions and mash into beef. Divide beef into 4 rounds and place each between two layers of plastic wrap. Using a rolling pin, roll beef into 1/4-inch-thick patties. Butter inside of each bun. Place on a baking sheet, buttered side up, and toast under broiler.

2.Heat a large cast-iron skillet or griddle over high. Generously season patties on both sides with salt and pepper. Working in batches, cook burgers 1 to 2 minutes. Flip and top each with cheese; cover and cook 1 to 2 minutes more. Place burgers on buns and serve with desired toppings.

*recipe courtesy of Martha Stewart with accents by Ouisa