Thriller

I saw an amazing preview for the upcoming 3-D movie Avatar last night while I was watching House on Fox with Dish Network. I was hooked the second the trailer began. This film looks phenomenal and I wouldn’t be surprised if it becomes the next “Star Wars”. The trailer was much longer than most and totally captured the gist of what the movie is about. I’ve seen plenty of advertised pictures of the characters in the film while browsing online, but nothing compares to the way they look on screen. The effects look absolutely astounding and the acting seems flawless.

I originally thought this film would be geared toward a younger audience because of the computerized characters and thought the pictures were characteristic of what might end up being a comic book type movie. Once I watched the entire trailer for Avatar I realized that this is going to be much more intricate and emotional than I expected. The plot runs thick and the characters display such emotion that there’s no way this film can be disappointing. I can pretty much guarantee that we will be in for an action packed ride full of stunning audio and visual effects and emotion that absorb us completely into the film. Rumor has it that the film cost $500 million to make though many argue that this figure is too high. Another more reliable source claimed that Avatar cost $230 million plus another $150 million in products and advertising. Either way, you can certainly tell by its appearance that spending was not an issue. The characters look amazing and although they are a different type of being, they seem so real. Their facial expressions are illuminated with feelings and I’m sure that after watching the movie for a few minutes we’ll totally forget that these creatures are aliens.

Writer and Director James Cameron created Avatar- another reason why it will be a sure winner. Cameron offered to forfeit his share of Avatar’s profits if it costs more than it makes at the box office. He wrote an 80 page script for the film back in 1994 and had plans to start filming right after Titanic in 1997 and release the movie in 1999 but the cost was way too high at the time. He was also holding out for some much needed advancements in special effects.

Cameron made a major accomplishment in the filmmaking industry. He invented his own stereoscopic filmmaking with his “Reality Camera System” that uses two HD cameras built into one. This technique adds to the effects by accenting depth perception. It also gives Cameron the ability to see on a monitor how the virtual characters will appear as he directs the film. This is a huge breakthrough because these effects were always added to movies after they were done filming, giving the director very little to work with. Imagine how this is going to look now that he can work with his characters in real time and make adjustments along the way until their expressions are perfect. Wikipedia quoted Cameron, "It’s like a big, powerful game engine. If I want to fly through space, or change my perspective, I can. I can turn the whole scene into a living miniature and go through it on a 50 to 1 scale”.

“The Volume” was also created to highten Avatar's visual effects. This is amazing. It is a skullcap made to fit the actor’s head with a small camera attached. The camera calculates every facial expression including the eyes and sends the information to the computers. Cameron recruited 1,000 people to take part in the film’s production and sent the cast on a trip to a jungle so they could bond with its surroundings and each other in preparation for the film. Avatar was intended to be released this past May but Cameron decided to allow more time for post-production. Many theaters still do not have 3-D projectors. It was also his intention to give theaters a heads-up to prepare for this groundbreaking epic by purchasing new equipment. Many years of preparation and technological advancements have been made for the sole purpose of making this film come to life for audiences everywhere so get prepared for December 18, 2009 because this is going to be good. Cameron has intentions of making two sequels to Avatar. He is already gaining recognition for his filmmaking accomplishments with Avatar and is slated to receive two awards, the Santa Barbara International Film Festival's Lucky Brand Modern Master Award on February 6, 2010 as well as the Visual Effects Society’s VES Lifetime Achievement Award on February 28, 2010.

My Top 5 Favorite James Cameron Movies

#1 Terminator 2: Judgment Day
2. Titanic
3. The Terminator
4. Aliens
5. True Lies

Get ready to cuddle up close and watch some great movies during those cold winter nights with Dish Network Satellite TV. Even though it is so much more expensive, it’s nice to venture out to the theater every now and then. The winter season will soon be upon us and many people will decide to head to the movies with their loved ones and friends. Here is a preview of what you can expect in theaters for the holidays!

Old Dogs
Release Date: 11/25/09
This movie stars Robin Williams and John Travolta and it looks absolutely adorable! The two actors have been favorites of movie fans everywhere for years and it looks like they’re going to make a hilarious pair in this comedy. One is a bachelor and one a divorcee, Travolta and Williams are about to land a huge business deal but are suddenly given the responsibility of taking care of 7-year-old twins!

The Road
Release Date: 11/25/09
I’m not sure what to make of this film just yet since I’ve only seen one trailer but it seems very interesting. This film hasn’t picked up much buzz but there’s still time. I can say that the acting is guaranteed to be of great quality. It stars Viggo Mortensen, Charlize Theron and Robert Duvall. The plot is based on post apocalyptic times where a man and his child need to fight to stay alive, keeping themselves safe from starving cannibals. This sounds dramatic with a little splash of horror- just the way I like it.

Everybody’s Fine
Release Date: 12/4/09
Robert De Niro stars in this heart-warming holiday drama that is sure to please a wide variety of viewers. He has already won Best Actor at the Hollywood Film Festival for his role in this film and his acting has also been noted as Oscar worthy. DeNiro’s character makes an attempt to reclaim his relationship with his adult children played by Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell.

The Lovely Bones
Release Date: 12/11/09
This movie looks unique to say the least and it’s difficult to tell what type of message, if any, it will deliver. It seems very depressing as a young girl is murdered and is watching over her family from Heaven. She is also keeping an eye on her killer. She needs to make a difficult decision in the spirit world- allow her family to move on or take revenge on the person who took her life. This film could be troublesome to watch for parents but if done carefully could possibly become a blockbuster hit. The cinematography looks beautiful. This film stars Mark Wahlberg, Rachel Weisz, Susan Sarandon (one of my favorites) and more.

Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squekuel
Release Date: December 25
Here’s an adorable flick for the whole family. These tiny-voiced creatures are sure to keep the kids entertained with a fun story, music and dancing. The original Alvin & the Chipmunks released in December 2007 won Favorite movie at The Kids’ Choice Awards, USA and the BMI Film Music Award and made $44,307,417 at the box office.

It’s Complicated
Release Date: 12/25/09
Meryl Streep is on a role once again. She’ll be starring in this drama with Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Streep is a restaurant owner and the mother of three grown kids who has been divorced from her husband for many years. She and her ex-husband embark on a trip that unexpectedly reunites their passion for each other and Meryl’s character becomes “the other woman”.

Who is your favorite actress? I know it is very difficult to choose who you like the best since there are so many variations of talented women to choose from. I know that I cannot decide on just one but can certainly state that Kathy Bates would be in the top five. She is probably one of the most versatile and consistent actresses around and has proven her talent with her many characters in movies of every genre.

Bates has starred in over 60 movies since she made her big-screen acting debut in the film Taking Off released in 1971. Her stage performance in the play ‘night Mother earned her a Tony award nomination in 1983 and she was just getting warmed up. She also starred in the Off-Broadway hit Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. The play lasted through 533 performances. The reason why this may sound familiar is because it was adapted into the movie Frankie & Johnny starring Michelle Pfeifer and Al Pacino. Bates was a huge hit on stage and her career in film was about to explode when she starred in the classic horror smash Misery (1990) as the psycho Annie Wilkes! This performance landed her the Academy Award for Best Actress that year.

Kathy Bates went from one hit film to the next when she took the role of Evelyn Couch, an unhappy housewife, in Fried Green Tomatoes. She was able to make audiences everywhere put aside their fear and, alongside Jessica Tandy, melted the hearts of all her fans. She went from a horror film to a drama and came back to Stephen King once again for Dolores Claiborne. This film was very slow moving and certainly did not have as many followers as Misery, but as far as character studies are concerned, they couldn’t have picked a better actress for the role because without Bates, the film would not be half as good.

Bates stole our hearts again as “Molly” Brown in Titanic (1997). I’ve talked to plenty people about this film because it was such a huge success. Everyone I’ve spoken with seems to have similar opinions of the movie in that the topic was suspenseful and breathtaking but that DiCaprio’s and Winslet’s performances were completely overacted and almost laughable at times, but we like their characters so it was enough to make it work. Bates, on the other hand, played her part to the tee. You would swear she wasn’t acting since she was so comfortable and her lines just rolled off her tongue as if she was completely improvising. She made us laugh and cheer with her astounding performance. I am shocked that Winslet was nominated and Bates was not. Winslet is now a decent actress (most notably in the film Little Children) but she was simply getting her feet wet when she made her mediocre debut in Titanic.

Kathy Bates displayed her confidence and agreed to appear naked in the film About Schmidt (2002), also starring Jack Nicholson. The scene consisted of Bates undressing and entering the bathtub. I’m not quite sure why everyone claims how disgusting this part was. Perhaps it’s because many young people may see her as a mother figure. As a grown woman all I could think was, Go, girl! Bates’ body was obviously not stick thin, but if my skin looks like that with no spider veins or cellulite when I am 55 years old, I certainly will not be wearing a moo-moo at the beach!

Kathy Bates has earned every award that has come her way and deserved so much more. She is one of the most accomplished actresses of our time. Not only has she proven her perseverance in the world of film she has also made a huge personal achievement. Bates was diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer in 2003 but has since beaten the disease. She kept her disease a secret from the press and went to chemotherapy appointments on her own. She said that she needed to deal with the disease without any distractions. Bates is grateful that she was diagnosed right at the beginning stages and wants others to know that early detection is the best step toward fighting cancer. Bates has now joined the Ovarian Cancer Foundation to speak out for early detection and cancer treatment.

Look out Directv, the good old satellite television provider known as Dish Network is thriving in today’s difficult economy. The new Dish motto “Why Pay More?” has drawn the attention of satellite TV customers across the nation. Many people ordered Directv because they were told that it offers the most high definition and delivers a better signal but the truth is both services a very much alike. Customers decide to switch their service to Dish for many reasons, the most important one being price.

It is ridiculous during a time when every dollar counts to spend more money on one provider when you can get the same thing for less through another. That’s like asking someone which Snickers bar they want to buy- the one that costs $1.00 or the one that costs $1.25. There is just no doubt that people who are educated about their television service would not switch to another service of the same quality for less money. This is a no win situation for Directv unless they cut their monthly cost, upfront deposits, receiver charges and give more advanced equipment, if not dual receivers, to first time customers.

Directv has lost the Versus channel even though they’ve spent years talking about how Dish is the provider that doesn’t want to spend extra money to carry great networks. Dish Network has Versus and it also has more premium channels for the money including Showtime Beyond (horror and sci-fi movies), 5StarMax (Cinemax channel dedicated to award winning films only), Starz Comedy, Starz Kids & Family and HBO Comedy, HBO Zone (all movies in HD). Directv requires customers to pay extra for the Encore premium channels but Dish offers them in the package below America’s Everything Package.

Dish Network does not have the NFL Sunday Ticket but football fans will still have access to Red Zone for $5.99 per month. Directv requires customers to subscribe to the Ticket before they can order Superfan on top of it, then customers are able to get Red Zone $400.00 later. Football fans that are mostly interested in game-only content available in HD will be more than satisfied with Red Zone.

Dish is being humble in their approach when they ask you why you would pay more for the same service because they have so much more to offer than Directv including International channels. As a previous Directv customer with the Premier Package, 1 HD receiver and 2 standard receivers, I can attest to the fact that Dish Network is better. I switched and was able to change my boring existing equipment to 1 HD-DVR that records and plays on 2 different TVs (1 standard-def TV and 1 HD TV) as well as 1 HD only receiver. I had no upfront cost. I have America’s Everything Package and will save a total of $1,044 in the next two years because I have finally made an educated decision.

If my testimony is not enough, let’s look at the facts. The CEO of Dish Network has just announced a dividend of $2.00 on each of the company’s shares. The 3Q09 report also reflected that Dish has exceeded expectations with its gain of 241,000 new subscribers. Dish closed the market day with 5.17% at $20.14- Not too shabby.

Looking forward to heading to the theaters for some excitement? There are a few interesting upcoming movies set to arrive within the next few weeks so I decided to take a closer look at what we can expect to see at the movies before the end of the month. This is a great season for those of you who love thrillers. It seems that the Halloween spirit is lasting a little longer this year. We usually get bombarded with horror movies and mysteries during the month of October but it didn’t seem like we had too many choices this year. Not to worry there is plenty more horrifying fun to come!

The Fourth Kind opens this weekend (November 6) starring Milla Jovovich. This film looks creepy and mysterious. Jovovich plays a psychologist conducting a sleep study on a group of people in Nome, Alaska. She comes across an unexpected challenge when she discovers that her patients believe aliens abducted them. When I watched the trailer I was taken aback by the way they captured the patients while they were being hypnotized. They looked possessed and petrified. The directing is similar to Paranormal Activity with the home video type deal. This style of filming is really making a comeback. It’s very daring for directors to take on a project like this because this style can make or break a movie. Let’s hope it adds character to the film. The acting in this movie looks decent and it is supposedly based on a true unsolved mystery. I’m in!

This isn’t the only thriller coming to town this week. The Box with Cameron Diaz is also scheduled for release on Friday the 6th. This movie could go either way. It might be an average film glamorized by the inclusion of popular actors or it could make us question our own moral beliefs leading to a very interesting film. The plot sounds appealing but it appears to be laid out on the table and I’m not sure where the suspense will come from unless the story takes a turn and surprises us. Basically, Diaz is a teacher married to a NASA engineer and they have a son. One day, she finds a disfigured stranger at her door with “The Box” in hand along with a proposition. She can press the button and receive a million dollars (somehow) but someone she doesn’t know will die. I think we can guess what she decides to do. The question is, will the punishment be limited to the death of a person unknown to her if she presses the button, or will there be harsher consequences? I’m a Cameron Diaz fan so I’m hoping this flick is much better than anticipated.

George Clooney has managed to star in yet another bizarre film. Only Clooney can make wacky choices like this and walk away from it unscathed. As if the movies Leatherheads and Oh Brother Where Art Thou weren’t enough, he does it again with The Men Who Stare at Goats! If the cast wasn’t completely star-studded I’m sure that this film wouldn’t gain half the popularity it has received thus far. I’m thinking that Clooney as well as costars Kevin Spacey and Jeff Bridges will carry the weight of the movie and at least offer us some great acting and funny moments. It’s based on the true story of the military trying to train Special Forces agents to have paranormal abilities. They practice by staring at goats and concentrating on them until the goats drop dead. They practice this as well as reading people’s minds to eventually use their gifts in the war. The guys get a little too confident in their ability thinking they can use it with everything. One of them disappears and the others go searching for him, attempting to use their gifts along the way and taking the audience for a comical ride in the process. This is a dark comedy that, in spite of its wacky name, may be worth a glance.

The release of 2012 is set for next weekend (November 13). Let the terror continue- at least until the holiday season! This big budget sci-fi adventure stars John Cusack and takes us into the future to the time of the apocalypse. We’ve watched movies with similar plots before but this one is unique since it was taken from predictions in the ancient Mayan calendar. The effects look tremendous and the acting should be favorable. I’m hoping that the effects don’t take up the whole movie. I prefer for the plot to build and to get to know the characters before the madness begins. This film will be awesome if it was done right. Let’s hope the events don’t start right from the get-go and lose their flair toward the end of the movie. I want to be drawn in and completely concerned for the characters before they are faced with the danger of losing their lives. The thing that holds my interest the most is the fact that I am very curious as to how it will end. Will it really be the end of the world and will the characters die in the end? Will they be the last people on earth once the rest of human kind becomes extinct? Can there be a stop to what looks to be irreparable damage to the earth? I’m going to have to see this right away because I don’t want anyone to blow it and tell me what happens in the end!

Needless to say, it looks like the next few weeks will be huge for the box office with a collage of different movies to choose from. You will have access to everything from horror to Disney's A Christmas Carol with Jim Carrey. It certainly looks like there will be something for everyone. I will be at the theater Friday night to catch The Fourth Kind because, if you’ve read my blogs, you’d know that I couldn’t pass up a decent thriller! If you love horror movies as much as I do, then there is no better television service to have than Dish Network Satellite TV! Dish has Showtime Beyond, a huge seller for me because it’s all horror all the time! You don’t need to go to the movies every week to have the best entertainment. Movie fans have many premium channels to choose from including Encore. The Encore premium channels have movies of every genre and you don’t even need to pay extra for them when you have the Classic Gold 250 package! Have fun at the movies and be sure to check out Dish for built-in theater style entertainment in the comfort of your own home!

This is a long blog, but it is well worth the read if you love horror, food, drinks, friends and a good story. I was searching the DISH Network Satellite TV channel guide to see what suspenseful movies will be on for the remainder of October. Now that October is here after a very short summer, it is time to prepare for fall festivities and scary movies. I look forward to going apple picking and attending fall fairs, going to the Christmas Tree Shoppe to stock up on fall decor and, of course, curling up on cold weekend nights for some good horror movies!
I started to think about how I can start the Halloween experience early, so I decided that I’m going to invite a few friends over this weekend for a fun night of horror! I'm not going crazy on creepy decorations this year, but we'll certainly light a few candles to set the ambiance. I was thinking of preparing a delicious dinner, followed by two horror movies then a little good night story for my friends before they leave for the evening. I should mention that my daughter is going to be at her grandmother’s house while this is happening! So far, I have found some great recipes from Food Network to share with you for the dinner and treats.

Appetizers
To add some Halloween color into the mix, I’m going to make this appetizer that includes a witch green color.

Roasted Chile Guacamole with Baked Tortilla Chips
Baked Tortilla Chips:
· Cooking spray
· 3 sun-dried tomato basil tortilla wraps
· 3 garden spinach herb tortilla wraps
· Olive oil
· Salt and pepper
Guacamole:
· 1/2 cup frozen chopped onion, thawed
· 2 cups frozen no-salt added petite peas, thawed
· 1/3 cup water
· 2 tablespoons lemon juice
· 1 (1-ounce) packet guacamole seasoning mix
· 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
· 1/2 cup diced tomatoes with no-salt added
· 1 cup chopped avocado
· 1 (7-ounce) can fire roasted diced green chiles
For tortillas chips:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray; set aside.
On a cutting board, stack 3 tortillas and using a sharp knife, cut into 8 wedges (like a pie). Repeat with remaining tortillas. Separate any that may stick together. Place on baking sheet, evenly spaced. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Remove and let cool.
For Guacamole:
In a medium saucepan combine onions, peas, water, lemon juice, guacamole seasoning, and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes until ingredients are soft.
Remove from heat and let cool.
Pour cooled pea mixture into a large bowl. Add avocado and mash with a fork or potato masher. Strain tomatoes and add to bowl with green chilies. Mix until blended.
Serve with baked chips.

Since my good little doobie will be at her grandmother’s house, I can also make a few drinks to accompany our appetizers!

Emeril’s Tin Can Margaritas
Ingredients:
· 1 lime, cut in wedges
· Coarse salt, for glasses
· 1 large can frozen limeade
· 1 full can good-quality tequila
· 1/2 can triple-sec
· 1/2 can lemon juice
· Ice
Directions:
Rub rims of glasses with a lime wedge; place salt in a saucer and dip rims. In a pitcher combine remaining ingredients, stir well and fill up with ice. Serve in salt-rimmed glasses with lime wedges.

And now…for the main course…Pumpkin-Peanut Curry Noodles with Five-Spice Seared Scallops and Shrimp, which only takes 20 minutes to cook (believe it or not)!

Ingredients:
· 1 pound spaghetti
· Salt
· 5 tablespoons vegetable oil or peanut oil
· 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
· 2 inches ginger root, minced or grated
· 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
· 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
· 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
· 1/4 to 1/3 cup tamari dark soy sauce, eyeball it
· 1 (15-ounce) can cooked pumpkin
· 2 rounded tablespoonfuls mild or hot curry paste (recommended: Patak's) found on international foods aisle
· 3 tablespoons five-spice powder
· 12 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
· 12 diver scallops, trimmed and patted dry
· 4 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces, then thinly sliced lengthwise into matchsticks
Directions:
Heat a large pot of water for noodles. When water boils, salt it and add pasta to cook to al dente or with a bite to it.
While pasta cooks, heat a large, deep skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil. Add garlic, ginger, red bell pepper, and pepper flakes to the pan and cook together a couple of minutes, then add peanut butter and melt it. Whisk soy into peanut butter, then stir in pumpkin and curry paste. The sauce will be very thick. Turn down the heat to low. Add a ladle or 2 of pasta cooking water to thin sauce a bit and simmer over low heat. Adjust salt, to taste.
Heat a small to medium skillet over high heat. Pour the five-spice powder onto a plate with some salt. Press both sides of the shrimp and scallops into the powder. Add 3 tablespoons of remaining oil to hot skillet. Place the shrimp in the pan and cook 1 minute, flip and sear the other side until just opaque. Remove shrimp to a plate and set aside. Add another 3 tablespoons of oil to the skillet and heat back up to smoking. Add the scallops and sear on both sides until opaque. Remove scallops and add to the plate of shrimp.
Drain pasta and return pasta to the pot. Add the curry-pumpkin sauce and toss thoroughly. Serve noodles on 4 plated and top with scallions and seafood.

All I have to say is YUM!

And now for dessert…Dirt Pudding! This literally takes 5 minutes!
Have some pudding prepared from the night before, crack open a package of Oreos and crumble the cookies into the pudding. It’s delectable and easy.

It is now time for the feature presentation:

Movie number 1: Scream

Intermission: Coffee with Baileys Irish Cream, Amaretto and Frangelico

Movie number 2: From Dusk Till Dawn

Good night story:
This woman was doing laundry on a Saturday morning while her husband was at work. For some reason every time she pushes her clothes into the washing machine, she gets the feeling that someone is behind her, but she keeps going, admitting the thought is ridiculous. The basement never bothered her before. It isn’t musty as there’s a dehumidifier down there. It hasn’t been emptied for a while but the air is still dry. The cobwebs are always dusted and swept away as she is not fond of spiders, so the basement is fairly clean minus a few bags and it’s bright enough so there are no unlit corners. She hears her son rummaging through something in the living room upstairs, so she quickly goes back upstairs to be sure he is being safe.
Her son decided to try out his new roller-skates while mom was downstairs. The lady reminded her son that he needs to wear a helmet and knee pads if he wants to roller-skate then he can join her in the basement while she washes clothes. There is more room to skate in the large space downstairs. The husband had just recently finished ripping the rug off the basement stairs so he can replace it and there are small nails sticking out of the front of a few of the stairs. The mom tells her son that she’ll carry him downstairs because he’s already wearing his skates and she doesn’t want him to get hurt on the nails. The son complies.
Once the son’s helmet and knee pads are on, the mom sets him free to skate about the basement. Then she gets this horrible chill down her spine and a sick feeling in her stomach so she takes a minute to lean up against the table where she folds her clean clothes. She can’t figure out what the problem is, but her father is in the hospital so she decides to call her mom from the cell phone she has in her sweatshirt pocket to be sure everything is okay with him. Her mom said that everything is good and that her dad will be coming home the next day. Her dad fell and one of his toenails was caught on something and had been ripped off completely. He is a heavy man and any fall he takes is sure to cause some damage, but hooking his toenail on something made it even worse.
“He’s fine”, she thought, “so what can this horrible feeling be?” Her son is skating as fast as he can while holding onto the basement wall. She covers her face with her hands trying to think of what the problem could be. All of a sudden her son catches one of his skates in the grate of the basement drain. His skate stays there and his body goes flying forward. He luckily landed on a trash bag that was full of clothes the mom put down there a week ago for the Salvation Army.
She dashes to her son who is crying out of shock from falling with his new skates. She comforts him and walks over to retrieve his skate, still stuck in the grate of the drain. “These crazy plastic roller-skates. We’ll get you a new pair today, baby”. She looks back down at the skate and notices something hairy sticking out of the drain along with a foul odor.
She calls her husband to come home from work on his break to check this out. She puts on a movie upstairs for her son who is ready for a nap. Her husband gets home shortly after and hurries with her to the basement to see what she was talking about. He grabs a crow bar that was stashed behind the dryer and pries open the drain, catching a bunch of hair along the way and flinging the object across the room once the grate breaks free. It thumps against the wall and falls behind the trash bags full of clothes. They notice that whatever it is, it’s bleeding because there is a splat of blood on the wall. “I wish I had my father check that drain when he was down here last weekend. You know how I like to keep that clean”.
They tiptoe over to where the object had thumped to the ground and peeked behind the bags. They scream and jump back when they realize it’s a human head with skin that is falling off from spending so much time in the drain water. They panic and the husband takes a good look to make sure they didn’t miss anything else down there. He noticed her father’s pocketknife under the basement stairs with blood on it. He does not pick it up. As he examines the stairs for further evidence, he sees what he originally thought was a leftover piece of the carpet he had ripped up and notices that it’s a toenail. “Get upstairs and call the police!”
The wife calls the police who eventually get there and investigate her basement. They observe the head and ask them what is in the bags that are on the floor. The lady tells them that they’re stuffed with clothes. They open the bag and notice body parts that have been hacked up and stuffed in quilts. They take the toenail as evidence.

Goodie Bags to Take Home:

Some fun trinkets from iParty along with some cool Halloween lollipops!

Ingredients:
· 6 or 8-inch wooden pop sticks
· Gummy worms, as needed
· 2 cups sugar
· 2/3 cup corn syrup
· 2/3 cup water
· 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
· 1/4 teaspoon orange, lemon or cherry extract
· Few drops orange food coloring
Directions
Lay a silicone sheet on a baking pan, place the sticks on the pan and place 3 pieces of gummy Worms above the tip of each stick to form a gummy worm triangle.
Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a clean, dry small saucepan. (It is best to use a heavy gauge pan and preferably with a pour spout.) Bring to a boil over high heat and cook without stirring until the mixture reaches 305 degrees F or "hard crack" stage on a candy thermometer. Occasionally wash down the sides of the pan with a clean pastry brush dipped in water to remove any sugar crystals that are clinging to the sides of the pan.
When the mixture reaches 305 degrees F, remove the pan from heat and dip the bottom of the pan into an ice bath for a few seconds to stop the candy from cooking. Add the extracts and food coloring and stir very gently with a wooden spoon so the color is evenly distributed.
Pour the syrup over the gummy worms and just over the stick. Cool the candy for at least 20 minutes.
Lift the lollipops off the silicone and either serve immediately or wrap in an airtight container.

Now, tell me I can’t plan an awesome night of fun with a few close friends!

This is a long blog, but it is well worth the read if you love horror, food, drinks, friends and a good story. I was searching the DISH Network Satellite TV channel guide to see what suspenseful movies will be on for the remainder of October. Now that October is here after a very short summer, it is time to prepare for fall festivities and scary movies. I look forward to going apple picking and attending fall fairs, going to the Christmas Tree Shoppe to stock up on fall decor and, of course, curling up on cold weekend nights for some good horror movies!
I started to think about how I can start the Halloween experience early, so I decided that I’m going to invite a few friends over this weekend for a fun night of horror! I'm not going crazy on creepy decorations this year, but we'll certainly light a few candles to set the ambiance. I was thinking of preparing a delicious dinner, followed by two horror movies then a little good night story for my friends before they leave for the evening. I should mention that my daughter is going to be at her grandmother’s house while this is happening! So far, I have found some great recipes from Food Network to share with you for the dinner and treats.

Appetizers
To add some Halloween color into the mix, I’m going to make this appetizer that includes a witch green color.

Roasted Chile Guacamole with Baked Tortilla Chips
Baked Tortilla Chips:
· Cooking spray
· 3 sun-dried tomato basil tortilla wraps
· 3 garden spinach herb tortilla wraps
· Olive oil
· Salt and pepper
Guacamole:
· 1/2 cup frozen chopped onion, thawed
· 2 cups frozen no-salt added petite peas, thawed
· 1/3 cup water
· 2 tablespoons lemon juice
· 1 (1-ounce) packet guacamole seasoning mix
· 1 teaspoon chopped garlic
· 1/2 cup diced tomatoes with no-salt added
· 1 cup chopped avocado
· 1 (7-ounce) can fire roasted diced green chiles
For tortillas chips:
Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a baking sheet with cooking spray; set aside.
On a cutting board, stack 3 tortillas and using a sharp knife, cut into 8 wedges (like a pie). Repeat with remaining tortillas. Separate any that may stick together. Place on baking sheet, evenly spaced. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until golden. Remove and let cool.
For Guacamole:
In a medium saucepan combine onions, peas, water, lemon juice, guacamole seasoning, and garlic. Cook for 10 minutes until ingredients are soft.
Remove from heat and let cool.
Pour cooled pea mixture into a large bowl. Add avocado and mash with a fork or potato masher. Strain tomatoes and add to bowl with green chilies. Mix until blended.
Serve with baked chips.

Since my good little doobie will be at her grandmother’s house, I can also make a few drinks to accompany our appetizers!

Emeril’s Tin Can Margaritas
Ingredients:
· 1 lime, cut in wedges
· Coarse salt, for glasses
· 1 large can frozen limeade
· 1 full can good-quality tequila
· 1/2 can triple-sec
· 1/2 can lemon juice
· Ice
Directions:
Rub rims of glasses with a lime wedge; place salt in a saucer and dip rims. In a pitcher combine remaining ingredients, stir well and fill up with ice. Serve in salt-rimmed glasses with lime wedges.

And now…for the main course…Pumpkin-Peanut Curry Noodles with Five-Spice Seared Scallops and Shrimp, which only takes 20 minutes to cook (believe it or not)!

Ingredients:
· 1 pound spaghetti
· Salt
· 5 tablespoons vegetable oil or peanut oil
· 3 cloves garlic, finely chopped
· 2 inches ginger root, minced or grated
· 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
· 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
· 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
· 1/4 to 1/3 cup tamari dark soy sauce, eyeball it
· 1 (15-ounce) can cooked pumpkin
· 2 rounded tablespoonfuls mild or hot curry paste (recommended: Patak's) found on international foods aisle
· 3 tablespoons five-spice powder
· 12 jumbo shrimp, peeled and deveined
· 12 diver scallops, trimmed and patted dry
· 4 scallions, cut into 2-inch pieces, then thinly sliced lengthwise into matchsticks
Directions:
Heat a large pot of water for noodles. When water boils, salt it and add pasta to cook to al dente or with a bite to it.
While pasta cooks, heat a large, deep skillet over medium heat with 2 tablespoons vegetable or peanut oil. Add garlic, ginger, red bell pepper, and pepper flakes to the pan and cook together a couple of minutes, then add peanut butter and melt it. Whisk soy into peanut butter, then stir in pumpkin and curry paste. The sauce will be very thick. Turn down the heat to low. Add a ladle or 2 of pasta cooking water to thin sauce a bit and simmer over low heat. Adjust salt, to taste.
Heat a small to medium skillet over high heat. Pour the five-spice powder onto a plate with some salt. Press both sides of the shrimp and scallops into the powder. Add 3 tablespoons of remaining oil to hot skillet. Place the shrimp in the pan and cook 1 minute, flip and sear the other side until just opaque. Remove shrimp to a plate and set aside. Add another 3 tablespoons of oil to the skillet and heat back up to smoking. Add the scallops and sear on both sides until opaque. Remove scallops and add to the plate of shrimp.
Drain pasta and return pasta to the pot. Add the curry-pumpkin sauce and toss thoroughly. Serve noodles on 4 plated and top with scallions and seafood.

All I have to say is YUM!

And now for dessert…Dirt Pudding! This literally takes 5 minutes!
Have some pudding prepared from the night before, crack open a package of Oreos and crumble the cookies into the pudding. It’s delectable and easy.

It is now time for the feature presentation:

Movie number 1: Scream

Intermission: Coffee with Baileys Irish Cream, Amaretto and Frangelico

Movie number 2: From Dusk Till Dawn

Good night story:
This woman was doing laundry on a Saturday morning while her husband was at work. For some reason every time she pushes her clothes into the washing machine, she gets the feeling that someone is behind her, but she keeps going, admitting the thought is ridiculous. The basement never bothered her before. It isn’t musty as there’s a dehumidifier down there. It hasn’t been emptied for a while but the air is still dry. The cobwebs are always dusted and swept away as she is not fond of spiders, so the basement is fairly clean minus a few bags and it’s bright enough so there are no unlit corners. She hears her son rummaging through something in the living room upstairs, so she quickly goes back upstairs to be sure he is being safe.
Her son decided to try out his new roller-skates while mom was downstairs. The lady reminded her son that he needs to wear a helmet and knee pads if he wants to roller-skate then he can join her in the basement while she washes clothes. There is more room to skate in the large space downstairs. The husband had just recently finished ripping the rug off the basement stairs so he can replace it and there are small nails sticking out of the front of a few of the stairs. The mom tells her son that she’ll carry him downstairs because he’s already wearing his skates and she doesn’t want him to get hurt on the nails. The son complies.
Once the son’s helmet and knee pads are on, the mom sets him free to skate about the basement. Then she gets this horrible chill down her spine and a sick feeling in her stomach so she takes a minute to lean up against the table where she folds her clean clothes. She can’t figure out what the problem is, but her father is in the hospital so she decides to call her mom from the cell phone she has in her sweatshirt pocket to be sure everything is okay with him. Her mom said that everything is good and that her dad will be coming home the next day. Her dad fell and one of his toenails was caught on something and had been ripped off completely. He is a heavy man and any fall he takes is sure to cause some damage, but hooking his toenail on something made it even worse.
“He’s fine”, she thought, “so what can this horrible feeling be?” Her son is skating as fast as he can while holding onto the basement wall. She covers her face with her hands trying to think of what the problem could be. All of a sudden her son catches one of his skates in the grate of the basement drain. His skate stays there and his body goes flying forward. He luckily landed on a trash bag that was full of clothes the mom put down there a week ago for the Salvation Army.
She dashes to her son who is crying out of shock from falling with his new skates. She comforts him and walks over to retrieve his skate, still stuck in the grate of the drain. “These crazy plastic roller-skates. We’ll get you a new pair today, baby”. She looks back down at the skate and notices something hairy sticking out of the drain along with a foul odor.
She calls her husband to come home from work on his break to check this out. She puts on a movie upstairs for her son who is ready for a nap. Her husband gets home shortly after and hurries with her to the basement to see what she was talking about. He grabs a crow bar that was stashed behind the dryer and pries open the drain, catching a bunch of hair along the way and flinging the object across the room once the grate breaks free. It thumps against the wall and falls behind the trash bags full of clothes. They notice that whatever it is, it’s bleeding because there is a splat of blood on the wall. “I wish I had my father check that drain when he was down here last weekend. You know how I like to keep that clean”.
They tiptoe over to where the object had thumped to the ground and peeked behind the bags. They scream and jump back when they realize it’s a human head with skin that is falling off from spending so much time in the drain water. They panic and the husband takes a good look to make sure they didn’t miss anything else down there. He noticed her father’s pocketknife under the basement stairs with blood on it. He does not pick it up. As he examines the stairs for further evidence, he sees what he originally thought was a leftover piece of the carpet he had ripped up and notices that it’s a toenail. “Get upstairs and call the police!”
The wife calls the police who eventually get there and investigate her basement. They observe the head and ask them what is in the bags that are on the floor. The lady tells them that they’re stuffed with clothes. They open the bag and notice body parts that have been hacked up and stuffed in quilts. They take the toenail as evidence.

Goodie Bags to Take Home:

Some fun trinkets from iParty along with some cool Halloween lollipops!

Ingredients:
· 6 or 8-inch wooden pop sticks
· Gummy worms, as needed
· 2 cups sugar
· 2/3 cup corn syrup
· 2/3 cup water
· 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
· 1/4 teaspoon orange, lemon or cherry extract
· Few drops orange food coloring
Directions
Lay a silicone sheet on a baking pan, place the sticks on the pan and place 3 pieces of gummy Worms above the tip of each stick to form a gummy worm triangle.
Combine the sugar, corn syrup, and water in a clean, dry small saucepan. (It is best to use a heavy gauge pan and preferably with a pour spout.) Bring to a boil over high heat and cook without stirring until the mixture reaches 305 degrees F or "hard crack" stage on a candy thermometer. Occasionally wash down the sides of the pan with a clean pastry brush dipped in water to remove any sugar crystals that are clinging to the sides of the pan.
When the mixture reaches 305 degrees F, remove the pan from heat and dip the bottom of the pan into an ice bath for a few seconds to stop the candy from cooking. Add the extracts and food coloring and stir very gently with a wooden spoon so the color is evenly distributed.
Pour the syrup over the gummy worms and just over the stick. Cool the candy for at least 20 minutes.
Lift the lollipops off the silicone and either serve immediately or wrap in an airtight container.

Now, tell me I can’t plan an awesome night of fun with a few close friends!

Who isn't interested in a double-feature filled with thrills and chills?  I know I am, especially if Quentin Tarantino has anything to do with it!  Grindhouse is now available at YOUR house and includes two short movies- Planet Terror (Robert Rodriguez) and Death Proof (Quentin Tarantino).  All you need is the STARZ package and you can watch this action-packed pair of movies.  It airs on Dish Network Satellite TV on STARZ InBlack July 17th @ 8:45 est!

I found Death Proof to be the better of the two films.  Not because it had a 70's feel to it, or for the fact that Tarantino rocks, but for it's quality.  The directing was spot on.  The action scenes were unrefined and gritty.  Kurt Russell is absolutely insane in this movie as a stunt man/ serial killer.  This is certainly one of his best acting performances.  Grab a huge bag of popcorn for this one so you're not biting your nails! 

Planet Terror is a great ride.  I was reasonably confident this would be a hit, considering Robert Rodriguez's history with horror movies.  Nothing beats the scene where Cherry Darling (Rose McGowan) replaces her chewed-off leg with a machine gun  to protect herself from zombies.  I'm not a huge fan of the walking dead, but I have to admit that I'd watch this movie a few more times.