Cinema, Cuisine and Cocktail : "Moonstruck"

I've been craving Italiano big-time.... And in thinking about it sooo much, I decided to scour the internet for a delicious Seafood Lasagna recipe (Which is primarily what I've been craving!).

When I found the one that made my tastebuds sing just reading it, I thought I should use it instead for my next installment of Cinema, Cuisine and Cocktail. The only problem.... what movie would I pick? I could've very easily gone "Godfather" on y'all, but truly and honestly, those movies bore the hell out of me! And I always pick movies I would sit and watch while dining on these meals. (No fakin' the funk from me! LOL) I was almost considering scrapping it when my mind went to "My Cousin Vinny" (Yikes!).... Luckily, I thought of Cher and she saved the day!!! It's the perfect movie choice for Miss Moon, don't ya think? LOL



IMDB has the best synopsis of the film:

Loretta Castorini, a Brooklyn bookkeeper in her late 30s whose husband died several years earlier in a bus accident, decides it's time to get married again. So she accepts the proposal of a nice, middle-aged fellow named Johnny Cammareri. Loretta is convinced her first marriage was cursed because she and her husband had gotten married at City Hall; this time, she's determined to do things right, even as she admits to her mother, Rose, that she's not really in love with Johnny. (To which Rose replies: "Good. When you love them, they drive you crazy, 'cause they know they can." Rose speaks from rueful experience; she suspects, with good reason, that her husband, Cosmo, is cheating on her.) Loretta is convinced that marrying Johnny is the safe and sure thing to do - until she meets his estranged younger brother Ronny, who tends the ovens in a neighborhood bakery. Loretta discovers that in startling contrast to the pleasant, mild-mannered Johnny, Ronny is moody and passionate; what follow are complications worthy of a comic opera.

It's frightening to thing I was ten years old when this movie came out. Now I am approaching my late 30s (Well... mid 30s) and picking out a menu to accompany the film.

Bruschetta

Recipe Courtesy of Divine Dinner Party

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. ripe Roma tomatoes
2 tbsp. finely chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. chopped fresh basil
2 tsp. red wine vinegar (balsamic is also nice)
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and Pepper
Parmesan shavings
Toasted crusty bread
Instructions: Cut tomatoes in half, squeeze out seeds and excess juice.

Dice, place in bowl. Add onion, garlic, basil, vinegar, salt and pepper (to taste), and olive oil. Let sit at room temperature 1 hour.

Brush toasted bread lightly with olive oil. Spoon tomato mixture over bread, sprinkle with shaved Parmesan cheese.

Seafood Lasagna

Recipe Courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Ingredients

1 (16 ounce) package lasagna noodles
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 pound baby portobello mushrooms, sliced
2 (16 ounce) jars Alfredo-style pasta sauce
1 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
1 pound bay scallops
1 pound imitation crabmeat, chopped
20 ounces ricotta cheese
1 egg
black pepper
6 cups shredded Italian cheese blend

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook for 8 to 10 minutes or until al dente; drain.
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Sautee garlic and mushrooms until tender. Pour in 2 jars Alfredo sauce. Stir in shrimp, scallops and crabmeat. Simmer 5 to 10 minutes, or until heated through. In a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, egg and pepper.
In a 9x13 inch baking dish, layer noodles, ricotta mixture, Alfredo mixture and shredded cheese. Repeat layers until all ingredients are used, ensuring that there is shredded cheese for the top. Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Cover, and bake 15 minutes.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 lbs. ripe Roma tomatoes
2 tbsp. finely chopped red onion
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 c. chopped fresh basil
2 tsp. red wine vinegar (balsamic is also nice)
3 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
Salt and Pepper
Parmesan shavings
Toasted crusty bread
Instructions: Cut tomatoes in half, squeeze out seeds and excess juice.

Dice, place in bowl. Add onion, garlic, basil, vinegar, salt and pepper (to taste), and olive oil. Let sit at room temperature 1 hour.

Brush toasted bread lightly with olive oil. Spoon tomato mixture over bread, sprinkle with shaved Parmesan cheese.

Dolce Domani

Recipe Courtesy of The Nibble

Ingredients

½ lime
2½ teaspoons sugar
3 ounces Merlot
Lime spiral to garnish
Preparation

Muddle lime and sugar until all lime juice is extracted.
Add wine. Pour with ice into a shaker and shake vigorously.
Pour into a lowball glass and garnish with a lime spiral.