Happy Hollandaise

Happy New Year!

The holidays aren't worth reliving, so I'm just jumping into 2012.  I'm just happy to say we all survived, and so far, everyone is healthy.

My update on the kidney front is that I've been ousted as a possible donor for my mother.  Heartbreaking and unfair, in my humble opinion, but with my cysts and our family history they don't think that "cutting my kidney function in half" is a good idea.  So there you have it.  I continue to be of no use to anyone!

On to last night...
I don't think I've mentioned this, but Noelle and I are absolutely in love with the movie "Julie & Julia."  Partly for the adorable Amy Adams.  Partly for the incredible Stanley Tucci.  Partly because Meryl absolutely brings Julia to LIFE.  Partly because I love that Julia was tall.  And MOSTLY because the food in that movie makes us hungry every single time we watch it!

So far we'd only attempted the bruchetta that Julie and her husband devour one evening -- just watching them enjoy it made us want it that much more!  We weren't able to get the right kinds of tomatoes, and in the end our bread didn't seem nearly as delectable, but we did use fresh tomatoes and fresh basil, and we did thoroughly enjoy the meal.  So much so that my son is still asking when we're going to make it again!  I call that a success.

Last night I attempted something I've never made: Hollandaise sauce!  Not that it was oh so hard, nor was it anything nobodies ever made, but it was my first time and I had fun with it.  Granted, anything that includes an entire stick of butter can't be all that bad, right?

We wanted to make it for the artichokes that Noelle's been dying for me to buy.  (She finally tried one at a friend's house and now she "loooves them!"  Never mind that I have made them before...)

The sauce was delicious, and I loved the flavor of the two together.  I was in heaven.  Meanwhile, Noelle took one taste and decided on ranch for her dipping.  Fine by me!  I was only too happy to enjoy it by myself, since Charlie wouldn't have anything to do with it, either.  Tonight I swung by Trader Joe's and picked up a little broccolini, which I steamed and then drowned in the last of the hollandaise.  It was just as wonderful warmed up, and I had to stop myself from licking the bowl afterwards. 

I've been scouring my local antique shops for a copy of Julia's Mastering the Art of French Cooking, but I think perhaps there are a few other people out there who, like me, have seen the movie and wanted to pick up a copy.  Thanks to the Internet, I'm sure I can find most recipes I'm looking for.  Just Google "Julie & Julia" and you'll be amazed at what you'll find.

I'm off to sleep now, to dream of rich, creamy sauces.  Yum.