Saturday, May 20, 2006

A Perfect Saturday

I've been complaining recently about the fact that for the last few weeks we've been having great weather during the week and then it's rained all weekend. It's been depressing me as I've sat staring out of the window at the grey skies pining for a bit of sunshine. But last night I thought sod it and we planned a film Saturday which will involve a film at the cinema and a film later on at home.
Saturday morning for us is the best part of the week - we usually get up, have coffee and pastries and read the papers with Saturday Kitchen on in the backround.

So we've decided to watch The King this afternoon with Gael Garcia Bernal which promises to be good with the star of Amores Perros , The Motorcycle Diares and Y tu mamá también . Going to the cinema is one of my favourite things as we always sneak in food and a big bottle of beer to keep up going. Who else thinks it's uncivilised not to be able to buy beer in the cinema?

This evening I'm going to cook Spaghetti alla Puttanesca which literally means Whore's Spaghetti, so called because it's easy and quick to make saving the, er, extremely busy ladies time I suppose. I love this pasta as it combines so many of my favourite ingredients which include tomatoes, black olives, chilies and anchovies (it also has capers I'm not so keen on but I had them a long time ago so I'm going to give them another go.)

After dinner, we'll pull our favourite Ikea Armchairs (really they are great and you can rock in them) up to the TV and settle down to watch a film with a coffee and brandy - a habit my boyfriend has got me into as I didn't like Brandy before (in terms of alcoholic drinks that I don't like that only leaves Whisky, but it'll take some doing to make me like that.)

So have a great weekend eveyone and don't let the rain get you down. Oh dear, the sun's just come out.

16 comments:

ginkers said...

I wish I was having a wee puttanesca, nothing like it. The best I ever had was cooked for me by a Neapolitan traffic warden. He was the most laid back guy in the world but I think you would have to be to direct traffic there!

Instead, I am at my in-laws and I think my evening will consist of steak pie and the Eurovision song contest. You've got me beat this time.

Wuching said...

oh, sounds like a really cosy weekend! *sigh*

Spangly Princess said...

sounds good. last night for me was chinese take-away and a good book, after a day in front of the computer, so I think you definitely win on this one.

a.c.t. said...

Can't beat a bit of English grub as well as Italian Ginkers. I ended up watching the Eurovision song contest in the end, I just couldn't resist. Terry Wogan's sarcastic comments are pure entertainment. A Chinese take away sounds good too SP, although Italian Chinese food is very different to our version.

Travel Italy said...

There are two primary ways to hold a man's heart and puttanesca is the key to both! Have a great weekend.

martinobhoy said...

Italian cooking, good films and alcohol. It's a shame the football season has finished because that's all that is missing from an ideal weekend.

I've added a few more "cool women in films" to Ginkers' blog. I'm sure he wont mind.

a.c.t. said...

It sure is Travel.

The world cup is coming up Martinobhoy to keep us busy over the summer...

Wrinkled Weasel said...

I envy you with the puttanesca. Mrs Weasel is allergic to fish, does not like capers and so I am a bit stuffed on that one.

Af few crushed capers in mayo and...hey presto you have tartare sauce!

I dont mine what you drink in the movies, as long as it does not make a noise!

As for your whisky, why not try Glen Ord? Described as "malty, sweet and a hint of smoke" it is easy to drink and certainly one of my favourites. i find I have to be in the mood for whisky, so persevere.
I mostly add a small amount of water, perhaps just under half the amount of whisky.

* (asterisk) said...

I make a mean arrabbiata, ACT. Great on a long cold night.

Also, I just don't like Chinese in Italy. First, they use spaghetti instead of noodles! Second, the one Wife and I go to don't do a tub of curry sauce; didn't know what it was. So we explained, and she said no, they wouldn't give me any because it would spoil the flavour of the food!

a.c.t. said...

I just love any kind of pasta I never get bored of it. It's so versatile, you can have just about anything with it. My favourite at the moment is pasta with sausage meat. I know what you mean about Chinese food in Italy. When I lived in Siena 6 years ago I went to this Chinese and it was empty. We ordered sweet and sour pork and when I bit into it there was no meat, it was pure fat. It makes me feel sick just thinking about it but I've never really liked Chinese food in Italy since - no wonder the place was empty. I think the problem is that most Italians aren't really that adventurous with food and rarely try anything other than Italian food so the quality of other cuisines isn't that good.

Spangly Princess said...

depends where you go, I find, I've had very bad chinese food in provincial italy and indeed here in rome for that matter. our local takeaway though is pretty good, besides delivering more food than 2 people could eat in a weekend for about €12.

a.c.t. said...

You are right SP - it does depend. Believe it or not I had one of the best Indians I've ever had anywhere in Milan. Mexican food's not bad in Italy either.

* (asterisk) said...

Not tried Indian in Italy. (Tried it in France: horrid!) Trouble is, when you go to Italy it would be a crime not to eat Italian food.

a.c.t. said...

Definitely as Italian food is the best in the world (in my opinion). The time I had the Indian was when I was living out there and after a year you do start to crave other food - I was pining for pie & mash.

Spangly Princess said...

exactly, when you live here sometimes you need a change. in my experience the indian food out here is nowhere near as good as that in the uk BUT their desserts are much much better.

Anonymous said...

yes, italian food do it's better!