Friday Five: Comfort Media

RevGalBlogPals Friday Five today is about Comfort, media style. 

Comfort, yes!  Comfort media, absolutely!  I have my own selection of movies and TV shows that are never old, no matter how many times you watch them.  These are the treats you curl up with during a bad cold or to unwind after a particularly challenging Consistory meeting. Just sayin' ... 

And don't forget the comfort food!  In honor of the last few days of Fair Trade month, treat yourself to some Fair Trade chocolate from Theo Chocolate, the only only organic fair trade bean-to-bar chocolate factory in the United States.  For something hearty and spicy, check out my daughter's yummy Rattlesnake Pasta -- freshly posted today!  Surprise, it's vegetarian!   Be ye comforted to the max!

My media comforts trend toward strong women, slapstick comedy and just plain escape:

Legally Blonde (movie) starring Reese Witherspoon as a blonde who is underestimated by almost everyone but herself.  Witherspoon herself seemed to be underestimated until she won the Oscar for Walk the Line.

The Closer (TV show) starring Kyra Sedgwick as Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson.  She is sassy, competent, Southern, and is surrounded by a great supporting cast.  I watch every episode I can find, no matter how many times I've seen it before.  It's just a fun show to watch.

Pretty Woman (movie) which is great Richard Gere and great Julia Roberts. I watch the whole movie to get to the last line, which gets me every time.

Fletch (movie) starring Chevy Chase.  I almost have this movie memorized and I still think it's hilarious.

Instant Movie or TV Marathon -- My daughter introduced me to The Deadliest Catch when we watched a bundle of episodes together marathon-style.  I am now watching the first three seasons of Mad Men with my son whenever we get the chance to squeeze in a few episodes.  I love Netflix!

Knew Better, Did Better: Fair Trade Buying

Janee Payne:  Freshly-picked coffee beans

"I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better."  -- Maya Angelou


October is Fair Trade Month.  The "special month" is ending, but the opportunity continues year-round to buy with justice in mind by seeking out fair trade products.


ABOUT FAIR TRADE, from the Fair Trade USA web site:  "The Fair Trade Certified™ Label guarantees consumers that strict economic, social and environmental criteria were met in the production and trade of an agricultural product. Fair Trade Certification is currently available in the U.S. for coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, flowers, sugar, rice, and vanilla." 


TWO KINDRED SPIRITS:
This week (Oct. 25-31) is International Nestle-Free Week.  Once again, coincidentally, my thoughts are swimming in the same stream as my amazing youngest at Anktangle.  She makes a convincing case for staying away from all things produced by Nestle, and she details how difficult that is to actually do.  Shameless, totally biased plug:  Amy's blog is special (like she is!) and her activism is filled with love for her family, for justice, and for life itself.  Spend a few minutes browsing!


I have been inspired by Jan at Yearning for God who has written regularly about Fair Trade products, especially fair trade chocolate.  Pay her a visit today and wish her a very "Happy Birthday!"


SOURCES FOR FAIR TRADE PRODUCTS:
Equal Exchange:  Fairly Traded Coffee, Tea, Chocolate and Snacks.

Green Mountain Coffee has a fairly extensive selection of fair trade (many are organic) coffees and teas.

Small Farmers, Big Change:  "A green and more just food system starts with small farmers."

Divine Chocolate:  "Divine is the only Fairtrade chocolate company which is 45% owned by the farmers. While Fairtrade ensures farmers receive a better deal for their cocoa and additional income to invest in their community, company ownership gives farmers a share of Divine’s profits and a stronger voice in the cocoa industry."

Sweet Earth Chocolates: This company's "organic fair trade confections for chocolate lovers everywhere" includes wedding favors and bulk ingredients.

Mountain Rose Herbs (also teas, spices and essential oils) is committed to sustainability and ethical stewardship.  A significant number of their products are fair trade and part of the standards and values of their business.


DOING BETTER:  Some of my favorite things are coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, flowers, sugar, rice, and vanilla.  I will enjoy them all the more by doing justice in the buying of them.

Practical Magic Blog Party!

Today is the much-anticipated Practical Magic Blog Party!

I blogged on Chocolate For Breakfast! yesterday.

Now, on to the party!

My first stop was the Cellar Door and Some Incanted Evening (get it?).  Wander through the love incantation scenes in the movie and then try one of your own.  Beautiful!

CajunStampingQueen crafted a book of spells and placed on a candle-lit mantle.  Bewitching!

Make your own magic wand at Lenorita's place.  Hers is a masterpiece!

Kat the Hat Lady made ... guess what! ...A HAT in honor of Aunt Fran's floppy straw hat in the movie.  The hat is adorable, but also check out the gallery of "Fran look" clothes further down the blog.  I would wear them!

A Pink Dreamer told us a very sweet ghost story, with pictures!

Party-going gives way to church legal seminar!  Maybe more later!

Pull up a chair out Cocina Diary and order from Angie's complete menu celebrating memorable movie moments.  I am definitely going back for seconds on those recipes!

GF Magic: Chocolate for Breakfast!

Tomorrow is the Practical Magic Blog Party.  I'm posting today because I have to be present at an all-day seminar tomorrow called Legal Issues That Can Really Bite Churches if They Aren't Careful ... or something like that.

I was inspired by the movie version of Practical Magic,  and especially by this wacky commandment delivered by Frances:  

"In this house we have chocolate cake for breakfast and never bother with silly things like bedtimes, or brushing our teeth."

What could be more magical than letting go of some of the rules that were passed on to us as non-negotiable?  I'm not ready to let go of bedtimes or teeth-brushing, so let's keep those bedtimes flexible and let's relish toothbrushing as part of a bedtime routine that is healthy and relaxing!
PM Yoga anyone?

For chocolate lovers who learned well the lesson that the breakfast meal was off-limits to their favorite comfort food, I present

"Chocolate for Breakfast"

Chocolate for Breakfast

Huge thanks to Karina over at Gluten Free Goddess blog for developing and sharing her recipe for GF Quinoa Breakfast Brownies.  Doesn't it look yummy?  Karina is an awesome GF chef and her love for food finds expression in the most delicious recipes.  

I felt positively witchy mixing up all the ingredients.  I already had most of them in my kitchen, including the chocolate chips I had for melting onto my birthday cake and my morning-oatmeal-enhancing golden raisins.  I used a Pampered Chef medium bar pan, lined with parchment paper.  As Karina advised, I will wrap the squares individually in foil and freeze them in a freezer bag.

Voila!  Instant chocolate comfort food that is ready to go -- morning, noon or night -- especially when I'm in a witchy mood!

For something to sip along with these squares of chocolate joy, I put the "lime in the coconut" along with some frozen bananas to make this smoothie:

"Lime in the Coconut" Magic Smoothie

yogurt

coconut milk 

frozen banana

lime juice & finely grated lime zest

honey 

ice cubes

Amazing Grass Organic Wheat Grass Powder (optional; adds color and nutrition)

These are the actual ingredients in the smoothie pictured.  I can't give you exact amounts because I just threw stuff in the blender until it looked right.  You can "put the lime in the coconut" in your favorite smoothie recipe or conjure up something delicious using this guide.  Enjoy!