Ladybugs
In tne 1992 Rodney Dangerfield comedy, Chester, desperate for success, becomes girls' soccer coach Chester finds a novel way to bolster his failing team. He includes his own stepson disguised as a girl.
In the comedy Ladybugs, there aren’t a ton of food references but when there are these special moments are subtly built into the scenes to emphasize the characters and their over-the-top caricature tropes.
Source
Chester: “Julie, look at what you're eating, I thought you were getting in shape. What happened to the weight lifting class?”
Julie: “Oh I'm doing good. I mean this is heavy.”
The Scene: During the training of the misfit girls on the newly assembled Ladybugs team, assistant coach Julie is eating a sub sandwich rather than helping Chester with the girls. If you watch closely, the way Julie chose to eat the classic sub sandwich was very interesting to say the least. Instead of starting from one end to eat it, she eats it from the top.
Fun Fact: Whoopi Goldberg was given the option to either portray Julie in this movie or to take the lead role in Sister Act (1992). Although Goldberg loved Rodney Dangerfield and considered him a comedy icon, she chose the latter film because she felt it would be more successful. She proved right as Sister Act turned out to be one of the top 10 grossing films of 1992, while Ladybugs flopped at the box office
Recipe and Image Source
Today we will be making:;
The Five Pounder
Sub Sandwich
Ingredients
1 hoagie roll
2 slices ham
2 slices turkey
4 slices hard salami
4 slices sandwich size pepperoni
2 slices provolone cheese
Italian dressing
2 slices tomato
1 large piece romaine lettuce
Directions
Toast open sub rolls on the top oven rack under the broiler until lightly browned. Watch them carefully to make sure they don’t burn
Top each roll (covering both sides) with ham, turkey, hard salami, pepperoni and slices provolone cheese
Place back under the broiler and heat, watching closely, until the cheese it brown and bubbly
Remove from oven and top lettuce followed by tomato and Italian dressing
Why This Recipe Works
Sub sandwiches are customizable and can be made with a variety of ingredients
Breads—Italian, honey oat, multigrain, roasted garlic, flatbread, wheat, white, Italian herb and cheese, malted rye, plain wrap, gluten free wrap, and multigrain wrap (skip broiling steps if using wraps)
Cheeses—American, mozzarella, natural cheddar, old English, cheddar, Monterey cheddar blend, parmesan, pepperjack, provolone, and swiss
Vegetables—Lettuce, cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, capsicums, olives, pickles, jalapeños, avocado, carrots, and spinach
Sauces—Red chili, sweet onion, tandoori mayo, honey mustard, mint mayonnaise, marinara, mayonnaise, chipotle southwest, yellow mustard, and thousand island
Pro Tips
Bread is the base or foundation of a sandwich. Good quality bread provide variety, texture, taste, bulk, nutrients and eye appeal to sandwiches. Fresh bread is easier to slice or cut if it has been chilled
Stacking order is important to avoid soggy bread, stack the meat and cheese first, then the vegetables, then top with condiments
You can also sprinkle tomato slices with salt
Wrap sandwich with parchment paper to keep it holding together
Source
Matthew: “Listen, Chester, I'm in big trouble. I'm at the Mullen's house. Mrs. Mullen took all the girls to her house after practice. She insisted that I go with them.”
Chester: “Well, just have your ice cream and cake and go home.”
Matthew: [“laughs nervously] Oh, listen, genius, if it was that simple, I wouldn't have called you. Matthew: Now all the girls are going skinny-dipping.”
The Scene: Matthew aka Martha is invited over to the Mullen’s house after a game to hang out with all the girls. He calls Chester, to explain he is in a predicament—the girls want to go skinny dipping—and begs him to get him out of it.
Fun Fact: According to Health Digest, skinny dipping allows the sun's rays to hit every part of our body. As a result, our skin is soaking in a hefty helping of vitamin D. Even just a quick 15-minute dip can boost immunity far more than any supplement can. Not to mention, vitamin D also does wonders for brain and bone function while enhancing quality of sleep. Additionally, sweat is completely released without the hindrance of tight clothing, allowing toxins to be fully flushed from the body. Source
Image and Recipe Source
Today we will be making
Naked Cake
What Is a Naked Cake? A naked cake is easily recognized by its absent or minimal outer layer of frosting, which shows off the cake's natural texture and filling. Some naked cakes have zero frosting on their outer edge, while others have just a wisp of buttercream.
Thiis Naked Cake is a simple but elegant cake that is easy to make at home. A moist vanilla cake layered with sweet vanilla buttercream and topped with fresh berries,.
Ingredients
For the cake:
3 cups all-purpose flour
2½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1¼ cups unsalted butter softened at room temperature
2 cups granulated sugar
4 large eggs room temperature
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1⅓ cups whole milk room temperature
For the vanilla buttercream:
1½ cups unsalted butter room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt
6 cups powdered sugar
6 tablespoons heavy cream room temperature
Directions
For the Cake:
Preheat the oven to 350F. Butter 3 (8-inch) cake pans or spray with baking spray and line the bottoms with parchment paper.
In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt
In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter on medium speed until creamy. Add the sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes
With the mixer running, add the eggs, one at a time, waiting until each one is well incorporated before adding the next. Stop and scrape down the bowl between each egg. Beat in the vanilla
With the mixer on low speed, add a third of the flour mixture followed by half of the milk. Repeat, alternating between flour and milk until both are fully combined. Stop and scrape down the bowl occasionally
Divide the batter among the prepared cake pans
Bake for 30 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out with just a few crumbs
Let the cakes cool for 20 minutes in the pans. Invert onto a cooling rack, remove the parchment paper, and cool completely. You can then freeze the cake layers (after cooling) for 30 minutes for easier frosting, but this is optional!
For the vanilla buttercream:
In a large mixing bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat the butter, vanilla, and salt together on medium-high speed until the butter is light and easily spreadable, about 5 minutes
With the mixer on low speed, gradually mix in the sugar, about ½ a cup at a time, alternating with a tablespoon of cream on occasion. Stop and scrape down the bowl a few times during mixing.
Once the sugar and cream are incorporated, increase the speed to medium and beat until light and fluffy, about 1 minute
To assemble the cake:
Place one cooled cake layer on a cake stand. Spread 1 cup of frosting over the top, all the way to the edge. Place another cake layer on top and spread another 1 cup of frosting over the cake. Top with the remaining layer.
Spread a thin layer of frosting on the sides of the cake and a thicker layer on top with the remaining frosting. Run the side of a large offset spatula or a bench scraper around the side of the cake to remove excess frosting.
Top with fresh berries, if desired
Chill the cake for 30 minutes before slicing.
Why This Recipe Works
This chic and trendy cake will steal the show.
You will love how easy it is to bake and assemble
A naked cake is perfect if you aren’t a fan of the process of frosting a cake or if you’re a fan of a charming, rustic-style cake. This cake has zero to minimal frosting on the outside so that you can see all of the layers of the cake and buttercream
Pro Tips
Avoid over-mixing the batter as you risk over-developing the gluten leading to a tough, dry, and dense cake
The longer you can refrigerate the naked cake, the better. It helps stabilize the cake, and the buttercream will stick to the cake layers better
If you are making the cake in advance, hold off on adding the berries or other decorations on top of the cake. Placing the berries on top just before serving helps keep them from leaking any juices and staining the cake as it sits
Butter—did you know that different brands of salted butter vary in salt content? So, it’s best to use unsalted butter and then add salt to the batter. Be sure to have your butter at room temperature so it can easily cream. Room temperature butter should make a slight indent when pressed with your finger
Eggs—this cake calls for four eggs. Make sure you take them out ahead of time as they will incorporate into the batter better when at room temperature
Vanilla—Use a high-quality vanilla extract instead of artificial vanilla, as this is the backbone of the flavor of the cake
Milk—not only does milk add moisture, but it also adds richness and flavor to the naked cake
Powdered sugar—avoid swapping powdered sugar for another sugar. The fine powder will yield a smooth vanilla buttercream frosting
Leftover cake can be covered and stored at room temperature for up to 4 days
“Get Those Nail Breakers!"
The Scene: During ons of the games, Sally Anne is tripped by a girl and proclaims that she broke her nail. This enrages the Ladybugs crowd who begin chanting “Get those nail breakers!” The absurdity of the scene is amplified by the fact that the Mullens always have fancy cocktails or champagne while sitting on the sidelines of their 13-year old daughter’s games—being the country clubbers that they are.
Fun Fact: When choosing drinks for soccer sidelines, you can consider things like the weather:
When If it's cold, you can bring a thermos of hot mulled cider mixed with or without spiced rum to help keep you warm
In the heat, as Gatorade is a well-known sports drink, mixing it with vodka has become a favorite among sports enthusiasts. It can be a fun and hydrating way to celebrate victories or watch the game with friends
Image and Recipe Source
Today we will be making:
The Laughing Ladybug
Ingredients
2oz White Rum
Bundaberg Guava
1oz Lime juice
0.5oz Grapefruit juice
2 small Pieces of watermelon
Watermelon slice for garnish
Directions
Muddle watermelon pieces, then combine all other ingredients except Guava into a shaker
Give it a good shake
Strain into the glass and top with Bundaberg Guava
Add ice and garnish with a slice of watermelon
Enjoy your drink!
Why This Recipe Works
Muddling fruit for cocktails is a popular technique that extracts the fruit's juice and oils to enhance its flavor and help it mix with alcohol. Muddling also captures the fruit's fresh aromas.
Pro Tips
Serve in a sling cup
