Cookie Time: Sugar Cookies

Ingredients:
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt


Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In large bowl, beat butter with electric mixer. Add sugar and beat until combined. Beat in egg and vanilla. In another bowl, combine flour, salt and baking powder. Stir the flour mixture into the butter mixture. Divide dough into portions. Roll each portion into logs (1 1/2 inches in diameter). Wrap in plastic wrap or waxed paper, chill for hours or overnight. Cut rolls into 1/3 inches slices and place them on a ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 6-8 minutes until bottoms are light brown and set.

On The Town

On The Town is about three sailors (Chip, Gabey and Ozzie), on a 24-hour leave in New York City, who are looking for fun and love as they sing and create trouble along the way. I think that the most memorable song is "New York, New York", as the sailors tour through New York City famous sights such as: Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Central Park, Brooklyn Bridge and the Statue of Liberty. Staring Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Betty Garrett, Ann Miller, Jules Munshin and Vera-Ellen, directed by both Gene Kelly and Stanley Donen. It's a fabulous musical with many comedic scenes and if you love New York City as much as I do, I'm sure you'll enjoy it too.

The songs in the musical are: "A Day in New York Ballet", "Miss Turnstiles Dance", "New York, New York", "Come Up to My Place", "Main Street", "You're Awful", "Prehistoric Man", "On the Town", "Count on Me" and "Pearl of the Persian Sea".

Kiss Me, Kate

As I said in a post before, I had the chance of watching "Kiss Me, Kate" a couple of weeks ago and here's my review. "Kiss Me, Kate" is based on William Shakespeare's play The Taming of the Shrew, is about a pair of actors who used to be married but now are divorced and they have to act opposite each other in the play. I was expecting something different about this musical but afterwards I got mixed feelings about the whole thing. I must admit that I love the actors in it but everything else felt kind of flat. I always like at least on song in musicals that I watch, but I'm sad to say that in this one, I just couldn't find one. What I loved the most about this musical were the dancing numbers and Ann Miller. She's a scene stealer in this and an incredible dancer, I had myself wishing that I had her legs! Starring Kathryn Grayson, Howard Keel and Ann Miller, directec by George Sidney.

Cookie Time: Chocolate Chip Cookie

Ingredients:
2 cups flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 egg
3/4 cup butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 package (8 ounces) semi sweet chocolate chips

Direction:
Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.
In a bowl combine flour, salt and baking soda.
In a mixing bowl with mixer at medium speed, beat butter and sugar until fluffy.
Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually  beat in flour mixture until just combined.
Stir the chocolate chips.
Drop dough by rounded tablespoonfuls onto ungreased baking sheet.
Bake for 8 to 10 minutes until lightly browned. Cool on wire racks.
Finally, enjoy your cookies!

State Fair

I had the chance and pure joy of watching this musical the past weekend. "State Fair" is about a farm family named Frake  who is about to go at the yearly Iowa State Fair. As the fair goes on, romance start to blossom between Margy and Pat. This is a wonderful sweet musical with very enjoyable and charming songs. I can't  believe I had never seen this musical before. Staring Jeanne Crain, Dana Andrews, Dick Haymes and Vivian Blaine, directed by Walter Lang.



My favorite song is "It's a Grand Night for Singing". Songs included are: "Our State Fair", "It Might as Well Be Spring", "That's for Me", "Isn't It Kinda Fun" and "All I Owe Iowa", music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein, II.

Weekend: Films And A Book

This past weekend was very busy. I spent it watching movies and cooking for family and friends. Lately, I have been watching a lot of musicals and this weekend I watched two: "State Fair" and "Kiss Me, Kate", I had a chance to record them on my favorite channel TCM. I'll later make post about them and what I thought about each of them.



Jeanne Crain in "State Fair"



Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel in "Kiss Me, Kate"

I also rediscovered that I have books on my bookshelf that I haven't read. So, I decided to make them my must read of this year. To start I'll begin with "Wuthering Heights "by Emily Bronte, simply because I have tried a couple of times in the past and failed miserably. Also, I hate the fact that I have books that I haven't read, this is my challenge for this month and hopefully will achieve it. I hope! =]







Singin' In The Rain

Singin' in the Rain is one of the greatest musicals ever made. It's about a silent-screen leading man who finds love while trying to make the difficult transition to sound with the production company he works for. The film is funny, romantic with perfect and unforgettable dance numbers, all the essentials of a classic musical film. Starring Gene Kelly, Debbie Reynolds and Donald O'Connor, directed by both Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly.



I love the whole film but my favorite numbers are "Make 'Em Laugh", Good Morning", "Moses" and of course "Singin' in the Rain". The other songs in the film include: "Broadway Ballet", "All I Do Is Dream of You", "Broadway Rhythm", "Broadway Melody", "You Were Meant for Me", "You Are My Lucky Star", "Would You", "Beautiful Girl", and "Fit as a Fiddle".

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers takes place in 1850 Oregon. A backwoodsman named Adam brings a wife(Milly) home to his farm, only then she finds out that he has six brothers, all living with him. Milly tries to reform all the brothers who are trying to get brides of their own. It's a romantic musical comedy, directed by Stanley Donen and starring Howard Keel and Jane Powell.

The songs include: "Bless Your Beautiful Hide", "Goin' Co'tin", "June Bride", "Sobbin' Women". "Lament(Lonesome Polecat)", "Spring, Spring, Spring", "When You're in Love" and "Wonderful, Wonderful Day" music by Gene De Paul, lyrics by Johnny Mercer.

The barn-raising scene is my favorite because of the perfect and stunning choreography.