January 2011
The first time I saw The Big Lebowski was during a winter break from college. My mom interrupted my viewing, caught a bit of a more mild scene by Lebowski standards, and the dialogue ensued as follows:
Mom: (in disgust) What are you watching?
Me: (nonchalantly) A movie.
Mom: (still disgusted) Where did you get it?
Me: (still watching the movie) At the library.
Mom: (even more appalled now) They have movies like this at the library?
Me: (even more matter of fact) Yes.
Mom: (head shaking while unfortunately coming to grips with her daughter’s age and volition) Well, I wouldn’t waste my time.
Me: (firmly grasping age and volition) Well, I guess I’ll continue to waste my time here.
However, it was far from a waste of time. At the end of that movie, I understood the world anew. That’s why my college boyfriend hated The Eagles. That’s the deal with white Russians, so on and so forth. It was life changing to say the least, and it has been an unofficial routine viewing since then.
Watching the film throughout the years, I also saw my own evolution (digression?). The first time when my mom interrupted me, I could understand why, from her very innocent and conservative perspective, she thought the movie was so “vulgar.” Several viewings later, all the obscenities faded into the background until Sam Elliot ordered a Sioux City Sarsaparilla and said, “I like your style, Dude. There’s just one thing, Dude. Do you have to use so many cuss words?”
Perhaps my own vocabulary had changed a tad in the interim. Part of that change had to do with the choice words and phrases emerging from the lexicon of my day job. As it turns out, scientists, engineers and especially business developers are quite “colorful” people! They’re a real HR nightmare! Surprisingly, one of the cleaner mouths of the crew had strong ties to the Dude unbeknownst to him. It was high time to rectify the situation, so I set up a little viewing as follows…
Good day fine sirs and ladies!
You all know Bill Meanor, or as he is known around here, “Billiam T.*”
*You many not know what the T stands for, but no one does, so don’t worry about it.
You might also know Bill’s favorite drink is a White Russian.
But do you know Bill has nooooo idea who THE DUDE is?!?!?!?!?!?!??!?!
Soooooo….
This Thursday, January 27th, 2011
White Russians + …
On the big screen!
5pm until the end of the film or the end of the Kahlua. Be there as Bill sees a legend on screen for the first time. It will be a magical moment- like watching a baby’s first steps! Wear your oversize sweaters, ratty ol’ bathrobes or spandex bowling uniform. This one is not for the kids, but if your SigFig wants to join, by all means!
So it was written, and so it came to be…
WHITE RUSSIAN CUPCAKES
Yield: 18 cupcakes
Cake Ingredients
3 tbsp. (1 1/2 oz.) kahlua
2 tbsp. (1 oz.) vodka
½ cup (3 oz.) white chocolate chunks
2 cups whole-wheat pastry flour
¾ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. baking powder
¾ cup organic, unsalted butter
1 ¼ cup organic evaporated cane juice sugar
3 lg. local, free-range eggs
3/4 cup local buttermilk
Cocktail Topping Ingredients
2 cups local, heavy whipping cream
1/3 cup powdered sugar
1/3 cup Kahlua
2 teaspoons vodka
For the Cake
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease or line cupcake pans.
Combine kahlua, vodka and chocolate in a heat safe bowl over a saucepan of water. Simmer the water and stir the chocolate until melted and well combined.
Cool slightly.
In a separate bowl, combine flour with baking soda and baking powder.
Cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Beat in eggs, one at a time.
Blend in kahlua-chocolate mixture.
Alternate adding the flour mixture and the buttermilk in three increments, starting and stopping with the flour.
Divide batter into the cupcake pans.
Bake at 350 degrees for 20-30 minutes until tester inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans 10 minutes. Turn out onto wire racks. Cool completely.
For the White Russian Whipped Topping
Beat the heavy whipping cream and powdered sugar until thickened. Gradually beat in kahlua and vodka, beating until stiff.
Put a dollop of the boozy whipped topping on each cupcake. Reserve some cupcakes for those who abstain from drinking or the young because …
WARNING: These cupcakes are boozy! The whipped topping is 100% cocktail!
Garnish with an organic maraschino cherry- same flavor, none of the nasty stuff. Add a Lebowski rug and serve to dudes and dudettes with Caucasian cocktails in hand!
*If prepared ahead, refrigerate the ice cupcakes, removing 30 minutes before serving to capture full flavor.
