Mindy Project Episode 2, Season 2 (2013-2014)- Am I Psychic or What?!!!!!

I am psychic! Don't you remember? In last week's post, I said that Danny's ex-wife should get together with James Franco's sex therapist character. And guess what happened.. Yes! They did get together! Score! Now that that news is out of the way, let's talk about this episode: James Franco still didn't wow me as a presence, but some of his lines were really funny! They still need to get Dr. Reed back on the "sexy train". The banter, for the most part, wasn't as witty. I think Ike Barinholtz is great! Please bring back the quirky, whimsical, yet self-reflective Mindy Project back! Please let me know what you think of the last two Mindy Project Episodes! Write your comments!

BIG TIME PEOPLE VIDEO - MY MOST POPULAR SONG!

BIG TIME PEOPLE - ALL COPYRIGHTS LORI A. CALBERT (AKA ALEXIS TIME)

 

HERE IS A VIDEO THAT IS ON YOUTUBE AND IS ONE OF MY MOST POPULAR SONGS THAT I WROTE AND
PERFORMED. IT WAS ON THE TOP OF THE INTERNET CHARTS. YOU CAN GET IT ON MY ALBUM "BIG TIME PEOPLE" UNDER MY STAGE NAME ALEXIS TIME ON AMAZON.COM OR ITUNES.  YOU CAN MAKE THE VIDEO FULL SCREEN WHEN YOU PUSH PLAY, THERE IS AN ICON IN THE RIGHTHAND BOTTOM CORNER TO EXPAND THE VIDEO TO FULL SCREEN.

I HAD THE MOST DOWNLOADED ALBUM IN THE BIGGEST DOWNLOADABLE MARKET CALLED "BOUNCE HARD DANCE" WHICH I CO-WROTE AND PERFORMED WITH CO-PRODUCER DR. RESURRECT (AKA EDDIE CAMPOS) FROM BRAZIL.

I HOPE YOU ENJOY THIS!

THANKS!

LORI A. CALBERT (AKA ALEXIS TIME)

The Mindy Project 2013-2014 Season Premiere - What Happened?!

What happened in last night's Mindy Project Premiere?!

 It was uneven at best. I really expected it to come out of the gate with a Bang! but it was more of a whimper.

 First of all, Mindy got engaged in Haiti to her reverend boyfriend. They are still clutzy and in love, but I wasn't feeling them as much as last season. I think he's way too patient and understanding for her.

Then they brought in James Franco to add a new "hot"(?) element to the show. I don't get James Franco's appeal at all. He's so smarmy. I mean, I appreciate that he is a Jack of All Trades, which I am myself. But I think he's a bit overrated, especially after that Oscar debacle. It was so terrible! In any case, his character is a sex therapist and has taken Mindy's place in the practice.

 However, Mindy gets sick in Haiti and had to be airlifted back to the United States for medical treatment. Danny is very excited that Mindy is back, partially because she sent him a million letters from Haiti and partly because his sizzle for his ex-wife has fizzled.

The Dr. Jeremy Reed character is getting fat because he was made managing partner and his only solace is food. Ike Barinholtz is still around as Morgan the crazy, yet extremely competent male nurse.

Besides Ike, the character that I did like and who made the show slightly funny and intriguing was the black nurse character. She thought Mindy's name was "Glob" and she was pretty confident about it.

In any case, Mindy and her Reverend Boyfriend decided to have a spur-of-the-moment, small wedding in New York with all of their friends. Of course, nothing goes as planned, including Mindy's boyfriend urinating on her wedding dress. At the last second, as Mindy is walking up the aisle in her scrubs, her boyfriend has a change of heart and calls off the wedding. He says that she deserves a better wedding than this and that it should happen after he gets back from Haiti.

There was something strange though, for me, in how he expressed it. I don't really believe that he called off the wedding for that reason. I think he got cold feet. Maybe I am reading too much in to it, but I don't think this relationship is going to last. I almost feel as though they will make Mindy get together with James Franco. However, what would be ridiculous and better would be if Danny's wife, who broke up with him because she found out that he was going to the Internet for "self-satisfaction", would get together with James Franco because his sperm was much more fascinating. There was so much chemistry between the Franco and Sevigny characters.

I just wasn't left with a tantalizing clffhanger. I wasn't satisfied. They really need to have more reflective moments like they did last season. There was always some type of redeeming moral at the end.

As per my last Dr. Reed post, they need to utilize the sexiness of his character or the potentially strange proclivities of his romantic life. They should have amped up the romance tension between Mindy and Danny.

At least Mindy has an epiphany that she was still too shallow for Haiti. She was pretending to enjoy it, but she realized she was still the same person inside. How can her selfish, narcissistic personality be compatible with the selfless personality of her do-gooder boyfriend?

All I hope is that "The Mindy Project" ups its game again. Maybe the issue is that they needed to do a recap show and sometimes it's hard to make them super fascinating. I want to feel excited about this show again. I know you can do it, Mindy (Kalling)!

AMAZINGLY SIMPLE AND DELICIOUS MEATBALLS (OR HAMBURGERS)

I make delicious and easy meatballs/hamburgers. All you need is the magic of the wonderful Lipton Soup packets.

You will need:

 2 lb. of hamburger meat
1 packet of Lipton Onion Soup Mix or Beef Onion Soup Mix
 2 tbs. of garlic powder
 2 tsp. of tamari soy sauce
 (Salt is optional, to taste)

 Mix all the ingredient together well. Then decide if you want meatballs (golfball size 12 or more can be made from this recipe) or make hamburgers (about 7-9 medium sized burgers). Cook in the oven in a rectangular baking pan at 350 degrees for about 15 - 20 minutes, or until fully cooked.

Save the juice from the meat if you are making a sauce. I use the drippings when I am using the meatballs for my Beef Stroganoff, another post to come. Try it and let me know what you think!

My Faves! 5 - VIA coffee from Starbucks

I know you're thinking, "Why are you talking about Starbucks? They don't need any advertisement!"  I know, but I think there is a product they have that has "saved" me in the past.  It's called VIA and it's their instant coffee.

It comes in a box of 3 - 12 long packets.  You can easily put them in your purse or pocket.  They have many selections of flavors and strength of caffeine.  There is the iced version which has sugar already mixed in it and the version that is for hot water without sugar, but it can be used in cold water or milk.   I like to put it in milk because it seems to distribute the caffeine to my system for a longer and more balanced amount of time.

It's great for recipes, too.  It's ready to add to anything, especially where chocolate is applied.  As you may already know, coffee gives chocolate a stronger taste.  A simple way to prove this is by adding some of the VIA to a Starbucks hot chocolate.  It will instantly amp up the flavor!

Why did I call it a "life saver"?  Well, there were times when I would have to get up early or work late and I really needed something to perk me up.  I get the really strong coffee, Veranda Blend, which is a light roast, so it has more caffeine.  I also liked the Italian Roast.

Once, I gave it to a speaker at a conference I attended.  She stopped the meeting for a break because her energy was lagging.  I gave her my Italian Roast VIA and she perked up right away.  She liked it so much that she announced to the whole conference how thankful and refreshed she was after I gave her the coffee.  Other people approached me after the conference to ask me the specifics about the product.

So, if you are into caffeine or just need it once and awhile for a specific pick-me-up, then try the VIA!

Thank You, South Africa!

Thank you, South Africa for being the first country in Africa to visit my site.  You made my dream of having every inhabited continent visit my site come true.  Please keep visiting!

I love Korea 3- Noodle 32 - My Place for Ramen!



Located inside of Food Gallery 32, 11 W. 32 Street between Broadway and 5th Avenue


There are many places in New York to get ramen.  My favorite place is Noodle 32 in Korea Town.

Many ramen places in New York are expensive.  Noodle 32 has filling ramen with meat, vegetables, and egg for under $10.  That's a great price.  It also has a lot of different choices.  If you look at their menu you will see so many different ramen dishes that you won't know which to choose.

  






I like the cheese ramen.

  I have them add chicken or beef and a boiled egg.  The cheese makes the broth so creamy and soothing. The boiled egg adds texture.  The meat is for the carnivore in me. Awesome!

The restaurant is found in a food court in Korea Town.  There is a general seating area for all of the restaurant patrons in the food court.  It's a lively place to sit and chat or just read your magazines as you chomp on the delicious choices that you will find.

I go so frequently that the manager knows me and what I like.  He used to have gochujang paste for me, but now he doesn't have it.  He has another sauce that he gives to patrons.  I have to go to one of the other stalls and they will gladly oblige.

Everyone is very nice and the food is wonderful! 

Dominique Ansel Bakery - The Magic Souffle! More Than A Cronut!

I can't believe I woke-up at 6:30 am to get ready for and arrive at Dominique Ansel's Bakery shop on 189 Spring Street in downtown New York City by 8:00 a.m.  It was worth it!

 

First of all, I met Dominique Ansel!  He was nice and gracious and fully involved with all the processes within the bakery.  But let's start at the beginning....

I arrived by taxi and saw a huge line around the corner.  I knew I was in the right place.  Why?  Because I knew that everyone was lined up for Dominique's famous Cronut - A croissant and doughnut hybrid.  It's been written about everywhere and it's a hit! This week's flavor is Fig Marscapone.

But I was on a mission.  I did not want to wait in the huge line and I was focused on only one thing - The Magic Souffle!  I saw it on one of my entertainment programs a few days prior and that was my target.   It's hard to find a reasonably priced souffle in New York City and one that can be cooked quickly. 

So, I continued on my quest.  I was able to bypass the huge line and go straight into the pastry shop.  I asked them where I was to stand and they pointed me to a very short line of non-cronut worshippers.  I ordered my $7 souffle and waited by the pick-up line.  A few minutes later, they called my name and presented me with a prettily packaged square confection of orange blossom cake filled with Grand Marnier flavored chocolate filling.  (I verified this information with Chef Ansel and his staff.)

Next, the taste test.  Chef Ansel said I needed to eat it while it was hot.  I was wasting time with taking pictures instead of digging right in.  My instincts were correct about how to eat it:  Break apart the rectangular confection to expose the delicious chocolate goo.

 It was moist and the orange flavor hits you right away.  It was good for breakfast and filling when added to a cup of coffee.  I told Dominique that one more component would take this pastry to the next level - whipped cream.  I told him that he could make a unique, superlicious Dominique Ansel whipped cream that would be the next phenom from his shop.  He smiled.

As I sat there inhaling my treat, I couldn't help but notice other tempting treats.  There are sweet and savory choices.

 One woman was eating his egg and cheese sandwich.

 I saw a picture for something that seemed intriging, an avocado on toast creation. 

It was fresh avocado spread on a piece of toaast and flavored with tarragon.  It sounds simple, but the staff said that it is quite a favorite and when it's taken off the menu because of seasonal issues, people complain.

 The quiche looked sensational and I want to go back to try it.

There were more savory options such as the Tender Chicken Nicoise  and Roasted Pork Club with pickled eggs and tomatoes on  sourdough bread.  These dishes really inspired me to come back for lunch. The Gazpacho Soup is made with watermelon.

The usual components such as brownies and cookies looked hearty and inviting.  There was a gluten-free chocolate cake called the Mini-Me Cake.  Another sweet that I will come back to try is the Paris-New York which is a pastry made with pate a choux dough and filled with caramel, peanuts and chocolate. Mmmm, Good!

The interior space was narrow, but light.  There was a little bit of seating, but most of the space was for patrons in line.  There is a beautiful garden outside that has plenty of space.  There are two glass enclosed areas for people to relax and enjoy their sweets.  It's a perfect place for spring through late autumn days.   Plenty of natural sunlight floods the space.  It's very relaxing.

Come to Dominique Ansel's Bakery.  Bring a friend.  You can chomp on delicious gourmet treats and a enjoy nice, friendly atmosphere.  If you're lucky, you may be able to express your appreciation to Chef Ansel!