DD & a Movie: The Ghost & Mrs. Muir

Herein begins another new feature that I am excited to finally start. Dinner and a movie, Deelish Dish style! Do you guys remember TBS' Dinner & a Movie that played on Friday nights back in the day? You know..."Beans and cornbread, doo doo dooo." (I always thought it was "Peas and cornflakes", ha.) Well I guess it's still on, though without the same hosts and all the pizzazz I remember from the mid-nineties. As a kid, this show was my Friday night. A classic favorite film played and discussed while the (uber-dorky) hosts cooked a meal with a coordinating title and related theme. Beetlejuice and "Dearly Departed Sole", for example, or When Harry Met Sally and "What Am I, Chopped Liver?" Brills, just brills.

We're going to do the same thing here, on Deelish Dish & a Movie, or, DD & a Movie. We'll be making all sorts of things...entrees, apps, drinks, desserts, you name it. The pick may be featured in the film, have some relation to the title or plot, or just seem like a natural pairing (this is my game, I make the rules). I'll pick a favorite, pop it in the DVD player, and cook up something to munch on while enjoying the flick. So, you ready?

Up first...The Ghost & Mrs. Muir! And just in time as it's raining here in the Bay Area for what will probably be the last time before summer, and I'm cozying up on the couch. This movie, introduced to me by my cousin, introduced to her by our nana, is naptime gold. The moody music, the blustery cliffside scenes, the soothing classic black-and-white images of candlesticks, haunted cottages, and daytime snoozes under weighty quilts with warm milk, will make anyone's eyelids fall deliciously heavy....the opening credits alone have a Pavlovian effect on my cousin. I tease her that she needs to make it to the first line of dialogue before she is allowed to pass out.

The story centers around Lucy, a recently widowed mother who moves into a haunted cottage and strikes up a unique relationship with the house ghost: grumpy former sea captain, Captain Gregg. In one of the first scenes, she goes to the local real estate office to find a—what turns out to be haunted—house, whereupon the owner, Mr. Coombs, tries to dissuade her from choosing Gull Cottage. Her entrance finds him at his desk, napkin tucked at the collar, salting and eating a hard boiled egg. How perfectly British, I know. And every time I watch this movie, I want to eat that egg.

I rarely eat hard boiled eggs, but how good does a slightly warm one with a dash of salt sound? With some tea maybe? On the couch, on a cold, rainy day? Zzzzzzzzzzz. I'm sorry, what? I dozed off for a second.

Watch this ever-cozy, ever-romantic classic and put a pot of water on. It will make you want to move to the seaside, plant a monkey puzzle tree, fall in love with a ghost, and eat some hard boiled eggs. Every time.

Some juicy bits of GAMM movie trivia....did you know:

This is one of the few films by 20th Century Fox that does not use the opening trumpets, and instead, plays that beautiful score (that lulls us all into dreamland...).

The cliffside shots are supposed to be England but were actually filmed in Carmel, California.

"Muir" means "the sea" in Gaelic.

The role of her daughter, Anna, is played by a young Natalie Wood.

Enjoy your first DD & a Movie night!!

Mr. Coombs' Hard Boiled Eggs

Eggs
Salt and pepper (optional) 

1. Using eggs that are a few days old (fresh ones are harder to peel), put them in a saucepan in a single layer, covered by about 2 inches of cold water.

2. On high heat, bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce to simmer for 2-3 minutes.

3. Remove pan from heat and cover. Let sit for 8-10 minutes.

4. Run under cool water before peeling. Season with a dash of salt and pepper if desired. Enjoy!

*Refrigerate boiled eggs for up to 5 days.

Comments

[Pauline]

I like this! What a fun idea for a blog feature. The movie seems intriguing and of course now I suddenly find myself craving a hard boiled egg (it *is* really good with a little bit of salt).

[Nicole]

What a blast from the past! I loved Dinner & A Movie!! Our family tradition was pizza and a VHS on Fridays so I didn't always catch it, but it was perfectly cheesy and awesome. I've never seen The Ghost & Mrs. Muir, but your description makes it sound fantastic and I can always use a nap :)

[Rachel @ MWF Seeking BFF]

I loved Dinner and a Movie... when I wasn't watching Boy Meets World. But those hosts were kind of amazing.

I've never even heard of this movie but now I want to ditch the cube and take an egg-filled movie respite. For now I will have to settle for my office cafeteria baked potato bar.... but soon! Thanks for this...

[Jeanne]

I've never seen "Dinner & a Movie", but I do like this "DD & a Movie" feature! I rarely eat hard boiled eggs and now I really want one.

[saskatch]

Um, I would eat 10 hard boiled eggs while watching this GEM of a film (Captain Gregg!!!!), but alas, Pavlovian science holds true and zzzz. Best. Movie. Ever. Warm milk? Hot water bottle? Widow's
walk? Ghost? Who knows where you can get those perfect things? Oh wait, Mrs.Muir has them ready and waiting for you... zzzzzzzzz.

[Samantha Angela @ Bikini Birthday]

I like to let them sit in the water for 15 minutes.

[Sarah]

I LOVE this feature! And I loved Dinner and a Movie in its old form, but then again, I'm a huge sucker for all those ridiculous puns.

(Somewhat relatedly, does anyone remember the cooking show on Food Network in the mid '90s called "How to Boil Water" with a comedian and a chef? I loved that show.)

[Deelish Dish]

Pauline - Rent it! Cozy girly movie for a lazy Sunday afternoon...

Nicole - Isn't it?! The song brings back such memories.

Rachel - TGIF was my middle school Friday night. Sabrina and Boy Meets World? Classic.

Jeanne - There's nothing about hard boiled eggs that makes me want to toot their horn, except for this movie :)

saskatch - You don't have to tell me. You and this movie are MFEO.

Sarah - Thanks! Those ridiculous puns got me every time.