Kentucky Derby Cake. For the first time in 75 years, the most exciting 2 minutes in Sports won’t be contested the first Saturday in May. We’re still celebrating! 95% of all Bourbon is produced in Kentucky and we thought we’d celebrate this beautiful state and our love for horses with this moist, buttery, nutty creation pronounced with the popular whiskey. And what says Kentucky Derby more than an adornment of roses? We’re taking you into the winner’s circle! Might we suggest a nice, bright Bourbon cocktail like a Libertine to go with your slice? 🌹🏇

Ingredients:
2 3/4 cups flour
1 cup butter, room temperature
3 tbsp Crisco Golden
1 cup whole milk + 1 tbsp lemon juice, let sit 1 hour room temperature
3/4 cup organic raw sugar
4 eggs, room temperature
1/3 cup Bourbon (Woodford Reserve, official Kentucky Derby sponsor)
1/2 cup pecans, toasted
1/4 cup maple syrup
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp baking soda

Bourbon Pecan Icing:
2 cups icing sugar
3 tbsps Bourbon
1/4 cup half & half
1/4 cup pecans, toasted

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven at 350°F.
2. In large mixing bowl, cream butter, sugar and Crisco.
3. In separate bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.
4. In small bowl, mix milk, Bourbon and vanilla.
5. Combine flour into butter bit by bit, beating with handmixer.
6. Add milk mixture and beat till smooth.
7. Fold-in pecans with spatula.
8. Grease Bundt pan and dust with flour, tapping-out excess flour.
9. Pour batter into pan, levelling with spatula.
10. Place in oven, baking 45 minutes or till toothpick comes out clean.
11. Cool cake 20 minutes, using spatula around edges to loosen it from pan. Flip cake over onto a platter.
12. Cool 1 hour.
13. Prepare icing by mixing icing sugar, Bourbon and cream by hand. Icing shouldn’t be too thick nor too thin.
14. Use a spoon and drape icing over cake. Sprinkle toasted pecans over top of cake evenly.
15. Stand 1 hour before serving. Garnish hollow of cake with roses.

Seared Lamb Chops in Balsamic Reduction. I love me some lamb, which I get to enjoy only a couple times a year. Possessing a natural gaminess, some find its taste unpleasant, hence marinating it with herbs overnight certainly helps. Seasoned right and seared at a high heat for a short time, lamb chops can be just as satisfying as a juicy steak!

Lamb Chops:
8 lamb chops, cleaned and pat dry with paper towels
1 tbsp basil, chopped
3 sprigs rosemary (1 for garnish)
1 tbsp thyme
2 tbsps olive oil
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Balsamic Reduction:
3/4 cup chicken/beef broth
1/3 cup balsamic vinegar
1/4 cup cherry tomatoes
2 shallots, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp unsalted butter
1/2 teaspoon organic raw sugar

Turmeric Almond Raisin Rice:
1 cup long grain rice
1/2 cup beef/chicken stock
1 cup water
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup almond slivers
1 teaspoon Turmeric
Sea salt, to taste

Asparagus:
1 bunch of Asparagus, cleaned
2 tbsps unsalted butter
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 lemon wedge
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:
1. For rice, combine all ingredients in rice cooker and once cooked, fluff before serving.
2. For Asparagus, sautée butter and garlic. Once browned, add Asparagus and cook medium-high heat for about 10 minutes. Season with salt and pepper and squirt lemon wedge over top before plating.
3. Marinate lamb chops in salt, pepper, oil, basil, thyme and rosemary. Seal in Ziploc bag(s) and refrigerate overnight.
4. Heat large skillet with oil on medium-high heat. Once hot, sear lamb chops 3-4 minutes per side. Place on warm platter.
5. Sautée shallots and garlic in butter. Once caramelized, add vinegar, sugar and stock. Add cherry tomatoes. Cook-down till liquid is reduced and thickened. This takes 5 or more minutes on medium-high heat, uncovered.
6. Pour reduction over lamb chops and garnish with sprig of rosemary. Serve with Turmeric Almond Raisin Rice and Asparagus.

Gallery:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Synopsis:
Autumn de Wilde’s feature debut EMMA. is “irresistible” (Justin Chang, NPR) and “the best adaptation yet” (Matt Goldberg, Collider), featuring a fresh and razor-sharp screenplay by Man Booker Prize winner Eleanor Catton (“The Luminaries”) that stays true to Austen’s endearing novel and brings to life the English Countryside in 1815. With an exceptional ensemble cast lead by Anya Taylor-Joy EMMA. is rounded out by Johnny Flynn (Beast), Bill Nighy (Love Actually, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Series), Mia Goth (Suspiria), Josh O’ Connor (“The Crown”), Miranda Hart (Spy, “Call the Midwife”), Callum Turner (Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald, “War & Peace”), Tanya Reynolds (“Sex Education”), Connor Swindells (“Sex Education”), Rupert Graves (“Sherlock,” A Room with a View) and Gemma Whelan (“Game of Thrones”).

BLU-RAY™, DVD & DIGITAL BONUS FEATURES:

· Deleted Scenes

· Gag Reel

· A Playful Tease – Go behind the scenes with the talented cast of EMMA. as they share their experiences making the film.

· Crafting a Colorful World* – Cast and crew discuss the gorgeously preserved locations, extravagant set dressing, and authentic Regency costumes featured in EMMA..

· The Autumn Gaze* – An intimate look at director Autumn de Wilde‘s filmmaking process and her photographic eye.

· Feature Commentary with Director Autumn de Wilde, Screenwriter Eleanor Catton, and Director of Photography Christopher Blauvelt

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra shot. You must be following to qualify!

Rules and regulations here.

EMMA. is on Digital May 5, 2020 and on Blu-ray™ and DVD May 19, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)

With Hollywood Suite being offered as a free preview with many service providers, you might be wondering what to watch with all this time at home right now. Here’s their upcoming programming highlights coming, May 4-10, 2020!

Family Fun
Grab your loved ones and share the drama and the laughs of these family-friendly flicks.
• Matilda (1996) Tuesday, May 5 at 9:00 pm ET on HS90 – Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved novel, Danny DeVito, Rhea Perlman and Mara Wilson shine in the story of a 5-year-old genius who is mistreated by her parents.
• Bogus (1996) Wednesday, May 6 at 5:20 pm ET on HS90 – Whoopi Goldberg, Gérard Depardieu, and Haley Joel Osment tell the tale of a recently-orphaned young boy, who is taken in by his godmother. The pair both can see the boy’s imaginary friend, a French magician named Bogus.
• Nanny McPhee (2005) Saturday, May 9 at 3:40 pm ET on HS00 – Colin Firth plays a widower with 7 mischievous children who could use some help. Nanny McPhee, portrayed by Emma Thompson, comes to the rescue using her magical powers to rein in the septet of scamps.
• Bend it Like Beckham (2003) Sunday, May 10 at 5:15 pm ET on HS00 – Kiera Knightly, Parminder Nagra, Johnathan Rhys Meyers, and Archie Panjabi kick around love, friendship and a soccer ball in this British rom com.

Sci-Fi Thrills
In space, they say no one can hear you scream… see if that’s true in these futuristic dramas.
• Ex Machina (2014) Monday, May 4 at 10:45 pm ET on HS00 – Don’t miss Oscar Isaac’s dance party in this psychological thriller about a young programmer, played by Domhnall Gleeson, who gets a chance to become a part of a strange scientific experiment where he is expected to assess artificial intelligence by interacting with a female robot.
• Aliens (1986) Friday, May 8 at 11:00 pm ET on HS80 – See Sigourney Weaver as the OG badass-female-action hero, battling a swarm of unstoppable alien invaders and their evil queen.
• THX 1138 (1971) Saturday, May 9 at 3:10 pm ET on HS70 – George Lucas’ directorial debut is set in a futuristic society where people are controlled by android police and drugs are used to supress emotions.
• Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) Saturday May 9 at 11:00 pm ET on HS70 – Steven Spielberg directs Richard Dreyfuss as Roy Neary, a man who will abandon everything he has to prove he saw a UFO.

Singers take on Hollywood
They may have earned accolades and awards as musicians, but lucky for us, when Hollywood called, these songsters answered.
• Purple Rain (1984) Wednesday, May 6 at 9:00 pm ET on HS70 – This cult classic proved Prince had swagger on stage and on screen. The High Priest of Pop is joined by Apollonia and Morris Day and the Time with a killer soundtrack that includes “Let’s Go Crazy,” “When Doves Cry,” “I Would Die 4 U,” and obviously “Purple Rain.”
• The Fighter (2010) Wednesday, May 6 at 9:00 pm ET on HS00 – Mark Wahlberg gives good vibrations as Micky Ward in this true story about the struggles of younger brother trying to live up to his older brother’s boxing legacy.
• The Way We Were (1973) Sunday, May 10 at 7:00 pm ET on HS70 ¬– Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford find love and lose it in Sydney Pollack’s classic heartbreaker about two disparate lovers whose political views and convictions drive them apart. At least they have the laughter to remember.
• Mermaids (1990) Sunday, May 10 at 9:00 pm ET on HS90 – Cher turns back time in this 60s period comedy-drama about an eccentric, single mother who relocates to a small town with her two daughters, played by Winona Ryder and Christina Ricci.

Moments that Made History
Maybe you missed the lesson in school, but these movies capture all the emotion and drama from epic moments in the past.
• The Iron Lady (2011) Tuesday, May 5 at 9:00 pm ET on HS00 – Meryl Streep won a Best Actress Oscar for her portrayal of Margaret Thatcher, Britain’s longest-serving and first female Prime Minister.
• The Hindenburg (1976) Wednesday, May 6 at 9:00 pm ET on HS70 – Based on the real-life disaster of the Hindenburg, a German passenger airship that caught fire and was destroyed. George C. Scott and Anne Bancroft headline.
• Chariots of Fire (1981) Thursday, May 7 at 9:00 pm ET on HS80 – The movie, with Vangelis’s unforgettable theme song, is based on the true story of Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell who race for the gold in the 1924 Olympics. While one runs for his faith, the other participates to leave prejudice behind.
• Henry & June (1990) Thursday, May 7 at 11:40 pm ET on HS90 – A biographical drama that explores the literary love triangle between author Henry Miller, his wife, June and novelist Anaïs Nin. The film features Uma Thurman, Richard E. Grant, Fred Ward and Maria de Medeiros.

Momapalooza
On Sunday, May 10, tune in for an all-day salute to some unforgettable cinematic movie moms.
• On Golden Pond (1981) 2:05 pm on HS80 – Henry Fonda, Katharine Hepburn and Jane Fonda will make your heart go pitter pat as a family who tries to repair their fractured relationship one summer at their lake house.
• Throw Momma from the Train (1987) 3:55 pm ET on HS80 – In this dark comedy, Owen Lift’s (Danny DeVito) mother is overbearing, paranoid and abusive, so her son plans her murder, with the help of his writing teacher (Billy Crystal).
• Raising Arizona (1987) 5:25 pm ET on HS80 – It ain’t Ozzie and Harriet; it’s Joel and Ethan Coen. When Edwina (Holly Hunter), an infertile ex-cop and Herbert (Nicolas Cage), a convenience-store robbing ex-con can’t conceive and can’t adopt, they decide to steal one of the quintuplets of a rich businessman.
• Mamma Mia! (2008) 7:10 pm ET on HS00 – Based on the hit musical play, the movie uses ABBA tunes to tell the story of a bride-to-be trying to find the true identity of her father. The summer box office smash has a star-studded cast including Meryl Streep, Julie Walters, Christin Baranski, Amanda Seyfried, Stellan Skarsgard, Pierce Brosnan, and Colin Firth having the time of their lives.
• Serial Mom (1994) 7:20 pm on HS90 – In John Waters’ dark comedy, Kathleen Turner is a bird-calling, overprotective momma bear who only wants the best for her kids and will literally kill to get it.
• Steel Magnolias (1989) 7:00 pm ET on HS80 – An all-star lineup including Shirley MacLaine, Olympia Dukakis, Sally Field, Dolly Parton and Julia Roberts prove that it truly takes a village to raise a child.
• Knocked Up (2007) 9:00 pm ET on HS00 – Judd Apatow’s romantic comedy with Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Jason Segel, and Leslie Mann, tells a tale as old as time: girl meets stoner; girl has a one-night stand with stoner; girl gets pregnant with stoner’s child.
• Sugarland Express (1974) 10:35 pm on HS70 – Steven Spielberg’s crime drama (his directorial debut) stars Goldie Hawn as a woman who attempts to reunite her family by helping her husband escape prison so they can kidnap their son. But things don’t go as planned.
• Mommie Dearest (1981) 10:40 pm ET on HS80 – This biopic chronicles the physical abusive and traumatic upbringing of Christina Crawford at the hands of her mother, screen legend, Joan Crawford. Faye Dunaway won critical praise for her performance of the iconic actress who had a strong aversion to wire hangers.
• Juno (2007) 11:10 pm ET on HS00 – Diablo Cody’s coming-of-age comedy drama showcases Ellen Page as a 16-year-old, dealing with things way beyond her maturity level, when an unplanned pregnancy makes her grow up faster than she wanted.
• Hope Floats (1998) 1:05 am on HS90 – When Birdie Pruitt publicly discovers her husband and her best friend are having an affair, she flees from Chicago with her young daughter and moves back in with her mother in small-town Texas. Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr., Gena Rowlands and a young Mae Whitman head the cast.

(Photo credit: Universal Pictures)

Pineapple-BBQ Pork Pastries. A hybrid of two classics, BBQ Pork Puff Pastry x Pineapple Buns. The latter is a staple at any Chinese bakery but surprisingly doesn’t have any pineapple in it. What a tragedy! Let’s fix that. 🍍

Think – a flaky, crumbly meat pie with a savoury-sweet pork filling… and a cookie topping!

Pastry:
2 1/2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsps sea salt
1/2 cup butter, chilled
3/4 cup Crisco Golden All-Vegetable Shortening
1/2 cup cold water

Cookie Crust:
3/4 cup flour
4 tbsps unsalted butter, softened
1 egg yolk
2/3 cup organic raw sugar, pulsed in food processor till fine
1 tbsp whole milk
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp turmeric

Pineapple-BBQ Pork Filling:
2 cups Chinese BBQ Pork (Cha Siu), minced
1/2 white onion, minced
3/4 cup chicken or beef broth
3/4 cup pineapple chunks, sectioned
3 tbsps organic raw sugar
2 tbsps soy sauce
2 tbsps dark soy sauce
3 tbsps Oyster Sauce
2 tbsps Hoisin Sauce
5 tbsps flour

1 egg beaten, used as egg wash

Instructions:
1. Prepare pastry, combining ingredients, adding water 1 tbsp at a time, handling minimally. Knead dough gently on floured surface. Roll into ball. Chill minimum 2 hours, no more than 5 days.
2. Pineapple-BBQ Pork filling: Sautée onions in sesame oil. Add pork and pineapple. Cook 3 minutes medium-high heat. Add sugar, dark and regular soy sauce, Oyster Sauce, Hoisin Sauce and chicken/beef broth. Bring to boil. Taste to ensure flavour balance is right. In bowl, mix flour and equal parts water to form paste, stirring into pork mixture till thick like a pie filling. Chill.
4. Cut dough into halves. Roll each half onto floured surface. Use cup to cut circles, reforming and rolling again till used. Each half should yield 12 circles, a total 24.
5. Flatten each circle with hand. Scoop filling into center of dough circle, careful not to overfill. Place another circle on-top, pressing together to seal and crimp edges gently with fork. Use paper towel to tidy any filling that leaked-out. Prepare 12 pastries and place on greased baking sheet.
6. Prepare oven at 425°F.
7. Cookie crust: mix flour, baking powder and turmeric in one bowl. In separate bowl, cream milk, butter, vanilla, egg yolk and sugar. Combine butter mixture into flour and form dough. Form 12 even balls, rolling into a thin sheet between 2 Ziploc bags till large enough to cover each pastry. Apply to pastries gently.
8. Using fingers or brush, apply egg wash.
9. Bake 15-17 minutes till golden. Cool 15 minutes.

White Bread. To be honest Sourdough is okay, but nothing beats versatile, fluffy white bread. This is the second time in-a-row I’ve been able to get my dough to rise so I know it’s not a fluke! The trickiest part is ensuring the yeast is activated in lukewarm, not warm water and adding sugar. And the temperature at which you proof cannot be too hot. I’ll share a couple of my tips to making that perfect loaf! 🍞

Ingredients:
5 cups flour
2 1/2 teaspoons yeast
3 tablespoons organic raw sugar
1/2 tablespoon sea salt
3 tablespoons cold unsalted butter

1 egg, beaten for egg wash

Instructions:
1. Mix flour, salt and butter in mixing bowl. Use two forks criss-crossing to cut butter in.
2. In bowl, mix 3/4 cup lukewarm water (not warm or hot) with yeast and sugar till dissolved and filmy. Let stand a few minutes.
3. Mix yeast water into flour bit by bit, using forks. Pour another 1 1/3 cup lukewarm water, forming dough.
4. Turn dough onto flat, floured surface. Sprinkle with flour till dough no longer is sticky, kneading 10 minutes. Dough should be punchy and elastic.
5. Grease large bowl and transfer dough into it. Cover with damp cloth and place in oven on top rack with a pot of hot water on the rack below. Shut oven. Replace hot water again in 30 minutes. This provides a perfect environment for your dough to rise. Be careful!
6. Dough will have doubled in size by one hour if proofed right. If not, your water might have been too hot when activating or something is up with your yeast. Transfer back to floured surface and knead 5 minutes, releasing air pockets.
7. Grease loaf pan and fit dough into it. Proof again for 45 minutes to 1 hour covered, with pot of hot water underneath in oven. Dough will have doubled again in size. Remove from oven.
8. Preheat oven at 400°F. Brush top of loaf with egg wash using fingers or a brush.
9. Bake for 30-35 minutes or till golden brown. Rotate pan once, half-way through. Allow to cool 15 minutes in pan and transfer to cooling rack to avoid bottom getting soggy. This freezes well.

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will want to give Readers a chance to win a Digital Download of DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL, which premiered at TIFF ’19!

Synopsis:
When Abby (Tuppence Middleton) returns home following the death of her mother she becomes obsessed with fragmented memories of a kidnapping she claims to have witnessed as a child. Abby’s younger sister (Hannah Gross), Laure’s tense relationship with her sibling is tested as Abby’s obsession grows out of control.

Trailer:

Artwork:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK and Re-Tweet this Contest Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance. You must be following on both channels to qualify.

Rules and regulations here.

Elevation Pictures release DISAPPEARANCE AT CLIFTON HILL Tuesday, May 5, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

BECOMING arrives next week on Netflix! This intimate Documentary about one of our favourite first ladies, Michelle Obama is sure to be fascinating!

Synopsis:
BECOMING is an intimate look into the life of former First Lady Michelle Obama during a moment of profound change, not only for her personally but for the country she and her husband served over eight impactful years in the White House. The film offers a rare and up-close look at her life, taking viewers behind the scenes as she embarks on a 34-city tour that highlights the power of community to bridge our divides and the spirit of connection that comes when we openly and honestly share our stories.

See a Clip:

BECOMING streams on Netflix Wednesday, May 6, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Singaporean Chilli Crab on BBQ Pork & Scallop Fried Rice. Mildly-spicy and tangy, sauce bursting each bite!🌶🦀

Crab:
1 2 lb live Snow Crab, cleaned and sectioned
2 tomatoes, sectioned
2 tbsps ketchup
1 tsp organic raw sugar
1/2 tsp sea salt
2 tbsps soy bean paste/Miso paste
1 tbsp tamarind paste (or a few seedless candied tamarind)
1 medium white onion, minced
1/2 sweet red pepper, sectioned
1/2 sweet orange pepper, sectioned
1 stalk green onion, minced
4 cloves garlic, minced
3 green chillies, seeded and minced
2″ cube ginger, minced
1 egg, beaten
Coriander

Lime wedge

BBQ Pork & Scallop Fried Rice:
4-5 cups cooked white rice, chilled overnight
2 eggs, beaten
1/4 cup green peas
1/4 cup corn kernels
1/2 cup Chinese BBQ Pork, diced
1/2 cup Bay Scallops, brined in salt water
1/4 cup sweet red/orange peppers
1 cup Chinese Broccoli, minced thinly
1 stalk green onion, minced
2 tbsps Crab Tomalley (green gunk from crab)
2 tbsps soy sauce
Sea salt and pepper, to taste

Banana Leaf

Instructions:
1. With larger skillet on medium-high, heat oil. Once hot, throw-in peas, corn, Chinese Broccoli and peppers. Cook till wilted. Add pork and scallops. Cook till scallops lose translucence; don’t overcook. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
2. Add egg, Tomalley. Cook till almost done. Add rice. Stir with spatula and add soy sauce. Cook till rice is about to caramelize, about 5 minutes, medium-high heat. Top with green onions.
3. Line bamboo steamer with banana leaf, covering base fully. Transfer rice onto leaf.
4. Boil a bit of water (do not fill too high) in a large skillet/wok with a dome lid. Once boiled, place bamboo steamer in and cover lid. Steam medium-low while prepping crab.
5. In large skillet/wok heat oil till hot. Add ginger, garlic, chillies, soy bean paste and onion. Fry on medium heat 2 minutes.
6. Add tomatoes, sweet peppers, tamarind paste, ketchup, sugar, salt and 1/2 cup water. Bring to boil and add crab pieces. Cover and cook 8 minutes medium-high heat.
7. Remove cover and add beaten egg, stirring gently till egg is wispy, thickening sauce. Remove from heat. Transfer some of crab mixture over rice, not too much sauce. Serve.

Matcha-Pistachio-Almond Chocolate Chip Cookies. Scaling it back a bit today, but nothing beats a perfect cookie! This buttery elevated twist to the classic Chocolate Chip Cookie is a delight and easy to make! 🍵🍪

Ingredients:
2 cups flour, sifted
3/4 cup unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup organic raw sugar
1/3 cup of almond and pistachios, crushed
1 egg + 1 egg yolk
1-2 tablespoons Matcha powder, to taste
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder

Instructions:
1. Preheat oven at 325°F.
2. In large mixing bowl, combine flour, salt, baking powder and soda.
3. In separate bowl, cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla with handmixer.
4. Add flour mixture to butter mixture bit by bit till combined.
5. Add-in chocolate chips.
6. In small skillet, toast nuts. Be careful not to burn as this happens quickly. Mix into dough evenly.
7. Using hands, roll 24 even balls and place on greased cookie sheets, 2 inches apart.
8. Bake 10 minutes, or till bottom of cookie is golden brown.
9. Cool 20 minutes, transfer to storage container.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)