Mongrel Media and Lionsgate are partnering for a special four week initiative where some of Lionsgate‘s biggest blockbusters will stream free starting tonight for four consecutive weeks. Lionsgate Live! A Night at the Movies will give Moviegoers a chance to stream the likes of LA LA LAND, THE HUNGER GAMES, DIRTY DANCING and JOHN WICK on Mongrel Media‘s YouTube Channel here. Even better, KNIVES OUT star Jamie Lee Curtis will be hosting.

The free movies that will livestream on Fridays at 6:00pm PT/9:00pm ET are:
April 17 – “The Hunger Games”
April 24 – “Dirty Dancing”
May 1 – “La La Land”
May 8 – “John Wick” (age registration required)

You also may donate, with proceeds going to the CANADIAN PICTURE PIONEERS, who will be donating funds to theatre employees for relief during these challenging times. There is a Donate button on their mainpage.

Happy streaming!

(Photo/video credit: Lionsgate Films)

I don’t remember SAVED BY THE BELL being this sassy, but here’s to new beginnings! Check-out the new Trailer for the SAVED BY THE BELL Reboot, coming to NBC’s  new Streaming Service, PEACOCK TV!

Synopsis:
Saved by the Bell stars Mario Lopez and Elizabeth Berkley reprise their roles as A.C. Slater and Jesse Spano in the first teaser trailer for the beloved sitcom’s reboot. California Governor Zack Morris (Mark-Paul Gosselaar) will find himself in trouble for closing too many low-income high schools and then propose that the affected students be sent to the highest-performing schools in the state — including Bayside High. The influx of new students will give the overprivileged Bayside kids a much-needed dose of reality.

See the Teaser Trailer:

Peacock launches this July!

(Photo/video credit: Peacock)

Meatless Lasagna. Growing-up I had Lasagna maybe twice. Being from a Chinese family, we rarely ever ate Italian other than my Dad’s take on Spaghetti, which though not bad, was Tomato Paste and Ketchup-based with ground pork, peas and carrots. You can imagine the shock of my classmates who got introduced to Hong Kong-style Spaghetti at my sixth birthday party!

My Mom was excited that I asked her to help assemble my Meatless Lasagna and I’m glad I got to show them a proper Lasagna. No processed cheese, LOL. 🧀

You cannot tell this is meatless. It’s got the same heartiness and flavour a Meat Lasagna has. Everyone should be pitching-in their part and reducing our carbon footprint. Eat meatless once a week. This is an easy way to do it!

Ingredients:
9 Lasagne noodles
2 packages of Yves Original Veggie Ground Round
1 can of crushed tomatoes
1 can of tomato paste
2 cups of shredded Mozzarella
1/2 tub of Ricotta
1 pint of mushrooms, sliced
1/2 yellow pepper, diced
1 white onion, minced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon organic raw sugar

Salt and pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan Cheese

Instructions:
1. Boil noodles till al dente. Place aside in a tray and drizzle a bit of oil on them to prevent from sticking.
2. In medium-sized sauce pan, sauteé garlic and onion. Add-in peppers and mushrooms, cook till mushrooms wilt. Season with salt and pepper.
3. Add-in Veggie Ground Round.
4. Cook about 5 minutes on medium heat.
5. Add-in crushed tomatoes and tomato paste. Add 1/4 tomato paste can of water.
6. Bring to boil and add sugar.
7. Reduce to low heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
8. Pre-heat oven at 375°F.
9. Prepare a 13 x 9″ tray, ladle some of the tomato mixture in, covering bottom.
10. Layer 3 Lasagne noodles on-top.
11. Add layer of Mozzarella, followed by dollops of Ricotta, covering surface.
12. Add 3 more noodles. Ladle some tomato mixture on-top, then Mozzarella and Ricotta.
13. Repeat steps 10 to 12 again.
14. Add 3 final noodles on-top. Ladle tomato mixture on-top. Cover with Mozzarella.
15. Cover tray with foil and bake 35 minutes.
16. Remove foil and bake 10 more minutes.
17. Cool 20 minutes and serve.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Hainanese Chicken Rice. Adapted from Tasty. You don’t ever forget having Hainanese Chicken Rice in Singapore at a Hawkers Market like Newton Circus. Though we do have some great hole-in-the-wall type restaurants in the GTA that serve the dish as well, venturing-out during isolation hasn’t been easy.

What I love about this national dish of Singapore is that the chicken is so incredibly juicy, while the rice is incredibly fragrant. You get THREE dipping sauces!!! I get that boiling chicken is a weird concept for some, but I tell you there is nothing worse than dry chicken to me.

This is my dad’s favourite dish so I thought I’d gave it a try. Even in his early Dementia, he was aware enough to ask, “Who taught you to make this?”. I adapted this recipe from Tasty whom did a fine job explaining this complex recipe. I did my own spin on the essential dipping sauces.

Full disclosure, once a chicken is frozen, thawed, boiled and cooked fully as it is here, it is impossible to avoid that red colour at the bone. If you can get over that bit and be reassured that it’s cooked, you will come to love this comforting dish.

Hainanese Chicken
5 lb whole chicken
4 slices of ginger (1/4″ thick)
1 bunch green onions
1/4 cup sea salt
2 tablespoons sesame oil

Instructions:
1. Clean chicken well and pat dry with paper towels. Trim fatty bits off for later use.
2. Season chicken inside and out with sea salt.
3. Stuff cavity of chicken with green onions and ginger.
4. Cover chicken about 1″ in water in large stock pot and bring to boil on high heat.
5. Reduce to medium-low heat and simmer about 50 minutes.
6. Remove chicken from pot, reserving stock. Discard onion and ginger.
7. Immerse chicken in large bowl of ice cold water for 5 minutes.
8. Pat chicken dry with paper towels and rub chicken in sesame oil to keep moist.

Hainanese Rice
2 cups long grain rice
2 cups of reserved chicken stock
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons reserved chicken fat
2 tablespoons sesame oil
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 teaspoon sea salt

Instructions:
1. In large skillet, oil, fry garlic, ginger, chicken fat and salt for about 10 minutes.
2. Scoop-out one quarter of this mixture for later use. Add-in rice. Cook for 3 minutes.
3. Transfer rice to rice cooker (discard fat), add 2 cups reserved stock and cook.

While rice is cooking, cut chicken and place on platter. Prepare three sauces.

Sweet Chili Sauce:
2 tablespoons Sambal Sauce
2 tablespoons Sriracha
1 chili pepper, seeds removed and chopped finely
2 teaspoons organic raw sugar
2 tablespoons reserved chicken broth
1 tablespoon ginger, minced
1 tablespoon garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
1 tablespoon oil

In skillet, sautée garlic, ginger, onion and chili in oil. Stir-in sugar, vinegar, Sriracha and Sambal Sauce. Add lime juice and remove from heat.

Ginger-Garlic-Green Onion Sauce:
2 tablespoons garlic, minced
2 tablespoons ginger, minced
1 stalk green onion, chopped
1 tablespoon rice vinegar
2 tablespoons oil
Sea salt, to taste

In skillet, sautée garlic, ginger and green onions in oil. Add salt and vinegar. Cook for about a minute and remove from heat.

Dark Soy Dipping Sauce:
Reserved ginger and garlic
1 tablespoon oyster sauce
3 tablespoons dark sweet soy sauce* (recipe below)
1 tablespoon soy sauce
2 tablespoons reserved chicken broth

Combine all in a bowl, mix well.

Serve chicken on rice with cucumber slices and dipping sauces. Garnish with cilantro.

*Dark Sweet Soy Sauce:
1/2 cup organic raw sugar
1/4 cup soy sauce
2-3 tablespoons water

Instructions:
1. Boil water and sugar, stirring constantly over medium heat.
2. When liquid thickens, reduce heat to medium-low, stirring constantly. Scrape sugar off sides of pan.
3. Once liquid is darkened, add in soy sauce, stirring constantly.
4. Once liquid is thick, remove from heat.
5. Transfer to a heatproof bottle for storage. Refrigerate. Sauce may crystallize but will dissolve when heated.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

THE EDDY is a collaboration between Damien Chazelle (La La Land, Whiplash), Jack Thorne (National Treasure) and Glen Ballard (Alanis Morrissette, Madonna). See the new Trailer!

Synopsis:
Set in the vibrant multicultural neighborhoods of modern-day Paris, THE EDDY tells the story of the owner of a struggling club, its house band and the dangers they face from the chaotic city that surrounds them.Interspersed with dynamic and uplifting performances, THE EDDY conveys the power of music to heal, unite and turn chaos into beauty.

The limited series stars André Holland, Joanna Kulig alongside Amandla Stenberg, Taham Rahim and Leïla Bekhti.

See the Trailer:

THE EDDY streams on Netflix Friday, May 8, 2020. Soundtrack available via Artista Records the same day.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Elevation Pictures x Mr. Will are thrilled to give Readers a chance to win a digital download of RUN THIS TOWN!

Synopsis:

Naive, young Toronto newspaper reporter Bram (Ben Platt) finds himself doing desk work instead of breaking hard-hitting stories, until he accidentally finds scandalous information about the city’s controversial mayor, Rob Ford (Damian Lewis). Bram attempts to pry information from Ford‘s aides, Ashley (Nina Dobrev) and Kamal (Mena Massoud), who are trying to cover Ford‘s tracks and spin the story.

Director: Ricky Tollman

Starring: Ben Platt, Mena Massoud, Nina Dobrev, Jennifer Ehle, Scott Speedman

See the Trailer:

To enter to win, click “like” on this Post at MR. WILL ON FACEBOOK. Re-Tweet this Tweet from @mrwillw for an extra chance.

Rules and regulations here.

Elevation Pictures release RUN THIS TOWN on-demand and digitally Tuesday, April 21, 2020 and on DVD Tuesday, June 2, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Elevation Pictures)

Riverdale star Camila Mendes stars in DANGEROUS LIES, coming soon to Netflix! See the Trailer.

Synopsis:
After losing her waitressing job, Katie Franklin (Camila Mendes) takes a job as a caretaker to a wealthy elderly man in his sprawling, empty Chicago estate. The two grow close, but when he unexpectedly passes away and names Katie as his sole heir, she and her husband Adam (Jessie T. Usher) are pulled into a complex web of lies, deception, and murder. If she’s going to survive, Katie will have to question everyone’s motives — even the people she loves.

See the Trailer:

DANGEROUS LIES streams on Netflix Friday, April 30, 2020.

(Photo/video credit: Netflix)

Meatless Miso Mac & Cheese. Take your Kraft Dinner and elevate it with this amplified take on a comforting favourite! The combination of cheese and miso you’d think would be too salty, but this is a perfect marriage. KD has a bad rap but it has a healthy serving of protein, aids in iron absorption and contains minerals that help with boosting metabolism, your immune system and brain function. 🧀

Ingredients:
1 box Kraft Dinner
2 tablespoons butter
1/3 cup milk
1 tablespoon Miso paste
1/2 package Yves Original Veggie Ground Round
6-8 large white mushrooms, sliced thin
8 grape tomatoes
1/2 white onion, chopped
1 cup Arugula
1 stalk green onion, chopped

1/4 cup old white cheddar, grated

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:
1. Prepare Kraft Dinner, cooking noodles. Strain in colander.
2. In skillet, sautée mushrooms, onions and tomatoes in oil. Season with a bit of salt and pepper.
3. Stir-in 1/2 tablespoon of Miso paste, continue to fry until vegetables wilt.
4. Add-in meatless Ground Round and stir-fry for about two to three minutes on medium heat.
5. Prepare cheese sauce in a medium-sized sauce pan that is oven-safe. Melt butter and 1/2 tablespoon Miso paste in sauce pan. Add packet of cheese powder and milk. Once sauce just is about to bubble, turn heat off. Fold-in macaroni and vegetable/ground round mixture. Mix evenly till sauce is dispersed.
6. Stir-in Arugula gently till dispersed. Grate old cheddar over the top.
7. Broil mixture 5 minutes in oven. Allow to cool and serve.

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

Strawberry-Cherry Blossom Mochi. This is a perfect Springtime delight. Mochi are the one treat that the Koreans, Japanese and Chinese all can agree is a favourite. These chewy rice cakes are a bit quirky to Western palates, but have a pleasing chewy texture that leaves you reminiscing. Its filling, Azuki Red Bean Paste is dense and rich, a bit like chocolate and a bit like a sweet potato mash. 🍓🌸

Mochi:
3/4 cup glutinous rice flour
2 tablespoons organic raw sugar
150 ml or more water
1 tablespoon Sakura Latte powder
4 drops red food colouring

Potato starch

Azuki Red Bean Paste:
1 cup dried Azuki red beans
1/2 cup (or more) organic raw sugar
1/4 teaspoon sea salt

6 large ripe strawberries

Instructions:
1. Soak Azuki beans overnight in water.
2. On medium heat, cook beans and water in saucepan and bring to boil. Simmer for 75 minutes.
3. Drain beans in colander and place back in sauce pan. Add sugar and salt. Mash with hand mixer.
4. On very low heat, stir paste occasionally. Cook uncovered till water evaporates and beans become a thick paste. You can tell you’re done when you take a chopstick, draw a line through it and can see the bottom of the pan.
5. Cool paste at room temperature and roll into six even balls.
6. Cut tops off strawberries and roll into red bean balls, covering them evenly. Wash hands after forming each ball and dry hands. Let stand.
7. Prepare steamer or a large deep skillet, adding water.
8. In large mixing bowl, prepare Mochi. Mix all ingredients till smooth.
9. Pour Mochi batter into a square/rectangular dish. Place dish into steamer/skillet and steam Mochi, stirring 2-3 times. Cook 10 minutes.
10. Remove Mochi from heat. Cool at room temperature a few minutes.
11. On large flat surface, sprinkle generously some potato starch.
12. Take spatula and scoop six equal clumps of Mochi. With hand and potato starch, meld each Mochi into a flat 3-4 inch portion.
14. Take each strawberry-red bean ball and place onto Mochi flat and roll gently into a ball. Bring together at bottom and pinch to seal. Place on flat sheet. Rinse and dry hands if they are sticky, before proceeding to the next. Serve. Stores 1 day.

Gallery:

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)

We loved the first season of DEAD TO ME and are thrilled both Christina Applegate and Linda Cardellini are back in season two of the darkly-comedic Series. Here is a first peak at the new season, streaming next month!

Synopsis:
Jen and Judy are not okay. Not even a little. With their lives spinning out of control, they’re clinging to each other — and their secrets.

Teaser:

DEAD TO ME Season Two streams on Netflix Friday, May 8, 2020.

(Photo/credit: Netflix)