The Cooking Critic

Nothing says summer like watching old films in a cemetery; at least that’s how the saying goes here in Los Angeles. For the uninitiated, this could seem bizarre or morbid, but really it’s just good old-fashioned fun among tombstones. Nothing creepy about it.

Hollywood Forever Cemetery, a beautiful old cemetery where many a Hollywood star is interred, has officially opened its doors for Saturday night outdoor movie screenings hosted by Cinespia, and my friends and I were some of the many people charging the gates at 6:30 in an attempt to get a prime spot. Here, people picnic, watch old movies and sit in an open grassy area a safe distance from any tombstones. This particular Saturday, we watched The Maltese Falcon, drank fine Claret and cheap Cabernet Sauvignon, ate cheese, strawberries, grapes, snow peas, salami, Trader Joe’s Mango Fandango fruit salad, Lavash Wraps with Hummus and Honey-Roasted Turkey, Cranberry White Chocolate Cookies, and Broiled Coconut Cupcakes (but not mine—I’m on a cupcake hiatus.)

While I love potluck picnics and their snacking tapas quality, sometimes all the little bits of food don’t feel like they add up to a substantial whole. I thought I’d try to avoid that this time with the lavash wraps, which the group gobbled up. The wraps were no trouble at all to make and very portable—a perfect picnic food.

White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies from From the Pantry were a tasty twist on the traditional Chocolate Chip Cookie. While I would certainly make these again if my kitchen housed white chocolate chips (a rarity) and dried cranberries (a staple), I have to say I’m a bit of a purist when it comes to the chocolate chip cookie—I prefer my chocolate leaning toward the dark and bitter side as opposed to light and sweet. Brandon can attest to this since when I visit his place, the Hershey’s Dark Chocolate Miniatures disappear, and I leave in my wake a mass of untouched Mr. Goodbars, Krackels and Hershey’s Milk Chocolate.

Here is my photograph of White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies. I like to call this image “Late Afternoon Light on Freshly Baked Cookies.” I’d like to call it that, and so I shall.