Dinner and a (scary) Movie

Considering ourselves lucky to have friends who pop over on a Saturday night for Dinner and a Movie, Cafe Drake hosted such an evening recently with Thordis A. as our guest of honor. Even luckier is having that friend show up with a fine bottle of champagne. Sipping bubbles we sat around the kitchen table as piping hot gota were delivered from the deep fryer pan. A Madras street food favorite, we think of them as Indian falafel, made from ground chickpeas, brown mustard seeds and assorted Eastern spices. Dinner was simple as it should be: green salad, cheesey bread pudding and roasted tomatoes and peppers. Nestled in Cafe Drake's living room, Sailor Page warming our laps, we watched the season-appropriate 1971 thriller Let's Scare Jessica to Death.

CHEDDAR BREAD PUDDING

Great as a vegetarian entree or rich side dish to roast beef.

5 slices dry bread, cut into small squares / 1 1/2 cups milk / 1 cup grated Cheddar cheese / 3 eggs, beaten / 1 t. Worcestshire sauce / salt / dash of hot pepper sauce

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
2. Butter a baking dish.
3. Scald the milk, cool slightly and add to the milk, cheese, eggs and seasonings. Mix well.
4. Pour liquid mixture into dish, add the bread and bake for 50 minutes.
5. Serve hot.