chocolate walnut brownies

INGREDIENTS

1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
6 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
4 large eggs
2 cups sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup coarsely chopped walnuts (about 2 ounces)


DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 325°. Lightly butter 13x9x2-inch metal baking pan.

Melt butter and chocolate in a heavy medium saucepan over low heat, stirring until chocolate mixture is smooth. Cool.
Using electric mixer, beat eggs and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Beat in chocolate mixture, vanilla and salt. Add flour; beat just until blended. Pour batter into prepared pan, smoothing top. Sprinkle top with walnuts. Bake until tester inserted into center comes out with crumbs attached, about 35 minutes. Transfer pan to rack; cool completely.
Cut brownies into squares; serve.

**divinerecipes.com

rockyroad brownies

INGREDIENTS

3/4 stick (6 tbl.) unsalted butter, cut into pieces
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate, chopped
4 oz. fine-quality bittersweet chocolate (not unsweetened), chopped
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup walnuts, chopped coarse
1 cup miniature marshmallows


DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350°. Butter and flour a 9-inch square baking pan, knocking out excess flour.

In a heavy 1 1/2-quart saucepan melt butter, unsweetened chocolate, and half of bittersweet chocolate, stirring, until smooth and remove pan from heat. Cool mixture 10 minutes and stir in sugar. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well with a wooden spoon until mixture is glossy and smooth. Stir in flour and salt until just combined.

Reserve 1/2 cup batter in a bowl. Spread remaining batter evenly in pan and bake in middle of oven 20 minutes. While bottom layer is baking, stir walnuts, marshmallows, and remaining bittersweet chocolate into reserved batter. Remove pan from oven and spoon walnut-marshmallow mixture evenly over partially baked layer. Bake brownies until marshmallows are pale golden, 7 to 10 minutes. Cool brownies completely in pan on a rack before cutting into 16 squares. Brownies keep, layered between sheets of wax paper in an airtight container at cool room temperature, 5 days.


**divinerecipes.com

Vanilla Fudge

INGREDIENTS

1 cup heavy cream
2 cups sugar
1 stick salted butter (4 oz)
1 tablespoon light corn syrup
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract


DIRECTIONS

Combine heavy cream, sugar, butter, and corn syrup in a heavy saucepan over low heat. Stir constantly with a wooden spoon until sugar dissolves and butter is melted. Wash down sides of pot with a pastry brush to dissolve sugar crystals.

Bring to a boil and cook until mixture reaches soft-ball stage, or 238 degrees on a candy thermometer. Remove pan from the heat and stop the cooking by plunging pot in a water bath for 1 minute. Add vanilla, but do not stir.

When the thermometer reads 110 degrees, mix fudge with a wooden spoon until creamy.
Spoon into a greased 8 x 8 baking pan. Let cool, then cut into squares.

Yield: 1 lb.

**divinerecipes.com

Apple Fritters

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tbl. sugar
1 tbl.baking powder
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2/3 cup milk
2 tbl. vegetable oil
2 cups diced tart apples
Vegetable oil for frying
Cinnamon-Sugar for rolling

DIRECTIONS

In medium bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt; set aside.
In a mixing bowl combine eggs, milk and oil; mixing well. Stir in flour mixture until just mixed. Fold in apples.

Drop dough by tablespoonfuls into hot oil at 375*F (190*C). Fry until golden brown on both sides, about 2 to 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels. Roll in cinnamon/sugar, if desired. Serve warm.

Makes about 16 to 20 fritters.

**divinerecipes.com

cinnamon doughnuts

INGREDIENTS

3 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup sugar, divided
1 tbl. baking powder
2 tsp. cinnamon, divided
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1 cup skim milk
1/4 cup butter, or margarine-melted
1 egg
vegetable oil for frying


DIRECTIONS

Combine flour, 1/2 cup sugar, baking powder, 1 tsp. cinnamon, salt and nutmeg.
In a large bowl combine milk, butter and egg; stir in flour mixture until combined. Cover and refrigerate 30 minutes. Turn dough out onto lightly floured surface. Using lightly floured rolling pin roll out dough to 1/2" thickness. Using a doughnut cutter, cut out doughnuts, reserving holes.
In skillet heat 1" oil over high heat to 375* or heat oil in a deep-fat fryer. Gently drop dough in batches into oil. Fry, turning twice, until puffed and golden, 1-2 minutes per side; fry holes 1 minute per side.
Combine remaining sugar with remaining cinnamon; toss with warm doughnuts and holes.


**divinerecipes.com

krispy kreme copycat

DOUGHNUTS:

2 pkgs. yeast
1/4 cup water (105-115 degrees)
1-1/2 cups lukewarm milk (scalded, then cooled)
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
2 eggs
1/3 cup shortening
5 cups all-purpose flour
vegetable oil


CREAMY GLAZE:

1/3 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
4–6 tbl. hot water


CHOCOLATE FROSTING:

1/3 cup butter
2 cups powdered sugar
1-1/2 tsp. vanilla
4–6 tbl. hot water
4 ounces milk chocolate chips or semisweet chocolate chips


Dissolve yeast in warm water in 2-1/2-quart bowl. Add milk,salt,eggs, shortening and 2 cups flour. Beat on low for 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on medium speed for 2 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Stir in remaining flour until smooth. Cover and let rise until double, 50-60 minutes. (Dough is ready when indentation remains when touched.) Turn dough onto floured surface; roll around lightly to coat with flour.


Gently roll dough 1/2-inch thick with floured rolling pin. Cut with floured doughnut cutter. Cover and let rise until double, 30-40 minutes.


Heat vegetable oil in deep fryer to 350 degrees. Slide doughnuts into hot oil with wide spatula. Turn doughnuts as they rise to the surface.
Fry until golden brown, about 1 minute on each side.
Remove carefully from oil (do not prick surface); drain.


Dip the doughnuts into creamy glaze set on rack; when slightly cooled spread chocolate frosting on top.



CREAMY GLAZE:
Heat butter until melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water, 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.


CHOCOLATE FROSTING: Heat butter and chocolate over low heat until chocolate is melted. Remove from heat. Stir in powdered sugar and vanilla until smooth. Stir in water 1 tablespoon at a time, until desired consistency.

**divinerecipes.com

Churros

INGREDIENTS

1 c. water
1/2 c. butter
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. flour
3 eggs
1/4 c. sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon


DIRECTIONS

Makes about 24 crullers, depending on size.

Heat water to boiling with salt and butter. Stir in flour. Stir vigorously over low heat until forms a ball, about 1 minute. Remove form heat. Beat in all eggs at one time until smooth.

Spoon mixture into a decorator's tube with large star tip. Squeeze mixture into hot oil (350 degrees). turn when brown, about 2 minutes. Drain on paper towel and roll in sugar-cinnamon mixture.

**cooks.com

almond biscotti

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
1 1/4 cups sugar, divided
3 eggs
1 teaspoon anise or vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
Dash salt
1/2 cup chopped almonds
2 teaspoons milk


DIRECTIONS

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and 1 cup sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in anise or vanilla. Combine dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture. Stir in almonds. Line a baking sheet with foil and grease foil. Divide dough in half; spread into two 12-in. x 3-in. rectangles on foil. Brush with milk and sprinkle with remaining sugar. Bake at 375 degrees F for 15-20 minutes or until golden brown and firm to the touch. Remove from oven and reduce heat to 300 degrees F. Lift rectangles with foil onto wire rack; cool for 15 minutes. Place on a cutting board; slice diagonally 1/2 in. thick. Place slices with cut side down on ungreased baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Turn cookies over; bake 10 minutes more. Turn oven off, leaving cookies in oven with door ajar to cool. Store in airtight container.


**allrecipes.com

chocolate mint candies cookies

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup butter
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
2 tablespoons water
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 (4.5 ounce) packages chocolate covered thin mints

DIRECTIONS

In a saucepan over medium heat, cook the sugar, butter and water, stirring occasionally until melted. Remove from heat, stir in the chocolate chips until melted and set aside to cool for 10 minutes.

Pour the chocolate mixture into a large bowl, and beat in the eggs, one at a time. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, stir into the chocolate mixture. Cover and refrigerate dough for at least 1 hour.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll cookie dough into walnut sized balls and place 2 inches apart onto the prepared cookie sheets.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven, be careful not to overbake. When cookies come out of the oven, Press one mint wafer into the top of each cookie and let sit for 1 minute. When the mint is softened, swirl with the back of a spoon or toothpick to make a pattern with the green filling of the mint wafer. For smaller cookies, break mints in half.

**allrecipes.com

creamy lemon square

INGREDIENTS

20 Reduced Fat NILLA Wafers, finely crushed
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup cold margarine
1 (8 ounce) package PHILADELPHIA Neufchatel Cheese, 1/3 Less Fat than Cream Cheese, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons flour
3 tablespoons grated lemon peel, divided
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1/4 teaspoon CALUMET Baking Powder
2 teaspoons powdered sugar


DIRECTIONS

PREHEAT oven to 350 degrees F. Line 8-inch square baking pan with foil, with ends of foil extending over sides of pan; set aside. Combine wafer crumbs, 1/2 cup flour and the brown sugar in medium bowl. Cut in margarine with pastry blender or two knives until mixture resembles coarse crumbs; press firmly onto bottom of prepared pan. Bake 15 min.

MEANWHILE, beat Neufchatel cheese and granulated sugar with electric mixer on medium speed until well blended. Add eggs and 2 Tbsp. flour; mix well. Blend in 1 Tbsp. lemon peel, lemon juice and baking powder; pour over crust.

BAKE 25 to 28 min. or until center is set. Cool completely. Cover and refrigerate at least 2 hours or overnight. Sprinkle with powdered sugar and remaining 2 Tbsp. grated lemon peel just before cutting into squares to serve. Store leftover squares in refrigerator.

**allrecipes.com

chicken pot pie

2 (10 oz) cans Campbell's Cream of Chicken Soup or
Campbell's Chicken or Turkey Pot Pie Soup
2 (about 9 oz) packages frozen mixed vegetables, thawed
2 cups cubed, cooked chicken
1 cup chicken broth combined with 2 tablespoons flour
2 Pillsbury pie shells

Preheat oven to 400°F.
Mix soup, vegetables, chicken, and broth. (The mixture should be sort of thick.) Place in pie shell.

Bake for 35 minutes until golden. (Cover pie edge if it begins to brown too quickly).

banoffee pie

This pie, an easy take on toffee with bananas (hence the name), made its debut at The Hungry Monk, a pub in England, in 1972. Traditional recipes involve boiling unopened cans of condensed milk, but since that sometimes results in explosions, we thought you might prefer this method.


Ingredients:
2 cups canned sweetened condensed milk (21 oz)
1 (9-inch) round of refrigerated pie dough (from 15-oz package)
3 large bananas
1 1/2 cups chilled heavy cream
1 tablespoon packed light brown sugar

Special equipment: a 9-inch pie plate (preferably deep dish)


Directions:
Put oven rack in middle position and preheat oven to 425°F.

Pour condensed milk into pie plate and stir in a generous pinch of salt. Cover pie plate with foil and crimp foil tightly around rim. Put in a roasting pan, then add enough boiling-hot water to reach halfway up side of pie plate, making sure that foil is above water. Bake, refilling pan to halfway with water about every 40 minutes, until milk is thick and a deep golden caramel color, about 2 hours. Remove pie plate from water bath and transfer toffee to a bowl, then chill toffee, uncovered, until it is cold, about 1 hour.

While toffee is chilling, clean pie plate and bake piecrust in it according to package instructions. Cool piecrust completely in pan on a rack, about 20 minutes.

Spread toffee evenly in crust, and chill, uncovered, 15 minutes.

Cut bananas into 1/4-inch-thick slices and pile over toffee.

Beat cream with brown sugar in a clean bowl with an electric mixer until it just holds soft peaks, then mound over top of pie.

Cooks' notes:
• Toffee can be chilled up to 2 days (cover after 1 hour).
• Toffee-filled crust can be chilled up to 3 hours.

**zshali.multiply.com

ginger cookies

INGREDIENTS

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons ground ginger
1 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup margarine, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tablespoon water
1/4 cup molasses
2 tablespoons white sugar

DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Sift together the flour, ginger, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, and salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and 1 cup sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the egg, then stir in the water and molasses. Gradually stir the sifted ingredients into the molasses mixture. Shape dough into walnut sized balls, and roll them in the remaining 2 tablespoons of sugar. Place the cookies 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet, and flatten slightly.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely. Store in an airtight container.

**allrecipes.com

peanut butter cookies

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/4 cups flour, sift or stir before measuring
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar, packed
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 egg

PREPARATION:

Sift together flour, salt, and baking powder; set aside. Cream shortening, peanut butter, and sugars; beat in vanilla and egg. Stir in flour mixture, blending well. Shape mixture into 3/4-inch balls; place on greased baking sheets. Flatten each cookie with the tines of a fork; dip fork in flour periodically to keep it from sticking to the peanut butter cookie dough.
Bake peanut butter cookies at 375° for about 10 to 12 minutes.

**southernfood.about.com

Banana Chocolate Chip

Ingredients
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/4 cup light brown sugar
1 ripe banana, mashed
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 cup milk chocolate chips


Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, set aside. In a medium bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar. Beat in the banana and egg, then stir in the vanilla. Gradually stir in the dry ingredients until well blended. Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts, if desired. Drop by rounded spoonfuls onto the prepared cookie sheets. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in the preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

**webterrace.com

Brownies

INGREDIENTS

1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking powder

3 tablespoons butter, softened
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
1 tablespoon honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners' sugar


DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour an 8 inch square pan.

In a large saucepan, melt 1/2 cup butter. Remove from heat, and stir in sugar, eggs, and 1 teaspoon vanilla. Beat in 1/3 cup cocoa, 1/2 cup flour, salt, and baking powder. Spread batter into prepared pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Do not overcook.

To Make Frosting: Combine 3 tablespoons butter, 3 tablespoons cocoa, 1 tablespoon honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 cup confectioners' sugar. Frost brownies while they are still warm.

**allrecipes.com

Smores

2 graham crackers
1 marshmallow
1 tbsp. miniature chocolate chips

Place chips on 1 of the crackers.
Set the marshmallow on top.
Cover this with the other cracker.
Place in microwave for 1 minute.
A tip for mom is that if a paper plate or towel is under this the child will be less likely to make a mess or get burned when they take the Smore from the microwave.

**cooks.com

Soft Oatmeal Cookies

Original recipe yield:2 dozen

PREP TIME
15 Min

COOK TIME
10 Min

READY IN
2 Hrs

INGREDIENTS

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
3 cups quick cooking oats

DIRECTIONS

In a medium bowl, cream together butter, white sugar, and brown sugar. Beat in eggs one at a time, then stir in vanilla. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon; stir into the creamed mixture. Mix in oats. Cover, and chill dough for at least one hour.

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. Roll the dough into walnut sized balls, and place 2 inches apart on cookie sheets. Flatten each cookie with a large fork dipped in sugar.

Bake for 8 to 10 minutes in preheated oven. Allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.


**allrecipes.com

The OC

SEASON 1

The first season of The O.C. premiered on August 5, 2003 in the United States, featuring a total of 27 episodes. The premiere shows a new life for Ryan Atwood, a 16 year old living in Chino, the Cohens and the Coopers, and everyone else in the wealthy, picturesque, secretive, turbulent community of Orange County, California. Faced with the prospect of life in a group home, Ryan decides to run away from Newport, but Seth and Marissa convince him to stay. During the season, Ryan and Marissa develop a relationship and Seth and Summer fall in love despite Seth's brief relationship with Anna Stern. Jimmy lands in financial trouble, so Julie leaves Jimmy. Ryan and Marissa's relationship falls apart when new kid on the block Oliver Trask comes to town. His overpossesive and turbulent past drives a wedge in between Ryan and Marissa's relationship. Trask then threatens to kill himself but is talked out of doing so by Ryan. Luke has an affair with Julie. Near the end of the season, Julie and Caleb get married. Ryan discovers that he may be the father of the unborn child of his ex-girlfriend, Theresa, and decides to leave the Cohen family and his current girlfriend, Marissa, to support her through her pregnancy. Upon finding out that Ryan is moving back to Chino with Theresa, Seth sails away in his boat, leaving farewell notes for his parents and Summer.

SEASON 2

The second season began on November 4, 2004 in the United States. It featured a total of 24 episodes. At the start of the season, it is revealed that Seth ran away to Portland, Oregon, where he has been staying with Luke and Luke's father. Ryan has spent the summer in Chino, living with Theresa Diaz and her mother, and working on a construction site. Realizing he would be happier back in Orange County with the Cohens, Theresa tells Ryan that she lost the baby. This prompts Ryan and Seth to return to Newport, where Seth ends up working under Alex at the Bait Shop. They have a brief relationship, but Alex, revealed to be bisexual, starts dating Marissa.Meanwhile Julie and Caleb have sent Marissa's sister Kaitlin off to boarding school. Also, Ryan starts a relationship with Lindsay, a new girl at school. Their relationship flounders when Newport finds out that she is the love child of Caleb and half-sister to Kirsten. After Lindsay and her mother move to Chicago, Ryan's brother Trey is released from prison. As he has nowhere else to go, the Cohens invite him to stay with them while he gets his life in order. However, he soon gets into trouble with drugs, and while high, attempts to rape Marissa. Meanwhile, Kirsten begins drinking heavily, a problem that is further aggravated after her father dies of a heart attack. As the season ends, the Cohens and Ryan stage an intervention and Kirsten leaves for rehab. Ryan then discovers his brother's attempted rape of Marissa, and confronts Trey. The two fight and Trey is about to kill Ryan when Marissa arrives and shoots Trey to save Ryan.


SEASON 3

The third season began on September 8, 2005 in the United States and featured a total of 25 episodes. The season begins with Kirsten still in rehab and Trey in a coma. Trey eventually comes out of his coma and, after Julie Cooper briefly attempts to blackmail him into blaming Ryan for the shooting, he leaves town. Marissa escapes charges over the shooting, but is expelled from Harbor and is forced to attend Newport Union, a nearby public school. There she meets Johnny, a surfer and his sidekick Chilli. Ryan is also thrown out of Harbor after punching the Dean because he man handled Marissa. Johnny falls in love with Marissa, and she eventually has to choose between him and Ryan. Ryan is re-admitted to Harbor as it is revealed that the Dean was currently having a sexual relationship with Taylor Townsend. Marissa is re-admitted to Harbor after her friends stage a campaign, with the assistance of Marissa's former rival Taylor Townsend. Marissa's younger sister Kaitlin returns from boarding school and takes a liking to Johnny but Marissa can't deny that she has feelings for Johnny. After choosing Ryan, a drunk Johnny falls to his death from a cliff on the beach. After the death of Johnny, Kaitlin distraught with his death returns to boarding school away from the terror. Seth and Summer continue their relationship. Problems include Seth smoking weed and skipping his college interview but the two work things out and their relationship stabilizes. Unable to come to terms with Johnny's death, Marissa becomes involved with Volchok another surfer with a "bad boy" reputation. However, she catches him cheating on her during prom and ends their relationship. In the third season finale, an intoxicated Volchok, still reeling from his break-up with Marissa, rams Marissa and Ryan off the road and over a cliff. Ryan survives the crash and pulls Marissa from the wrecked car. Marissa then dies in his arms.


SEASON 4

The fourth and final season began on November 2, 2006 in the United States, and featured a total of 16 episodes. The season begins with everyone coping with the death of Marissa Cooper. Ryan has moved out of the Cohen household and becomes a cage fighter to deal with his anger. Summer begins attending Brown University, where she throws herself into environmental activism, and avoids calls from Seth, who stays in Newport and finds a job at a comic book shop. Marissa's younger sister Kaitlin returns to Newport from boarding school and starts attending Harbor. Julie, meanwhile, hires a private detective to track down Volchok, who had fled to Mexico. She plans to have Ryan take revenge on Volchok, presumably by killing him. Ultimately, with Seth and Sandy's help, Ryan allows Volchok to turn himself in to the authorities. Ryan subsequently moves back in with the Cohens. In the meantime, Taylor Townsend, who is previously thought to have been in Paris, attending the Sorbonne, secretly returns to Newport after impulsively marrying a Frenchman, who then refuses to grant her a divorce. Ryan helps her by posing as her lover to get her husband to agree to the divorce, after which she and Ryan begin a romantic relationship. After releasing rabbits from a laboratory, Summer is suspended from Brown for a semester and returns to California where she and Seth reconcile. Julie Cooper begins a relationship with wealthy Texan businessman Gordon Bullit, however, she soon becomes conflicted when she falls for Ryan's biological father, Frank, who was released from prison. Near the end of the fourth season, Kirsten becomes pregnant with a baby girl, and she and Sandy consider whether Newport is the right place to bring up another child. A powerful earthquake hits Newport, and the Cohens' house is damaged beyond repair.
The series finale documents the characters' lives six months after the earthquake. In a flashforward, Seth and Summer get married, Julie graduates from college, Sandy becomes a law professor, and Ryan becomes an architect. The series concludes with Ryan reaching out to a troubled teenager just as Sandy did for him, years before. The last words of the series being "Hey kid, you need help?".

**wikipedia.org

HBO's Entourage

Entourage is an Emmy Award-winning HBO original series created by Doug Ellin that chronicles the rise of Vincent Chase — a young A-list movie star — and his childhood friends from Queens, New York City as they navigate the unfamiliar terrain of Hollywood, California. Doug Ellin, Mark Wahlberg, and Stephen Levinson serve as the show's executive producers, and the show's premise is loosely based on Wahlberg's experiences as an up-and-coming movie star.[1] The theme song is called "Superhero" performed by Jane's Addiction.
**wikipedia.org

gilmore girls

Gilmore Girls is an American television drama/comedy that began on October 5, 2000 and aired its final episode on May 15, 2007.
The show follows single mother Lorelai Victoria Gilmore (Lauren Graham) and her daughter Lorelai "Rory" Leigh Gilmore (Alexis Bledel) in the fictional town of Stars Hollow, Connecticut, a close-knit small town with many quirky characters, located roughly thirty minutes from Hartford. The series explores family, friendship, generational divides, and social class.
Gilmore Girls features intricate, extremely fast-paced dialogue, (70 pages of script are used in each show) with numerous popular-culture references, along with many other allusions to politics, feminism, and high culture. It also has specific perspectives on social class, represented most regularly by Lorelai's difficult relationship with her wealthy upper class parents. The show's wit and character-based humor won it a loyal following of both critics and viewers.[citation needed]
On May 3, 2007, The CW announced that the series would not be renewed.
According to Variety, "Money was a key factor in the decision, with the parties involved not able to reach a deal on salaries for the main cast members. Other issues, such as number of episodes and production dates, may have also played a role".
On May 23, 2007 TV Guide's Michael Ausiello interviewed Amy Sherman-Palladino and she talked about a possible TV movie in the near future.
Lorelai's conflict with her wealthy parents is central to the back-story for the series. Tension with her headstrong mother, Emily, and her father, Richard, recurs throughout the show. This presumably began when Lorelai became the teenage mother of Rory at the age of sixteen, which required the sacrifice of her elite prep-school education (and future as a college student). In addition, Lorelai opted to not marry the baby's father, Christopher, much to the constant dismay of her parents.

As an extension of her stubborn and rebellious nature, Lorelai ran away to Stars Hollow, a small town near Hartford. There she met Mia, owner of the Independence Inn, who gave her a job as a maid and acted as a surrogate mother to both Lorelai and Rory. Lorelai eventually became general manager of the inn, her position at the start of the series. She and Rory lived in a converted potting shed behind the Inn for about ten years before moving to the house they live in during the show. Lorelai consistently tried to minimize her parents' contact with Rory until Rory needed money for school.
**wikipedia.org

missing dawson's creek

Dawson's Creek was an American primetime television drama which aired from January 20, 1998, to May 14, 2003, on The WB Television Network. The lead production company was Sony Pictures Television. Reruns of the show are currently seen in the US in syndication on TBS and on The N.
Aimed at a teenaged audience, the show is semi-autobiographical, being based on the small-town childhood of its creator Kevin Williamson (who also wrote the slasher film Scream). The lead character, Dawson Leery, shares Williamson's interests and background. Filmed in Wilmington and Durham, North Carolina, the show was set in a small fictional seaside town called Capeside and focused on four friends who were in the early part of their Sophomore year of high school when the series began. The program, part of a craze for teen-themed movies and television shows in America in the late 1990s, made stars of its leads and was a defining show for The WB. Alessandra Stanley of The New York Times declared in 2005 that "The WB is turning out to be the television equivalent of the United Nations" and that "Dawson's Creek was its Dag Hammarskjöld: It was the first series bold enough to pick up the mantle of Beverly Hills, 90210 and an inspiration for many variations on the teenage angst theme, including The O.C. on Fox."
Dawson's Creek generated a high amount of publicity before its debut, with several television critics and watchdog groups expressing concerns about its anticipated "racy" plots and dialogue; the controversy even drove one of the original production companies away from the project, but numerous critics praised it for its realism and intelligent dialogue that included allusions to American television icons such as The Dick Van Dyke Show and The Mary Tyler Moore Show. By the end of its run, the show, its crew, and its young cast had been nominated for numerous awards, winning four of them. The series is known for the verbosity and complexity of the dialogue between its teenaged characters—who commonly demonstrate vocabulary and cultural awareness that went beyond the scope of the average high school student, yet that is combined with an emotional immaturity and self-absorption reflecting actual teens. This precociousness has been a staple of a number of teenaged-themed shows since, notably including Gilmore Girls and The O.C.

**source - wikipedia.org

Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives is an American television comedy-drama series, created by Marc Cherry, who also serves as show runner, and produced by ABC Studios, The Walt Disney Company's main television studio, and Cherry Productions. Executive producers, as of the upcoming fourth season, are Marc Cherry, Bob Daily, George W. Perkins, John Pardee and Joey Murphy.

The setting of the show is the street of Wisteria Lane in the fictional American town of Fairview. It follows the lives of a group women, seen through the eyes of their dead neighbour, as they work through domestic struggles and family life, while facing the secrets, crimes and mysteries hidden behind the doors of their – at the surface – beautiful suburban neighbourhood. The show features an ensemble cast, headed by Teri Hatcher as Susan Mayer, Felicity Huffman as Lynette Scavo, Marcia Cross as Bree Hodge, Eva Longoria as Gabrielle Solis, and Nicollette Sheridan as Edie Britt. Brenda Strong narrates the show as the deceased Mary Alice Young.
Since its premiere on ABC on October 3, 2004, the show has been very well received by the critics as well as the audience. The show is a multiple Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild award winner, and in April 2007 it was reported to be the most popular show in its demographic worldwide, with an audience of approximately 119 million viewers.

SERIES SYNOPSIS

Season one began its original airing on October 3, 2004 and introduces the four central characters of the show: Susan Mayer, Bree Van De Kamp, Lynette Scavo and Gabrielle Solis, and their families and neighbours on Wisteria Lane. The main mystery of the season is the unexpected suicide of Mary Alice Young, and the involvment of her husband and teenage son in the events leading up to it. Meanwhile Bree tries to save her marriage, Lynette struggles to find time and energy to cope with her children, Susan fights with Edie for new neighbour Mike's affection, and Gabrielle tries to prevent her husband from find out about her affair with their underage gardener.

The second season began airing on September 25, 2005 and its central mystery is that of new neighbor Betty Applewhite, who moved in in the middle of the night. Throughout the season, Bree tries to cope with being a widow, unknowingly begins dating the man who poisoned her husband, fights alcoholism, and is unable to prevent the gap between her and her son to keep growing to extremes. Susan's love life gets even more complicated as her ex-husband gets engaged to Edie, Lynette goes back to her career in advertising and eventually becomes her husband's boss, and Gabrielle decides to be faithful to her husband, and begins preparations to have a child.

In season three, which began airing on September 24, 2006 Bree marries Orson Hodge, whose past and involvement with a recently discovered dead body becomes the main mystery for most of the season. Meanwhile, Lynette has to adjust to having another child around the house as an previously unknown daughter of her husband arrives, and both the Scavos leave their careers to start a pizzeria. Gabrielle goes through a violent divorce, but finally finds new love in Fairview's new mayor. Edie sees her chance to make her move on Mike, who's suffering from amnesia, and Susan moves onto a handsome englishman whose wife is in coma. And Edie's family relations are explored throughout the season.

**wikipedia.org

Wicked

Audiences are cheering for this musical hit inspired by the beloved story of The Wizard of Oz!

Long before Dorothy drops in, two girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of how these two unlikely friends grew to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good Witch.This fantasy-filled musical was the winner of three 2004 Tony Awards including prizes for Best Costume Design and Best Scenic Design. From real flying monkeys to a trip to the Emerald City and a soaring, modern score by Stephen Schwartz, Wicked is a true spectacle for the eyes and ears.

The twists and turns in Gregory Maguire's incredibly imaginative back-story to The Wizard of Oz makes audiences literally gasp with delight. But not only that, Wicked is a truly heartfelt story of friendship and love. As Richard Zoglin of Time Magazine put it, "If every musical had a brain, a heart and the courage of Wicked, Broadway really would be a magical place!"

**source - broadway.com

The Pillowman

The Pillowman is a play by Martin McDonagh. A drama, it tells the tale of Katurian, a fiction writer living in a police state who is interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories, and their similarities to a number of bizarre incidents occurring in his town.
The play had its world premiere on November 13, 2003 at the Royal National Theatre, starring David Tennant as Katurian, the play's primary focus, Jim Broadbent as Tupolski his lead interrogator, Nigel Lindsay as Ariel, and Adam Godley as Michal. It received the 2004 Olivier Award and an Evening Standard Award nomination for Best New Play. It was directed by John Crowley.
Katurian is being interviewed; Some of the short stories he wrote are similar to some bizarre child murders that are happening in the town. Katurian of course denies these allegations, stating that although his stories are gruesome it is the job of a storyteller to tell a story. After being tortured Katurian is thrown into a room with his mentally handicapped brother Michal. Michal says that he was the one who killed the children, and was only doing what was in the stories because “that is what his brother wanted him to do”. Katurian doesn’t want his brother to be executed for something that he wasn’t fully cognizant about so Katurian smothers his brother with a pillow. Katurian then later confesses to the murders of the three children, making a deal with Tupolski and Ariel that if he did they would not destroy his stories. When the police find the crime scenes they find that his description of them do not match the crime scenes at all. They know that Katurian wasn’t the murderer, but he is executed anyway for the murder of his parents and Michal.Article from wikipedia

song of the week

She’s going out to forget they were together
All that time he was taking her for granted
She wants to see if there’s more
than he gave she’s looking for

He calls her up
He’s trippin' on the phone now
He doesn’t want her out there
And alone now
He knows she’s movin' it
Knows she’s using it
Now he’s losing it
She don’t care

Everybody put up your hands
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
feel the beat now
If you’ve got nothing left
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
Back it up now
You’ve got a reason to live
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
Feelin' good now
Don’t be afraid to get down
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love

He was always giving her attention
Working hard to buy the things she mentioned
He was dedicated
By most suckers hated
That girl was fine
But she didn’t appreciate him

She calls him up
She’s tripping on the phone now
He had to get up
And he ain’t comin' home now
He’s tryin' to forget her
That’s how we come with him
When he first met her
When they first got together

Everybody put up your hands
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
feel the beat now
If you got nothing left
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
Back it up now
You got a reason to live
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
Feelin' good now
Don’t be afraid to get down
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love

To the beat (x3)
You got nothing to lose
Don’t be afraid to get down

We break up
It’s something that we do now
Everyone has got to do it sometime
It’s okay, let it go
Get out there and find someone

It’s too late to be trippin' on the phone here
Get off the wire
You know everything is good here
Stop what you’re doin'
You don’t wanna ruin
The chance that you got to
find a new one

Everybody put up your hands
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
feel the beat now
If you got nothing left
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
Back it up now
You got a reason to live
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love
Feelin' good now
Don’t be afraid to get down
Say I don’t wanna be in love
I don’t wanna be in love

Now you know what to do, so come on feelin' good

Welcome to my world

That's it! WELCOME!