Baking & the Big Screen: Brownies & Under The Tuscan Sun
I have been doing nothing but watched movies and shows since isolation times started, and I picked this one figuring they were in Tuscany - there had to be something I could make, right? Well, I made a dumb error: there was plenty of food I could duplicate (hellllllo pasta dishes) but Italy isn’t exactly famous for their baked goods. However - in the first two minutes, there is a fairly detailed discussion on the importance of a good brownie, and I was sold.
Somehow, I don’t believe I’ve ever made brownies from scratch. There are some truly fantastic mixes that my dad tried and found them to be just as good as the ones you could make from start to finish, so I’ve always just gone to those. So a semi romantic comedy and some delicious chocolate treats sounded like a match made in heaven
Under the Tuscan Sun
Starring Diane Lane, Sandra Oh, Kate Walsh
Director: Audrey Wells
Released in 2003
Available on Hulu
With all this time at home, I’ve been alternating between more ‘important’ or heavier films I feel like I should have seen and some fluffy movies that are just for my enjoyment. Under the Tuscan Sun managed to hit right in the middle. I watched it mere hours after watching the season 3 premiere of Killing Eve so seeing a 2003 era Sandra Oh was such a delightful surprise. I thought the movie was a really fun watch and was the perfect length - I never once found myself checking my watch. And, of course, the true success was obviously gorgeous with all the Tuscan scenery.
I enjoyed that while this seemed to initially start on the road of predictable romantic comedy, it seemed more about the protagonist falling in love with herself and learning priorities. It was a story about friendship and finding out which relationships have the most significance and staying power. And right about now, that was lovely to see. A movie about traveling on a whim to Italy and buying a house and just not coming back seems like a tale from a long-gone era when right now the most exciting travel we do is to a grocery store.
“Actually, if you know Frances, you’d know these were avoidance.” As someone who stress bakes, I felt this line from the opening scene in my soul. I literally don’t think I’ve baked as much ever as I have since I’ve been spending almost 24/7 in my apartment. And thankfully, these easy homemade brownies were an easy chore, especially with how detailed and intense some baking recipes can get. One bowl to mix, one modification (pecans on half, because I knew my father would chastise me if I didn’t) and one pan to make, and boom! I had some really fantastic brownies that I already had all the ingredients for in my pantry. They lived up to their recipe title - having the fudgy texture I always strive for in my brownies that I can’t always succeed in getting. I devoured the portion I’d saved for myself in far too few days - but hey, since they were that easy to make, there’s nothing stopping me from whipping up another batch at a moment’s notice.