I always like to receive a gift that is homemade...be it food or otherwise....it conveys comfort & love to the recipient and is endearing. Luckily....Recipe Records is a fantastic tool to use when trying to decide on what you should make your neighbors, co-workers and loved ones. You'll find many choices of candies, etc., that are not a lot of work which equals not a lot of time. May I suggest wishing someone a BLUE Christmas with some fabulous blueberry topping along with a CD of blues music.
Keep in mind that Recipe Records makes a wonderful gift and now through Friday, December 16 receive FREE SHIPPING with your purchase! You can purchase the books on our website www.reciperecords.webs.com using Pay Pal, or contact me via email (I joke to many about how I tote books around in the back of my car .... it's no joke ) The book is also available at www.barnesandnoble.com
On page 181 of the book you'll find one of my favorite recipes, Bell Bottom Bluesberry Topping, along with stories about our love of blues music. Bell Bottom Blues is one of my favorite songs and is by Derek and the Dominoes.... if you aren't familiar with that band... Derek = Eric Clapton . As far as I can remember they only released one album as a band--but that was all they needed. That album yielded "Layla" and many other what I call "crying songs" . Eric was desperately in love with George Harrison's wife during this time period & helped to create this album with her in mind.
You still have time to whip up this super easy topping, fill up a glass jar, tie a ribbon around it and pass it along. The topping is delicious on pancakes, pound cake, ice cream or just by the spoonful (which is how I personally prefer it) . The recipe came from Mom and I have many fond memories of making Christmas treats for teachers, etc., at Christmas with her. So make a memory with your family this year......
Bell Bottom Bluesberry Topping
(a tribute to the song Bell Bottom Blues by Derek & The Dominoes)
3 C. Blueberries, rinsed & drained (frozen blueberries are most economical)
3/4 C. Granulated Sugar
2 tsp. Cornstarch
1/2 C. Water
1 Tbsp. Lemon Juice
Combine sugar & cornstarch in saucepan. Add blueberries, water and lemon juice and cook over medium heat, stirring frequently to desired thickness. Great over ice cream, pound cake, vanilla pudding, pancakes & waffles.
Here's a few Blues suggestions for that CD to accompany the topping:
Lanea's Suggested Blues Songlist:
Blue Christmas - Elvis Presley
Bell Bottom Blues - Derek & The Dominoes
Smokestack Lightnin' - Howlin' Wolf
Come In My Kitchen - Robert Johnson
My Man - Billie Holiday
Baby Scratch My Back - Slim Harpo
Born Under a Bad Sign - Albert King
Good Morning Little Schoolgirl - Sonny Boy Williamson (Jonny Lang does a mean version also)
T-Bone Blues - T-Bone Walker
Boom Boom - John Lee Hooker
The Thrill Is Gone - B.B. King
DON'T FORGET:
Lanea will be at Tallulah's kitchen store, 812 E. Broadway in Columbia, Missouri, this Saturday, Dec. 17 from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.! Looking forward to seeing old friends & making some new ones!!
As always - feel free to email with questions about the book or about preparation of any recipe!
Cheers!
Lanea Stagg
Recipe Records
www.reciperecords.webs.com
www.rockblocks3.blogspot.com
reciperecordsml@aol.com
Monday, December 12, 2011
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Hey Soul Sisters......
It's an interesting phenomenon where you think a song is about something in particular but you find out it's really not. The pop song "Hey Soul Sister" by Train is a love song where the vocalist pours out his heart to his soulmate....but I never really listened to the lyrics that closely & thought it was a girl/soul sister kind of thing.... At any rate (that's Indiana talk for "anyway" ) ...it's a fetching tune which features a catchy ukelele riff and my girls & I have always enjoyed it, except during that "hit" obsession where it was on EVERY radio station you turned on....... In case you aren't acquainted with the song, I put a youtube link below....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVpv8-5XWOI
A couple years ago, Maggie & niece Annie, myself & daughter Abby went to the coolest Beatles Festival ever -- Abbey Road on the River in Louisville, KY. It is an annual pilgrimmage of ours and this particular year I was all jazzed up because the festival was offering a free guitar class wherein they would teach you to play a Beatle song by the end of the class. Wow---I thought that was the coolest thing ever and I was determined that Mags, Annie, Abby and I would take part in this event & become skilled at a Beatle song. However, I didn't completely budget the whole idea of buying guitars ....... Annie has a guitar, but the rest of us did not. So, I put on my budget thinking cap and remembered I had seen some charming ukeleles at a local pawn shop some weeks beforehand and I got the idea that all four of us should take the ukeleles to the class..... it can't be much different to learn a song on a ukelele, right ? So I headed down to the pawn shop that was selling brand new ukeleles in delicious Beatlesque colors and surprised the girls on our way to the Fest. Ha.....well....I was mistaken, as I was informed by the guitar teacher that the guitar & ukelele chords weren't gonna quite work out like I envisioned. Luckily there happened to be a ukelele "specialist" on hand who taught us to play Train's "Hey Soul Sister" and "Something" by The Beatles. We were soon calling our "band " the Uka-ladies...and we were definitely Soul Sisters.... What great laughs we had with that whole thing -- and it's those types of memories that I want to encourage you to create for you & loved ones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVpv8-5XWOI
A couple years ago, Maggie & niece Annie, myself & daughter Abby went to the coolest Beatles Festival ever -- Abbey Road on the River in Louisville, KY. It is an annual pilgrimmage of ours and this particular year I was all jazzed up because the festival was offering a free guitar class wherein they would teach you to play a Beatle song by the end of the class. Wow---I thought that was the coolest thing ever and I was determined that Mags, Annie, Abby and I would take part in this event & become skilled at a Beatle song. However, I didn't completely budget the whole idea of buying guitars ....... Annie has a guitar, but the rest of us did not. So, I put on my budget thinking cap and remembered I had seen some charming ukeleles at a local pawn shop some weeks beforehand and I got the idea that all four of us should take the ukeleles to the class..... it can't be much different to learn a song on a ukelele, right ? So I headed down to the pawn shop that was selling brand new ukeleles in delicious Beatlesque colors and surprised the girls on our way to the Fest. Ha.....well....I was mistaken, as I was informed by the guitar teacher that the guitar & ukelele chords weren't gonna quite work out like I envisioned. Luckily there happened to be a ukelele "specialist" on hand who taught us to play Train's "Hey Soul Sister" and "Something" by The Beatles. We were soon calling our "band " the Uka-ladies...and we were definitely Soul Sisters.... What great laughs we had with that whole thing -- and it's those types of memories that I want to encourage you to create for you & loved ones.
I have to provide you with a recipe for "Hey Soul-food Sister Fried Chicken" which was sent to me by Mags' beau, Keith. I don't think chicken should be fried in anything other than a giant black iron skillet that seemingly weighs 50 pounds. It might be surprising to know that I have officially never fried chicken because I conveniently have never owned a black skillet due to the trauma that I endured in childhood.....I distinctly remember my mom frying awesome chicken with a large iron skillet, but I mainly remember having to WASH the disgusting iron monster. Man those things get nasty...
"Hey Soul-food Sister" Fried Chicken
Ingredients
- 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cayenne red pepper
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1/4 cup 2% milk
- 2 chicken thighs
- 2 chicken drumsticks
- canola oil
Directions
- In a large resealable plastic bag, combine the first five ingredients. In a shallow bowl, beat the egg and milk. Add chicken to bag, a few pieces at a time, and shake to coat. Dip into egg mixture, then return to flour mixture and shake again. Remove from bag and let stand for 5 minutes.
- Heat about 1 in. of oil in a large skillet. Fry chicken until golden brown on all sides. Reduce heat to medium and cook until a meat thermometer reads 180°, about 15 minutes.
In my various internet browsings, I came across a skillet cookbook that looks fantastic & I'm gonna check it out.... if I ever get that iron skillet (and someone else commits to washing it) ...... A Skillet Full
I gotta mention that soul sisters are important....biological or chosen....so be sure you give yours an extra "I love you" during these chaotic days of the holiday season.....
Lanea Stagg
Recipe Records Cookbook
http://www.reciperecords.webs.com/
reciperecordsml@aol.com
Lanea Stagg
Recipe Records Cookbook
http://www.reciperecords.webs.com/
reciperecordsml@aol.com
Thursday, December 1, 2011
On the 1st Day of Christmas..My True Love Gave To Me.....Straight No Chaser
Straight No Chaser, Indiana University's pride and joy blew the top off The Centre in Evansville, Indiana last night....joyfully performing tunes for the holidays and covering hot songs from popular artists. You know how you love that surprise when you put on your comfy ole' winter coat for the first time of the season and you find a
$20 bill in the pocket ?? Well.... listening to Straight No Chaser singing
holiday classics infused with their catchy twists and surprises makes you feel warm,
fuzzy and like a millionaire..... Their element of surprise holds your close attention so you don't miss any addition or revision to their tunes.
This a capella group
of 10 gentlemen (OK... I know there are peeps out there who aren't familiar with "a capella" - don't be ashamed...... it means NO MUSIC).... performs with such depth that you'd swear there was a
12 piece orchestra backing them up... The range of their vocal talents extends from both ends of the spectrum; great soprano, with alto and bass foundations.
I can't write enough great things about these guys --- they are The Rat Pack meets the Backstreet Boys with a schmaltzy midwestern charm......from the light jokes about their ethnicities...to the jabs at their dancing "skills" (the choreography is similar to a grade school musical) .... to their love of being in their college home State: Indiana. It's enjoyable to watch their comedic style which endears them to the crowd and the crowd LOVES THEM!
The group aims to please all ages, and they covered songs from Elvis to Weezer to Lady Gaga to Michael Jackson and Madonna...and a particularly great version of Cee Lo Green's "Forget You" (which is actually titled something different...but I'll keep it rated "E" for everyone) . One of my favorite sets was their homage to those Jersey boys, Franki Valli & The Four Seasons. The group was smack-dab DEAD ON with their "Big Girls Don't Cry" and "Walk Like a Man" - oh and the dance moves....priceless. They didn't indulge me, however, by performing their version of "Rehab" by Amy Crackhouse...I mean Winehouse ...their cover is fantastic.
Their Christmas songs were full of soulful harmonies and of course, more humor stemming with my favorite song of the eve, "You're a Mean One Mr. Grinch" which contained the lowest bass I believe I've ever heard live. Be sure you look on YOUTUBE for their "12 Days of Christmas" and "The Christmas Can-Can" .... We also included this group on our Christmas song list on page 191 of Recipe Records.
It's not clear who, if anyone, is the frontman of the group and it seems to me it's not necessary to have one. Each member brings something great to the stage and it's clear these fellows are going to entertain for decades to come. Their creativity is obviously endless and it's backed by incredible talent and
charm.. Bing
Crosby & Nat King Cole were the kings of holiday classics in the past, but the torch has been passed to
Straight No Chaser who are, officially (in my book), the royalty of Christmases
present and future.....
Like them on
Facebook and check out their website: www.sncmusic.com
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