Icky June gloom is over and the 4th of July long sunny holiday weekend has arrived. YAY!!!!
The 4th means celebrations all over the US of A with friends, family, food, and fireworks.
Amidst all the festivities though, I can at times lose sight of what we are actually celebrating - which is freedom from oppression and tyranny achieved in the United States in 1776 with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. (Note: Go see it in the National Archives if you haven't - Coolest historical thing in DC in my opinion).
I wasn't born in the US and my family is not originally from the US, but I am grateful to be here now, to be accepted, and to live my life the way I please without fear of retaliation or censorship. I think it's a particularly poignant 4th of July celebration this year as people around the world strive to be free from oppressive governmental regimes. I am inspired and humbled by the brave struggles of the men and women in Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Syria as they have fought this year, and continue to fight, to have the unalienable rights we have enjoyed for 236 years - Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness.
And to celebrate Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness, below are three really great videos that I think depict each one these unalienable rights.
LIFE
The Hardest Working Man in Show Business, Mr. James Brown (RIP) shows us his interpretation of "Living in America". This 1985 gem is flashy, dancey, and inter splices scenes from Rocky movies - an American pop culture cornerstone. This video is awesome - lots of sequence and classic shots of 1985 US work force. Enjoy. Woot!
LIBERTY
I know what some of you are thinking: "Really Z? Kid Rock? What's next Nickelback?" Alright - admittedly sort of outside my general genre, but this is a good song and the lyrics depicts Liberty - the idea of being born free "like a river raging . . . and Wild like an untamed stallion". I like the expansive beachy and open road shots... You keep on Kid Rock - there ain't no chains on you sir!!! Now go drink a handle of Jack for breakfast.
THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS
The Pursuit of Happinss means many things to different people, but without getting philosophical... A good party makes most people happy - and the Beastie Boys do it well. America's ancestors fought hard for our right to party, and I believe we all should make them proud this weekend :)
Partying and food go hand in hand, and as such it just wouldn't be a true 4th of July celebration without copious amounts of desserts (we Americans like excess - it's OK we can cop to it).
Here's a no-brainer, 4th of July desserts generally incorporate the ol' Red, White, and Blue elements - and that's easy.
Red: Strawberries, blueberries, red hots, fruit roll ups (red stripes), red sprinkles, red food coloring
White: White frosting, white chocolate chips (white stars)
Blue: Blueberries, blackberries, blue food coloring, blue m&ms
And there you have it - Flag waving desserts!
Although I would love to bake from scratch this weekend, I am alas a little pinched for time. So, I am going "Sandra Lee Semi-Homemade" Style with Flag Cupcakes made from the items you see below. And because I am party hopping on the 4th, cupcakes are perfect for me to bring along to share at each celebration (hopefully they don't melt along the way!)
If you do have a little more time this weekend, I recommend trying out the most famous of Flag Cakes - Ina Garten's tried and true recipe - Over 600 home cooks can't be wrong - this recipe is fab and not hard! Check out Ina making her patriotic cake below, and for the recipe - click here.
I say unto all of you this weekend - Rejoice in your freedoms, Be safe, Enjoy your loved ones, Eat well, and finally...
As Katy says - Be a firework, and don't forget to let your colors burst :)
It's the brink of Summer kids which means bikini and sundress weather abound...
For Z, this means an attempt to reign it in calorie-wise and to consider dusting off the gym membership card... Neither a success today - BUT tomorrow is a new day :)
Because I suspect I am not the only one who is thinking "Time for the Summer Slim-Down", please meet my health and fitness guru and pal, Julie S. over at The Calorie Rebel blog. Julie's entertaining and inspiring blog posts focus on healthy eating, weight management, and provide great tips (even for foodies) on how to navigate daily high-calorie temptation (e.g., the huge bowl of M&Ms sitting on my co-worker's desk).
Julie checked into my May 18 post "Commitment and Dedication: Radiohead and Risotto" and has come-up with a creamy lo-cal alternative to the featured Mushroom and Gorgonzola recipe. Her version uses less rice, more veggies, and less butter and it looks divine! Right in time for Summer - this recipe is an excellent choice if you too are looking to reign it in...
Check out Julie's Risotto Recipe Make-Over as well as her other insightful and encouraging posts at The Calorie Rebel blog. You will be glad you did once it's time to don that new swim suit...
And now for a little Radiohead humor - In 2001, Radiohead made a guest appearance on South Park in an episode called "Scott Tenorman Must Die". The plot involves Cartman's attempt to get revenge on Scott Tenorman whose favorite band is Radiohead, and Radiohead shows up in South Park at Cartman's request... It's actual pretty weird...
Darling friends, some things in life require commitment and dedication.
In no particular order, the following are examples of such things:
1. Assembling IKEA furniture
2. Watching (or mentally preparing to watch) "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button"
3. Reading "War and Peace"
4. Repeatedly choosing to date players
5. Learning how to ride a bike (or maybe that's just Z...).
And when it comes to music and food:
1. Internalizing a Radiohead album
2. Successfully making risotto
Without many repeated hooks and easily decipherable lyrics, the ever expansive and cathartic Radiohead, in my view, require serious listening commitment before one fully appreciates the genius behind Radiohead. Between front man Thom Yorke's ethereal and wistful vocal style, three guitars, atmoshperic electronic beats, an occasional glockenspiel, PLUS the usual suspects of keyboard, bass, drums -- Radiohead's sound is textured and layered. As such, I need to listen to a Radiohead album several times in order to grasp the lyrics and unpack the music - and it's only then when the album clicks for me.
And since Thom's lyrics can be a bit obscure, I may consult with one of the 8,000+ (probably illegal - shhh) lyric websites for some help. For example, check out the lyrics to the popular track KARMA POLICE (off the 1997 album OK COMPUTER) below... I definitely hear "This is what you'll get when you mess with us", but "He speaks in maths"? "Hitler hairdo"??
Truth be told, the first time I saw Radiohead live in 2004 (front row, standing for 3 hours), I got bored. Although I did casually listen to KID A (2000 release) and HAIL TO THE THIEF (2003 release) a couple times, I didn't take the time to internalize those albums. Not surprisingly, the music was going over my head and it all sounded the same. And they didn't even play the one song I knew well -- obviously CREEP. But on a positive note, we were so close to the stage that Thom was actually sweating on me. Keen.
For my second Radiohead show in 2008, I was prepared. I made a conscious effort to spend time with IN RAINBOWS (2007 release) prior to the show. And the effort was worth it because they played most of that album, and it was one of the best shows I have ever seen. The Hollywood Bowl on beautiful Summer night + one of my fav concert mates Ms. LK + Pool Circle box seats + Trader Joe's munchies + wine + full immersion into the music = Transcendent Evening.
I became particularly attached to IN RAINBOWS. The album impressed me musically as did Radiohead's decision to allow fans to purchase the digital album online at that consumer's desired price point - An elegant way to connect with fans and maintain loyalty.
HOUSE OF CARDS, off that album, became my anthem for the reflective Summer of 2008.
And after more than 3 years, Radiohead's 8th studio album KING OF LIMBS finally arrived this past February. I went through the listening ritual: a few dry runs in the car, putzing around the homestead, while cooking, while running, laying in bed, lyric searching, and I have now finally internalized it...
My current fav track - MORNING MR. MAGPIE because it's taunting and eerie. I also dig the steady electronic beat because it sounds like a soundtrack to a common re-occurring dream. You know that dream where you are trying to get somewhere, and you are running, and you feel like the world is chasing you, and you are so close to your destination, but you can't get there... and then you wake up... And when I awake from that kind of dream feeling a touch disoriented, I naturally go to the kitchen for a middle of the night cheese sandwich... I suspect others have experienced that dream and perhaps have also indulged in 3 AM cheese sandwiches...
But now for the star off KING OF LIMBS - LOTUS FLOWER, the current single. This video is like Flaming Jalapeno Cheetos - I can't stop consumption. I watched it like 8 times in a row. I am no pro dancer, but I want to break out Thom's jig below one day at a boring wedding (ala Romy and Michele's with "Time After Time"). In fact, I would rather learn Thom's spas-tastic, writhing, wrenching moves any time over the Thriller dance (with all due respect to the late MJJ).
And if you haven't picked up KING OF LIMBS, I say grab it and commit to it. It's worth the investment.
On to FOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD!
RISOTTO
Making the Italian rice dish Risotto is a labor of love. And, like internalizing a Radiohead record, you can't rush the process... it takes consistent attention and time, but when it's done - its a beautiful dish made with heart, soul, and sweat (literally because a couple drops may fall in as you stand over the hot stove - sweat is the secret ingredient actually).
Before diving into the recipe, check out this memorable clip from the movie "Big Night" which showcases the emotion that goes into risotto... And this one of the best food movies ever, and I am not just saying that because Tony Shalhoub - one of my people - plays the impassioned Italian Chef, Primo. If you haven't seen it - add to Netflix queue.
Many thanks to my fellow Radiohead fellow concert mate, LK who sent me great recipes and a great blog posting about risotto making tips, which was helpful because this was my virgin dance with risotto. I ultimately chose a Giada recipe which called for porcini mushrooms and Gorgonzola (although I didn't use porcinis, but LOVE Gorgonzola). It took dedication because I could not leave the rice unattended while it was cooking for even a minute, but ultimately I was very satisfied with the outcome, and KING OF LIMBS was right there with me in the kitchen.
Gorgonzola and Mushroom Risotto (4 - 6 Servings)
Here is what you need:
•4 cups low-sodium chicken stock (I used 6 cups to achieve desired creaminess, but heated up 8 cups (2 boxes) just in case)
•1 1/2 ounces dried porcini mushrooms (Any mushrooms will work. I used 8 oz of baby bellas because I couldn't find porcinis.)
•3 tablespoons butter
•1 medium onion, diced
•1 1/2 cups Arborio rice (The special rice that Stanley Tucci is talking about!)
•1/2 cup dry white wine (and the balance of the bottle in your mouth - OPAH!)
•1/2 cup grated Parmesan (I omitted this because I forgot to buy it and didn't notice any lack of flavor or texture)
•3/4 cup (3 ounces) Gorgonzola, crumbled (consider using sparingly because Gorgonzola is sharp!)
•1/4 cup chopped fresh chives (I couldn't find chives so I substituted green onions)
•1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
•1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
Here is what you do:
If using porcinis: In a medium saucepan, bring the stock to a boil over medium-high heat. Add the porcini mushrooms. Remove the pan from the heat and set aside for 30 minutes until the mushrooms are tender. Using a slotted spoon, remove the mushrooms and set aside. Reheat the stock to a simmer and keep warm over low heat.
If using any other type of mushrooms, no need to pre-soak the mushrooms. Just begin simmering the stock in a medium saucepan. If you have a simmer burner on your oven, now is the time to use it. In a large, heavy saucepan, melt the 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Add the onion and mushrooms and cook until the onions are tender but not brown, about 3 minutes.
Add the rice and stir to coat with the butter. Add the wine and simmer until the wine has almost evaporated, about 3 minutes.
Add 1/2 cup of warm stock (about a ladleful) and stir until almost completely absorbed, about 2 minutes. Continue with remaining stock, adding 1/2 cup at a time, and allowing each addition to be absorbed, until the rice is tender to the bite and the mixture is creamy, about 25 to 30 minutes. You can't go anywhere dung this process - don't text, don't pee, don't check on your dessert - because you need to constantly stir the risotto as it absorbs each ladleful of broth or the rice will begin to stick to the bottom of the pan... Don't say I didn't warn you.
When the rice is to your desired creaminess, remove the pan from the heat. Stir in the Parmesan (if using), Gorgonzola, chives or green onions, salt and pepper. Transfer the risotto to a serving bowl. Serve immediately. For next day eating, microwave is the best way to re-heat this... and its really good the next day after the flavors cozied up with each other over night ;)
Risotto is great because its filling, versatile, and works as a side dish or a main course all four seasons. Plus it's fun to make, and your loved ones will appreciate your commitment, dedication, and devotion as they savour each lovely bite.
After sampling Austin's finest BBQ at Ironworks (Day 1), then grubbing on Austin's "grab and go" street foods (Day 2), it was time to have a proper sit-down meal to round out the SXSW 2011 culinary adventure. On a recommendation from a friendly Austin-based colleague, my fashionable and fab co-worker and I headed to Moonshine Patio Bar and Grill, right in downtown Austin. And we weren't the only ones - the place was packed with fellow SXSW'ers - biz folks, musicians (saw Fitz there!), and other locals coming to check out shows. Built circa 1835, Moonshine is housed in one of the oldest commercial buildings in Austin that was previously home to (among other things) a general store, an overnight home for rural settlers, and a pre-Prohibition era saloon. Moonshine honors the building's long Austin history by serving-up innovative takes on classic American comfort foods to satisfy the biggest of appetites.
It was a tough decision between "Pecan Crusted Catfish with Crawfish Tails, Homemade Hot Sauce and Brown Butter Sauce" and "Broiled Rainbow Trout with Cornbread Stuffing and Chile Sage Butter." I decided on the Trout because I have never had fish stuffed with cornbread (and I love cornbread) so it was a must. For my side dish, I figured "go big, you're in Texas" so I ordered the Baked Macaroni (at this point - health considerations have been tossed out the window like a cheating ex-husband). My friend ordered the Smoked Half Chicken because it came with Dr. Pepper BBQ Sauce - an uncommon find! As we waited for our dinner plates, we munched on Moonshine's famous seasoned popcorn and cornbread muffins (both complimentary with every meal), and I sipped on a Sauvignon Blanc (my fav white) from a TX vineyard.
Moonshine's hefty portions certainly epitomize the ol' saying "Everything's Big in Texas!" It's a good thing we had been walking a lot! My trout was out of this world! The fish was perfectly cooked and melted in your mouth; the sage flavored sauce nicely complimented the herbs in the cornbread; and the baked macaroni was a perfect ramekin of cheesy down-home comfort; and lastly - look at that - there are even veggies! The carrots were a touch sweet (perhaps maple glazed) which paired well with the sweetness of the cornbread.
When the very-friendly server came around asking if we had saved room for dessert the realistic answer was "No - I have consumed my body weight in butter" however what came out of our mouths was "we could do a bite of the Sweet Potato Pecan Pie." Holy hell - what arrived was A LOT more than a bite! It was a whole pie! A mix between traditional pecan pie and a cake, the crust was a little thicker than a normal pie crust. It was drizzled with a brown sugar glaze and topped with a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream. Needless to say it was spectacular, and we may have had a little more than just a bite, then gave the rest to our appreciative fellow SXSW'ers at the neighboring table.
Others recommended sushi or Italian food restaurants in Austin which I am sure are great, but for me... when in Rome... you get me.... this was a perfect last meal in Austin.
And after that mega-meal, I took a few minutes to re-group before hitting the town hard for the last night of running around...
The Day 3 band highlights:
SPEAK: An up-and-coming foursome actually from Austin, these guys are young, energetic, and infuse their pop sound with well-placed electro-beats. I was excited to see them play SXSW because I have been digging their EP "Hear Here" (available on iTunes) and they certainly lived up to my expectations! Recently signed to Atlantic, their full length LP should drop sometime this year - look out for it and see video below! And as a side note, They played this day time show at perhaps the coolest venue of my SXSW experience to date - The roof of the Whole Foods, just right outside of downtown Austin. If you like Whole Foods, the Austin flag-ship location is like Disneyland!
Fitz and the Tantrums: If you have been following along, you already know I dig this band have been looking forward to seeing them at SXSW (see this post for videos and more about Fitz). It was an 11:15 PM show and it was packed - We had to fight, wheedle, and plead our way in, but we did it! And it was awesome! The guys wore their trademark skinny ties and Noelle rocked a gold short dress (a la "Dream Girls"). They danced, they played their hearts out, the audience was totally into them and singing along - I was happy :)
And now it was on to my final show for SXSW 2011, and it was far far away from the Fitz show. Hardly able to stand on my kankles at this point, but undeterred, I turned to the best mode of transportation in Austin - a pedi-cab. I am a pedi-cab lover - these boys (and girls although, I only happened to ride the gents ;) ) are super friendly and get you where you need to go FAST with little regard for silly traffic laws. I wish we had these in LA (although people would hate them and run them over). Oh and isn't "Pedi-Cab" a great name for a band? Chew on that Austin youth. Thanks to one of Austin's finest on the right, I made it on-time to catch The Head and the Heart's final SXSW show.
The Head and the Heart:
A Seattle-based 6-piece folk-ish rock group, H and H finished out their last SXSW show with a high energy bang! The audience was so amped a few guys jumped on-stage (far left guy and middle dude) and were promptly handed shakers to join the fun. H and H is authentic and their songs are diverse - some introspective & mellow others lively & folksy. I loved their use of violin and long-keyboard flourishes - I was bopping along! Recently signed to Sub-Pop, their current self-entitled LP (available on iTunes) will be emimently re-released. Look out for it and see below!
Phew!!! Until next year darling Austin...
Thanks to all of you wonderful readers for following me along.
With heavily band-aided feet, skinny black zipperd-leg pants, and an airy tunic top (because it gets hot) SXSW Day 2 began with breakfast at an historic 1886 Austin landmark - The Driskill Hotel. Perusing the menu with an eye towards continually soaking up TX culture, I selected the Texas waffle with pecans, blackberries, and bananas. What makes a waffle a "Texas" waffle you ask - Perhaps BBQ maple syrup or maybe served with a side of ribs? NO - It's simply in the shape of the good ol' state of Texas! I could use a waffle iron in the shape of a Z...
So I dispensed with restaurant meals in favor of quick, portable, and plentiful Austin street food. Whether you fancy tacos, hot dogs (even vegan and brats), pizza, kebabs, sliders, paninis, or bbq sandwiches - it's all here - in trucks, carts, stands, and "hole in the wall" spots. With Guy Fiere's spirit pumping through me, I polled folks for their favs in Austin street foods.
Winner for best Pizza: Hoek's Death Metal Pizza - A 6th St. spot that rocks out all night long heavy metal style. After a lot of running around, an 11 PM slice of pepperoni and sausage really hit the spot. And a bit of grease dripped on my shoe (no napkin dabbing here) which made the whole experience even more mouth-watering.
A couple hours later, circa 2 AM after the "Surfer Blood" show, I was hungry again. I decided on sliders with fries at "Slammin Sliders" - a little food shack off 6th. Although a difficult decision, I decided on the BBQ Cheese Bacon sliders and they were indeed tasty. The fries were unique - sweet potato sprinked with sugar as well as salt - sort of like the kettle corn version of french fries.
And because I must have the luck of the Irish, a green haired gent wearing a kilt joined my table for the 8 minutes it took me to scarf down my sliders.
And now the shows - Below are the highights!
Hanson: I know what you are thinking - "I havent heard of those bros since MMM- BOP". Hanson is back and all grown up! Zach shreds on the drums, Taylor rips it up on keys, and Isaac rocks out big time on the guitar. At the SXSW NARAS party, Hanson played songs off their new album "Shout it Out" as well as a great cover of "Hold On I'm Coming" (because they are admittedly old souls at heart despite their age). Hands down - these guys are talented - if you ever loved MMM-Bop, check out "Thinkin About Something" - it's a 'feel-good, dance-alicious, full of brotherly love' video (wait for the power high 5 at the end).
Foster the People: What an awesome show! Mark Foster, young front-man of the LA-based rock group, Foster the People, is truly a multi-talented dude. One second he is on the keys, then he whirls around and pick up drum sticks and starts going to town on the floor drum, and then he throws down the drums sticks, and straps on a guitar. Althought their current big song "Pumped Up Kicks" is fairly mellow (and quite dark) - FTP cannot be neatly placed in a genre because no two songs are the same - they have a ton of range and the show was incredibly high energy. I was impressed. Their first album "Torches" is expected to drop late Spring. Get it. And because I can't get enough "Pumped Up Kicks" - official video below.
Portugal. The Man: Very interesting experimental rock group from Alaska that everyone's talking about... PTM is cool becayse they do both experimental rock and more traditional rock. The experimental stuff is great for a chill house party and the other stuff is just good anytime. Their current big song "People Say" has been getting some serious radio airplay and has been rolling around my head for days- perhaps you've heard it... see below.
That's a wrap for Day 2! Stay tuned for the 3rd and final day of Z's SXSW 2011 food and music adventure.
Hiya kids - First day of SXSW successfully conquered!
After landing in Austin, first order of business (after dashing off Fitz Meatloaf blog) is having a proper Texas dinner. I polled various Austin natives and seasoned SXSW'ers for the very best Austin BBQ and the choice was unanimous - Iron Works BBQ right in downtown (followed by Salt Lick as a distant second).
On a recommendation from the gent behind the counter, I ordered their speciality - the beef ribs plate, and 8,000 or so calories later, I was an incredibly happy girl! Definitely an ecletic plate - you get beans, potato salad, a white plain slice of bread, raw onions and pickles, along with theree luscious ribs slathered in Irons Works signature BBQ sauce.
There is no way to eat this daintily (and I ain't a dainty eater generally). I rolled up my sleeves, stretched out, did a couple yoga sun salutations to ready myself to dive into this massive tray of Texas BBQ goodness.
I am not usually a big beans person, but I loved these - they weren't too sugary and went really well with the tangy, but a touch sweet, Iron Works signature BBQ sauce (provided in a squeeze bottle for your convenience and can be purchased on their website). The onions and pickles were a nice crunchy tart counter balance to the beans and creamy potato salad so they really worked on the plate (at first I was confused by them). The bread slice functions to sop up on any extra beans and BBQ sauce and also nicely absorbs the flavor of the ribs laying on top of them. And now the ribs - If you are going to have ribs you may as well have the best and these were freaking awesome. They were thick and meaty with a perfect char on the ends - the pork loin dish my wonderful friend ordered sadly paled in comparison so I gave her a rib and that was the end of eating pork loin. I gobbled it up and washed it down with Texas' owner Shiner Bock beer... Ah... so good. Full of Texas' best I was ready to hit the bands!
Of the 5 bands I hit up last night - I will quickly highlight 3:
Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr - A duo into car racing hailing from the Motor City (Detroit... duh). Despite the weird name, these guys are fun and even wear car racing suits! Although definitely rock, their sound has a poppy ethereal breezy quality with a lot of "da da da da das". I liked the track "Simple Girl" and the cover of "God Only Knows". EP is now out on Itunes with the full length album, tentatively entitled "A Corporate World," expected to land Summer 2011.
Royal Bangs - I knew nothing about this band before last night, but heard some buzz so decided to make my way down 6th Street to check them out. From Knoxville, Tennessee, they have a Black Keys sort of look and an experimental rock sound. One dude is on guitar, an other is a master on the keys, and the third is on drums. The sound is big! For never having heard a single song, they kept my attention and I didn't mind that they didn't move around too much - it was all about the sound.
Duran Duran - Umm.... No introduction needed. These UK legends kicked off their world tour to promote their new album at Stubb's last night and I was lucky enough to get in (thanks MW!). They still got it! Girls on Film!
That's it for me from Austin - Will be back tomorrow with my highlights of Austin street food, more music, and whatever St. Patty's day shenanigans occur...
Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, and Sandra Dee all wore skinny jeans/pants. Jeans style then moved to 70s bell bottoms; 80s high-wasted (sometimes pleated - ack!); 90s acid wash; into the 2000s bootcut, and now skinny is again all the rage (for boys and girls alike)!
The new skinnies, however, are not your mama's jeans - they have a modern touch - hip rouching, extra long longs worn bunched up, zippers and look fab with chic flats or sexy high heels.
Skinny jeans are not the only thing that continually experience a renaissance. Musicians, of course, borrow from their predecessors to create their own sounds - hence LA based Fitz and the Tantrums - A 60s style soul indie rock-pop outfit - Fitz is Motown meets Indie-Pop and the result is the perfect combo for dancing, running, bopping in the car, partying, and of course cooking.
Fitz played the New Noise Santa Barbara conference back in October and I was intrigued... I then heard "Moneygrabber" on Sirius in January and immediately was into it - I felt like K-Earth 101 - but fresh. I since then grabbed Pickin' up the Pieces - the band's full length LP released on Dangerbird Records and promptly memorized every song.
In interviews, front-man Michael Fitzpatrick, lead soulful diva female vocalist Noelle Scaggs and the rest of the Tantrums make it clear that they are not trying to recreate a carbon copy of 60s era soul music - rather - are interpreting their fav era with their own spin. Fitz doesn't even use guitars - he said that he wants to create a big sound without use of guitars and he has wildly succeeded
Moneygrabber is the first sizzling single below!
Michael Fitzpatrick wrote the below track "Breaking the Chains of Love" in 5 minutes on a vintage 60s organ!
And the next two round out my top 4 fav that exemplify the throwback Fitz sound.
To go with Fitz and the Tantrums modernized retro sound - the answer is obvious - Meatloaf. However, we are not talking about the "Brady Bunch Alice the housekeeper Sam the Butcher" style of meatloaf recipes. No sireee - this is the old school classic dinner with modern flare - Thank you Giada! The below recipeI is way healthier, very flavorful, easy to make, and looks really pretty when its done with green and red flecks. I cooked it up wearing skinny jeans and listening to Fitz! Sundried Tomato Feta Cheese Turkey Meatloaf (serves 4 - 6)
Here is what you need:
- Cooking spray -1/2 cup bread crumbs (plain or seasoned) -1/3 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley -1/4 cup chopped garlic and herb-marinated sun-dried tomatoes (or just regular packed in oil) -2 cloves garlic, minced, optional (use if your sundried tomatoes are not marinated in garlic) -2 eggs, at room temperature, lightly beaten -2 tablespoons milk (whole, light, skim) -1/2 cup crumbled feta cheese (regular or with herbs) -1 1/2 teaspoons kosher salt (use much less, if any, if using seasoned bread crumbs) -1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper -1 pound ground turkey, preferably dark meat Here is what you do:
Place an oven rack in the center of the oven. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl, stir together the bread crumbs, parsley, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, if using, eggs, milk, feta, salt, and pepper.
Add the turkey and gently stir to combine, being careful not to overwork the meat.
Carefully pack the meat mixture into the prepared pan and bake until the internal temperature registers 165 degrees F on an instant-read thermometer, about 45 - 55 minutes (mine took closer to 55 minutes).
Remove from the oven and let rest for 5 minutes. Transfer to a cutting board and slice. Put on a serving platter and serve.
And for a colorful side-dish, try Rachael Ray's Pesto Mashed Potatoes.
Here is what you need: -2 1/2 pounds small red skinned potatoes (TJ's sells a multi-color potato bag) -Coarse salt -1 cup stock or chicken broth -1 cup prepared store bought pesto (or use less if you like!)
Here is what you do: Cut larger potatoes in half and leave small potatoes whole. Cover potatoes with water and bring water to a boil. Add salt and cook until potatoes are tender 10 to 12 minutes. Drain potatoes and return them to hot pot. Add broth or stock and smash the potatoes up. Add pesto and smash to desired consistency. Serve while hot.
Alright kids - I am off to hit the sweaty Austin streets to join the the rest of the skinny jean wearing guys and gals here at SXSW .
Will keep you all updated - Fitz show tomorrow night! On the menu for this eve - Austin BBQ! And in my homage to SXSW - off to change into flat cowboy boots, a red flannel shirt, and skinny jeans ;)
Red: Strawberries, blueberries, red hots, fruit roll ups (red stripes), red sprinkles, red food coloring 
