Wednesday, April 1, 2009

Between My Headphones: Fool for Beats, My April Fools Playlist

This one was hard to recommend which songs were Worth Repeating because I repeated so many so I'm just going to recommend three... OH this is so hard, should've known I would run to this when I admitted I repeat songs... UGH!

All I Need: Radiohead
The Racing Rats: The Editors
When I'm Down: Chris Cornell
1, 2, 3: Camille
Heaven: Lamb
Oceania: Björk
Ground Zero: Chris Cornell
Lunatico: Gotan Project
Messenger: Blonde Redhead
Smoke & Mirrors: RJD2
The Quest: Bryn Christopher
Hide and Seek: Imogen Heap
Bisounours: CocoRosie
The White Flash (ft Thom Yorke): Modeselektor
I Know: Josh Ralph
Dirty (Live): The Ettes
In a Manner of Speaking (Tuxedomoon): Nouvelle Vague
Hasta Ayer: Marc Anthony
Distractions: Zero 7
Help!: Tina Turner
Trust In Me: Susheela Raman
Miss Perfumado: Cesaria Evora
Secret: The Pierces
Shine Through It: Terrence Howard
Change: Max Lugavere
So What?: Pink
Midsummer Night Blues: Waldeck
Leave Me Alone (ft Natalie Imbruglia): Portishead
Bei Mir Bist Du Schön (Dub): Waldeck
Memories: Waldeck
Get Up... Carmen: Waldeck
Why Did We Fire the Gun?: Waldeck
Blossom Dearie - Just One Of Those Things: Brazilian Girls Remix
Those Were The Days: Dolly Parton

Oceania: Bjork one of my favorite videos of ALL time!


The White Flash (ft Thom Yorke) Modeselektor

The Quest: Bryn Christopher



OK OK I LIED you HAVE to hear this one too... so sick!
Bisonours: Cocorosie

TERRIBLE: My Front Door


You would think I was waiting for the Modern day version of the Milk Man... oh well at least I'm getting all my antioxidants... take that Dr. Oz!

Cooked: Langostino Quesadillas with Sweet Corn Salsa

SO... if you read yesterday about my non existent blind date with... I shall call him "Dutch Boy" I had to cancel because he wanted to go dutch last minute a mere 2 hours before our date on the day of my beloved weekly Taco Tuesday run remember I mentioned I would stay home & make Langostino Quesadillas instead? I like to take certain situations in my life & draw inspiration for new recipes. Usually on Taco Tuesdays at my FAVORITE Mexican spot Isla I would order Ahi Tuna Tacos & Lobster Tacos.

In the Ahi Tuna they use a creamy sauce & in the Lobster it's spiced with Latin spices, lime juice, scallions & onions... I figured why not combine the two & make my own but as a Quesadilla. I didn't have Lobster or Ahi Tuna so I used my favorite Trader Joe's Langostino Tails. They only sell this seasonally so trust me by the end of Spring my freezer is stocked! They're pre-cleaned & pre-cooked & TJ's REALLY knows how to spoil a Single Cook.... them for that!

I added some diced Jalapeno's, Sriracha, (you know I doing my Chino Latino thang) cream cheese, lime juice, Adobo & a pinch of Chipotle for a bit of smokiness. Unfortunately I ran out of Cilantro & Tomato so I used a cilantro base in a jar & Pace Picante Salsa.... this was still on FIRE so flippin' good.
The Star Studded Cast:

Adding Cream Cheese to the Mix:

Diced Jalapenos

Ready for the pan

Before

During

After

YUM!





This isn't the first time I've created a recipe due to an unfortunate communication gap between myself & a Man. I dated a guy once that made a terrible comment, sorry "joke" (his words)... about African American's oh I'm sorry "Darky's" affinity for Fried Chicken & Watermelon, I was livid but instead of reading him the riot act I came up with a Lobster version of a Cuban classic, Empanizado (Chicken Fried Steak) I bought a Lobster tail pounded the hell out of it (probably was pretending it was his face) breaded it in ground Club Crackers, so buttery, fried it up & then made it Milanesa Style by adding Tomato sauce & Mozzarella.

Ran out of plastic wrap so I used my Little Mermaid sandwich bags.. kind of ironic, huh? ZUT ALORS! I kept singing "Les Poissons" from the Little Mermaid


Lobster Empanizado (Chicken Fried Lobster):


Lobster Milanesa:


I remembered an AWESOME episode of Tyler's Ultimate where my home slice, Tyler Florence, made this wonderful Watermelon Gazpacho so I made that also with Watermelon skewers. It had Watermelon, cucumbers, onions, tomato & cilantro... super easy & all fresh ingredients. No cooking what so ever & all I needed was a blender... FAB! I friggin' LOVE that man! Just Gordon, Anthony & Tyler is all I need, my trinity... A-MEN.

Did I mention it was a SUPER hot day in June? So cool, so crisp so sweet, it really helped cool me off both physically & emotionally! I just remember eating them both & thinking this is great culinary revenge, I remember thinking "TAKE THAT you ignorant dirtbag!" Oh no, NOT Tyler, he's a dream... the dirtbag I dated! *snort*

Tyler's mouth watering Watermelon Gazpacho

I need a better camera!


On a more positive note some of my best dishes have also been inspired by some amazing Men! My Currant Glazed Lamb for Max, Carlos' Stuffed Cornish Game Hens, Chris P's Squid Ink & Angel Hair Pasta, Kenny's Shrimp Toast, my brother Andrew inspired a Prosciutto, Pork Belly & Arugula Pizza... oh the list goes on & on.

I drawing inspiration from the day to day of my life, I believe when you do that there is a lesser chance of screwing a new recipe up, especially when you are inspired by a person. You take your time, you think of the best & even worst things about them & you end up combining things together you normally wouldn't have & oh... when you a person it's a whole other ballgame.

A bit of spice, sweet, bitter, lot's of wine or beer, sauce, onions (I get a little verklempt when tears build up as I use an onion in a recipe inspired by someone) & all my heart... I can't sing, I can't draw I really don't have a creative way to express myself to another except for the fact that I can cook & there is no greater gift I can think of than that!

To watch the look on a person's face when they take that first bite & you know the entire time you they were in your heart & on your mind while you were making it is INCREDIBLE I can't thank my Grandmother enough for this legacy, I miss her SO much

Brain Food/Ab Work: Sizzlin'

I've been yipping & yapping away on this thing for 10 days & just realized there are a bunch of you who haven't even seen the sizzle reel for my show... DUH! I did add a link to my you tube channel I hoped people would just click on that, but that's not fair.

So since I was foolish to think that, for April Fools will be a double feature of my Sizzle Reel for Single Serving & the promo for this blog & my website directed by the incomparable Mike Kallio, who happens to be a FANTASIC Horror film maker.. HA! I'm going to hell for surrounding him in so much dayum pink! I am REALLY enjoying my time here blogging & I can't thank you all enough for all the support & thank you Mikey for helping me make my dream come true ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Please watch in High Quality (HQ)



Promo: