Lady Gaga "Bad Romance" Visual Storytelling Milestone

MUSIC:
Posting more as you can see but a lot has been music.  Prepping a food post; and now, tweeting about food, music, whatever, as well.  So stay tuned.
  
More music today.  However this post is really about the music video.  
I think Lady Gaga's "Bad Romance" is a milestone in visual storytelling for the music video form. "Bad Romance" is dance pop at its best with catchy lines, sexy samples and easy to move to rhythms...all one would expect from a pop phenom; even gives a nod to Gaga's international supremacy with some lyrics in French.  I have not listened to many tracks by Lady Gaga but this music video got me typing.


"Bad Romance" is a moment when many people will take pause at the powerful visuals and the impact of the music video form. However "Bad Romance" is not just arresting visuals.  There is a clear storyline.  Lady Gaga has created an alt-universe to go along with her evolving, manufactured mythology.


Very few music videos have elevated the form and upped the ante for the craft.  Michael Jackson's "Scream" comes to mind as well as Madonna's "Like a Prayer" and more recently Bjork.  Although, I have to say it's Bjork all around artistry rather than a single music video that stands out.  And yes, Lady Gaga has all around artistry whether you like her schtick or not.
Enjoy!
Cooking Lounge

"Empire State of Mind" Jay-Z | Alicia Keys

MUSIC:
Hearing "Empire State of Mind" everywhere.  
People jumping around all over the place on Halloween to this beat.  Days after performed at the World Series' Opening Game at Yankee Stadium,  press is calling "Empire State of Mind", the new anthem of the city.  The song name-checks personal history and collective history of NYC.  Alicia Keys' voice is a beacon on the track along with her jangly pushing of the keys and Jay Z delivering his smooth staccato rap.  
Uplifting, liberating and hopeful in spirit...getting into an "Empire State of Mind."

Enjoy!
Cooking Lounge

THE MINIMALIST - 101 Simple Salads for the Season - New York Times

FOOD:

photo: Francesco Tonelli for The New York Times 

FRESH AND FRESHER Clockwise, from top left: tuna, egg, green beans (No. 56); carrots, blueberries, sunflower seeds (7); croutons, tomatoes, mozzarella (42); walnuts, blue cheese, raspberries (49); couscous, oranges, honey (95); strawberries, tomatoes, Parmesan (13).

Post by Mark Bittman in The Minimalist takes a simple approach to food. Bittman gets to the essence of eating well and guides you through making the dish without being too fussy.With additions of meat, seafood, grain or even another salad, a filling summer meal can be made in well under an hour.  Here's a bit of the post and a link below. It's 101 Simple Salads so the post is lengthy. 

By MARK BITTMAN Published: July 21, 2009.  SUMMER may not be the best time to cook, but it’s certainly among the best times to eat. Toss watermelon and peaches with some ingredients you have lying around already, and you can produce a salad that’s delicious, unusual, fast and perfectly seasonal.  That’s the idea behind the 101 ideas found in this section. In theory, each salad takes 20 minutes or less. Honestly, some may take you a little longer. But most minimize work at the stove and capitalize on the season, when tomatoes, eggplant, herbs, fruit, greens and more are plentiful and excellent. This last point is important. Not everything needs to be farmers’ market quality, but it’s not too much to expect ripe fruit, fragrant herbs and juicy greens.  Salt, to taste, is a given in all of these recipes. Pepper, too (if I want you to use a lot of pepper, I say so).  Herein, then, are enough salad ideas to tide you over until the weather cools down. 
Read More. Get the recipes.


Enjoy!
Cooking Lounge.

Michael Jackson 1958 - 2009

MUSIC:

The Michael Jackson Mix video mash-up by
Eclectic Method is a cutting edge homage to an 
undeniably great performer, the King of Pop.

Enjoy,

Cooking Lounge

Road Trip: Hudson Valley - Fresh, Local, Organic, Strawberries, Citizen Cope

FOOD:

         

Full-on Summer is here.   With the warm weather, vacation time, barbecues, family reunions, yoga retreats, me time and the list goes on, lots of people are taking a Road Trip across the country.

Cruising down the highway getting from point A to B, often fits us with blinders.  We forget to take time to soak in the local scenery, take a peek at local the community.   So this summer as you jump off for your Road Trip, slow down, have a look, stop even at a roadside stand or little town.   Whether it's the Hamptons, The Eastern Shore of Virginia or a stretch of blacktop out West, there are abundant farmers, ranchers, watermen, fresh produce and local products.  Some places will have signs shouting organic; but, the real point is you are getting the food close to the source. It's always fresher, better, less handled.

Just outside of the town of Hudson, NY, stopped at a roadside stand adjacent to a farm.  Man, the minute you stepped out of the car, the air was was filled with the sweet smell of strawberries and the earthy scent of swiss chard, damp soil still clutching its roots.  We picked up fresh from the field strawberries and sugarsnap peas.  The French call sugarsnap peas, mangetout, which means eat all because with these peas the pod is edible. 

Here's an easy dessert/condiment/treat for summer.

Strawberries with Lemon and Cinnamon

2 pints of strawberries washed and trimmed.

Cinnamon

1 Lemon

1 cup of sugar (brown, white or substitutes...it's your choice)

Slice the strawberries (halves, quarters, however it's your choice).  Place sliced berries in a bowl. 

Wash the lemon well to remove the wax or drop the lemon in some boiling water for a second or two before wiping away the wax.  Use a zester or paring knife to remove the bright yellow rind (get as little of the bitter white pith as possible). Mince the zest so you have about a tablespoon. Slice and juice the lemon.

Add a 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon to the lemon juice.  Stir well.

Mix the lemon zest with the strawberries.   Pour the lemon juice and cinnamon over the strawberries.  Mix.  Add the sugar.  Mix well.  Now refrigerate in a covered bowl for at least 2 hours.  That's it.

Use as a filling for dessert cups with some fresh whipped cream, top off pancakes or waffles with the berries instead of syrup (let strawberries stand and reach room temperature in advance or gently warm) or just enjoy as a snack. 

  

Found this online from USA Today "Winemaking roots go deep into the Hudson Valley soil", after seeing a sign for Duchess Wine Trail pointing to vineyards.   Another indication that there is so much to discover on the quiet two lane roads ribboning quaint towns and the countryside. Detour! (we did not.wish we had.); have an adventure; taste something new.

 

MUSIC:

Citizen Cope is Clarence Greenwood.   I started hearing about him in the late 90's back in Washington, DC and saw him perform at Joe's Pub in New York City a few years ago.  

While on the Hudson Valley Road Trip, a mixed CD of Citizen Cope tracks was popped in and suddenly we were joy riding, bobbing our heads, gleaning glimpses of orchards zipping by and taking in deep breaths of country air.  

Ironically days later, a friend turned me on to a Citizen Cope disc, "The Clarence Greenwood Recordings" ;and I found myself rediscovering this artist.

Citizen Cope has a new single, "Keep Askin" released for download on June 14, 2009 from the upcoming "The Rainwater LP" out Feb 2010.

Citizen Cope's music is rock, jam, blues, soul and the beyond category.  But one thing is for sure these days, many of us are citizens coping.  Music soothes.  Sharing Citizen Cope on a long drive will ease you on down the road.

STYLE:

Enjoy summer.  Feast on the bounty of the season.  Eat lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

And remember, whenever possible buy from local, regional farmers and purveyors.  Support small businesses.

photo: K. Beall iPhone

all other photos: wbj

Enjoy.

Cooking Lounge

Summer Staple Black Bean and Corn Salad, Chilean and Argentinean Wine, Adventura, Latin Flavor

FOOD:

Black Bean and Corn Salad with lime vinaigrette

photo: wbj

Black Bean and Corn Salad with lime vinaigrette adds colorful, Latin zest to meals. This is an easy dish to have on hand all summer. Versatile enough to work as a side dish, ingredient for tossed salads, filler for quesadillas, or a spicy relish to top fish, chicken or beef.

You can tailor Black Bean and Corn Salad to what's on hand or in season, your taste preference and time available. Cooking Lounge wants you to develop your instincts for what goes well together and what works; so, you can improvise and not feel hampered by a recipe. Most recipes are simply guides for preparation.

What you need:

Black Beans (canned, or prepared dry beans)

1 can (15.5 oz), drained and rinsed in cold water. 2 cups of prepared dry beans, drained and rinsed. I like to rinse the beans because I like them to stand out in the mix and not have that bean liquid coating everything.

I tend to purchase Goya brand products the most because they are readily available. Buy a few things and experiment. Liven up simple meals.

Corn (canned, frozen or fresh)

1 can, 1/2 bag frozen, 3 ears fresh

Fresh corn in season is the ultimate choice but better quality canned or frozen corn is pretty good. With fresh corn to add an smoky flavor twist, you can grill it with the husk, roast it in the oven with the husk or remove the leaves and silk and broil it. Let the fresh corn cool to handle. Cut off the tip and base. Stand upright on base. Starting at the tip with a sharp knife against the cob, shave off the corn kernels.

Jalapeno or your favorite chile pepper

1 chile pepper. More or less as you prefer.

Onion or Scallion

1/4 cup minced.

Garlic

1 teaspoon minced.

Parsley, Cilantro or Basil, fresh

1/4 cup chopped. If using dry herbs, 1 tablespoon or to taste.

Tomato

1 Ripe medium or the equivalent in cherry or grape tomatoes.

Lime

1 lime juiced

Olive Oil

1/4 cup

Vinegar

2 tablespoons

Salt

to taste

Pepper

to taste

In large bowl, add black beans, corn, tomato, chile pepper, and onion. Toss until well mixed. Toss in the fresh herbs. In a small bowl, mix lime juice, olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper; pour over salad. Toss until well coated; refrigerate and let it chill so all that goodness soaks in.

This is a vibrant, healthy addition to any meal that's high in fiber as an added bonus.

MUSIC:

Aventura can ease you into a warm and sultry summer mood with its modern take on Latin music.

What is the definitive 21st-century New York musical act? A pop critic would probably point to one of the city’s arty indie-rock standard bearers, like TV On the Radio or Animal Collective, or to a rapper like Jay-Z. But pose the question to Latin music fans — or to hit radio listeners in Latin America, the Caribbean and Europe — and the answer will likely be Aventura, whose blend of bachata with R&B, hip-hop and big-city attitude has created a swaggering, distinctly New York style.

excerpt from article By JODY ROSEN "Crossover Dreams of a Bronx Bachatero" Published: June 3, 2009 New York Times

There is an audio link to a song 'Su Veneno' when you go to the article.

Tony Cenicola/The New York Times
Clockwise from back row left, Anthony Santos, Henry Santos Jeter, 

Lenny Santos and Max Santos of the bachata band Aventura

STYLE:

With a couple of additions, you can sat the mood for a fiesta for a date, family or a few friends.

Have some guacamole and chips as a starter. Buy some interesting hot sauces. Here's a site to check out www.the-best-hot-sauce.com to give you an idea of all the variety out there.

Grill some fish, chicken or beef. Buy some hard or soft taco shells. Have a couple choices for fillings for a buffet style, causal meal. Lots of grocery stores have well stocked shelves of International/Ethnic products like Goya.

Buy Latin beers like Corona, Sol, or Presidente.

For wine do something different, try some of the great selections from the Chilean vineyard Casa LaPostolle.  Argentinean wines have become very popular especially those from the Mendoza Region; and lately, I've seen Rose making an appearance among the selections from Argentina.

Some suggestions to point you in the right direction. Thanks for reading the latest post on Cooking Lounge.  Enjoy.                photo:wbj

Pumped Brownies, Robin Thicke, Sweat

FOOD:

Pumped Brownies with Almonds, Oats and Protein

These brownies are crazy good and the almonds, protein and oats add a healthy spin to an all-time favorite treat.

photo:wbj

I use the “Baker’s Chocolate" brownie recipe as my guide. Of course you can use other unsweetened (read dark) chocolate. You can even use Hershey’s Cocoa Powder (see instructions on package.)

4 squares Baker’s Unsweetened Baking Chocolate. So that’s 4 oz of dark chocolate.
1 cup of unsalted butter (2 sticks softened)
1 cup of brown sugar
1 cup of sugar (if you like Sugar in the Raw or other more natural, unrefined varieties go for it)
3 Eggs. I take them out in advance so they reach room temperature.
1 tsp vanilla. If you can find one with the vanilla bean in the bottle, you get smoother, richer vanilla flavor.
1 cup of flour. (unbleached or whole wheat all the better)
1/2 cup 100% Whey Protein Powder (vanilla or chocolate). I’ve only used vanilla.
1/2 cup of whole oats. Side aside a tablespoon or so to sprinkle over the top.
1 1/2 cup almonds roughly chopped. I like big chunks of almonds.

For extra flavor toast the almonds in 350º oven for 5-7 minutes. Let cool then chop. Toasting the almonds releases the natural oils. Leave the oven on (takes care of preheating).

Put aside about a 1/4 cup to sprinkle over the top.
4 oz of milk chocolate. I use a high quality chocolate bar that I coarsely chop into big chunks. Put aside about 1 oz to sprinkle over the top.

Line a 13x9 baking pan with foil. Rub or brush with butter.

Okay now that all the ingredients are together here’s what you do.

Microwave unsweetened chocolate if using squares and butter in large microwave friendly bowl. Butter and chocolate need to be just past the all melted point. Stir and mix well.

Alternate method that I prefer:

Bring water to a boil in 2qt pot about half filled; place large metal or heat resistant glass bowl over pot; drop in chocolate and butter and let melt. Stir occasionally. Stir in sugars. Remove from heat.

Mix eggs with vanilla; stir in. Add flour, protein and oats; mix well. Mix in the toasted almonds and chunks of milk chocolate. Stir until all mixed well.

Spread the brownie mixture in the prepared 13x9 baking pan.

Evenly, sprinkle the remaining oats, almonds and milk chocolate on top.

Place in the preheated 350º. Bake for 30 – 35 minutes. Old trick – insert a toothpick and if it comes out clean – done. Do not over bake. Remember they continue to cook for a few minutes once removed from oven.

Cut into 16 squares for large satisfying brownies.

Yes this is a high calorie sweet treat but with the healthy addition of oats, almonds and protein.

Eat guilt free. Eat in moderation. Eat smart


MUSIC:

Artist: Robin Thicke
Song: Shadow of Doubt
Album: Something Else

Love the upbeat retro soul and vintage pop feel of "Shadow of Doubt" by Robin Thicke on the recent release "Something Else."

"Something Else" is a mix of pop genres and styles. It's all over the place and lives up to its title.

Even mash-up, cross-over fav, Lil Wayne speaks his mind on the thoughtful track, “Tie My Hands.” Beautiful guitar intro.

Only got turned on to Robin Thicke about a year ago with "The Evolution of Robin Thicke."  He collaborated with Faith Evans on "Got 2 Be Down", one of the sexiest duets I've heard in awhile.

Blue-eyed soul lost a lot of its luster for me since Michael McDonald and Hall and Oates. Yeah I know that’s going back a few years but these guys nailed it. Many of their songs still feel fresh, fun, not too dated, a sign of good music.

I think Thicke wears the crown or better yet the hoodie for the moment.

STYLE:

Winter is upon us. With the cold weather, the holidays, nights in front of the TV, before you know, it's winter-weight-gain. Eat smart - balanced diet with lots of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and fish. Enjoy the abundance of the season, the parties, the cocktails - just do it all in moderation.

So as we hunker down for the winter, add staying active to your lifestyle.  

Go the gym, take a long stroll through the park or your neighborhood, use the stairs instead of the elevator, walk around the mall, just do whatever gets you moving.  Sweat.

You heard it before but check with your doctor before you start exercising and talk to your doc or a certified trainer about how you eat. I am not dispensing advice just offering suggestions; so, talk to a professional. Once you get going, work out a couple of times a week. If you already exercise, keep up the routine. You’ll be ready for Spring.

******************

Check back soon. Will post again shortly. Apologies for the lack of posts in the last few months; I was busy working on a promo campaign for a cable network. Slow roll out on the Blog post. More to come on Cooking Lounge.

See you all soon.

Enjoy!

Cooking Lounge

photo: wbj