Stacks: App in a Snap

Pete and I discovered this appetizer by assembling a random ingredients we had left over from Fourth of July this year. This recipe of rummaging was born from the remains of a brie, strawberry, basil, dijon mustard sandwich...that sandwich recipe will be published soon. 

The recipe is flavorful, addictive, and surprisingly light; a refreshing, mouthwatering summer snack that people have been very receptive to. 

The appetizer involves a simple process: cut, assemble, and done. In our kitchen, we have an avocado slicer. This works great, but I find it helpful to cut avocado slices thinner with a large knife to maximize avo-output as well. I tend to cut a medium slices for both brie and avo; however, some people really like to get a massive bites of one, the other, or both.

To give you a warning, the amounts below are not exact because it is up to personal preference on how many you will to make at a time and the amount of the ingredients you want to use on each unit (stack)

Ingredients:

1 box Stoned Wheat Thins

1 package - Brie - your size preference will determine your output. 

1-2 Avocados

1 container of dried cranberries

Process:

1. Break Stoned Wheat Thins into halves, they have an indent for this task. 

2. Cut brie slices and place on the wheat thin pieces. 

3. Slice avocado and lay atop the brie. 

4. Sprinkle cranberries onto each stack, making sure at least two or three make it onto a stack. 

ENJOY!

The Stoned Wheat Thins should be broken down into halves, they are big.

Raspberry Chipotle Chili, Hold the Beans

I am not someone who enjoys beans. However, summer barbecues are a prime setting for the fruit to make it's way into my food. The mission became clear: beat people to the quintessential bean dish and keep the ingredient out. From the beginning, my main focus was to achieve the same hearty, sweet, tangy tones that are so unique to barbecue beans. I took my inspired taste buds to the grocery store to select a chili without beans (turkey or beef) where I also stumbled upon an alluring raspberry chipotle sauce. 

A chili is what it is: a chunky, meaty soup that typically requires a spoon. In order to make the chili scoopable enough for different sized chips, it's important to select a medium to small chunk size. This x-factor is crucial because when you are adding a sauce, like the raspberry chipotle in our dish, you are trying to avoid a consistency that is watery with random lumps. Instead, choosing a generic chili - like Hormel over a product advertised as super-chunky - is a service to your guests who have arrived late to the chip bowl because you have rationed the protein quotient from the start.    VS.

Creating this dip for the first time in college, the recipe has held up over the years to achieve a flavorful supplement for, or distraction from, barbecue beans. I typically serve the chili straight with chips, however, it is also good with sour cream and cheddar cheese on top. The recipe below will include the sour cream and cheese preparation. Eventually, I hope to change the recipe by adding finely cut pieces of carrot, zucchini, squash, and leek for a nutrition injection. 

To make a heaping helping of the chili to serve anywhere from 7 - 14, I use:

- 1 can Hormel "HOT" Chili without beans

- 1 can Hormel "Low Sodium" Chili without beans

- 1 bottle of Raspberry Chipotle Grilling Sauce (Fischer & Weiser or Kozlowski Farms. Visit a larger, more sauce-friendly grocery store)

- 1 medium tub of sour cream

- 1/2 block of grated sharp cheddar cheese / 1 bag from the store

1. Heat 2 cans of chili for about 10 minutes on medium to high. Stir occasionally.

2. Pour in 3/4 to the whole bottle of Raspberry Chipotle grilling sauce (I usually pour in the whole bottle) and keep at the same heat setting for about 6 minutes.

3. Pour into a serving dish. 

4. Stir sour cream until more it has a more fluid consistency for spreading on the chili. Gently spread dollops of sour cream across the top of the chili; wait to spread the sour cream until a generous layer is made (the heat will help make it more spreadable).  

5. Top with cheddar cheese.

Mythbusters: Seal Edition

No, the scars on Seal's face are not the result of a traumatic accident nor are they acne pock marks. The facial scarring and baldness of the London-born R&B singer were caused by the skin condition discoid lupus erythematosus. This medical condition causes lesions and subsequent scarring above the neck, most prominently effecting Seal's cheeks and scalp. The vocalist developed this disease at the age of 23, but it has since been in remission. 

Every scrap of this information was derived from wikipedia.org.

Ode to Albarn

With each and every day, I fall deeper into love with Damon Albarn. My adoration is stemmed from the man's insatiable quest for thoughtful and prolific music. His tenacity and grace warms my arctic heart. 

Regardless of departing from the Gorillaz project, I am comforted that Damon will be out there making more music for the world….more importantly, for me. Unlike Thom Yorke, who releases sparingly with Radiohead and has minor flare ups of individual projects, Damon has a voracious appetite to create and contribute to music culture. The man is unstoppable. More importantly, the quality and substance of his projects never suffers with the start up of a new endeavor. In fact, some of the finest work is released while other groups have been manifested. 

For example, Blur's last album, Think Tank released in 2003, was highly regarded and somewhat unprecedented: the album served as somewhat of a modern day opera, comprised of progressive taste and tempo.  However, do recall that this impressive album came on the heals of two other projects: first, the explosive 2001 debut of the "super group", Gorillaz, meaning multiple musicians; thereafter, Albarn's solo album, Mali Music, was released in 2002 and ended up another collaborative piece. That is not only three albums, but with three different group within three years.

Between then and now, Albarn has released two standout Gorillaz albums, an award winning, orchestral solo album (The Good, The Bad, & The Queen) and scored the play "Monkey: Journey to the West", a collaborative adaptation of the Chinese book, Journey to the West. I would just like to emphasize that throughout all of these projects, all have been predominantly collaborative, even his solo releases. 

Now to add to the list, Damon is kicking off the new decade with a new, secret project, which is rumored to involve Flea and Afrobeat extraordinaire, Tony Allen. 

Before Gorillaz considers their hiatus, as I refuse to believe the band will simply end, they leave behind an album recorded on Albarn's iPad during the North American leg of the band's 2010 tour. The album is The Fall and it's free for the listening on the Gorillaz website. 

After winning the Young Composer of the Year contest at the age of fifteen, Albarn has evolved into the mastermind of multiple successful bands well into his forties. Today, as an industry-regarded catalyst for world music, I covet Albarn's work ethic, integrity in the art form, and foresight for cultural influences in western music. Whether it be storytelling or composition, Albarn's music efforts all achieve the highest marksmanship. 

Wild, Wild West: Kanye's New Album Art Forecasts Creative Growth

I was feeling pretty ill yesterday morning and I am not certain whether it was my overdosing on Mucinex DM or the album artwork for Kanye West's latest and aptly named album, My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy. After a few hours, the nausea was real so I blame the over the counter drug. However, the maniacal artwork for Kanye's recent, critically-acclaimed album seems like an unshakable nightmare for parents across the nation and globe, for that matter. The visual artist, George Condo, depicts an undeniably odd image of fornication between an ape and a maiden-looking-phoenix, this being one of five head-scratching images to be purchased with Kanye's new album.

The content of this visual work is something to be anticipated and marveled at in the high art world. However, it seems strikingly unprecedented to be the cover of a Billboard number one album, let alone the album art for one of today's most widely popular and purchased music artists. This is not to say the visual piece does not belong. In fact, it is a strange, irreverent, and welcome sight to introduce such material to the mainstream. 

The selection is bold and defiant. In the many ways Kanye has pushed the envelope, whether it be twitter feeds, press interviews, award show behaviors, or any other misstep inventoried over the past ten years, this artwork selection for Twisted Fantasy seems to be the most tasteful gesture of public offense to date for Kanye. 

Spreading this eyebrow-raising piece of visual work is an artistic choice and truly the most valid controversial decision Kanye could have made to accompany the release. The art selection was calculated, punctuating the themes of his new chart-topper, and - for once - siphoning attention away from the public insanity of West personally and redirecting focus and judgement onto the album. While the release is not supported by some stores due to the controversial artwork, the visual statement is a creatively advantageous and credible position for Kanye West. 

As difficult as it is to admit that a correct choice may have actually been executed by the media titan, it is strangely true. Even given the disturbing and peculiar imagery of his "Runaway" music video, (the centerpiece character of the birdlike phoenix goddess or the red klu-klux-klan-hood boy), these images are left open for interpretation in the "film" (the 35-minute, 18-years-or-older-viewer piece cannot be considered a simple music video) contains West as a stoic protagonist, serving mere point of view purposes. All of these creative choices, beginning with the album art, are shrewd decisions in making Kanye's artistic position an avant garde one; which is inherently difficult to criticize. So as the world watched for a blunder to top the last, Kanye West actually derailed onto a new track that is far more suitable a place for him than mainstream: eccentric.  

Entertaining for New Year's - Snacks of 2010

Pete and I love to cook, often just entertaining ourselves. Simple tinkering with the architecture of ingredients or combining different courses can yield a unique hybrid; once we transformed 3 parts of a meal into vegetarian/pescaterian nachos (artichokes, salad, and fish/veggie entree). 

This New Year's holiday we kept it simple, in hopes to provide a variety of satisfying flavors without overwhelming the gut. Although we only had one lovely guest for the NYE celebration this year, a medley of our favorite tapas were represented to provide a solid base for the holiday merriment. The following are so easy and basic that they really need no explaining. However, below those easy appetizer suspects, there are two dishes that deserve further discussion. Both are extremely simple to make, yet pack a noteworthy punch of savory taste. 

Act 1 - Standards

Artichokes (with a mayonnaise and lemon dip)

Caprese (mozzarella, basil, heirloom tomatoes, olive oil, salt and pepper)

Shrimp cocktail (over ice with cocktail sauce)

Avocado slices (drizzled with olive oil, balsamic, salt, and pepper)

Act 2 - Heavy Hitter: Goat Cheese Stuffed Dates wrapped in Bacon

One of Pete and my favorite treats to bring to parties or any family gathering is, hands down, this delectable treat. Somehow sweet but hearty, this recipe was stolen from the restaurant 333. Not only is it unique in flavor, it is unique in how utterly easy the dish is to prepare. It requires three ingredients, a toaster oven, and about 20 minutes cooking time. For those who are vegan or vegetarian, fear not, the bacon can easily be substituted for a faux bacon and still maintain the same mouth watering decadence. 

Ingredients:

Goat Cheese

Dates (pitted)

Bacon

Steps:

Slice open dates halfway. Stuff with goat cheese and press date halves back together. Wrap the stuffed dates in uncooked bacon, each date getting it's own slice of bacon. Place the wrapped dates onto a toaster oven rack wrapped in aluminum foil. Let them bake for 20 minutes or until the bacon is crispy. Pull out an let cool for one to two minutes. Serve warm. 

Because this treat is a little heavy and sweet, it is perfect for the chilly winter nights to serve as an appetizer or part of dinner. It is guaranteed to help cut down on hunger for any guests but give them a mouthful to sample and talk about. 

Encore: Introducing Morning After Pancakes

My favorite type of pancakes are wheat ones. I prefer the Krusteaz brand as it is not only the one I grew up with as a child, but they are also the easiest receipe that requires only water. While pancakes and Knott's Boysenberry syrup are an instant crack for my mouth, a lack of boysenberry syrup caused Pete and I to get inventive and take to fresher ingredients. 

Ingredients:

Pancake mix, wheat (Krusteaz just add water)

1/2 Lemon

1/2 tsp of Cardamom

Blackberries (one-two containers)

Goat Cheese

Maple Syrup of your choice

Bananas

Steps:

Mix the pancake mixture and squeeze half a lemon into the mixture. Should you desire, add a 1/2 teaspoon of cardamom. Pour desired pancake size mixture onto a Pam Baking covered pan. After this step, Pete added blackberries cut into halves and sprinkled them liberally onto the pancakes. Directly following, Pete sprinkled generous amounts of goat cheese onto the pancakes. 

Proceed with pancake flipping/cooking, but make sure cook thoroughly as the blackberries hide uncooked parts. After completed and browned to perfection, plate the pancakes and add maple syrup and bananas. The lemon provides a hint of tart to compliment the blackberries and wheat. 

These delectable bites helped us ring in the new year, offering a spread of our favorite snacks of 2010 and adding one recipe to the books. These are extremely easy yet popular and fresh recipes to make for a small group or a whole fiesta. Guten appetit! 

Robber Barron vs. Robin Hood

Accompanying song: Aloe Blacc - "I Need A Dollar" 

In no way do I consider myself knowledgeable in the area of finance. In fact, I'm rather infantile in that regard...the closest I get to budget balancing is putting checks into an account before 8pm (8pm in some locations, most locations have a 6pm cutoff) to avoid overdraft fees. However, there has been one issue of special interest to me lately and that is the growing deficit and the factors that contribute to it. Let me be more specific, I'm trying to figure out whether the tax cuts are good or bad. 

For the most part, I've been against the tax cuts for the wealthy continuing on. My thought process: you've had your fun and now it's time to demonstrate some altruism in times of national despair. Not to say that all of the billionaires are uncaring, on the contrary, the top earners are signing up for Bill Gates & Warren Buffet's Giving Pledge on their own accord. Even aside from these individuals, I have witnessed many other elites that are not top earners grace television and radio broadcasts saying they don't need a tax break, that their finances are fine without it. To all of those people, I earnestly praise and respect that perspective and realism. 

As a not-so-wealthy person (see intro), I don't quite grasp the tantrum being thrown on behalf of the inalienable right to greed. By all means, if your pursuit to happiness is monetary supremacy, so be it. But to be in favor of bankrolling money into a wealthy pocket while denying the impoverished unemployment benefits is not only cruel, it's hypocritical and sounds strikingly similar to a robber baron. 

I will put some personal biases on greed aside. When it comes to balancing the budget, it's unclear how a short term payoff for the wealthy seems like a viable solution when that payoff eventually contributes to the long term deficit that the wealthy bemoan. Aye, there's the rub. Yet as one commentator on NPR stated, getting rid of the tax cuts for the wealthy would create Recession 2.0. Let us take a moment to really consider the strings attached to this comment. 

To avoid a government shut down like the 90's, I understand we need to compromise and work together, which means the wealthy, just like anyone else, needs a carrot at the end of the stick to keep things moving along. So if the wealthy want to keep their mansions, by all means. Yet as a common American, I'm beginning to feel like a disgruntled late night booty call: 1. Americans entrusted investors with money to make them rich (Madoff, mortgage lenders, Wall Street tycoons, <insert jerk of choice>) 2. then Americans get burned by the venereal disease known as unscrupulousness and we loathe and mourn the system that we screwed with in the first place. 3.) Like a desperate tramp, Americans still appease and rely on fat cats to be satisfied so we can get our fix of capitalism and keep the (wall) streets going. Now, that analogy may not work for you. As I stated, I know nothing about finances...or analogies as you may gather. 

What I do know is that given this little olive branch extended to wealthy, I hope they turn from fat cats into doves and start hiring people. It's rough out there and it's hard to be generous to others in times like these. But let us hope that since we said yes to one of their demands, that a Christmas miracle will happen and the wealthy will extend their assets in the form of job creation, which is mightier than the dollar bill right now. It's a vicious cycle. Our government set out to claim funds from the rich to give to the poor, but it seems we need to turn tricks for a more sustainable life instead of playing robin hood.