So I decided...To Make Broken Spaghetti Risotto & Chicken Saltimbocca.

So, I like to cook. Maaaaybe you read my post about grilling? If you didn’t, you should. Just earlier today I finally started blogging about music like I’ve been wanting to, and I mentioned as my final note that I wanted to start blogging about recipes and some of my cooking adventures. I’m not going to promise a weekly post like my music blogging, but as often as I try a new recipe or feel compelled to share. 

For my first adventure in cooking: broken spaghetti risotto and chicken tenders saltimbocca. I originally saw these two recipes presented together on an episode of Rachael Ray’s 30 Minute Meals, the tenders served on top of the pasta or as a first course. I just kinda “served” them together. 

First of all, let me say that this wasn’t a 30 minute meal. With the first experience behind me I MIGHT be able to get it all done in 30 minutes, but I wouldn’t bank on it. Risotto by its very nature is to be cooked slowly, although the broken spaghetti cooked faster than traditional risotto made with rice would have. Okay, second of all, I take issue with a few details Rachael uses to describe things in this recipe, a) “medium” saute pan and b) spaghetti broken in to “small” pieces. Note that the recipe calls for 1 pound of spaghetti. I don’t know what planet I was on when I thought 1 pound of spaghetti would fit in a “medium” saute pan - large people, go with a large, deep pan. And for the record, when she says small pieces, she means tiny. Like, we’re talkin’ 2-3”, max. The rest of the recipe, though, was pretty good. The mushroom stock was great and incorporated with the pasta quite well in about the time frame she suggests. Despite the little adventure I had with the not-quite-big-enough saute pan and a-little-too-big pieces of spaghetti, the pasta turned out delish. 

Now, the oven roasted chicken tenders saltimbocca were easy as pie (actually, I don’t think that’s appropriate because some pies are quite complicated). Just wrap fresh chicken tenders with sage and prosciutto, coat them with S&P and EVOO and let the guys bake. Simple, elegant and delicious. Great served with the pasta, but would also serve well as a hors d'oeuvre. 

I got a dutch oven for Christmas, so be on the look out for a recipe to be cooked in that bad boy (I REALLY want to try to make Julia Child’s boeuf bourguignon)...

Aaaand if anyone is interested, one of my favorite new sites for finding random recipes without any agenda is tastespotting.com.

So I decided...To Start Blogging About Music I Love

This is a special time of the year for music lovers. The whole interwire is abuzz with “Best of 2009’s”. What’s even more special is that we’re closing out a decade, giving the opportunity for all sorts of lists for the best music from the last 10 years. I’ve been in heaven reacquainting myself with music from just this past year, let alone the entire decade. My quick and dirty assessment of 2009 in music: phenomenal. I will say that I have taken more interest in music in the past year, so that may have a little to do with it. However, I think this year saw some great new artists emerge and saw some artists that have been around the block really shine brilliantly. What I DON’T want to do is make another list - it’s been done, look ‘um up (shout out to A and her blog). I will give a nod to some of my favorites though:

The Decemberists - The Hazards of Love
Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros - Up From Below
Passion Pit - Manners
Phoenix - Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix
Lady GaGa - Fame Monster
Neko Case - Middle Cyclone
Samantha Crain & The Midnight Shivers - Songs in the Night

Rather than having a fleeting post about one of my favorites from 2009 - I’m gonna get to it, hold on a sec - I’d like to post about an artist once a week. Ambitious, I know, but music is something I feel inspired enough to write about that often (I think). So what better time than now to start? Won’t necessarily be a new artists or new albums or anything like that, just someone who’s music I feel like sharing. SO, with that... I want to write my first post about Sarah Jarosz.

She hails from just outside Austin, Texas, which right away signals to me that she’s been exposed to great music her whole life. According to her bio, she’s been singing since she was 2, playing piano since she was 6 and mandolin since she was 10 (somewhere along the way she’s also added claw-hammer banjo and guitar to her repertoire). Her debut album Song Up in Her Head released in June, just a few weeks after she graduated from high school and turned 18 - you know, minor events. In my humble opinion, it’s beautifully executed. Of the album's 13 tracks, 11 are her own. The other two? Intelligently covered songs in “Come On Up To The House” (Tom Waits) and “Shankill Butchers” (The Decemberists). “Shankill Butchers” was haunting when I heard on The Crane Wife, but I get chills when she sings “...they used to be just like me and you/they used be sweet little boys/but something went horribly askew/now, killing is their only source of joy...”. Oh, and let’s not forget to mention that “Mansinneedof” is nominated for a Grammy (Best Country Instrumental) - no big deal right? It’s tough for me to pick a favorite track though, I really love the album as a whole.

So anyways, check her out *listen here*. She has a beautifully lissome voice that I think will impress you, even if bluegrass (I like to call it newgrass) isn’t your thing. I can’t wait to listen to her as she grows.

Next Up: did I mention that I want to write a weekly recipe/cooking post?

So I decided…To Finally Post Again. About Beer.

I love beer. Lots of people do. But I really love beer. I haven’t always felt this way, though. When I was in college, I definitely preferred liquor beverages and if I did drink beer it was Bud Light. Now, don’t get me wrong, I still have to drink cheap beer sometimes. I will drink Bud Light if I have to, although my light, watery beer of choice is Coors Light. And I love PBR. With lime. Redneck on vacation. Don’t ask.

When I can, though, I love trying new craft beers and enjoy learning about what goes into brewing, similar to what lots of people do with wine. I especially love supporting local and NC breweries. If I find a local beer I love, I’ll do what I can to get it. If they bottle, awesome! If not, most of the time you can pick up a growler and enjoy it that way. Aside from just buying their beer, it’s also really great to visit the breweries and tour them. So far, I’ve only seen Lonerider (alternating Fridays and Saturdays), but I can’t wait to tour Big Boss (every second Saturday at 2) and Triangle (every Saturday at 1).

Last weekend, with a group of great friends, I took on the Durham World Beerfest. A-mazing. Albeit, a little overwhelming. Now, it was really hard to remember all the beers that I tried, a) because there were over 100 beers and b) because after so many samples, anyone’s memory would be a little fuzzy. After looking back over the BeerFest Program, I was able to piece back together the most memorable beers to me and I wanted to share my opinion (duh). It will become readily apparent from the list of notables what kind of beers I prefer, but all of these breweries have other phenomenal beers for those who like IPAs, Stouts, Ambers, etc. I’ve included a company or two that weren’t at the BeerFest, but who deserve note, as well as companies whose beer I did not like/try, but that are from NC and encourage others to support. My new personal favorite is the Shotgun Betty by Lonerider. I may be biased since the guys let us hang out after the festival, but I had been looking for a new hefeweizen and I certainly found it. Some surprises of note in the bunch that I liked were Hazed & Infused dry-hopped ale (not usually a hops girl, but this was well-balanced) and the Beerlao lager (brewed with jasmine rice, interesting flavor). Hope you find a beer you’ll love from this list and maybe something new to try! Maybe I’ll find some time to start my own home brew…

NC Breweries:

Lonerider (Raleigh, NC) – Shotgun Betty

Big Boss (Raleigh, NC) – Harvest Time Pumpkin, Monkey Bizzness Farmhouse Belgian, Helle’s Belle

Triangle Brewing Co. (Durham, NC) – Belgian White Ale

Carolina Brewery (Chapel Hill, NC) – Santa’s Secret

Top of the Hill (Chapel Hill, NC) – Old Well White, Blue Ridge Blueberry

Red Oak (Whitsett, NC) – Hummin’ Bird Helles, Amber Lager

Mother Earth (Kinston, NC) – Weeping Willow Wit

Duck Rabbit (Farmville, NC)

Aviator Brewing Co. (Holly Springs, NC)

Highland Brewing Co. (Asheville, NC) – Cattail Peak Wheat

Carolina Beer Co. (Mooresville, NC)

Foothills Brewing (Winston-Salem, NC) – Hurricane Hefe

Outside NC:

Starr Hill (Crozet, VA) – The Love

Terrapin Beer Co (Athens, GA) – Sunray Wheat

Moon River Brewing Co. (Savannah, GA) –Wild wacky wit

Charleston Brewing Co. (Charleston, SC) – Half moon hefe

Boulder Beer Co. (Boulder, CO) – Hazed & Infused dry hopped ale

Spanish Peaks (Denver, CO) – Crystal Weiss

New Belgium (Fort Collins, CO) – Mothership Wit

Sea Dog (Portland, ME) – Blue Paw Blueberry Wheat

Blue Point Brewing Co. (Patchogue, NJ) – Blueberry ale

Dogfish Head (Milton, DE)– Punkin Ale

Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. (Portland, OR) – Drop Top Amber, Hefe

Unibroue (Quebec, Canada) – Maudite Ephemere

21^st Amendment (SF, CA) – Hell or High Watermelon

Lao Brewing Co. (Veintaine, Laos) – Beerlao lager

So I decided...to boot-scoot and boogie.

Every once in a while you really need a truck. Moving has recently brought this to my attention. In order to move a washer and dryer to the new place I called in a favor to my 16-year-old-oh-my-god-he-can-drive little brother. Being from Eastern North Carolina he, naturally, drives a Chevrolet Z-71 Silverado. With the lift, giant tires and dual exhaust. Duh.

Who the hell cares, right? Me. For some weird reason I love driving that thing around; I can think of a myriad of explanations for this. Among the most popular are: 1) Napoleon complex – little girl needs a big truck and 2) you can take the girl out of Edgecombe County, but you can’t take the Edgecombe County out of the girl.

Now, none of this alone would be worth blogging about. However, I experience another phenomenon when I borrow trucks: I can only listen to country music when driving them. I really enjoyed my Michael Jackson music emersion and thought I’d do the same thing here. So, for your enjoyment, amusement or maybe even disgust, here (in no particular order) are 10 of my favorite country songs to listen to while driving around in a big truck like a pseudo-redneck:

1. “Boot Scootin’ Boogie” Brooks & Dunn
2. “Ain’t Goin’ Down (‘Til The Sun Comes Up)" Garth Brooks
3. "Chattahoochee" Alan Jackson
4. "Sold (The Grundy County Auction Incident)" John Michael Montgomery
5. "Deeper Than the Holler" Randy Travis
6. "Forever and Ever" Randy Travis
7. "Fishin' in the Dark" Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
8. "The Race is On" Sawyer Brown
9. "Norma Jean Riley" Diamond Rio
10. "Song of the South" Alabama

These songs are only the tip of the iceberg; I left out music from some of the greats: George Straight, Reba McEntire, Clint Black, Travis Tritt, CDB, Dixie Chicks, Hank Jr., Dwight Yoakam, Alison Krauss and the list goes on and on and on (I included Randy Travis twice because I absolutely love him). Would it be totally cliché of me to say that "they just don’t make country music like they used to”? Yes, but it’s true. Now that I’ve traded with my brother and have my car again, it’s back to being a hipster-wannabe with Kings of Leon stuck in my head…

So I decided...30 is the new 20.

The title here is a little bit of a misnomer. I didn’t decide that, I’m sure it was Oprah or someone that gets the credit, I just bought into it. Jay-Z also wrote a song about it, 30 Something (“30’s the new 20, I’m so hot still…”). In any case, this is all inspired by A’s 23rd birthday today. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Birthdays always get you to thinking about the time that has passed and, of course, the future. It provokes a little bit of self-reflection. Today made me realize that I am just as close to 30 as I am to 18 – that’s how old I was when I got my student ID picture taken and I still carry that card. Spooky. That means that 30 pretty much just rang the doorbell. For anyone who is closer to 30, already 30 or *gasp* over 30, I know you’re thinking it’s silly, but there’s nothing wrong with a little constructive introspection at 24.

I thought this year that I’d be bummed and experience this whole quarter-life crisis that you always hear about (thank you, John Mayer for reiterating). Instead, I’ve tried to embrace it. I’ve found this new confidence in who I am and who I want to be. I don’t know if I was afraid before or what, but I’ve developed a take-me-as-I-am-or-leave-me-the-hell-alone attitude. It’s all made me realize that you have to be your own biggest fan. When I was younger I think I relied on my friends and family for that too much. I undoubtedly need their support and love them all for loving me the way they do, but you have to balance this with a healthy amount of love for yourself. I think it was Lewis Grizzard who once said, “I may not be much, but I’m all I’ve got.” Note: this doesn’t mean arrogance – some people certainly take it too far.

I heard Maya Angelou speak earlier this year to a crowd of mostly college-aged folks, and all she kept talking about was finding yourself and how important it is. I thought, “I better listen to what she has to say, she’s Maya-effing-Angelou”. I think that weighs heavy on you in college, or at least, it did me. It’s this whole phenomenon of leaving home and “spreading your wings”, but I think, like a lot of things, it doesn’t come to you until you stop searching for it.

I guess all I want to say to my friends and whoever might read this is: have the courage to be yourself and things will fall into place. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes, just be sure to learn from them. Give love and gracefully receive love. I’m still certainly learning as I go, but now more than ever, I’m looking forward to the journey. Okay, that’s enough cheese for now.

“I love to see a young girl go out and grab the world by the lapels. Life's a bitch. You've got to go out and kick ass.” –Maya Angelou-

So I decided...to honor the King of Pop

We all feel something a little strange when we experience a celebrity’s death. For most, it’s certainly not because you had a deep bond with that person, but more likely because they had some kind of influence on your life in an indirect way. Seeing someone in movies and on television allows for this strange sense of connection even though you’ll probably never meet. For me, this is particularly the case when I hear someone’s music, especially if they are also the writer. It’s an intimate form of artistry that evokes emotion and a sense of experience, aside from being entertaining.

This post has obviously been inspired by the recent death of Michael Jackson, of whom I was a big fan. I certainly don’t want to pretend that I am some music critic, but I love his music and I wanted to post about my reflections on his work. I thought a fun way to do this would be to go over each of his albums, listen to them over and over again (everyone around me is probably sick and tired of hearing it) and try my best to pick my top 10 favorite Michael Jackson songs of all time. Here goes…

Honorable Mentions: “Scream” from HIStory (1995) and “You Rock My World” from Invincible (2001)

Unlike most of the songs from the previous album, Dangerous (1991), I felt like “Scream” revisited this bass-driven, “hard” sound that Jackson and Quincy Jones brought to Bad (1987). “You Rock My World” was a surprise and a good, modernized version of classic Michael Jackson.

10. “Don't Stop 'til You Get Enough” from Off the Wall (1979)

First single off this album, and I think the best. This is where the King of Pop born…

9. “Thriller” from Thriller (1982)

The video for this song is entertaining, albeit a little strange. I love the bass line and the horn work in this song. Not a #1 hit, but how many times have you tried to imitate that dance? Enough said.

8. “Black or White” from Dangerous (1991)

Easily the best song from this album. I would argue that this maintains Jackson’s tradition, though some tend to disagree. I think it was culturally relevant and topped the charts for reasons other than riding Bad’s coattails. Can't help but have a strong connection to the video and it's huge prime time premiere with Macaulay Culkin.

7. “Man in the Mirror” from Bad (1987)

Jackson didn’t do a whole lot of “ballad” work, but this is the best. It stood out from the styling of the rest of the album and it paid off: another number one hit. The man was versatile.

6. “Beat It” from Thriller (1982)

A classic in its own right. Quincy Jones wanted rock-n-roll and he got it and who better to feature on the track than Eddie Van Halen?

5.” I Want You Back” from Diana Ross Presents the Jackson 5 (1969)

A young Michael made the Motown label glad it left this song for the Jackson 5, rather than the likes of Gladys Knight & The Pips. More than a few critics have placed this song on the top hits of all time list…

4. “Bad” from Bad (1987)

The second single from the title album and one of five #1 songs. Jackson created a more “hard” sound on this track and changed his image from the younger version of the pop star – and not always well-received.

3. “Billie Jean” from Thriller (1982)

This song is no less than legendary. The Motown 25: Yesterday, Today, Forever television performance of this song and the unveiling of the “moon walk” solidified his status as not just a pop icon, but the pop icon.

2. “Dirty Diana” from Bad (1987)

It was a #1 hit in 1988 and Rolling Stone still called this song “filler” for the album. I don’t care what anyone says, I love the edge of this song and the more I listen to it, the more I love it.

1. "The Way You Make Me Feel" from Bad (1987)

To me, this song is Michael Jackson. You hear the style he brought to Off the Wall and Thriller with a little bit of the new flair he intended for Bad, you can even hear a little of Motown Michael in this song. The third #1 hit from Bad: unstoppable.

This was a really hard list to make and evolved even as I was writing it. Overall, I love just about all of his work. He made a great impact on the industry and I hope that the world will remember that, despite the struggles he faced in his lifetime.

A Farewell to Cricket

When I graduated from college, I had about zero ideas for where I was going. I started one job about 3 days after graduation, but I knew that a new one just across campus was in the works. What did I want out of a job in research? Well, an incredible experience from some of the best scientists in their field is certainly a perk. I truly enjoy the everyday challenges of my work, too. I’ll tell you what I didn’t expect to find, but certainly did – a true friend. Have you ever met a new person who it didn’t take you long to figure out was truly good to the core? Malcolm Gladwell in Blink would say that this is a natural ability of our subconscious to quickly and distinctively judge things in this way. So while I had my initial judgments, I have also spent the last two years creating a bond that I now fully recognize the magnitude of.

When K (I’ll use her signature format for this post) first started talking about leaving the lab and going to medical school, I have to say that I selfishly wanted her to stay another year. Now, I am truly happy for her in my heart of hearts. That’s what you ultimately want for your friends – happiness. I am lucky to see everyday how excited she is about this new season in her life, and share in the occasion (and definitely in the planning!). I am not typically your sentimental type, but here I feel it is both appropriate and necessary.

So this is one of my forms of a farewell to Cricket, because I know that the blog is near to both our hearts and will stay that way. I will miss her dearly and it will never be the same without her. I hope for her only the best of the best. Lastly, I will be as cheesy as I know how to be and quote Sex and the City…

“After all, things change, so do cities, people come into your life and they go. But it's comforting to know that the ones you love are always in your heart... and if you're very lucky, a plane ride away...”

So I decided...Everything is Better Grilled.

Growing up, my family always spent Sunday afternoons at my Grandma or Great Grandma’s house to eat and congregate. This is a tradition that I really cherished and it’s something that has really stayed with me throughout the years. In this way, cooking and entertaining has always been a source of comfort for me. Now that I don’t have those Sunday afternoons at home anymore, I find myself seeking that comfort through beginning my own traditions in my young-adult life.

Like I said, I’ve always really enjoyed the comforts of cooking and entertaining, but when I got my first grill this all when into overdrive. I really had no idea what I was getting into at the time. Now, I never pass up the opportunity to have people over and fire up the grill, in hopes of sharing that feeling I always had growing up. What better way to spend an evening than with good friends and good food? I’m pretty sure most of my friends are really happy that this is something I enjoy doing and they reap the benefits of it, but that’s what it’s all about!

I will try, at least once, to grill just about anything. If it’s meant for the oven, who cares? I’ll cook it on the grill anyway just for fun. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love to cook in all sorts of ways – hello, Crock-Pot, I love you – but grilling is my absolute favorite. If I had to pick my favorite thing, I’d say it’s the beer can chicken. I rarely follow a recipe for anything I do, except as maybe a general guideline (also something I picked up from generations of women in my family), but there is nothing quite like a cajun chicken (orrrr a bone-in turkey breast). Throw in some fresh veggies from the NC State Farmer’s Market (let’s say, fresh corn on the cob, for instance) and maybe some fresh cornbread in the cast-iron… see what I’m saying? This is only the beginning: ribs, steaks and pork shoulders, oh my!

Now, throw in a few lawn games (cornhole, ladderball, bocce, etc), maybe a few dogs running around the yard, some good music and you’ve got the perfect entertainment package. It’s something I look forward to doing for the rest of my life and I hope my friends do too. Even when I’m preoccupied with all my other obsessions, I always find time for food…

So I decided...Love Can Be Unconditional

I have always loved animals. I had a rabbit, hermit crabs, a turtle (before they were illegal) and begged for a dog until we got our rat terrier when I was 10 (who is still alive and kickin’ it). Growing up my Dad also had a golden retriever, who I remember fondly as a friend and companion for the weekends I spent at his house. Of course, as a kid, you don’t really know what responsibility goes into having a dog; you just know that they are fun and loving in a way that really impresses you, even at a young age.

I’ve always thought of myself as a “dog person” and a “big dog person” at that. I’ve always had a great connection to the canines in my life, even those that didn’t belong to me and my family. Naturally, when it came time to move away from home for college, I wanted one of my own. For my first Christmas away from home, my mom got me a stuffed puppy – really funny. In retrospect, she was, of course, right that I didn’t need a dog in college. Duh. So I waited anxiously until graduation. I talked and talked and talked about getting a dog. I did all the research and read all the books (read: The Loved Dog by Tamar Geller). I read all about different breeds and their personalities and wanted to find the perfect match. I don’t know if my mom actually thought it was a good idea or if she was just tired of hearing about it, but she surprised me early in the spring semester with the idea of a puppy for a graduation present. I nearly jumped out of my skin. So I decided on a golden retriever and milled over breeders until I found a suitable one and then I milled over names.

Sutton the golden retriever. That’s Sutton Tweedmouth of Carolina, to be exact. He launch me into this culture of dog parks, pet stores & bakeries, weekend trips to different swimming holes and daily trail runs (Umstead State Park is one of our favorite places). Luckily, Sutton and I also have great friends to share time with – shout outs here to Amanda & Kolby and Chris & Gunner. Funny how you become a pair like that when you have the kind of dog that goes everywhere with you…

What has developed over the past two years with him has been a whirlwind of laughter, tears, adventure, frustration and, above all, love. Pure, unadulterated love. I never imagined I could have this kind of emotional attachment to an animal, but he is my unwavering confidant and companion. This may all sound strange and desperate to someone who doesn’t understand such a relationship, but I also know I’m not alone here. I look forward to everyday I have with him and I hope there are many, many to come.

If I had the time, money and space I’d have a whole pack (having a golden retriever farm should have been on my original list). And why not turn my love into a career – both a veterinary practice and a dog bakery. And somewhere between all this, I’ll continue my dream of being a DJ…