drink & ambiance

oh my, where could i even begin about this trio?

play it LOUD - LOUD - LOUD.

i can't recall a moment of my past that doesn't hardly include a bottle of wine, a journal & the cocteau twins...may those times become more frequent,

more cherished and better understood!

start out with either: BLUE BELL KNOLL or TREASURE

For the uninitiated: Cocteau Twins' music is frequently described as "ethereal." It is characterized by pulsating bass, stark drum-machines, swirling backdrops of effects-laden electric guitars, and Elizabeth Fraser's unique and otherworldly vocals. Utilizing a mixture of English, foreign languages, and invented words for her lyrics, Fraser creates beautiful and unexpected melodies, ranging in mood from haunting to operatic.
COCTEAU TWINS






SNAKEBITE ~

is most heavenly enjoyed with these two
partners:

3/4 pint of Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
1/4 Blackthorn Imported Dry Cider


vwalllllllll....LAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!

asparagus giovanni

compliments of:
Giovanni's on Pearl,
Ellensburg, Washington



















1 pound dried fettucine
1 tsp sea salt
1 1/4 pounds, trimmed and cut into 1 inch lengths
1 cup sliced regular or wild mushrooms (about 2 ounces)
1/2 cup dry white wine
1/4 cup olive oil
4 cloves garlic, chopped or more to taste
1 teaspoon fennel seeds, crushed
pinch dried red pepper flakes
6 basil leaves, finely chopped
salt & freshly ground pepper
2 tbls butter
1/2 cup grated Parmesan or Romano cheese

BRING A LARGE POT of salted water to a boil, add pasta, and cook until al dente, about 8 -10 minutes

WHILE PASTA COOKS combine asparagus, shrooms, wine, olive oil, garlic, fennel seeds, and pepper flakes in a saute pan and bring to a boil. reduce the heat adn simmer, partly covered, until asparagus is just tenderbut still crisp and most of the liquid as been absorbed, about 10 mintues. then stir in basil and add salt & pepper to taste.

WHEN THE PASTA is cooked, drain well and return to the pot. ADD the butter to the hot pasta adn toss well to coat. arrange pasta on 4 warm plates and top with the asparagus and sauce, then cheese & serve !

split pea & porcini stew

1/2 ounce dried porcinis - softened in a cup of boiling water for 30 minutes
2 cups dried split peas
8 cups water
3 bay leaves
1 tsp dried marjoram
2 cups chopped onion
1 1/2 cups diced carrot
1 1/2 cups chopped celery
2 cups diced yukon gold or red potatoes
1/2 cup light, white miso
salt & pepper to taste

~ while mushrooms are soaking, combine peas, water, bay leaves, marjoram, onion, carrot, celery & ptato in a stock pot. bring to a boil on high, then reduce to a simmer for 30 minutes
~ chop up mushrooms, reserving the liquid and add both to the soup
~ stir well and cook another 20 minutes, until peas are very soft and break apart...using low heat
~ disolve miso paste in some warm water and add into soup...make sure soup is NOT boiling at this point, as it will distroy the nutritional value of the Miso.
~ salt & pepper to taste
~ for desired creaminess, puree in batches in a blender and return to low heat

Banana Bread

4 large nana's
1 egg well beaten
1 cup Baker's Sugar
2 - 3 tbls pure maple syrup
3 tbls melted butter
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt

~ preheat oven to 350* & grease a loaf pan with butter
~ mash nana's in a big bowl, add in egg, then sugar & syrup, then butter
~ combine dry ingredients in another bowl, add into banana mixture
~ pour into loaf pan and sprinkle the top with Baker's Sugar
~ bake for 1 hour, or until toothpick-chopstick comes out clean

drink & ambiance

trying to make the birthday bourbon last...

MANHATTAN:

low ball w/ ice

1 jigger kentucky bourbon

1/2 jigger sweet vermouth

1 merichino cherry w/ a little juice

Listen ~ FEIST !

Canadian singer Leslie Feist has served as a guest vocalist for Norwegian folkies Kings of Convenience, Toronto power-pop troupe Broken Social Scene, and - under the frightening moniker "Bitch Lap-Lap" - the hairy female rapper Peaches. But her unruly resume hardly prepares you for the emotionally rich, softy sensual music on her major label debut. Moving from tortured torch songs such as "Lonely Lonely" to pulsating originals like "Mushaboom," it also contains stunning remakes of Ron Sexsmith's "Secret Heart" and the Bee Gees' "Inside and Out," tunes Feist not only makes her own but effectively uses to dissect her romantic desolation. "Don't you wish we could forget that kiss?" she smolders on the title track. Not in this lifetime. --Aidin Vaziri