Food and Music - two of the most magical things on this planet.
I can't imagine cooking at home without listening to music. I am inspired by song to work similar magic on a dish and/or a meal; to bring contrasting and complementary ingredients together in a fusion of flavors, textures, aromas, and presentation. I have done well enough in these efforts that for some years now the masses around me have clamored for a cookbook - translation: one or two people have mentioned it once or twice. So to that end, here we go.
In addition to the flavor and spice added by my journaled thoughts, you will of course find recipes. These are divided into twelve chapters as follows:
- Opening Acts
- Food Medleys
- Headliners
- Sammy & Patty
- Pasta
- Bowls
- Bread
- Potatoes and lesser vegetables
- Sides and Salads
- Condiments, Sauces, and Seasonings
- Fried Pizza
- Desserts
I wanted the food categories to be reasonably obvious or intuitive with (where I could) a respectful nod to music. That said, the following deserve a bit more explanation.
- Potatoes and lesser vegetables: There is an ongoing argument in our family regarding potatoes. I, of course, maintain they are (not only a vegetable) but one you can root on! Others claim they do not deserve to be acknowledged as anything other than a starchy filler. From a health perspective, due to their high starch and carbohydrate content, they are labeled as a starchy vegetable and they do impact blood sugar so one should take that into account, but in my book - literally in my book - potatoes are King and all other vegetables are lesser beings.
- Fried Pizza: This chapter reflects recent experimentation with new recipes, specifically pizza and pizza dough, and fried foods such as fried chicken and fish. The purpose is to publicly encourage myself to continue to improve these efforts. Please follow these recipes at your own risk and with a grain (or perhaps many grains) of salt, or pepperoni, or egg, or wheat flour, or olive oil, or beer… Good Luck!
On each chapter title page you will see a designated music genre and alongside each recipe in that chapter you will see a song that (in my mind) comes from that genre. Because I grew up in the 1960’s and 70’s, Classic Rock had to be spread over 3 different chapters. Classic Rock (for me) includes the subgenres British Invasion, Blues Rock, Hard Rock, Stadium Rock, Southern Rock, Rock Opera or Symphonic Rock, Glam Rock, and Psychedelic Rock. In Swingin’ Jazz I have included Vocal Jazz and Swing, and in Jazzy Blues I have included New Orleans and (again, in my mind) Rhythm and Blues. There are tools out there to help one pinpoint genres and subgenres and though in most instances we agreed, in a few cases we did not. Taste in music, as in food, is personal and nonjudgemental, but that should not preclude the occasional, spirited discussion championing one’s choices. Below are the chapters listed again with their associated music genre.
- Opening Acts: Rockabilly
- Food Medleys: Classic Rock 1960’s and 1970’s
- Headliners: Singer / Songwriter
- Sammy & Patty: More Classic Rock 1960’s and 1970’s
- Pasta: Swingin’ Jazz
- Bowls: And Still More Classic Rock 1960's and 1970's
- Bread: Alternative Rock
- Potatoes and lesser vegetables: Alternative Country Rock
- Sides and Salads: Jazzy Blues
- Condiments, Sauces, and Seasonings: Folk Rock
- Fried Pizza: New Age
- Desserts: Pop Rock
In the months it has taken me to work through this process, I have had three different working titles:
- Not my best effort…
- Structured Chaos: The Process of Preparing and Cooking a Meal
- Food as Song: My Culinary Playlist.
You will see all three themes reflected in these pages. And in addition, also from my original thought you will see Top 5 lists in each food category based partially on feedback from those who consistently taste my food. Each chapter will be presented in order of Top 5 followed by the leftovers in alphabetical order.
On the back cover I say “In this cookbook is a story of family and food and friendship and philosophy and music and art and effort and chaos and control.” There is no story without a cast of characters, and the people who have been in my life throughout my life certainly qualify. This effort is dedicated to these and (innumerable) other characters who have had influence. Thank you!
- Mom
- Dad
- Jane - Wife of 45+ years
- Camille - Daughter
- Milan - Granddaughter
- Moxie - Granddaughter
- Tristan - Son
- Uche - Daughter-in-law
- Audrey - Daughter
- Pam - Sister
- Jim - Brother-in-law
- Bob - Brother
- Jeanice - Sister-in-law
- Patty - Sister
- Brent - Brother-in-law
- Norman - Brother-in-law
- Norma - Sister-in-law
- Shay - Sister-in-law
- Keith - Brother-in-law
- Linda - Sister-in-law
- Maurice - Brother-in-law
- Susan - Sister-in-law
- Fred - Friend
